Summer went by really fast. There is so much to do here and not enough days for it all. We sat down and made lists, made more lists, and barely scratched the surface. School has started up again and I wasn't ready for that. Three weeks in it's proving to be a good semester though. For the first time here my classes have me really engaged and thinking, and that deep thinking feels good. My thesis is also coming together quickly and I'm enjoying the research and writing process. That may change once the revisions start, but right now it's just all great and I'm keeping up despite the heavy workload. There is something dreamy and surreal about this hectic lifestyle, like riding a wave and staying on top of it if you play your cards right. If you can achieve getting into that groove, the moments of peacefulness and being in the zone are highly rewarding. Perhaps one of the best parts is not having a set schedule all day long. You can take off for bike rides and do your work later, or chain yourself to your desk one day and store up a couple days off. So in the madness and commitment there is also a lot of freedom. I'm into that.
In July, Derek's folks came out for a visit and were treated to some good ole' monsoon showers. We hiked, ate, and drank lots of margaritas: the drink of the summer. I never liked margaritas much, but something about the southwest makes them sound like the best thing in the world on a sunny day.
In August the rains started bringing out the mushrooms and I got all excited. What I thought were boletes turned out to be slippery jacks, their not so awesome and really snotty cousin. The good discovery though was lobster mushrooms. Lots and lots of lobster mushrooms. They're big, dense, tasty mushrooms that have been taken over by another mushroom, making them a bright orange color with no gills. Just a handful easily weighs a pound, and they're easy to spot once you get the hang of it. The only problem is getting carried away and picking too much!
August also brought a trip to the lava cave near by, and lots and lots of bike rides.
After Phil's World we checked out Durango for two days, rode some local trails and an amazing section of Colorado trail, drank local beer, ate good food, and enjoyed the feel of Colorado. It's easy to fall in love with the place. It's a 5 hour drive from Flag and well worth the trip. I can't wait to go again.
 |
| Wearing out at mile 14... |
 |
| The best part of CO riding: creeks to cool off in at the end of rides! |
