Lazy Summer
The average climate in Denver may just be the best of all large U.S. cities. Winter time can be a little burly, with random variations in weather that keep you on your toes, but once Summer shows up and settles in to stay, it is a great place to be.
This past weekend, I took a slight break from the mountaineering schedule and Vanessa and I just relaxed in the big city. Saturday was absolutely beautiful, and we went shopping down in Cherry Creek, and indulged in the classic burgers at the Cherry Cricket. From there we headed to the north side of the Platte River and sat down in Confluence Park. Denver built a great public park right out of the river bed. Up high on the bridge, we watched the urban paddlers running kayaks over an over again in the crafted water features. At the base of the confluence, dozens of people of all ages, races, and lifestyle were playing in the water, walking dogs, picnicking on the grass, and just relaxing on a warm sunny Saturday afternoon.
Scoping out lines on Mt. Evans
On Sunday we didn’t really have any plans. However, after slowy rolling out of bed late in the morning, I had the sudden idea of heading to the beach. Yes, they have beaches in Denver. We drove down to Cherry Creek State Park, and had a picnic right out on the sand. Determined to work on my “pre-Vegas tan”, I removed my shirt for a few hours and just kicked back. Once again having underestimated the strenghth of the Colorado sun, I found later on that I am now as red as a lobster.
Contemplating the meaning of life: “We are all dust in the wind”
After a few hours in the sand, we got a call inviting us to some Earth Day concert in City Park. Denver is such an alternative cultured city, I had no doubt in my mind that the event would be a lot of fun. It reminded me of the many free events that occur in Chicago. There were hundreds of people out on the huge open lawn, as we danced the evening away to a few jam bands (in between a little too much political propaganda, but oh well).
This is Vanessa. She is beautiful.
Some fun hippie-jam-fest shots:
