While the world watched in horror as Boulder, CO and surrounding areas got destroyed by floods, Karilyn and I left town to head west. We ended up abandoning the original plan of camping in the mountains by Salida, CO due to the rain and instead had a really nice visit with mom and dad. It was great to finally get a chance to just hang out with Karilyn. It had been a while since we last just went and escaped together even if the destination wasn't exactly what we had in mind. Though the hot tub at mom and dad's combined with great conversation made it easy to forget we we're on an escape. The next day, I got Karilyn up early because I knew where we were going and had been keeping it a surprise from her. All she knew was that we were still going camping somewhere near Telluride, CO which is a 5 hour drive from Denver. At one point during our stay we stopped and rock hounded just outside of Gunnison, CO. We managed to find some really cool stuff, one of them being a rock with a large mammillary formation of bluish looking minerals inside of it. See pictures below...
After scavenging for rocks, we left this area happy that the sun was finally shining where we were(it had rained for 4 days straight). We were on a mission to make it to Telluride before sunset and enjoyed the amazingly beautiful ride in the meantime. The most beautiful portion of the trip besides Telluride would have to be Cimarron valley and the town of Ridgway. I unfortunately did not manage a shot to call my own so I found this shot that best describes what we saw minus the beautiful fall color Aspens...
I knew from the look on Karilyn's face as we drove that it would be very difficult to drag her back to a city life in Denver. Yet I can't help but feel that I had the same feelings she did,a sense that life in the mountains is just simply better. The solitude of it all was amazing. Driving to Telluride was tricky because there weren't giant signs like those on most routes to ski resorts telling us how to get there. We had to be constantly watching and as a consequence of that, we absorbed so much of the beauty around us. On our last turn into the town of Telluride, I really began to feel the exhaustion of the drive yet all that subsided the minute I caught eye of the waterfall that fell just beyond town...
Stunned and amazed, I could not believe we had finally made it. All my life I've been dreaming about the moment I'd see the town and the San Juan range that surrounded it and here we were. I had no idea the beauty that would wait for us there. What made things even more awesome was that we had arrived on the first day of the Telluride Blues and Brews festival. Hungry we wasted no time grabbing a hometown crafted brew made by Telluride Brewing Co. called "Face Down"...
After we had our fill, we still needed to make our way to our "campsite". After all, Karilyn had no clue that two weeks ago I had sprung a plan to whisk her away to a magical place where God's creation so clearly presents itself in a way that makes the heart flutter. Nor did she have any idea that I already had a "campsite" in mind, except it was in the mountain village of Telluride and normally would host the rich and famous at $500 a night but I managed to steal a room at $125 thanks to Groupon. The trick was, how I was going to get her up the mountain into the village without it being suspect. Since it was "on the way" might as well stop for directions at the Hotel Madeline. After paying the valet guy a tip to play along, we went inside to get "directions". I simply put it out there to her, "if I could afford for us to stay here, would you want to?". Of course she said yes so it really freaked her out when I told the clerk, "Check in for Gillam". After a few gasps and "are you for real" looks, we hugged and began our time to relax at Hotel Madeline...
Despite the periodic rain, the trip was extraordinary with the views, brews, and good times. Wanting to celebrate our time together we shared one of the best pomegranate martini's I've ever tasted and a cigar at the bar adjacent to the hotel...
We even braved the rain to join hundreds of other people at the blues festival in town. The gondola ride was free into town from the village up till 1am which meant no need to worry about how to get home and provided for awesome night time views. The blues festival was amazing considering we only got there for two songs. Yet the effort the town put into decorating for it was awesome, floating candles, Chinese ball lights that led the way, and cool Christmas lights...
Tired from all the driving and beat from such a jaw dropping experience, we called it a night much earlier than most hoping to get up early the next day for pictures. Being up a first light the day after a 5 hour drive is not easy at all but it was completely worth it. The views from our early ride up the gondola and from the ridge at the top was amazing. Especially since it snowed the night before at the higher elevations and gave way for some great photos...
After exhausting myself hiking around the ridge getting photos, we continued our journey into town to get breakfast and found a great place called Maggie's Cafe that provided even more good views with good food...
After riding the gondola back up and over the mountain to our hotel to check out, we made our way to see the waterfalls seen from town closer up. Worried that we would not have enough time, we decided against hiking so that we could still make it to Black Canyon. However, I did manage a shot from the gondola on the way back and a shot of the two waterfalls...
On the drive out of town, we discussed all that we have done in our four years of marriage and the things we still intend to hope to do(raise kids, explore countries, grow business, etc.). It was a rare chance for Karilyn and I to really put things in perspective and realize that what we do on this earth with our limited time is important. Equally important is perspective on how amazing what God has done is and a short visit to Black Canyon provided that for both of us...
Anxious to get home to our dogs, we left our solitude to be with our favorite pups. Five hours later and plenty of bathroom stops, we were happy to be reunited with our dogs. Yet neither of us could shake that feeling, the feeling that one day we would go back to Telluride/Cimarron Valley and be at peace again. If there was ever a masterpiece that God made, that was it. I was stoked that we got to enjoy the time together and feel completely at peace at such a crazy time in our lives. I can't wait to do it again.
