Glenwood Springs, Colorado-Ami's Acres 7/16 - 7/20 2020 Travel Tour

From: casarollnotes.blogspot.com 

Tim and Linda Bunyan

Our RV sites are on the side of the mountain with the river, railroad, and the highway, the tri scene, and ever-present in this canyon upon entering the Rockies.  This location is Glenwood Springs, the heart of the Rocky Mountains, and during our stay, we plan a day trip south to Aspen, Colorado.

Along the 2020 Travel Tour from our recent stop in Grand Junction, we headed east into the rugged Rocky Mountains to Glenwood Springs, Colorado

On our drive from GJ to Glenwood Springs, we rise in elevation through the town of Parachute offering a Rest Stop.  We see Mike and Sherry in their Montana, High Country 5th wheel RV taking a lunch break from Grand Junction 4583' to Glenwood Springs 5761'.

 Town and Rest Stop at Parachute, population near 1,000.   Birthplace of  Willard Libby,1960 Nobel Prize recipient in Chemistry.  Noted for his role in the 1949 development of the radiocarbon dating process which revolutionized archaeology.

Parachute is on the northwest side of the Colorado River.

Parachute Creek and Interstate 70 pass through and leads us to Glenwood Springs.

The Union Pacific railroad runs the Zephyr line between Chicago and Emeryville, CA. with a station in Glenwood Springs.

Reddish-colored sandstone cliffs surround Glenwood Springs.

The Colorado River and Roaring Fork River in the narrow mountain valleys.,

We arrive at this unique, privately owned RV park called Ami's Acres, full hookup @ $42.00 per night.  Our sites are on the side of the mountain with the river, railroad, and the highway, the tri scene, and ever-present in this canyon upon entering the Southwest Rockies.  This location is the entrance to Glenwood Springs, Population: 10,000, the heart of the Rocky Mountains, and we plan a day trip south to Aspen, Population 7,500, Colorado.

We are placed in sites next to each other and welcome each arrival!

Kevin and Gordon in The Big Cheese with pull toy The Rubican are snug in their space.

The friendly camp host directs us to our site.   Ron and Frans Black Knight Ram Truck and Imagine Travel Trailer.  Their mode of Travel 

for Travel Tour 2020  

Mike and Sherry's Black Stallion and Montana, High Country 5th-wheel are situated in the space.

The bikes are loaded into "The Black Stallion" to drive (uphill) to the Bike Ride Trailhead.

Glen Canyon Bike Trail along the Colorado River.

 Bike ride in Glenwood Springs on Glenwood Canyon Bike Trail along the Colorado River.

Mike rode his E-Bike back to the start to pick up the truck; 

this bike ride was mostly downhill and near 5 miles.

CasaRoll Rockwood Travel Trailer with Tim in repose.

Having some kitty cat time with Woodstock

Mike doing maintenance on the roof of his High Country, Montana 5th wheel!

Admiring this Airstream next door to us.  Jason and Erin are planning to purchase an Airstream.

We make our way into Glenwood Springs for an evening walkabout and dinner at the cozy Italian Underground.  A restaurant with space-safety seating for Covid adherence.  We have wait table service and cocktails.  This photo is the historic, constrained geography of Glenwood where you can see the highway runs directly through town.  

Photo of the red and white checked tablecloths.  Friendly service of cocktails and flavors of Northern Italy at the Italian Underground Restaurant.   This mule cocktail is served with pasta straw!

The Italian Underground inside the Silver Club Building.  

Busy street corner accommodates pedes

Busy street corner in Glenwood Springs accommodates pedestrians, vehicles, trucks, and cyclists; all on the Interstate 70 Highway!

Some street sites in Glenwood Springs.  Birthplace of Jim Irwin, U.S. Air Force Colonel, and NASA astronaut: the eighth man to walk on the moon.

Downtown Glenwood Springs with easy walking around the streets.  Though the town's dense amenities and constrained geography, Glenwood Springs holds a distinction recognized by PBS and Walking Magazine one of the most walkable towns in America.

Views of Ami's Acres and Glenwood Springs where vacationers enjoy outdoor sports, its hot springs, and the Gambel oaks on the hillsides.

Gordon and Kevin have come from Sacramento, thru Moab, 4-wheel country, and joined in the 

Travel Tour 2020 to visit Glenwood Springs and Aspen.  

 They find comfort here at Ami's Acres and settle in with their grapes-print table cloth at their site with full anticipation of serving delightful meals.

.....and serves us all breakfast of biscuits and gravy and eggs over easy (perfectly) !!!

Ron and Mike enjoying the morning breakfast served and the fresh-cut watermelon...........

Kevin and Gordon.

Thank you, Kevin and Gordon.........they must have gotten up extra early to make this spread.  We are all fortified for our River Raft Trip arranged by Mike and Sherry.  We are on our way to Blue Sky Adventure Company to participate in the Colorado River White Water Rafting!

Glenwood Blue Sky Adventure Company set us up with an experienced guide and we were happy with this as the white water came over the front and the Hubbles took it for the team!

The Hubbles in the front lead with Mike and Sherry, and Tim and Linda in the third position.

When guide, Megan, called out to row.....we listened and rowed!

The rapids made for a memorable ride!

We row with all our might!

Sometimes the white water got the best of us!

We remained upright and actually dried out by end of river ride.!!!

Whew, a toast to 'survival' and accomplishment!

The Colorado beer cap: Apricot Sour Beer shared between brave men!

Relaxing and dry.  A bit of rain is no problem for the Hubbles.

Rain rain went away during cocktail hour,.

And the Yeti's are Winners!!! With wicked good slippers onto cans, Yeti provides insulation drinkware only for those special enough to dare tread!!!!

At the Hangout of the Hubbles with dinner sides potluck served. 

 (Gee, we are sure going to miss you two when you must return to Sacramento!!!)

DAY DRIVE TO ASPEN

On our drive to Aspen Pitkin County Airport, also known as Sardy Field within minutes of Aspen Snowmass and three nautical miles northwest of the central business district of Aspen.  Mike points out Learjets and Gulfstreams, and Cessna. 

Sardy Field with high-end grounds and stays for Aspen pilot visitors: this year-round destination.

Jet engine with dual exhaust.

Downtown Aspen we arrive the final hour at the Farmers Market, filled on two streets with entry regulated so a large crowd is not formed for Covid adherence.  This street vendor is selling masks ($40.00) for a local charity.  Sherry is reminded of her intense months of mask making at the first of this year.  She donated her handmade masks to a charity. 

Here is a tribute kiosk at Farmers Market to local beef Wagyu.  This pic is for Jason.

Beautiful people and flowers at Aspen Farmers Market

Aspen downtown street scene with Mike and Sherry and Kein and Gordon strolling the

 Farmers Market.

This knitted sweater struck me in a very patriot fashion!

Gucci store, Aspen style, for those who shop outside the Farmers Market!

Street scene, restaurant seating for Covid adherence with Aspen Mountains cradling the town.

A bit of Western in this Western town, store named Kemosabe.

 Inside Kemosabe is filled with eclectic items.  Cowboy boots to gloves to refrigerator magnets.

Built for the elements and constructed from only the finest materials, Gordon is cost hunting the Stetson Western hats assortment along with cowboy boots!

A look-see at the Aspen Elks Lodge.  Closed this afternoon.  Makes for a fine outdoor lounge patio.

In the central Colorado Rocky Mountains and surrounded by the White River National Forest, the Aspen Mountain summit in the Elk Mountain range of the Rocky Mountain at 10,700' elevation in the background of downtown Aspen with the dog-friendly plaza.

Four mountains in Aspen are Snowmass, Aspen Highland and Buttermilk, and Aspen Mountain offering eight terrain parks, four half-pipes for snowboarding, and over 300 marked trails via 46 lifts.  A winter playground for those with financial vigor and stamina.  

This is a downtown summer street scene for those to encounter a lovely, warm afternoon filled with green mountains, trees, and flowers and benches, and slower, social peace.

Downtown busy with shoppers.

Aspen attractive mode of transportation.

Handcrafted runabout Jeep!

The warrior transportation mode.

Many delights of the Aspen streets.  Outdoor restaurant seating is high-end and captivating with design and welcome.

Outdoor restaurant seating along the walkway.

This clever street restaurant offers wine cellar seating.

We carve our place in this Covid-friendly indoor/outdoor restaurant.

Aspen is very aware of Covid-19 adherence and does so with style.

We walk a couple blocks from downtown to the John Denver Sanctuary nestled in the heart of Aspen next to the Rio Grande Park.

The park is scenic, open to the public from down to dusk next to the Roaring Fork River.

The unpretentious sign indicating the section dedicated to John Denver Sanctuary.

Within the sanctuary is the largest perennial flower garden in Colorado which 

attracts visitors from around the globe.

A place to contemplate and carve out your place.

Gordon plays John Denver songs for us which is a great tribute to John Denver's

 writings and musical songs.

Frannie is at peace among the flowers.

Kevin and Gordon find their place together here within the Sanctuary.

Tim and Linda at the John Denver Sanctuary, Aspen, Colorado

Tim explores the gardens that are environmentally sound wetlands with a filter system.

Linda carves out her place at the rock with John Denver verse.

"I am a song; I live to be sung"

Sherry finds her comfort placed with the landscape rocks and the overall ambiance of the Sanctuary.

US girls find togetherness in the heart of Aspen.

This location is also the home to Theatre Aspen in the none-covid summer, 

providing live stage entertainment.

CAT Tour (Covid Avoidance Tour 2020) SEE no Evil, SPEAK no Evil, and HEAR no Evil, and ATTEST to no Evil 

We have done what vacationers do in Glenwood Springs and summer in Aspen.  We've walked the towns and from our RV camp: Ami's Acres and now we go to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison

to 'Rock On'!