Vacation: Mountaintop Experience

There is a Chinese proverb that says, “There are many paths to the top of the mountain, but the view is always the same.”  Actually, there was just one unpaved road that led to where we were staying, but the view was indeed always the same: SPECTACULAR! 

Every day of our Colorado getaway was a mountaintop experience, literally and figuratively speaking.  It is pretty incredible to wake up each morning to the freshness of a new day in the mountains. The air is so cool. And talk about quiet time -- the stillness is almost deafening. Maybe I just had a heightened awareness for God's presence since I was being still for a change. I could hear/see/feel and even taste that He is good.


Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. -Psalm 34:8

The coffee was good, too. Although we did not do any scientific research on the subject, I think my early morning java even tasted better at the higher elevation. :-)

We turned off the television and radio and tuned out the stuff of life that clutters our brains. We simply unplugged. Ahhhh! We played games together, enjoyed conversations, and laughed. Our family made memories -- lots of 'em. It truly was a much-needed and ever-so-appreciated respite. R&R was just what we needed.

It was a treat to get to spend time with Mr. Smith's brother, Ed, and his wife, Jaxine, at their mountain cabin, which is really more of a resort.  Ed is technically a half-brother, but we have agreed to drop that "half" thing. We are family... (I feel like breaking out in song. Thank you, Sister Sledge.)

On Wednesday afternoon, we headed down the mountain to visit with the Thruston family. It was so much fun to be reunited with our dear friends, even if it was only for one night.

Smith and Thruston kids

We left the Thruston's home on Thursday morning and headed to DIA to pick up Millie Girl's BFF, Sydney, who was flying to Denver from Sacramento.

What a sweet reunion! It had been eighteen months since these two buddies had seen one another, but they picked up right where they left off.

We made a whirlwind trip through Denver, grabbed a burger at The Cherry Cricket, and did a little shopping at Cherry Creek North before heading for the mountains. It may have rained on our parade as we were making our way back to the cabin, but nothing could dampen our spirits.

After the storm clouds passed, the view of the Spanish Peaks was glorious. It's a good thing I had my camera at the ready; batteries charged.

What a swinger!

Cozy cabin

This one-holer is no longer operational. It's merely a rustic decoration. 

Love it!

Hot diggity dogs

Four-wheelin' for five = a wheel good time!

Grilled personal pizzas are always a treat.

This 'za was loaded with tasty toppings and grilled to perfection.

M. opted for making a calzone instead of a pizza. He just had to be different.

These boots are made for walkin'...

That may be, but these boots are also rather photogenic in their abandoned state.

Sadly, it was time to hit the dusty trail on Saturday morning.

Somewhere in the Texas panhandle, I took this photo of M&A as they were driving alongside our vehicle. We were both moving at 70 mph, but it looks as if they are stopped.

It's been said that kids are king at Burger King. I'm not sure if that's still true today, but that was one of BK's slogans when I was a kid. These two look like princesses to me.

Hot! Hot! Hot!
Hello, Texas. Goodbye, cool mountain air.

To entertain ourselves on the road trip back to Keller, we looked at pictures in the sky. This cloudy figure might be an alligator or an elephant. An alliphant? What do YOU see?

As we drove along U.S. Route 287, it was also entertaining to read the names for the local businesses in the small Texas Panhandle burgs. A couple of the favorites: It'll Do Motel and the Nuttin' Fancy Cafe. We resisted the temptation to stop at either one of those businesses.

Here's a photo of an interesting looking trading post we spied along the road. We didn't stop here either.

Don't look now, but I think we are being followed.

From a mountaintop you can easily see where you have been and where you are going. Although we are now back in Keller at an elevation of 709 feet, I can see that we will be going back to the cabin nestled amidst the aspen trees. We have already been invited to come back next summer. Would it be too early to start packing now?

All good things -- even mountaintop experiences -- must come to an end, but that doesn't mean that the FUN has to end. Shortly after we arrived home, Millie and Sydney found out that the new house's staircase works pretty well for mattress surfing,  just like the old California house's staircase did.

Is it my imagination, or are those crashing waves I hear? Oh, it's just the girls crashing into the wall at the bottom of the stairs. Surf's up! I think I'll go join 'em. I like the beach almost as much as the mountains. Besides, I am not quite ready for vacation to end...