Saturday, May 14, 2016
south colony lakes trail
today was basically a rest and relax day (like a vacation) but it was good to reconnaissance the trail head to this hike. in the middle of nowhere, off the main road and down six miles, half of it unpaved county road before you reach the two wheel drive parking lot area and another four miles of 4wd road to the trail head itself.
the road to the trailhead
the 4wd only part of the road to the trailhead
saturday 5/14/16
from denver to sand dunes, taking the scenic US 245.
from sand dunes to Days Inn Alamosa, and vice versa
from sand dunes to Days Inn Alamosa, and vice versa
from alamosa to south colony lake trailhead in westcliffe CO via
east on 160 then north on 69, then back east on 96 then 67 to Canon City. Nice scenic drive through small towns ranch land and such.
The plan today to hike the South Colony Lakes trail was postponed for the next day. the drive time, plus getting lost time plus the 8 mile hike plus the gathering storm clouds meant I decided to head to my Super 8 hotel (motel?) room in Canon City an hour and half away.
mexican food
the two food groups since i've been in colorado: mexican and american style breakfasts.
monterrey cafe in Alamosa
Ortega's in Canon City
my body doesn't feel too good now; partly because of the exhaustion and travel, but mostly because of the unhealthy food. the dining options in small and medium town america is limited by nature and exacerbated by the constraints of being a stranger in a strange (small) town.
Colorado has a disproportionate amount of mexican and chinese restaurants.
Colorado cops are all about giving speeding tickets. in utah and arizona i didn't even see a cop car my entire time there, here, i've seen cars pulled over a bunch of times.
Friday, May 13, 2016
sand surfing
protip: practice on the smaller 20-30 foot dunes at the beginning of the park so you don't completely blow it later. then hike to the 700 foot big ones, chill on the top for a while, enjoy the view, find your lines (this is important if you want to maximize your returns from spending an hour or two climbing up a mountain of sand. You really only have one series of rides to the bottom, unless you are fit enough to climb up and down sand dunes all day), find your lines (maximize efficiency with smart dune selection) and then sand surf your way down to the bottom. good times.
The board is hard to control, you can really only go straight. for me, cutbacks, carves and turns were impossible. you can't cut across the face of the dune, at least i could never manage it. you go really really fast on the big steep faces (probably too fast, might want to focus on quality rather than speed of ride); it helps to crouch down low and drag a hand in the sand to slow and stabilize yourself.
sand dunes protips
1. maybe take sips of water throughout the day rather than chug periodically from the one gallon jug to avoid having to find bushes on the side of busy highways during long drives. or, better yet, don't drink coffee. but drinking coffee all day is one the perks of traveling.
2. Sand board surfing at sand dunes park is really fun. hiking up the 700 foot dune is a pain, but coming down is a cool experience. protip: krist's mountain sports store in Alamosa rents boards, you can return it the next day by 10am and get charged only one day. unlike the lodge/store a few miles from the park entrance, you can only rent it for the day until the store closes so you can't do an evening session (that day it was 4:30pm).
2a. camp out on the dunes. get a permit.
3. check the wind and rain report first. it started gusting at sunset the second day and it was unpleasant, a dry skin exfoliation
4. free after 4:30pm? the first day at sand dunes park i drove in after four thirty and it was free cuz the rangers at the ticket booth had finished work for the day. the second day, i tried the same thing, but they were still there at 4:45! so i had to pay the fifteen bucks. boo.
5. go in evening or early morning. you want to avoid the noon time afternoon sun. it's way hotter, supposedly windier, you have to pay the entrance fee, the lighting will be too harsh for pictures and the sand dunes won't have texture, and you miss out on the sunset colors.
5. go in evening or early morning. you want to avoid the noon time afternoon sun. it's way hotter, supposedly windier, you have to pay the entrance fee, the lighting will be too harsh for pictures and the sand dunes won't have texture, and you miss out on the sunset colors.
Thursday, May 12, 2016
in the desert again
In the desert, life feels far away and frivolous. In the desert, there is no question and no answer, there is only the sand, cold, sun and quiet.
If you walk without rhythm, the world can’t find you.
drive to sand dunes
The altitude sickness got to me in the mile high city; fatigue, thirst, lethargy,
sleeplessness.
breakfast the morning of my drive out of denver towards sand dunes. I was feeling better appetite wise by this point. or maybe i was starved from only eating water and beer for the first two days in denver. you are supposed to eat carbs to prevent your body from using your protein/muscle as an energy source. you are not supposed to drink or take sleeping pills cuz it suppresses your respiratory system.
US 285 was supposed to be the scenic drive from denver to sand dunes national park. I was a little underwhelmed, better than an interstate i'm sure. I thought highway 89 in utah/arizona was better.
those are the sand dunes at the base of the mountain.
this world is so big.
denver hostel
not bad. services and amenities are a little limited but otherwise good. those bunk beds are amazing though; by far the sturdiest i've ever slept in, no movement transfer at all between levels. i think thehy are made from costco shelving beams.
brick building to the left is the hostel. small white building to the right is cannabis station. Very convenient.
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
karma decay
I will sing you two songs at the same time.
Because of me, you make me feel like shit.
I was too young to talk, now I am too old to talk.
faux-humble successful dude and blonde in black dress, neither one of you can sing.
I will make you whole, i swear.
i wish i had pictures that explain.
I will make you whole, i swear.
i wish i had pictures that explain.
denver!
underprepared and overconfident. there will still be snow in the mountains i was planning to hike, i wish someone had told me.
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
las vegas
in and out was a success. but, man las vegas is an awful city. it's such a lie. beyond the glitz and neon of the strip is just awful awful desert suburban sprawl. I walked a million miles in what was supposed to be 70 degree weather (lies, it was like 80's) to get to in and out.
Monday, May 9, 2016
why is this place so big
you could fit 10 waikiki hotels on the footprint of one Vegas hotel\vegas city block.
Sunday, May 8, 2016
THE ROOM
This room reeks of raunchy hotel sex. Apparently they assigned us the voyeur/exhibitionist suite: more mirrors than walls, windows facing the strip and even the window blinds cater to exhibitionists.
The fact i have to sleep in this room with a work colleague should be a violation of our company's sexual harassment policy, this feels wrong.
No, actually, this is pretty cool.
No, actually, this is pretty cool.
Asians are the best
we are good at math, hard working and make the best (skinny) seat neighbors on airplanes.
airport university
Philosophy 101: everything about life can be learned in airport waiting areas.
M.B.A.: earn your Harvard business management degree in any airport bookstore.
Communications 203: Right after he sits down in the aisle seat he chats up the cute girl in the window seat, eventually asks her what she does, he is clearly taken back by her answer that she is in high school. he suggest she is 17 y/o, she corrects him by saying she is 16, he is taken further aback and then totally lies and says he's 19 (he is not), buys her rum and coke, he talks at her for 95% of the 45 min fight. selfie pic with her about halfway through. Plot twist: he was suppose to sit in empty seat next to me but sat next to the pretty girl when he saw the opportunity due to the somewhat empty plane . thanks hot Latina teen for taking the bullet! her laughs sounds like a too-polite and slightly nervous teenage girl. Final Exam Essay: Gregarious outgoing Type A individual or P.U.A.? Or child sex trafficker if you want to go to a darker place.
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