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Published: January 8th 2015
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One of the pleasures of being a Travelblogger is the opportunity to meet fellow members...we truly are a global family. We first met
Dancing Dave and his lovely wife Denise on our trip to Australia (see
Sunny Sydney with Dave, Denise and Rachel and
Treking the Bush with David and Denise) in October 2012. We looked forward to returning their hospitality someday and showing them some of the beauty of the Southwest and Rocky Mountains.
We learned in late 2013 that they would be visiting their son in Toronto for Christmas 2014 and hoped that we could be included in a North American itinerary as this would be their first visit to this continent. In November 2014 they confirmed they would be coming this way. We had hoped to be able to join them on a tour of Utah, but their arrival there just before New Years conflicted with our own Christmas and New Years family get together. Fortunately, they were able to visit with us before flying on to Memphis where they would drive the Blues Highway to New Orleans. They will then fly to Fort Lauderdale where they will join
D MJ Binkley for the Blues Cruise to the Caribbean. As TBers are well aware from Dancing Dave's World Music Forum, one of
his greatest pleasures in life is music, and the drive and cruise will constitute the Blues phase of their journey. You will have to wait to read Dancing Dave's blogs of their fantastic six week trip that has then continuing on South America where they will join
taracloud for a trip around Peru and Bolivia. For now I will provide a snap shot of the shirt time we spent together.
Dave and Denise arrived about 6 pm on Tuesday, 6 January after an all day drive from Grand Junction. They enjoyed perfect weather crossing the Rocky Mountains, through Vail and Breckenridge ski towns, over the 11,500 ft Hosier Pass (they will be much higher in Peru and Bolivia), through South Park and finally to our home. We had a great evening over a chicken fajitas dinner, prepared and serve by my son Will, hearing about their trip thus far and getting caught up on each others lives.
Our one day together was Wednesday, 7 January. We had a slow morning having breakfast, hearing the horrible news about the terrorist attack in Paris, and watching Dave take "a few" pictures of our mule deer raiding the bird feeder. He
would see how close he could get to them before they bounded away. Then after tossing some of their laundry into the washing machine, we loaded up our car for a bit of touring; first a quick overview of Woodland Park, and then down Ute Pass to the Garden of the Gods. Woodland Park, at 8500 ft, lived up to it name of "City above the Clouds" as the day was sunny with blue skies. But as we descended to Manitou Springs and Old Colorado City at 6000 ft, we entered a flog bank with lightly falling snow.
Driving into the Garden of the Gods was a mystical experience with the fog and snow shrouding the bright red rocks looming above and around us. We parked, and braving the 15 degree Fahrenheit temperatures, walked through the rock formations. We were essentially alone, without the normal crowds, which added to the experience. After a couple other photo stops, we had a late lunch of buffalo burgers at the Trading Post before heading back up the pass. A brief siesta and further conversation ensued. For dinner we ate at our favorite Irish pub, McGintys, where good food and conversation continued well
into the night.
It's Thursday morning and we have just said good bye to the Dancing Ones. They are driving to Colorado Spring airport for their flight to Memphis. We had a wonderful time, even though short, and hope our paths cross again in the not too distant future. Thanks for coming our way, David and Denise!
I have added a picture of the Carlsen Family Christmas and pictures of recent Travelblog get togethers with
Sojourner1208 and
Kari12.
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D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley
Fantastic
Love this one. Can't wait to see them, meet them, travel with and party on!