I can almost hear what you’re thinking. “Another adventure? Do those two ever stay home?”
A fair question. After just visiting the Hornbek Homestead last week, I’m sure the Willie Nelson classic “On the Road Again” is echoing in your ears.
Well, in our defense we had this trip secured quite awhile back and then postponed it a couple of times because of the arch enemy COVID. But, last Thursday, we jumped in the car and chose the back road to Evergreen. There were three suggested routes and we chose the road less traveled. We may have not made the best choice. The two-lane highway we were on had quite a few icy spots and instead of it taking just a few minutes longer than the other routes, it slowed us up quite a bit. But the view was beautiful, the trip was enjoyable because the company was wonderful and most of the way our cell phones wouldn’t work. Now there’s a trifecta worth betting on.
We rolled into Evergreen and went downtown. Evergreen has less than 10,000 people and not a large downtown. But we managed to find a coffee place that we enjoyed (Java Groove), some stores to browse, and then checked into a B&B Lori picked out called the Bears Inn.
Each of the rooms has a theme and we stayed in the Wildflower room. I know, I know, but it helped me get in touch with my feminine side. I also had the pleasure(?) of a new restroom experience. I used the toilet and there was a dial on the side. I turned to “low” and… Well, I’m not sure I will ever need to wash my derriere again. How do they aim those things?
Anyway, Lori and I spent a lot of time in a great big dining room with a gas fireplace after dark. We made use of the hot tub Thursday evening and Friday morning and watched a movies before we fell into a deep sleep. Six of us enjoyed a three-course breakfast. The four people we met had all traveled around the world and all worked for nonprofits. One lived in South Africa, one in England, and two were living in
Colorado. Then we explored a lake that is in Evergreen and the Alderfer Three Sisters Park. The park has 26 great hiking trails, biking trails and running trails. We chose the Wild Iris Loop but soon veered off onto the Evergreen West Mountain Trail.
We hiked about four miles on the moderate trail that was covered with a few inches to half a foot of snow. There were stunning vistas, landmark rock formations, beautiful old stands of ponderosa pine and the most trails per acre of any foothills park—over 15 miles on 1,127 acres.
At one point we came to Lois Lane Trail and got a great picture of Lori who was Lois Lane (strangely enough) for Halloween. Guess who I was?
Twenty-four hours after we left home, we went back. And what a difference 24 hours can make. We were refreshed, relaxed, and rejuvenated. How else do you explain that an hour after we got back home our daughter dropped off our four grandkids for an overnight?