The weather in Sugarloaf felt damp having rained some on Friday before we arrived and again overnight. Saturday morning was warm. After breakfast with MJ, we headed off to MTB on Gordon’s Gulch Trail below Bald Mountain. At over 8,000’ elevation, we found ourselves walking some of the steep rocky single track while panting heavily. The meadow areas had a profusion of wildflowers. We came across forest service roads and dispersed campgrounds where we chatted with campers and made way for ATVs and dirt bikes before heading back to the single track.
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We drove into Nederland where MJ took us out for an early dinner at the Busey Brews and we walked around a bit.
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| MJ and Lezley at Busey Brews |
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| Covered bridge over Middle Boulder Creek |
The evening was passed with friends of MJ, Julie and Sammy, playing several games and enjoying the huckleberry-raspberry pie.
Sunday morning started with pickleball in Arvada. Apex Recreation Center was an amazing indoor facility sporting many swimming pools, slides, two skating rinks and indoor pickleball courts. At a nearby location they boast 24 outdoor courts. We arrived to find a tournament going on but we were able to use an empty court. MJ got to try it out, then rested while Dave and I played “shadow doubles”. Two tournament players came to share the court to warm up and then we were able to play a couple games.
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| 24 fenced courts in Arvada |
Next MJ took us to view the Flat Irons and I.M.Pei’s National Center of Atmospheric Research.
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| Boulder Library spans Boulder Creek |
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| Boulder Library |
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| The Boulder Tea House |
Driving into downtown Boulder, we visited the beautiful Boulder Library and then went the Boulder Tea House, a beautiful structure decorated with tiles worth seeing. The wait was long, so we walked to Pearl Street where we watched a street performer.
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A few errands latter, we were back home to relax for the evening.
Monday morning we enjoyed a our last chance with internet and said our farewells. With a clear blue sky and a nearly full moon still setting, off we went to the Rocky Mountain National Park.
