Wandering Around: Barrie, Ontario to Bear Creek Lake Park, Denver, Colorado

October 1-16, 2014

Left Barrie on Sept 30th, about 5 PM, and spent the 1st night of the trip in the Walmart parking lot, Port Huron, MI. From there, spent about a week driving more or less directly southwest, and landed in Denver at Bear Creek Lake Park, near Morrison.

On the way:

...good food at Cracker Barrel,

...quiet sleeping spots at various Walmarts:

Walmart for the night...

...very quiet.

While parked at a different Walmart, perhaps in Nebraska, we struck up a conversation with a couple in an old Hitchhiker 5th wheel. I complimented him on what good shape it was in. The guy had been a drummer, but was now semi-retired, and they were heading southwest. Seemed like a nice guy, interesting, pleasant, even showed us inside his Hitchhiker, which he bought for about $15,000. It was a 1999 model, but well-made. Anyway, all was pleasant until the guy started badmouthing Obama: "I read that he's plotting to take over America; he's found a loophole in the law that will allow him to be reelected for a third term!" ...and other such conspiratorial stuff. I didn't ask what he'd been reading, but wouldn't be surprised if it included Fox News. Not sure what to make of it. And not the first time we'd heard rabidly anti-Obama sentiments. After that, we kind of disengaged as quickly as we could without offending. However, we'd already exchanged e-mails, and some days later, he sent Leah a Facebook friend request. She hasn't responded yet--not sure what to do. I get the sense that Republicans are so vicious and short-sighted that they've lost sight of one of the hallmarks of a successful democracy: compromise.

Anyway, it's good to be back near the mountains. Each visit, as we approach from the east, I get a little shiver when I first sight them, which, depending upon the weather, is about 50 miles out on I-76. This year, once in Denver, we decided to use Bear Creek Lake Park, just outside the city, as a base to explore some old haunts before we headed over Eisenhower Pass to get farther west and south for the winter. Bear Creek closes for camping at the end of October, and we were able to snag a discounted annual pass, which, combined with the already reasonable camping fee, got us hot showers, flush toilets, and electricity at the site for $15 a night.

During the week or so we stayed there, we walked and biked through the park, itself; and drove up into the mountains to revisit favourite haunts in the Front Range: Estes Park, Smokin' Dave's BBQ (best we've ever tasted) in Estes, the Peak-to-Peak Highway, Brainard Lake (10,000ft), Allenspark, Lyons, Nederland, and of course, umpteen thrift stores along the way. And Gavin: we even stopped at Camp Dick! Just wonderful to be here! Weather is mild and sunny in the day and cold (40 or so) at night--perfect sleeping weather.

Some photos:

Bathroom buddy, restaurant in eastern Colorado

Mural on abandoned gas station wall, Sterling, Colorado

At Bear Creek Park, Denver, our site:

Out for a walk, Bear Creek Park, near Denver

Fall colours, Bear Creek Park, near Denver

Riding on bike path, Bear Creek Park, near Denver

Fall walk, Bear Creek Park, near Denver

Leah, Bear Creek Park, near Denver

A chilly visit to Brainard Lake, about 10,000 feet, 45 minutes from Bear Creek Park

Took a chance on a pizza buffet in Golden, and it was the best I've ever tasted:

...Woody's wood-fired Pizza, Golden, CO. (Sorry: night shot with camera phone).

Visited an 80-acre flea market in Denver with some interesting items for sale:

Leah walked all the many aisles, but was a bit disappointed. I got bored with what was for sale, but found some mildly pleasing graphics:

While Leah roamed thrift stores, I tried my hand at street photography (don't think I have the stomach for it; feels like treating people poorly) in a rundown, but rapidly gentrifying area of downtown Denver: