Cross Country Kitty, Bighorn Sheep, and Bierstadt

Hey friends and fam! Thanks for following us on our latest adventure :) After four long days of driving and three nights in some questionable side-of-the-highway motels...We made it! Gus traveled like a champ. Some highlights along the way included our Night 1 stop in Erie, PA. This town seemed like it would be an absolute blast in the summer. We caught the sunset over Lake Erie and then grabbed some tacos and brews at Lavery Brewing Co. Toledo, Ohio was another nice pitstop on Day 2. We stopped to stretch our legs in the sunshine and enjoyed some iced coffees along a quiet riverside path. Night 3 we strolled through the main street in Grand Island, Nebraska. But we were really just driving as fast as we possibly could to get to our final destination-- Colorado! 

 

Our home for the next month is in Georgetown, Colorado, a charming old mining town nestled in the mountains. It has a gorgeous little lake surrounded by a walking path and a surprising number of fishermen and women out every day. It also has tons of local trails for biking, hiking, and running—pretty much all of the things we love to do. Clear Creek runs its way through downtown, its whitewater rushing over rocks, its shores lined with wildflowers until it spills into Georgetown Lake. There is also a quirky wildlife viewing area for this herd of Bighorn sheep that are apparently always around. I happened to run into them on an evening hike last week. I kept my distance because they were pretty good-sized, but they were much more interested in the grass they were chomping on than in me. Also, you'll be quite shocked to hear that we've become regulars at the only brewery in town, Cabin Creek Brewing. They have a tasty selection of brews, regular live music, friendly staff, and outside seating right on the lake. My favorite part about being here so far is just stepping outside, looking in all directions, and seeing mountains. Just makes my heart happy. 

In true Mashley fashion, we hiked a giant snow-covered mountain the first chance we got. Mt. Bierstadt is 14,065 feet tall (if anyone is counting--I definitely was), less than a 30-minute drive from Georgetown up the windy Guenella Pass, and its summit can be reached in 3.5 grueling miles. Actually, the first mile was fairly flat through a meadow, but once you start going up, you're going UP. And since it is still fairly early in the season, most of the way up was covered in snow. I Struggled (with a capital S), but thanks to my hiking buddies Sean and Mr. Matt's encouragement, I made it to the top. And I was so glad I did. It was absolutely incredible up there. I had that light-headed, not quite acclimated to this altitude, on-top-of-the-world kind of feeling. There was quite literally a string of snowy mountains as far as you could see in several directions. And somehow it was a brilliantly sunny day for us all day! (I have the sunburned cheeks to prove it.) After a quick snack at the summit, we laughed our way down the mountain, half sliding down on our butts through the snow, half running/slipping down the slushy mountain side. All this and we were back to the big blue truck by 1:30pm. We may or may not have gone home to take a nap, and then we were headed out again to check out the nearby town of Idaho Springs. Got our laundry done in style-- put it in the washer, had a beer, put it in the dryer, had another beer,  folded it, found some live music and pizza, and another beer. Most fun I've had doing laundry in quite a while. Anyway you spin it, an epic first Saturday in Colorado. I think we're doing it right. 

 

  

On Sunday, we ventured over to Dillon, CO, about 30 minutes down the road, and found the most beautiful bike path I've ever been on. It stretches about 30 miles and wraps all the way around Lake Dillon. While we certainly did not bike 30 miles, we enjoyed a pleasant bike ride all the way over to another charming town, Frisco, where we sat outside for a tasty breakfast and watched the town bustling with people out enjoying the sunny day. The snow-capped mountains were the backdrop for most of the journey, quietly framing the beautiful blue lake. I was massively impressed with this bike trail system, as it was unlike anything I have ever experienced before. Just absolutely stunning views and a perfectly paved path for miles and miles. I just kept saying this is incredible...this is so stunning...over and over again. Words simply could not describe.

Overall, I am just incredibly grateful to be here in this beautiful place with my best friend, doing the things we love to do. I keep pinching myself, but it turns out it's really happening. Signing off for now, but we have another 14,000-foot hike planned for my birthday weekend, hopefully some camping and perhaps a beer festival. Stay tuned.