Palm Springs, AGAIN One of these days we will see some fall color changes, but this is not the time! Once again our east coast trip is cancelled, albeit for many reasons, so here we are trying to catch some leaf changes in Colorado.
But before we go, we have to go back to Palm Springs, yet again, to pick out our Palo blanco, one of the previously purchased trees that didn't make it. Fortunately we had purchased the replacement insurance. Unfortunately we assumed when they say "replacement", they mean replacing with a similar tree TODAY. Not a tree similar to the tree we purchased 3 years earlier, even though they offered to host the trees until we are ready to plant. We are happy to be done with Moon Valley... or are we? Stay tuned.
Tram And of course a visit to Palm Spring always includes dinner at our [x-]favorite restaurant, Copley's. Except that they get themselves off of our favorite list by rudely being incredulous that we did NOT want to sit under pouring rain. Yes, rain in Palm Springs, and during our visit... unusual, but turns out we were supposed to call state that fact, "We don't want to sit under the rain." Buffoons.
To cleanse ourselves from the dinner experience we take the tram up the mountain for a day of hiking in the snow. Never not fun to go from hot Palm Springs to, in this case, snow on the ground! Makes for a great hike, and we only almost lost the trail once! And, no color changes.
Peppermint Next, we are off to Colorado in search of color changes. But first, let's knock Great Sand Dunes National Park out of the way! We always forget how big Colorado is! After a long day of flying to Denver, renting a car, and driving and driving and driving on desolate little roads, we arrive at the park. It is a long day and we excited to check in, clean up, and get some food.
Fortunately, the lodge is just outside the park boundaries. Unfortunately, the only little restaurant is closed for the season! We are in bum-fuck-nowhere and the closest town is 30 miles in the opposite direction! The lodge has frozen pizzas -- we snagged the last one -- and a toaster oven. So pizza is for dinner!
But there's a lodge kitty! Her name is Peppermint. We return to our room after taking some Milky Way photos -- the skies are very dark -- and boom! There's a kitty comfortably lounging on our bed! Where did you come from, kitty?! She keeps us company most of the night, only to politely ask Assana to be let out early in the morning. Good kitty!
Meh Great Sand Dunes is ok. There are sand dunes... and they are great. But difficult to say much more... other than, "Wow, there's a sand dune!" Funny enough the best dune-viewing spot is out of our room at the lodge! And, no color changes.
Posh Aspen, with all the aspen trees, should provide some color changes! The drive takes us over the Continental Divide which is super cold and super windy. Then down to the town. Everything about Aspen is posh and expensive: the restaurants, people walking around, houses, the stores, including the fabulous Overland where Dan picks up a leather jacket that fits so well, it is as though it was made for him!
Core Dump
Our hotel is no exception with its uniquely impeccable service.
It is no more clear than when Assana has the worst spa
treatment of her life: the dude talks randomly for 90 minutes
-- like a ridiculous stream of consciousness -- without actually giving
Assana a massage. The experience is so terrible that we
immediately cancel the appointment on the following day. Later
as we are sitting around the atrium, a gorgeous Frenchman
stops by, introduces himself as the General Manager, and
apologizes for the icky massage.
- "Oh, you heard about it?"
"Yes, I know everything!"
The experience is followed by gifts -- hotel paraphernalia: hats, leather luggage tags, etc. -- and a nice bottle of wine and dessert in our room. Thanks Hotel Jerome!
🎂 We drive around the area, hike the Maroon Bells, walk around town... looking for colors. And, no color changes.
Happy last-of-the-fifties birthday, Dan!
