2016-07-05 - Maroon Bells - Gunnison and Denver
After our 34-mile trek through the Maroon Bells high mountains, Brian hosted me for two days at his house in Gunnison. The first day we both spent mostly catching up on work. In between I managed to wash all my camp gear and clothes. After buying groceries and restocking Brian's fridge, I also prepared lunch for us: French toast, vegetable stir fry, guacamole, and hummus, slapped together experimentally as a sandwich. It was really delicious, probably even more so because I was so grateful to have my appetite back, after having suffered through altitude sickness. That night we ate out at a local Nepalese restaurant which was also an amazing meal, everything top-notch from the Chai tea to the soup.
The second day I spent some time with Brian next door at his car repair and tire shop. We went to get a drink in a Swedish military vehicle he had just finished repairing that day. I was delighted to learn that the very same vehicle may have been used to carry missiles or serve as a command center. After packing my things and saying goodbye, I took off for Denver in a truck borrowed from Brian's employee. It was my first time driving a truck and it was an older one with occasional shifting not being reflected correctly on the dashboard but, surprisingly enough, there was nothing too difficult about it.
The second day I spent some time with Brian next door at his car repair and tire shop. We went to get a drink in a Swedish military vehicle he had just finished repairing that day. I was delighted to learn that the very same vehicle may have been used to carry missiles or serve as a command center. After packing my things and saying goodbye, I took off for Denver in a truck borrowed from Brian's employee. It was my first time driving a truck and it was an older one with occasional shifting not being reflected correctly on the dashboard but, surprisingly enough, there was nothing too difficult about it.
I stopped for lunch halfway through the four hour drive, the stupefying duration of which was compounded by bouts of heavy road repair work that variously slowed traffic to a dead crawl in one direction or the other. Eventually though, finally, I made it through Colorado's surreal mountainous landscape and into the mile-high city known as Denver. Two old friends of mine, Emily and Bridget, were waiting for me when I arrived at REI so we could all catch up over dinner. I hadn't seen either of them in a year, not since we finished cycling across the country, and I deeply enjoyed reconnecting with them over the good memories and current happenings. With only limited time on our hands, we walked around a nearby park and dipped our feet into the cool waters of a pond, chatting the whole time. When it was time to go, it was hard to say goodbye to two such lovely friends. I warned them that the car registration actually expires at midnight and learned later that they arrived just minutes past.
The flight back to New Jersey was less restful than I expected. I remember musing, half-asleep, over the loud cries of a baby somewhere in the cabin. Isn't it usually more quiet? I opened my eyes only to realize that the defiantly unhappy baby was in fact immediately to my right and another baby was just behind me. It's a blameless crime, but I had to acknowledge it would not the best form of recovery. I probably could not have picked a worse seat.
After the flight, I grabbed a quick bite to eat and my dad drove me home. Luckily, I did manage to sleep a few hours in my own bed before working the rest of the day from home.
My introduction to Colorado I believe has proven to be the hardest and most dangerous adventure I have endured up to this point. I still find myself marveling over the sharp contrast between the pain of that internal struggle to succeed, and the stark beauty of my surroundings. I am happy to say that Colorado will likely remain one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. And of course, when all is said and done, most often it's who you're with that matters most. I am thankful for the chance I had to catch up with three friends from our cross-country bike ride last year. I wish those good people all the best and hope to see them each again soon.
After the flight, I grabbed a quick bite to eat and my dad drove me home. Luckily, I did manage to sleep a few hours in my own bed before working the rest of the day from home.
My introduction to Colorado I believe has proven to be the hardest and most dangerous adventure I have endured up to this point. I still find myself marveling over the sharp contrast between the pain of that internal struggle to succeed, and the stark beauty of my surroundings. I am happy to say that Colorado will likely remain one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. And of course, when all is said and done, most often it's who you're with that matters most. I am thankful for the chance I had to catch up with three friends from our cross-country bike ride last year. I wish those good people all the best and hope to see them each again soon.