Looking to visit Denver again

[DustenT]

Originally Posted by nineironkitty

The more the merrier I say! So far Justin is staying with me until Friday night and then he's going to stay with Eric and Sze Lin in Mead. I have to work in Longmont Friday night and I get off at 9 am Saturday morning. I'm thinking we could meet for breakfast in Longmont and then take Hwy 66 up to Estes Park. Or we can just do brunch in Estes and then drive Trail Ridge Road. Open for suggestions either way.

lol...the e46fanatics crew is taking a drive to Idaho Springs to BeauJo's Pizza this weekend, but I'm working to late to go...but the pizza sounds good!

We were in Idaho Springs a couple weeks ago and the line for BeauJo's was out the door. Is the pizza that good, or is there just not much for good pizza in CO?

We can meet anywhere, Longmont or Mead. I like the idea of Eric cooking me breakfast though!

Originally Posted by Borg561

That's great! Looking forward to meeting you. Not sure where we're meeting Saturday, but it sounds like it will be at Eric's or somewhere for breakfast.

If you're not busy the afternoon of the 4th (Friday), I'll be heading up to Fort Collins with a friend from Colorado Springs to tour the New Belgium and O'dell breweries. The rep I've been e-mailing from New Belgium needs a firm headcount, so let me know ASAP if you want to go. Don't know exact time yet, but it would be early afternoon (1-3pmish).

Justin

Touring New Belguium sounds like fun, but I'll have to work until 4ish on Friday, so that probably won't work. Thanks for the invite!

[cali-ti]

I'll have to talk to Sze Lin and see what we can hook up. We'll be in transit over the next four days or so. Then we'll have some settling time. It'll be nice to be co-located and be able to get out and do things with people. Dusten, we're looking forward to hanging out with you and Kirsten! Can't believe you're finally getting moved out here!

[Borg561]

Hope you guys have a safe and uneventful drive to Colorado. Taking I-70 or I-80 across?

Justin

[cali-ti]

I80 ... if it's anything like getting a flight out of o'hare, it'll suck total balz, I'm so sick of the midworst and east coast flights!

EDIT: Thank God for BEER!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-jOEAufDQ4

[Borg561]

Awesome. Any idea when you'll be passing through/stopping in Omaha? I'd be willing to meet you guys for lunch/dinner somewhere (and show you an awesome beer place we have here). I'm off all day Saturday, work Sunday from 8:30am until whenever (usually 6:30, but as early as 3pm or so). Feel free to call or text, 402-350-3217.

Justin

[milehigh96caliti]

Wow this next couple of weeks is going to fly by! I hope anyway work-wise. Justin what time do you think you make it to my place on what, Wednesday? That's my Monday so I usually take a nap before going in to work...just let me know when you think you'll be here. I'll PM you my addy so you can map everything.

[DustenT]

Originally Posted by cali-ti

I'll have to talk to Sze Lin and see what we can hook up. We'll be in transit over the next four days or so. Then we'll have some settling time. It'll be nice to be co-located and be able to get out and do things with people. Dusten, we're looking forward to hanging out with you and Kirsten! Can't believe you're finally getting moved out here!

I know, it took long enough to get everything worked out!!!

[milehigh96caliti]

Sean's excited about you moving here too...he was stoked when I told him on Sunday!

[DustenT]

I'm here! The 18 hour drive with a 26' truck w/trailer for the m3 was not a lot of fun, but we are finally here!

HUGE THANKS to Eric and Sze Lin for helping us unload the truck. We mobbed it and had the truck unloaded in like an hour. I'm looking forward to meeting up with everyone soon!

[cali-ti]

Glad to help, just sorry that Steve got stung in the face by a bee! Not a good "thank you" for helping you move to CO

Looking forward to this coming weekend and getting out. Sounds like we'll be flying out to CA the following week to help out my friend out there ... just when I was looking forward to spending some time at home getting things done!

[Borg561]

Did we decide about going down to Buena Vista/Salida on Saturday? If we don't and we go up to Estes Park/RMNP like previously talked about, my friend from Colorado Springs is interested in possibly coming as well, and he'd like to know ahead of time if possible. I'll probably head up that way Thursday as well, since I won't be able to fit both brewery tours in on Friday, and there's some trails in RMNP I'd like to check out (Bridal Veil Falls; Nymph, Dream, & Emerald Laks and the Pool of Jade; Gem Lake). I don't have to be back to work until Friday the 11th either, so if anyone wanted to do something on Labor Day I could always stay another day (if that's fine with Cindy/Eric, whoever I'm staying with then).

Outside of the chance for a little rain, the weather forcast looks nice. Really looking forward to seeing you guys and gals again/for the first time.

Justin

[cali-ti]

Sze Lin and I need to fly out to Ontario, CA on the morning of Monday 7 Sep now ... we're booking it today.

Sounded like we were going to go up to Estes Park, having breakfast here at the house in Mead before we head up. We'll need a tally on who all is coming so we can prepare for that

Cindy mentioned that the Denver was having the Taste of Colorado or something the same day so we could either go up and come back the same way or go all the way through Rocky Mountain National and drop down to I-70 and head back to Denver that way. Depends on what all we want to do. The Stanley Hotel is right there in Estes Park so I'm sure we'll want to stop there.

There's a park fee per car of something like $20/day or better deals on longer passes if you plan to do RMNP again or other National Parks. I think I might need to renew my card for another year.

[milehigh96caliti]

Believe it or not...we're still waiting for visiting permission...they haven't told Sean yet but I called and they said they will let him know...hrummmmph. I'm not worried but what a PITA. I really couldn't find much on Salida/BVCC, so I thought we could just stick with the original plan plus go to downtown Denver for the Taste of Colorado...our last summer blowout.

I'm off til Wednesday night next week (no I'm working this week), you're welcome to stay if you would like. Sean's BFF Ryan is going with us (except to see Sean) and he'll be here too...so you'll have guy time! LOL...he's 32 and he's fun...lookout Monday Night Football! Anyhoo...this will be fun!

[Borg561]

What time are we planning on doing breakfast Saturday morning? It's almost a two hour drive from Colorado Springs to Mead, so he may just want to meet us there when we're ready to leave. I'll give him a jingle tomorrow.

Taste of Colorado sounds fun. I've not been over to the Grand Lake side of the park. I had read that they were doing paving work on that part of US-34, but the website says paving is done and final striping will be done by Sept. 2nd. Also, if we go up and come down the eastern side, do we dare go up Old Fall River Road (gravel road for the final 9 miles)? If anyone wants to do some hiking, I have a book about some day & overnight hikes in the park. Gives approximate round-trip times, distance, directions, and a box with an scale overview of the scenery, trail conditions, difficulty, and solitude (how crowded the trail likely is). Some good hikes ranging from 45 minutes jaunts around a lake to 13 hour trips from one side of the park to the other.

I've heard of the Stanley Hotel, what's it's significance? Oh, and the $20 fee is good for seven days, so it'll cover me if I head up there more than once.

Looking like I'll head home Monday. Just found out I have to work Tuesday night, and I don't care to be on the road for 8 hours then have to go to work. I'll probably stop by the Forney Museum Monday morning. Sounds interesting and that way I don't have to drive into the sun as much on the way home.

Justin

[milehigh96caliti]

I get off of work at 9 am Sat so I'm going to Eric's right after work...I should be there around 9:30 or so. Depending on how long breakfast is I would say leaving around noonish would be close. Grand Lake is beautiful with a huge lodge...not sure if it's open but it's really nice to visit

Stanley Hotel - The Shining with Jack Nicholson. We can do a ghost tour. I've never done it, they cost $13.00. Kind of a touristy thing if you're interested.

Here's the link to it. I liked the 4 hour tv miniseries better. It was closer to the book than the movie was.

http://www.stanleyhotel.com/