Salt Lake City to Denver

Dang blog. I can't move this picture down so I'm leaving it here!
 I am a newbie Pinkberry fanatic and am going through serious pomegranate yogurt withdrawal. This picture must be featured. Read on!

This is about the extent of Salt Lake City we were able to see (with exception to parts of the city at night). I can see why Coal (my youngest brother) likes this city so much though - easy to navigate and driver friendly turning lanes. Joseph Smith was on to something. (It's late and this one's too easy ... I'm going to refrain from making other comments on this subject). 

And we finally reach Wyoming, the never-ending state.

Hoping the (former) Bunney girls read this blog - I snapped this one for you gals.

Fences to keep the snow back from the interstate due the high winds and
excessive amounts of snow this area receives.

Wyoming was grueling! A white-knuckled drive East on I-80 driving 55 mph in a 75 mph zone due to icy roads and white out conditions for miles on end! We were smart to make a detour to get off from I-80 and away from the many foolish drivers and big rigs. From Matt's trusty (and fortunately BORROWED) CB Radio we learned that there was an accident just few exits east of us and traffic was backed up for miles. Apparently the little BMW that had flown past us just minutes before bounced off a truck and ended up far off the road, uninjured fortunately. Eesh.

The alternate route took us up-up-up (7,600) further into the snowy madness at 30 mph. We watched the GPS unit add more and more time to our expected arrival time in Denver! BUT .. we arrived to Denver safely ... 9+ hours later. 

And, YES. We brought the snowy mess to Denver along with a significant drop in temperatures!

We stayed with my friend Abby (I apologize for my failure to address you as "Dr. Abby", next time ... I promise) at her fabulously decorated and spacious apartment in the city. She and her kitty, Buckshot, were gracious hosts. Her apartment was beyond comfortable and a welcomed break from the basic-sterilized hotel scene! 

Delicious salads and sushi were devoured before returning to her place as Matt and I had requested dinner to meet the following conditions, "healthy and easy with a bar".  Sushi was a perfect match!

We  caught up on talk and plans for the next day while Matt caught up on the Walking Dead.

The next day we started off the morning with an amazing breakfast at Snooze in Boulder. It was such a nice break to have someone other than Matt or myself leading the charge for the day. Abby drove and took us to some of her favorite places for good eats!

Gee - aren't morning pictures the best?!

Tired of our outfits yet? Good! We aren't either.

Abby with her favorite morning bites menu!

That's right ... more food pictures coming up! 

Holy, WOW! I had been holding out for Lox, arugula and bagel this whole trip. I hit the jackpot on this one. What an outstanding (and beyond filling) breakfast!

Matt and Abby ordered the Breakfast Pot Pie (apologies if I've butchered the name!)

After breakfast we took a quick trip (okay ... it was a bit longer than quick - I think Matt would agree) into "Bliss" a quirky little shop with what else ... FAKE BIRDS!! Oh my. 

After HOW MANY CITIES we had been through I finally found fake bird paradise. Such cute decorations for the home and fun little gifts (if I decide that I want to be of the giving type). Yes. They had plenty of other decorations that did not include birds. I, however, was on a mission to make up for the not so bird-friendly world of Portland.

Mission accomplished!
I didn't even have time to look at their wonderful (non-bird) jewelry.
No. I would not wear bird jewelry. Even I have limits.

And then it was off to the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park ( at the foot of the Rocky Mountain National Park) to explore all things "The Shining".

Absolutely beautiful sites on the drive up to Estes Park. Just incredible!
Despite the cold temperatures - the snow made everything fantastic!

The Stanley Hotel

If only Matt wore stupid shirts ... this would be the most perfect stupid shirt for him!
FORTUNATELY - Matt does not wear stupid shirts. :)

Abby's first purchase of a Colorado shirt. So many options how could you leave without one,
even if she is officially a "local".

Menacing clouds over the Stanley Hotel

Matt dreaming that he owned Abby's new car. Pft. 
Hey, Abby, nice car!

Inside the Stanley Hotel. Turns out Dumb & Dumber was filmed at this hotel. 

Know what was NOT filmed at this hotel? Stanley Kubrik's original production of "The Shining". WHAT?
We thought that at least a FEW of the scenes were shot here. 

Wrong.

This hotel was solely the INSPIRATION for Stephen King's novel.

Kubrick did not find the hotel suitable for his creative madness! He instead filmed in Oregon, the UK and the Canadian Rockies. After hearing the tourguide explain the reasons for this (not enough snow in the area, hotel's colors were not up to par, etc.) ...  we could appreciate his logic. At least another "classic", (D&D) was actually filmed here!

Video of  (click here -->)  Dumb & Dumber "Race you to the top"

Our attempt to recreate Dumb & Dumber's "Race you to the top" scene ...
we didn't think the hotel staff would appreciate us truly recreating the scene.:)

Commence the Stanley Hotel tour!

The story goes .... King stayed at this hotel in the 1970's - in Room 217 specifically. He was going through a bout of writers block and was currently writing a story about a family that was trapped in an amusement park that had come to life to torture them. His publisher's were not thrilled with the concept of this novel, at all, and encouraged King to take some time off (and press reset!). 

King did so by heading west with his family and checking in to this hotel at the very end of the season, the end of October. They were the last guests and almost were not permitted to check in.
The hotel did not have heat during this season back then ... but it did have a fine history of rumored hauntings. Some of which both King and Jim Carrey had experienced when staying in Room 217.
King experienced several hauntings and visions during his stay at the hotel and managed to complete "The Shining" in record time following his visit to the hotel.

Our tour guide, Ryan, shared several histories of hauntings with us during the tour of the hotel.

Creepy photo I snapped of a picture .. the caption below the picture says
"You may not see ghosts at the Stanley Hotel, but they see YOU." (boo-ha-deh!)

On top of the staircase - hanging with portraits of previous owners.

Our tour guide, Ryan, telling the history of the hotel and the many spooky accounts.

The infamous "Room 217". The current tenant  were just returning to their room (with a case of Coors Light) and invited everyone in to take a peek. Ryan (tourguide) would not allow anyone in due to liability reasons but we were permitted to snap pictures of the room. 

The Haunted Room 217

Matt fearful of the "redrum" sign

"redrum" - okay. The jokesters butchered this since the "r's" were supposed to be written backwards. Still fun, and creepy! 

Legend has it this room is also haunted (specifically in the closet inside) because of the captain (left of the picture) who haunts this section of the hotel. Many have felt the touch of a child ghost on their necks in this room and often an overwhelming sense of fear and general uncomfortableness.

The crazy kids left me to suffer the 4th floor by myself. Scary!

Our tourguide suggested we visit the 4th floor (the children's floor) as many have sat in this loveseat and experienced orbs in their pictures when holding out candy for the kiddo's.
No such luck. For any of us.

Fantastic actors recreating the Shining (minus the axe)

Me, not so much. Had to do a few takes of this and couldn't keep from laughing every time.

Abby and her " Danny on the tricycle" re-enactment.

 Creepy twins in the hallway time!

Communication: PAST                                                                              Communication: PRESENT

And a drink to wrap the tour up. Magician hand and all.

Abby waiting for "Grady" to serve her a drink.

Grady made Matt happy with his "Ardbeg" Scotch (aka ... STINK!)

We discovered ELK on the drive back to Denver. Abby's first up close and personal wildlife experience in Colorado. Hooray for firsts!!

An excellent dinner at SALT in Boulder. 

Matt's entree (something with pork and pears)

Mine (vegetarian delight!)

Abby's - Burger delight!

And dessert at Pinkberry!

A true pinkberry fanatic!

We returned to Abby's to watch .. what else ... The Shining!

Here's........JOHNNY!

PJ time @ Abby Hotel

Updating this blog from our final hotel (hoorah!!) of the trip; Louisville, Kentucky.
I will be home tomorrow night to cap off the rest of the trip.

What a fantastic 3 weeks. Feels like we've been gone for decades.