Rocky Mountain High!

For the last couple of days we have been camping at the Mountain Air Ranch near Denver. The altitude there is about 7,000 feet and for folks like us, who normally live 13 feet above sea level, everything is difficult. Climbing a flight or two of stairs brings back memories of how I felt after running a mile. Even the easy things, tying your shoes, zipping up the sleeping bag, or rolling over in bed will cause you to gasp an extra breath or two. We did get to rest up around the pool, and improve our tans. I even read half a novel. Enough rest. Back to the hard work of vacationing.

Today we drove to visit some old friends, Terry and Ann Lucius, who live in Evergreen, CO. We just missed Terry, who was flying a big jet to Japan. I hope we can visit with him on our way back from Utah. Terry loved flying more than anything when he was young, maybe still does. He worked his way through college but every spare cent went toward renting airplanes and I had many fun hours flying with him. He eventually got into the D.C. Air National Guard where he was paid to fly F-4 Phantom Jets and F-16s. This was just like dying and going to heaven in Terry's mind. Now he has graduated to flying the big planes to London, Hong Kong, Japan, etc. I guess that would be the top of the food chain for a pilot. They live in a beautiful house, in a beautiful setting, but the feature I will remember forever is the toilet; or should I say TOTO Washlet C100! This thing is just to cool for words so here is a picture and the web address: http://www.totousa.com/Default.aspx?tabid=110 I'm afraid to look up the cost because I want one and suspect I can't afford it, but damn it's cool!

Ann, after 20 years, looks unnaturally like she did in 1989. Still beautiful and fit. She sells real estate now, but used to be a dietitian for the Air Force. Maybe there is something to eating right and exercising. The Colorado thing might play into it too. It seems everyone here is a fitness buff. As we cruise through the beautiful mountains, bicycles inhabit every section of road. In some places they seem to outnumber the cars. And these aren't your garden variety Walmart bikes, nooo. These are super sophisticated, carbon or aluminum exotics. Heck, even the stretchy outfits, toe clip shoes, fancy shirts and hats would cost more than my old Schwinn. One guy we talked to was on a 15 pound, carbon fiber beauty, the cost? Between $12 and $16k! These people take their cycling seriously!

The motorcycle ride today can only be described as scenic overload. Everywhere you look the land is beautiful, dramatic, awe inspiring, breath taking; underline breath taking... Maybe the oxygen deprivation plays into it but I now really understand the John Denver lyrics to Rocky Mountain High. The air is so thin you can get light headed and it makes me think the birds here must take steroids to be able to get aloft. We spend lots of time today above the tree line and could have had a snowball fight if I'd been a quicker thinker as we passed many patches of snow that have still not melted and I'm writing this on July 12! Athletes train at these lofty heights to improve their performance at normal altitudes. Over a period of time you will develop more hemoglobin in your blood so you can get oxygen better to your cells. They say that after acclimating to life here, you feel super strong when you return to sea level. I'm shopping for my cape.

Tonight we are stopped in Leadville, a town known for its silver mining history and thin air. (Click on any picture to see it at full resolution.) Our hotel is just over 10,000 feet and the air is thin and dry. They have bragging rights to things like, "2 Mile High Liquor", an adult beverage supplier whose name must be unique in the world. The town is the real thing when it comes to mining. There are buildings, equipment, mine shafts, and all kinds of mine related debris everywhere. The town is now on the edge of some good ski resorts so it mostly mines the silver from tourists pockets today.

We found a nice restaurant with a very simple theme. They only serve one thing; a small fillet Mignon, salad, and baked potato for $7.95. OK, on Friday and Saturday you can also get prime rib, but aside from beverages and choice of two deserts, that's it. It's a formula that works. We joined the crowd at 4:50 PM waiting for 5 O'clock door opening and it filled up quickly. We were satisfied and happy when we left and I actually felt the effect of one Bud Lite! Oxygen deprivation again. One ice cream cone and I'm calling it a night.

Miner's Museum and more scenic overload tomorrow.