There’s a unique thrill of driving through and experiencing small-town America. Going through small towns wherever the road takes you, without any planning and a specific agenda, stopping when you want to or just driving on the empty stretch of road lying ahead of you. Alone.
Munching down a jalapeño bagel in between sips of steaming hot coffee, here’s a road trip that I planned on the fly when I found myself with over 10 hours to kill at Denver International. I rented a car and spent 8 hours driving through vistas that took my breath away and still got back in time to return my car and catch my late night flight.
Here’s a trip down memory lane in hopes of having many more such opportunities again.
Leaving Denver International, I headed east on this beautiful day in July. The open road and spectacular 14,000-foot peaks surrounding me made me wish I had rented a convertible.
“If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.” ~Lewis Carroll
Driving down the highway……enjoying the blue skies and sunshine above, my first stop was Boulder Falls. It is a beautiful hour-long scenic drive through quaint mountain towns with streams and waterfalls throughout the way.
The soothing sensation of dipping your feet in a running stream of water is beyond compare!
Then it was on to Eldorado Canyon Park offering rock climbing and trails with panoramic vistas.
Along the way, there were numerous opportunities to stop & enjoy foot massages in mountain streams that appeared to be bouncing & leaping as they sang their melodious tunes.
“If it weren’t for the rocks in its bed, the stream would have no song.” ~Carl Perkins
I had random people take my photos since I look like a dork when I try to take selfies, lol.
The streams of wisdom flowing at a stone’s throw from me!
A short hike up the rocky terrain brought me to this cave.
The majestic mountains make us realize just what a small spec we are in this vast universe.
“Somewhere between the bottom of the climb and the summit is the answer to the mystery why we climb.” ~Greg Child
I left Eldorado Falls and meandered my way down long winding roads and through small picturesque towns, stopping for lunch in beautiful, lively, Golden!
“Everything in life is somewhere else, and you get there in a car.” ~E. B. White
And that’s my eight-hour road trip in a nutshell.
It was exhilarating and oddly freeing because spontaneity is the spice of life.
The world is an open book and I want to read all it’s chapters!!
