I approached that Monday morning ready for a change in pace, even though I had such an amazing experience in Vail! I knew I would soon return to the Rockies west of Denver. I had planned to skate this mini ramp that I heard was right at the base of the mountain at Vail Resort, so after packing the car, I headed down there. I was having a hard time finding the parking deck, so I went to a small café in one of the buildings. One of the craziest coincidences I’ve had in a while: the dude behind the counter was a guy I used to skate with at the Skate Barn near my hometown and who used to work at the same restaurant with me in 2010. Kris was just as shocked to see me as I was to see him. It was Crazy. But probably not so surprised to see that I was looking for the skatepark. He was forming a line of customers to help, so he wrote down his phone number for me, and I dipped out toward this cool skatepark. That was the second person (and also skater) I met in the neighborhood in Vail that was from NC. I was feeling the positive vibes for sure.
Onward to the skatepark. The park was okay, some might say shitty. But the mini was a perfect little 3.5 foot halfpipe with 8 inch extensions on each side. Even though I was alone there, I enjoyed for about 30 minutes or so. The really special characteristic of this ramp was its beautiful backdrop of the mountain. I can only imagine how cool it is in the winter (if dry), when you watch the skiers and riders come down the mountain as you shred the ramp. Wish I had more time (as always), but then it was on the road to Boulder.
Onward to the skatepark. The park was okay, some might say shitty. But the mini was a perfect little 3.5 foot halfpipe with 8 inch extensions on each side. Even though I was alone there, I enjoyed for about 30 minutes or so. The really special characteristic of this ramp was its beautiful backdrop of the mountain. I can only imagine how cool it is in the winter (if dry), when you watch the skiers and riders come down the mountain as you shred the ramp. Wish I had more time (as always), but then it was on the road to Boulder.
I was so stoked to see my friend from college, Anna, that I ended up going straight to visit her at work. Said what’s up for a minute before going next-door (in downtown Boulder) for a coffee a a hipster little place called Trident. Had a regular black coffee to go with my work. Two or three hours later, we met up outside, walked to the store, grabbed some smokes and headed back to her place. There, I met her boyfriend, Topher, and her other roommate, Chris. They were cool, chilling pretty hard for the night. Then Anna, Topher and I headed to the (walking distance) awesome, shitty local bar named Outback. I actually liked this bar a lot. A nice outdoor porch, a nice bar, plenty of space, and bar games for your enjoyment. Almost every night I was visiting in Boulder, we went to Outback. That’s what we did. It was awesome. I met Topher’s brother, Zack, and other friends as well. Had a fun night out, reminiscing with Anna about the irreplaceable freshman year at NC State. So many good times.
The next morning, I woke up and worked from her apartment for half the day. Then, I went for hike with Anna to this awesome overlook of the beginning of the continental divide. It was really impressive, and we met a couple of cool strangers/travelers at the outlook also. That night, we went to karaoke. I hadn’t done karaoke in a long, long, long time. I wasn’t scared though. Fuck it. It was awesome. I sang Earth, Wind, & Fire and Cake to the crowd, and I don’t think I blew that badly. It was a bar that was overpriced yet swanky, like C Grace in Raleigh. I like C Grace, so I kind of liked that bar. Especially for the context in which a group of (mostly) strangers were singing to each other (by the way, the theme of songs that night was “woes”). After that place we went to...
The next morning, I woke up and worked from her apartment for half the day. Then, I went for hike with Anna to this awesome overlook of the beginning of the continental divide. It was really impressive, and we met a couple of cool strangers/travelers at the outlook also. That night, we went to karaoke. I hadn’t done karaoke in a long, long, long time. I wasn’t scared though. Fuck it. It was awesome. I sang Earth, Wind, & Fire and Cake to the crowd, and I don’t think I blew that badly. It was a bar that was overpriced yet swanky, like C Grace in Raleigh. I like C Grace, so I kind of liked that bar. Especially for the context in which a group of (mostly) strangers were singing to each other (by the way, the theme of songs that night was “woes”). After that place we went to...
Outback. Drinks drinks. Another drink. Then home. Exhausted but having fun. Rest for the next day.
Worked from their place that morning again, and then I went out to one of the local skateparks. Scott Carpenter Park. A fun transition park that would have been more fun with more coping. Gritty concrete but smooth transitions (and mostly transition). After that, I went and did some research for buying camping gear. Because I hadn’t moved with any camping gear, I was going to score a new tent, sleeping bag and headlamp for obvious reasons. Stoked! Went back to the place and chilled for a bit before …. Outback. That night, I was super tired and stayed for a couple beers before going back to the empty place to write a blog post for this thing. Chill night before a big day...
Brought the car to the mechanic (for Miley’s check-up). More on Miley later… Also, I was leading a call for work that night. Stoked! Just a lot to take care of. Good news. The car is good to go. (She’s been a champion!) That evening, I go to the library at UC Boulder to take the call. It was funny how similar the interior of their library was to that of NC State’s D.H. Hill Library. Down to the furniture and arrangements, a lot of it was identical. It brought me back for sure, to the good days of undergrad. Ran the call, then met Anna, Topher, and Chris for a drink in downtown. Chris’ parents were in town visiting, so I met them too, and they were “mad cool”. Then … Outback. It was… karaoke at Outback. So obviously I sang a song. Karaoke is fun, and the group of people I was with were regulars. So … fuck yeah. Had a fun night for sure.
The next day, a friend was coming in to join me on part of my journey, similar to Darnell from Pittsburgh to Chicago. Chloe got in at the Denver airport in the morning, and I was up in the morning, so I drove to the airport to pick her up. Then went to a fancy, hipster coffee shop (had to) and chilled for a bit. Updated her on the trip so far, and she updated me on her plans to move to Portland within the month. Rad. We then drive back to Boulder to catch up with Anna and Topher for a late breakfast. After breakfast, we head back to Anna’s place, where we play with SnapChat, drink a beer, and proceed to chill (just Anna, Chloe, and I). At some point in the afternoon, I leave for plans to go skate with my friend Nathan. I know Nathan’s twin bother, Patrick, better, but I skated with both of them back in Wilmington as kids. I had seen Patrick this past April in the northeast during a road trip to New Hampshire. In CO, we had the “in” at a private indoor bowl in Denver (the Rosy Bowl). The connect was through a friend I met the previous spring in Denver.
We arrive at this warehouse, and our hopes of the craziest best ramp ever were pretty satisfied. So stoked on skating that thing! A horse shoe bowl with 7-8 foot deep all around and high vert wall (with some oververt and a death box) in the bottom of the U. There were some other really cool features too. Check the Instagram for more on that bowl. The guys were really rad too and had built a full disco dance party room underneath this thing. You walk through a door of beads into dance party zone, and it’s unreal! (Thanks John!!) A couple beers and a donation later, we head to the “famous” Arvada skatepark. Apparently, this thing is the largest outdoor skatepark west of the Mississippi. And I don’t doubt it. Not only was it huge. It was incredible. For the skaters reading, it’s the outdoor Colorado park with the “Frito” chip ramp that you need to ollie onto and off of. Stayed there for a long while and could have spent an entire day there. So fun! But we must retreat.
Worked from their place that morning again, and then I went out to one of the local skateparks. Scott Carpenter Park. A fun transition park that would have been more fun with more coping. Gritty concrete but smooth transitions (and mostly transition). After that, I went and did some research for buying camping gear. Because I hadn’t moved with any camping gear, I was going to score a new tent, sleeping bag and headlamp for obvious reasons. Stoked! Went back to the place and chilled for a bit before …. Outback. That night, I was super tired and stayed for a couple beers before going back to the empty place to write a blog post for this thing. Chill night before a big day...
Brought the car to the mechanic (for Miley’s check-up). More on Miley later… Also, I was leading a call for work that night. Stoked! Just a lot to take care of. Good news. The car is good to go. (She’s been a champion!) That evening, I go to the library at UC Boulder to take the call. It was funny how similar the interior of their library was to that of NC State’s D.H. Hill Library. Down to the furniture and arrangements, a lot of it was identical. It brought me back for sure, to the good days of undergrad. Ran the call, then met Anna, Topher, and Chris for a drink in downtown. Chris’ parents were in town visiting, so I met them too, and they were “mad cool”. Then … Outback. It was… karaoke at Outback. So obviously I sang a song. Karaoke is fun, and the group of people I was with were regulars. So … fuck yeah. Had a fun night for sure.
The next day, a friend was coming in to join me on part of my journey, similar to Darnell from Pittsburgh to Chicago. Chloe got in at the Denver airport in the morning, and I was up in the morning, so I drove to the airport to pick her up. Then went to a fancy, hipster coffee shop (had to) and chilled for a bit. Updated her on the trip so far, and she updated me on her plans to move to Portland within the month. Rad. We then drive back to Boulder to catch up with Anna and Topher for a late breakfast. After breakfast, we head back to Anna’s place, where we play with SnapChat, drink a beer, and proceed to chill (just Anna, Chloe, and I). At some point in the afternoon, I leave for plans to go skate with my friend Nathan. I know Nathan’s twin bother, Patrick, better, but I skated with both of them back in Wilmington as kids. I had seen Patrick this past April in the northeast during a road trip to New Hampshire. In CO, we had the “in” at a private indoor bowl in Denver (the Rosy Bowl). The connect was through a friend I met the previous spring in Denver.
We arrive at this warehouse, and our hopes of the craziest best ramp ever were pretty satisfied. So stoked on skating that thing! A horse shoe bowl with 7-8 foot deep all around and high vert wall (with some oververt and a death box) in the bottom of the U. There were some other really cool features too. Check the Instagram for more on that bowl. The guys were really rad too and had built a full disco dance party room underneath this thing. You walk through a door of beads into dance party zone, and it’s unreal! (Thanks John!!) A couple beers and a donation later, we head to the “famous” Arvada skatepark. Apparently, this thing is the largest outdoor skatepark west of the Mississippi. And I don’t doubt it. Not only was it huge. It was incredible. For the skaters reading, it’s the outdoor Colorado park with the “Frito” chip ramp that you need to ollie onto and off of. Stayed there for a long while and could have spent an entire day there. So fun! But we must retreat.
I go to back to Boulder with Nathan, drop him off, shower off, and … Outback.
Nathan was going to meet us there. The crew was all there. And Chloe was also planning to join (had visited some friends in Longmont for the rest of that day). Was going to be a fun night. and…. it was. At Outback. Shots. Beers. Beers. Beers. Then we head back to Anna’s place, where Chris (and I) decided to all have straight bourbon drinks. Bad idea. Or good idea. We all end up with our shirts off somehow, outside smoking cigarettes and drinking good bourbon. At 3 am. Long night. We all pretended it was our birthday and got absurdly drunk as a group (about 8 of us at that point). Very fun times with some new and old friends. The next morning wouldn’t be AS much fun. The next day, we were leaving all of those wonderful people.
The next morning, I awake to bacon, biscuits (good ones!), and bloody marys. The trip is still going pretty well...
To be continued...
- 7PlyEpic
Nathan was going to meet us there. The crew was all there. And Chloe was also planning to join (had visited some friends in Longmont for the rest of that day). Was going to be a fun night. and…. it was. At Outback. Shots. Beers. Beers. Beers. Then we head back to Anna’s place, where Chris (and I) decided to all have straight bourbon drinks. Bad idea. Or good idea. We all end up with our shirts off somehow, outside smoking cigarettes and drinking good bourbon. At 3 am. Long night. We all pretended it was our birthday and got absurdly drunk as a group (about 8 of us at that point). Very fun times with some new and old friends. The next morning wouldn’t be AS much fun. The next day, we were leaving all of those wonderful people.
The next morning, I awake to bacon, biscuits (good ones!), and bloody marys. The trip is still going pretty well...
To be continued...
- 7PlyEpic