Black Friday Re-Cap

Once again the time has flown by.  A trip to Denver in early November would seem to be enough traveling coming into the holidays.,..but not so for Swenson's Adventures.

The week we came back from Denver was also the week of the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month...originally Remembrance Day for the signing of the World War One Armistice on the Western Front, and now known as Veterans' Day in the US. I had the day off and took advantage of the shortened (in this case quite shortened) week to join some friends from around the country.

 Viva 2010

Guys in general do not get together with just other guys to enjoy some time together...this trip was the exception. Earlier in the year I was at a conference planning meeting in Chicago with my good friend Ken Cates and he started talking about a trip he wanted to bring his dad on to celebrate his Dad's 75th birthday. The more we talked about it and who would or could be going on the trip the more it grew into Viva 2010

Over the following weeks and several E-mails Ken arranged for rooms at the Las Vegas MGM Grand for six of us. In addition, Ken made tee times for us at three different golf courses--Bear's Best, Desert Pines, Royal Links--for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

   
As is the custom...what happened in Vegas stays in Vegas...with a few small exceptions in this case and very few pictures. First, I think Bear's Best golf course was the best course we played; it was in great shape and I liked it because it was my best play of the three outings (which to those of you who have golfed with me in the past know doesn't necessarily say much). I probably did well because I didn't over-think anything and just played.

The course was designed by Jack Nicklaus (the Golden Bear) based on his favorite holes. In addition to the beauty and the challenge of the course, the setting is in a resort community; so the holes are surrounded by homes that are in the tens of millions dollar range.

Next, when we looked into travel back and forth to the courses and the number of cabs we would need for six of us plus clubs the math worked out better to get a limo. So our travel was in true Vegas style.

On the last day we had a group photo taken to verify that we were all in Vegas. From left to right are: Mitch Stern, Dick Moeller, Ken Cates, Dewey Cates, myself, and Doug Erickson in front.


Finally, the setting was right, the restaurants were great and I came back with more than twice the amount of money that I took to splurge on some gambling. And then the best thing yet...when I got home Cheri said, "you should make this an annual thing!"

Christmas on the Hill

The following weekend was 'Christmas on the Hill', an annual event put on by the Women's Fellowship of our church. There are craftwork, raffles, a silent auction, and cookies by the pound; plus we have a kitchen staff that sells homemade soups, chicken pot pies and sandwiches to order. The Bell Choir also plays a couple times during the meal. Besides making many ornaments and other decorations Cheri played bells and worked behind one of the tables. For my part I worked in the kitchen making sandwiches (I don't make ornaments, and besides I'd been away for Viva 2010).

Thanksgiving

Then it was time for one of the best holidays--Thanksgiving.   Since we  would probably eat too much later in the day Cheri and I went for a long walk early in the morning and I took a photo back towards the house from across the pond and fields.  You can barely make out the house…over the river and through the woods.



Cheri and I were invited to the Harrison's for a late afternoon Thanksgiving Dinner. Our niece Kristina was invited along as well and we had a wonderful time with good food and good friends. In addition to us there were Martha and Jamie's sons Christopher and Ben, Ben's wife Denise and their new daughter Stella; plus the Harrison's other friends Sue and Dan and Sue's brother Jack.


Besides a great feast we had some time for games around the fireplace. A good time was had by all.

We woke up on Black Friday with Cheri and Kris each having to head off to work. My time has been spent putting up winter doors and getting out Christmas decorations...and updating the blog...re-capping the adventures of November.

Part of the Trip Includes Maggie Time

Sitting on an airplane is working out well for getting out a blog update.  Our three full days in Denver had been so busy that I didn’t do much more than download some pictures each day and saved the second installment writing for now.

The creek and path run below street level so it is nice to be able to  just walk along.  Quite a few bikers and runners were out taking advantage of the beautiful fall weather so we needed to keep Maggie on her leash the whole time. Once those chores were done (and is it really a chore when you enjoy doing it?) we took a little soduku time and on-line time before heading out to explore some more.

Our second day meant a little sleeping in…while for some, but most of you know I was still up fairly early…that just gave me some time to do the last post.  Once Cheri was up and had a little breakfast we took a little Maggie time (since we’d be leaving her alone for much of the day).  There is a nice pedestrian/bicycle path along Cherry Creek which is just outside of Jess’ complex.  So we put Maggie on a leash and headed out. But once we got back to Jess’ complex—the Marquis on Parkway—we took Maggie to their greenway area and we were able to let her run a bit.  Between the three mile round trip along the creek and some greenway time Maggie was pretty tired out.

I had read on TripAdvisor—an online site that has very good travel information submitted by other travelers—that the Forney Museum of Transportation was worth a visit.  Although it seemed a bit out of the way it is a fun and interesting museum.

There are several train cars inside the building and one of the big—both figuratively and literally—items is a “Big Boy” locomotive and tender.  The combined locomotive and tender is 137 feet long, the wheels are 5 feet six inches tall, and it weighs over 600 tons—pretty impressive.



There was also  large display of cars and motorcycles that the Forney family had collected over many years…also on loan from a separate collection were operating models of all the Ford Thunderbirds…overhead they displayed various reproductions of Burma-Shave signs.




We also took advantage of the one vehicle—a Model T—that was available to sit in and take some photos…I feel like a chauffer in the photo with Jess in the back seat.






…and then Cheri took the best picture of the day…







What better way to end up the first foray of the day but to drive over to the Wynkoop Brewery and Restaurant for lunch…and since we were already there we decided to participate in one of Cheri’s favorite activities—a beer and ale tasting.

We picked up our tickets, glasses and a list of the Wynkoop brews available for tasting and enjoyed the experience…no they did not fill the cups up at every stop (although some servers were more heavy pourers than others)…and no we did not drink all of the tickets amount (it was much more than we wanted or needed).

But they had football on all around the tasting area and it was fun (you can check separately with Cheri for her impressions).

Our travels then took us back to Jess’ place for a little more Maggie time and to get ready for the evening event.


Previously Jess had picked up—through her new employee programs at Presbyterian / St Luke’s Medical Center—tickets to the Avalanche and Dallas Stars hockey game.  We had great seats and watched the Avalanche win 5 – 0.





We walked to and from the game, so by the time we got back to Jess’ we had a little time for Wii Mario Karts—Jess was talking trash about how she would win…and I showed her otherwise…even a blind squirrel finds an acorn once in awhile.


Sunday morning our plans centered around seeing the Patriots game and getting a little shopping completed.  PJ and I decided we would do the Patriots piece while Jess and Cheri did the shopping piece—we guys went to the Blake Street Sports Tavern and the girls headed off to the Cherry Creek Mall. 


Other than the Patriots losing, this worked out really well.  The room was set up with the Pat’s game on the big screen at one end and four other large flat screens along the walls that let us see other key games.  PJ’s brother-in-law’s brother Sean joined us part way through the first game and it was an enjoyable way to watch a less than enjoyable showing by the Patriots.  Toward the end of the game we were also treated to some fisticuffs caused by a fairly large and well lubricated Patriots fan taking exception to a Browns fan standing up and cheering for his team…we thanked our waitress for the floorshow… .

Following the game we picked up some items to go with dinner and the ladies picked us up to head back to Jess’ place.  PJ and Jess put together a wonderful salad and apple upside-down cake while I took Maggie out.  Then I worked on some mushroom risotto while Cheri tried her hand at a little Mario Karts.

We had a wonderful meal, watched a little TV, enjoyed a late dessert and then off to bed…our morning flight—the one we are on while I am typing—was at 7:05 am.  So the Denver portion of our trip ended with sidewalk hugs as Jess and PJ dropped us off at the airport…they were heading out to go skiing…another adventure of their own and the end of this one for us.


   

No, You are in Washington…

We made it to Denver…our luggage made it…and most importantly Jess made it to pick us up.  Our travels were fairly uneventful except when we backed away from the gate in Providence—an on time departure—we then were held on the tarmac because of weather and back ups at Dulles (our connecting point).  As a result our 90 minute window of time to make a connection started to get smaller and smaller.  Just because there is bad weather keeping flights from getting in doesn’t mean flights are being delayed getting out—on time departures.


Of course the flight from Providence to Dulles is on a United Express jet so the arrival gate is at the very end of the A Terminal; and the Dulles to Denver flight is on a 777 leaving from—we had already figured this would be the case—almost the furthest gate in the C Terminal.  We hurried through the airport…with the obligatory restroom stop…it must have something to do with the pressure and altitude changes in flying…and made it to the gate as they were announcing, “now boarding all rows and all passengers”.


Just to be sure—since we had just turned a corner and there was the gate—I said to the ticket agent, “This is Denver…right?”


And his answer, fortunately with wry grin was, “No you are in Washington.”


So we flew…we arrived…Jess picked us up…and it was off to her apartment.  With the time zone changes and travel although it was only 8 pm in Denver it felt like 10 pm to us so we had a pizza from a shop nearby and went to bed fairly early…so we could begin the adventure in earnest (actually in Denver) the next day.

Then it was into the car and heading out towards the mountains—we made a stop along the way to get a couple of photos proving we are here…

The next morning, after taking Maggie (Jess’ Labrador) out for some ‘fetch’ and outdoor time, we headed over to meet PJ at his apartment and then to a local restaurant for breakfast.  We ate at Snoozes which specializes in breakfast and the selections were great.

   




Our travels began with a trip to Boulder, CO and the first stop was at the home—and only location—of Celestial Seasoning Tea. 


We sampled teas…saw a video…donned hairnets and took a tour.  No photographs are allowed on the factory floor so nothing to show from the inside.



The aromas were strong—similar to going into the Yankee Candle Store—overwhelming at first, but then you get a little bit use to it.  They have a separate Mint Room where they keep the mint leaves—all from Oregon and Washington—before blending into teas.  The door is kept shut except to get the product and when tour groups go in.  The oils in the air are so strong that you can feel it in your eyes and every breath seems to clear your lungs and sinuses.


The production facility is almost fully automated, but there are many staff there to make sure the equipment is operating correctly and to catch errors that the machinery may miss.  When in full production the plant can produce 10 million tea bags a day.

Our next stop…since it was nearby…was the Boulder Creek Winery.  This is the production facility for this Colorado wine and their vineyards are on the western slopes of Colorado.  The vineyards are in the 4,000 to 7,000 foot range so there is no need for pesticides and the strong sun with cooler nights produces a more Bordeaux-like type of wine.

It was a nice tour and of course we took advantage of the wine tasting.


Since the mountains were nearby, and we knew we would need the exercise, we then drove over to the Chatauqua State Park for a little hiking in the Flat Irons area.  The area is named for the way the rocks rise up and resemble flat irons on end (okay…you do have to use your imagination a little).

 
We hiked up to the base of the Flat Irons and looped around back down to the Ranger Station.  Our planning didn’t include the right shoes or clothing for anything more extended—this trip—but it is an area we will probably explore more on one of our next visits.





When we got back to the base I saw a local trail map at the Ranger Station.  It showed a road up to a nearby peak, so we decided to try and drive up there to enjoy the view.  It turned out that the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) was located on this peak so we decided to explore the visitor center.


The Center is housed in a building designed by I.M. Pei—he had an interest in atmospheric research—and overlooks Boulder, CO.  Research is conducted through a partnership with the University Center for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) to gather data from around the world and study the impacts on the world around us—everything from weather formation and conditions, climate impact, solar activities, and the history of weather in the preceding 150 million years (plus what that tells us about today). 



The visitor center had some great displays, a small theater and great photos of atmospheric phenomena (plus what causes them).  In addition the center houses two of the largest super computers in the world—operating more than a million times faster than the CRAY Supercomputer of the 1970’s.  It was a great happenstance that we stumbled upon the Center…I’d recommend a visit to anyone in the area.


We got back to Denver in time to take a short break and then we headed out for a very nice dinner at Venice Ristorante—a place Cheri had found on-line during our trip planning.  It was a great way to top off our first full day of the visit.


More Adventures to come…