Day #6 Denver, CO

After settling into our room in Denver last evening, Tom and I made our way to the 16th Street Mall for a late dinner. It is another great example of good urban planning that brings lots of people to the city center. The specialty drinks came with glasses to keep and Tom was able to add to his collection of Hard Rock Cafe cordials from cities across the nation.


In ranking accommodations, this hotel has the best beds and pillows yet, but the smallest (and therefore worst) bathroom! I hate it when you can hardly turn around to shut the door. I had a great sleep. Yay!

Wednesday, Day #6, was planned as "see Denver day" and a tour was booked to the Rocky Mountain Parks.

Our Grey line tour bus driver/guide, Gerald, explained why the panoramic views Denver is noted for were absent: FIRES. Smoke from fires as far away as Washington and Oregon are compromising the vistas. In his 72 years, he has not seen anything like it! As I looked through the front window I could see mountains the closer we got, but there are much higher ones behind that we could not see, including Pike's Peak.

I hadn't thought about the Continental Divide in a long, long time. Water to the West goes to the Pacific. And to the East of the Divide water  to the Gulf of Mexico and into the Atlantic.

The vegetation is different at higher elevations and more trees grow on the North slopes than the South as they stay cooler and get more water.

En Route to Red Rock Amphitheatre, an acoustic phenomenon in an amazing natural setting. Seats 10,000. Owned by the city of Denver. Every band or star who is anybody has played here.

Open to the public and used routinely for great cardio work outs. I walked two rows just to feel like I was part of it all! 6,400 feet above sea level makes for pretty thin air and the need to SIT DOWN!

Next stop: the WILD WEST. Hairpin curves took us up and down Lookout Mountain on Lariat Pass. Driver Gerald had to stand and beep the bus horn continuously to safely navigate the big bus on the narrow roads. We were heading to the place where "one of Americans favored and famous heroes" lived and chose for his final resting place.

Buffalo Bill Cody's grave site

Round 'im up, Cowboy Tom!

Take 'im down, MK!

Buffalo Bill Cody was one of the earliest abolitionists and promoting of equal rights for women. Annie Oakley was made famous as a sharp shooter and part of the Wild West Show that toured the nation and the globe.

Naps were in order after the round-up and then.... COORS TIME!

Cheers!

Coors Brewery tour. Golden, CO

Glad we went, but both Tom and I agree that the tour and the beer was better in St. Louis at the Budweiser Brewery. (And I have always been a faithful Coors Light drinker! Bud Light Lime is my first choice now!)

Last stop for the day, dinner in Golden, CO, then a quiet night at the hotel preparing for the 9 hour drive to Salt Lake City tomorrow.

We have our GOLDEN TICKETs!

Woody's Wood Oven Pizza... yum. Served with local honey for dipping the great crust in as a dessert. Our table is in the middle.