Ron is up the creek with a paddle!

Today Linda, Peter and I spent in low-key hanging out, just what the doctor called for. Peter and I worked on the bike, getting the headlight adjuster to work so that the light pattern actually shines on the road in front of the bike instead of looking for stars. This continues our long ago adventures with torturing mechanical components. In high school we worked on cars we had - long gone brands that I doubt any of you are familiar with. Peter had a Goliath Hansa 1100 stationwagon that required an engine rebuild and later a Sunbeam Alpine into which we installed a Hillman engine. I, in turn, got a Hillman sedan (Minx was the model I think) and our friend Pat had a Hillman Minx convertible. Ah, the good old days. Anyway we avoided hurting ourselves compressing a spring that is key to adjusting that headlight, assembled it and had to wait until tonight to go for a test ride. It worked well.

Then we went to eat at a great little place I know my family would enjoy. I had a Brie omelet and marbled Rye, pictured here, and Peter had Eggs Benedict. Linda had grilled cheese with tomatoes and avocado. It is one of those places that require another visit to try more stuff.

We headed from breakfast to Chatfield Dam reservoir for some paddling and swimming. Don't worry motherly types, it took over 30 minutes after eating before we went swimming. We all agitated the water for a short time just enough to get all parts wet and cool (it was 95 degrees here today) and then Peter and I headed out to explore the charted territory by kayak. Peter knows a lot about birds and such. We saw seagulls, pelicans and ducks and lots of smaller birds doing their thing. We paddled up Plum Creek into an area that is usually too shallow to navigate. It was cool, still water with tree seed pods and the like just floating on the surface.

Kind of reminded me of nature's own fly-fishing technique, lacy and lofty pieces spread out on the surface of the water.

The day concluded with a fun dinner of soft tacos unlike anything I have experienced and back home for some computer play and looking over items that Linda brought back from her mother's home - old photos of family members and the like.

Tomorrow I am headed for Mesa Verde but decided to spend some time at the hot springs that Ann and Peter and I visited some 30 years ago. It is now a resort kind of place, and I might camp there depending on how the day goes and continue on to Mesa Verde on Wednesday.

Keep the comments coming, I am enjoying reading them. Didn't take the time to try the podcast, too much fun sharing time with Peter and Linda. These two days reinforce how important relationships are and remind me to never forget that this is the fun stuff of life. Thanks to Peter and Linda for sharing their place and lives with me.


Lessons learned today include that it takes two people to compress that spring not only because it takes four hands, but more important, that it take two heads. Second lesson is that radishes cool the mouth after eating a good portion of green chili sauce on spicy meat and jalapeño pepper salad.