Our 25th anniversary in Colorado - the day after

Thursday, 7 August opened and closed with alternating weather patterns, the kind most Coloradans have come to expect with casual ease. Even amidst such meteorological uncertainty the four of us piled ourselves into the car and Stan drove us all into Snowmass village -- where we grabbed the one working chairlift -- which we were told was so old that Teddy Roosevelt used it to get to the top of San Juan Hill in Cuba before having it installed permanently in Colorado. Anyway it was a gorgeous trip halfway up the mountain with spectacular views.

Since there wasn't any snow the singular objective -- besides the beautiful scenery -- was the small but intimate Lynn Britt Cabin, tucked off to the side at the end of the chairlift station. There we sat overlooking the canyons below and Roaring Fork Canyon, Route 82, off in the far distance, and ate an incredibly delectable lunch -- Susie and Margie had pasta primavera, Stan had Elk and I had a Brat. The chef is German and at this time of the year is pretty much by himself in the kitchen, a space that was examined in some detail by Stan and Susie.

After a relaxing lunch it was back down the mountain -- and since we had forgotten to bring the mountain bikes or hiking shoes we figured we would just take the chairlift back down.

That evening we at fish, drank Kistler chardonnay and just talked the evening away. We couldn't have imagined a better way to spend a Thursday evening. Tomorrow we would have to leave but right then and there Friday was a world away. . .

What a fantastic and rewarding time in Colorado. Our minds put at ease, our appetites sated, our spirits renewed.