Sunrise Owls

We’ve started our nomadic life! The warm welcome from those kind enough to share couches and homes with us feels a like a continuation of the joy from celebrating our wedding. We arrived in Denver to a warm welcome from a world traveler herself and our catsitter, Maddi, with lots to catch up on over delicious Mediterranean at Jerusalem’s after dropping off the sentimental plants we just couldn’t part with into the care of our longtime friend with the greenest thumb.

Lexi’s 10 year high school reunion was set up for the day after we got in town. We spent the evening catching up with her former classmates that were able to make it. No familiar faces for me but all friendly and welcoming people. Lexi loves to learn what everyone’s been up to and meet new folks, and there were lots of new partners and baby pictures to catch up on. The next morning, we met Lexi’s family for brunch just in time to celebrate the beginning of another school year.

We spent the next few days with our friends Julie and Chris, who just bought a beautiful home. Julie’s husband has been spending a lot of time thinking of ways to make their new place feel like home. They are settling in with their adorable new pup, Lacie. We enjoyed delicious Italian food at Pomodoro, a local business Julie has supported from the start, and a grilled meal on their patio with live guitar tunes provided by yours truly.

Canon City

Iykyk, you’ve been looking forward to our trip to this small (pop. 17,000; elevation 5,351 ft.) outdoor tourism city for some time now. The stunning views, mild Banana Belt weather, and casual hospitality did not disappoint. While we got Chris’ heart racing on a gondola ride (fear of heights, what can you do) and educated ourselves on state flags crossing the tallest suspension bridge in North America, the highlight of our visit to the historic Royal Gorge park was a show in the theatre with raptors soaring through the space.

We spent one night at a boutique motel, The Little Canyon Inn, with stunning nighttime stars and delicious coffee. Folks were friendly at Whitewater Bar and Grill down the street, sharing the character of the town and how they’ve seen it change over the last few decades.

The next day we explored the historic Main Street, meeting dive bar owners and city council members. In the peak heat of the day, we dipped our toes in the chilly Arkansas River right next to the Royal Gorge Route Railroad. It’s a small town with its own summer festivals and charm, but locals weren’t shy to remind us they “get their culture” in Colorado Springs and Denver when they aren’t cheering on the high school sports teams.

We rounded out our minitrip on Lexi’s 28th birthday with a psychic reading at the farmer’s market one town over. She picked up on our season of change and dropped hints for some exciting new developments in our future.

A few days to takeoff

Chris booked a private karaoke room for my birthday party and the squad had a blast! Encouraged by a few rounds of soju (Korean rice wine), Chris’ rendition of Don’t Stop Believin’ was barely beat by Hannah’s Creed performance for highest ranked song of the night. But hey, we already knew the man had talent.

We’re up in the mountains this weekend to visit my family in Nederland for the weekend before we catch our flight Monday. When we leave our cars and luggage behind here, taking the light rail down to Denver with just our backpacks, our big adventure will truly begin!