The day started early – 3:30 am for me. While I was mostly packed, I still hadn’t decided on which hiking shoes to take, and whether to wear them or pack them. Decided to pack them since I couldn’t fit everything in a carryon and backpack anyway, so why not travel in comfy shoes!
I finished packing everything,made a breakfast sandwich for the road and tiptoed quietly out of the house, so as not to wake my mother, who is dog sitting for me.
My ride arrived on the nose of 4:45 and we were at the gate by 5:35 am. I settled in with a cup of coffee and waited for the rest of the travel team to arrive. Thankfully, we had uneventful flights, not counting the very hard landing in Denver. Gotta give the pilot some slack, though, it’s super hazy due to Canada wildfires. I couldn’t even see the mountains to the west as we left the airport. Eventually they came into view but it was not the typical breathtaking sight I’m used to.
We have a 5 hour drive to our AirBnB in Olathe, so off we go to try to get there before dark. I 70 West through Glenwood Canyon is one of my most favorite parts of the drive, and today did not disappoint.The varying topography and geology is fascinating
We are thrilled to find our AirBnB is even better than the pictures. We have an incredible view of the San Juan mountains from the living room, which is mostly floor to ceiling windows.
We East Coasters are pretty tuckered out, so we head off to sleep pretty early. Tomorrow – a leisurely start and a trip to Ouray.
Adventures in Colorado, 2023 edition 