Tucker Gulch, the "Back Way" into Golden!

The other day I noticed that if I went up the hill behind the house where I am staying, I could go over the hill and down the other side.  So I did.  I discovered Tucker Gulch!  (Obviously I wasn’t the first as there is a lovely broad concrete walkway bordering the stream whose edges have been weed-whacked.)  The day I found it (without camera), I turned upstream for my first exploration.  After about 4/10^ths of a mile mostly uphill, I came to a street across which was a lovely park.  On my walk back, I caught up to an older woman who told me that I could walk all the way into town if I had gone downstream instead of up.

So, on Saturday, when I wanted to walk into town, I took “Tucker Gulch Trail.”  How much more wonderful than walking a heavily traffic-ed street!  [This post was originally going to be the walk into town along that street as I had stopped and taken a picture at each intersection on the way in and the way back to show the steepness.  But the gulch trail is so much better!]

Tucker Gulch Trail at First Street.

I joined the trail just under the 1^st Street Bridge, downhill from Ford Street.  The brook is a joyously babbling little thing at this time of year, but probably carries much more water in the spring.  The walk stays above the water and is used by pedestrians, dog walkers, children walkers, and bikers.  Bikers coming on you from behind will usually clang a bell or say “On your left!” to let you know they are there and are planning to overtake you.  Bikers coming on you from the front will greet you with words – or just a smile or nod – depending on their fitness level and the level of the terrain.  Everyone is quite friendly and cheerful!

Stream from "Bridge."

The trail crosses the water in a few places, allowing lovely views up and down the brook.

The brook babbles pleasantly as you can imagine from looking at all the rocks in the streambed.  (Maybe on another trip, I’ll see about taking a movie with some sound as well!)

Babbling Brook of Tucker Gulch.

 

 

526, 527, 528

Eventually we do get to town where the waterway is contained between concrete abutments.  The creek bed is wide – probably to accommodate spring melts and it steps down as if there were locks.  Just now, the bit of water coming down spreads out and meanders across the concrete, creating really interesting algae and weed formations.

It runs along this beautiful old building – Coors U.S.A. Chemical & Scientific Porcelain.  The other side of the building is labeled “Coors Tek” and in one of the drive-in areas you can see stacks of curved tiles like roofing tiles.  I had assumed it had something to do with the brewery business – that the tiles were perhaps part of some sort of filtering system.  Now it looks like it is a totally separate business.

Coors U.S.A. Chemical & Scientific Porcelain Building.

Otherwise known as "Coors Tek - Amazing Solutions."

 I peeled off from Tucker Gulch when I got to 10^th Street as I wanted to go to the farmer’s market.  There are free horse-drawn carriage rides – I haven’t done that yet as there have been lines waiting and the horses look tired to me.

Horses Taking a Rest.

The market itself is set up in the parking lot of the community center with loads of food booths many of which offer samples.  One produce stall gives you a smallish plastic bag (about ½ the size of a plastic grocery bag) for $10 that you can fill.  You get to select anything from their display for you bag – no set quantities of anything.  Others have pint or quart boxes of specific items, or piles that are probably priced by the item or by weight.  I only got a strawberry smoothie to sip as I didn’t want to carry things back up the gulch.  It is a family (including dog) place and activity.

I sat beside Clear Creek to sip my smoothie and was soon joined by several families whose children played at the edge of the water, tossing in stones or soaking their feet.

Clear Creek Behind the Library.

Then I followed Clear Creek back to where it meets Tucker Gulch just before the Coors brewery.  I passed the fish which are high and dry now, but in the spring were under water.  I love the details on the fish – there are 3 of them – and in the background you can see the outlet of a slide from the park above the water level.

Fish Sculpture Along (and sometimes in!) Clear Creek.

There is a little park where Tucker Gulch meets Clear Creek.  The pieces of tree are enormous!

Tree Base with Camera Case for Size Comparison.

More Bits from the Same Tree (I think...).

The actual confluence of the two streams is fenced off and marked private property.  I am guessing it is part of the Coors brewery.  Their beer used to be made from Clear Creek water.  I don’t know if it still is as I haven’t taken the brewery tour yet!  (But the presence of Canada geese just above the brewery, to say nothing of the people tubing down Clear Creek in the heart of town suggest otherwise!)

Confluence of Tucker Gulch and Clear Creek.  Coors Brewery in the Background.

How Does It Get Any Better Than This?

Yesterday a friend invited me to stay at a family “cabin” in the mountains near Golden.  She wanted to be there before sunset, but what with clouds and other distractions, we were not able to see the spectacular sunsets she usually sees from there.

Sunset from Upper Deck.

The view was still wonderful, especially since there were thunderstorms over the distant mountains, so we got treated to some interesting lightning before deciding that things were getting too close to stay on the deck.  (Also, in my opinion, too chilly.  The others weren’t because they were viewing the scenery from the hot tub on the deck…)

Morning brought a beautiful sunrise.  I didn’t actually see it because it was on the other side of the house, but here’s a view from the bedroom I used.

Sunrise Across the Valley.

And then from the yard outside the lower level of the house.

A bit later, from the deck off the upper level of the house, we could watch the clouds dissipate from the distant valleys.

Clouds Between Distant Valleys.

Close-up.

The silence was wonderful.  You could hear elk calling, horses neighing, roosters crowing, squirrels eating pinecones…  But the most amazing was to watch a hawk fly over and be able to hear the sweep of it’s wings through the air.  Breathtaking!

Looks like I might have come to roost in Golden, CO.

The Friday after I arrived in the Denver area, I took an evening class.  The guy I sat next to mentioned Golden, Colorado and that sounded intriguing, so the next day I went there to take a look.  I had decided that I needed to have an energy process called having your bars run, so I called a facilitator in Golden and made a semi-appointment to see her.  I gave her a call when I arrived in town and she met me to give me a bit of a walking tour.  Then before she took me to her house for the process, she drove me around a bit.

Part of the drive took us up the mountain to see Golden from “above.”  I’m glad she was willing to do the drive as there were loads of hairpin turns and if I had driven it myself, I would not have been able to look at the scenery.  We saw loads of people biking up the mountain!  (Not for me!!!)  Here is a view from the lookout spot just below the big “M” which was created by students from the Colorado School of Mines.  The second picture shows the “M” as seen from downtown Golden.  It is the little white blob near the top of the mountain pictured.

Golden from Above

Mountain from Below.

Golden is a wonderful little town with many delights in the downtown walking area.  Clear Creek runs through downtown and there is a wonderful park along both sides with the occasional walking bridge across the water.  There are also many statues along the river and throughout the downtown area.

Clear Creek, Golden, CO.

Apparently you can also fish the river, although I don't know what they catch.

Before returning to my hotel in Firestone, CO, I ate dinner at the Grappa Bistro.  Their patio overlooks Clear Creek.  In springtime the fish statues at the edge of the water are actually underwater.

View from Sidewalk Below the Grappa Bistro Patio.

 

Café 13 (on 13^th street) serves organic coffee and home-made muffins which are wonderful.  I also had the flakiest croissant sandwich there for breakfast one morning.  Ham, egg, and cheese on the croissant.  Wonderful!  The building is really beautiful and probably historic.  In addition to indoor seating and the tables with umbrellas on the street, there is a little side yard with comfy chairs and tables, too.

Café 13.

One of the places I hope to try soon is the Sherpa House restaurant.  It is apparently modeled after actual Sherpa dwellings and serves traditional foods.  Will report on that once I’ve been there.

Driving from New Jersey to Colorado takes a looooooong time!

Day 1:  Left Florence's house just after 8 am after a lovely breakfast of oatmeal – my choice, she did offer eggs and scrapple.  Was supposed to top up my gas tank, but the gas station was not open, so I left with 1/2 a tank of gas.  Travel was easy with very little traffic, even on the Schuyllkill Expressway in Philly.  Stopped twice – first after 97 miles, then after a total of 223.  Target was to drive 360 each day.  Stopped for the day in Wheeling, WVa after driving 391 miles.

Most of the drive was on the PA turnpike which frequently had posted speed limits of 70 MPH – although we were supposed to slow down in construction areas of which there were many.  But it being Saturday, no one was working and mostly we didn't slow down too much.  Average speed for the whole day was 59 MPH and gas was at 52.8 MPG.  Gas prices rose the farther west you went into PA.  I had to get gas on the turnpike as I was running low.  Will fill up in the morning before I set out again. Turnpike toll was $27!

There was a farm market at the second rest stop, so I bought the biggest peach I have ever seen – about the size of a softball!  It was hard to get my mouth open enough to get a starting bite, but once started was delicious.

Saw sights from the car, but didn't take any pictures as driving and photos are not compatible.  Saw a whole line of cows facing the corn in the field next to them.  I would like to believe they were looking at it longingly, but since I could only see their back ends, will have to surmise.  Their back ends were not at all expressive.  Also saw a sign for "Lover" one mile away.  Would love to have had a picture of that...  It must be a town in PA.

Am staying at the Hampton Inn, which has an indoor pool.  I ate supper at Bob Evans at the foot of the hill where the hotel is - across the street from a huge Cabela's.  (Didn't go there as I have no room for another thing in my car!)  Ate a chicken and noodle thing which had a biscuit under it and a lump of mashed potatoes.  Also got a wonderful salad to go with it.

View from my room in the Hampton Inn.

It had a lovely big shower, but they must have assumed that some very short people would be using it!

Note the little shelf in the corner.

Day 2:  Got up today to what looked like fog from my room, so I didn't hurry to leave.  When I was finally ready to start carrying things down around 9 am, found that it was raining really HARD, plus foggy.  Don't quite understand that, myself, but that's what it was.  I left the hotel at 9:05 am.  The TripTik indicated that I should get onto 470 instead of staying on 70W, but would eventually rejoin 70W.  Had no idea why they wanted us to do it that way, but figured I would follow their advice.  Except that I saw one pick-up that had spun out and was being rescued from the center median by a tow truck.  Then there was an illuminated sign that said there was an accident on 470 and people should use 70W instead.  So I did.  Did not see any more accidents, but the rain was steady and sometimes fierce until about Columbus, Ohio when it slowed considerably and stopped.  We had dry pavement after that although there were still occasional spots of rain.

No tolls today!  Wonder why the eastern states seem to need them, but further inland they don't...  Got gas from a local brand stations for $3.46 a gallon of regular.  Ran through the rain to pay first, but forgot to look at how much I really needed.  So paid $30, but it only took $23, so I had to go back in for my change.  I said to the girl at the cash register that I was from NJ where they think pumping gas is a dangerous thing and won't let us do our own.  She asked where I was from and I said "near AC."  It turned out she was from Atco!  So I then said EHT which she recognized.  Didn't ask how she got to Ohio...

Stopped this afternoon at about 4:10 about 20 miles shy of Terre Haute, Indiana.  Am staying at a Best Western.  Have had a nice "glass" – well, plastic cup of red wine.  I have about 2 or 3 glasses left as I take very small ones.  May have another after I get back from supper.  Or may skip supper in favor of wine and rice cakes.  I'm almost out of corn chips...

Gas mileage was much lower today.  I don't know if it was because of the hills in Ohio, or the cheap gas.  I saw signs for BP stations, but that required breaking the journey as there weren't any near where I stopped last night and it doesn't look like there are any here, either.

Did 372 miles today (for a total so far of 763).  OK.  It looks like I screwed up my calculations...  763 is no where near half of 1800!  I expected to be half way there at the end of the second day.  I guess I will have to make up a bunch tomorrow!!!  [OK.  New calculations:  need to do roughly 550 miles each of the next two days.  Maybe the flat of Kansas will be good to me, but even at 70 MPH, it will take 7.5 hours of driving each day.  Sigh.  Don't you hate it when you can't do math???]

Anyway, only got 47 MPG today with an average speed of 63 MPH.

Day 3:  Fortunately for me, Labor Day wasn't!  There were tons of road work places, but no actual work going on.  Most places had a posted speed limit around 65 MPH, with lower signs to be followed only if they were blinking.  None were.  Also no workers were out.  Interesting the different laws about speeding, etc., in work zones.  In one state, if you hit a "worker" (but aren't we all workers?  Well, except for us retired folk...) there is a $10,000 fine, plus 14 YEARS in JAIL!  Another state just listed the $10k fine...

Weather was supposed to be dreadful to the west of where I spent last night, with baseball- and softball-sized hail!  Also scattered thunderstorms with very heavy rains.  It started out cloudy, then cleared for a while, then got cloudy for most of the day, but I did not see a drop of rain, let alone any hail.  Roads stayed perfectly dry which was great as the previous day was very wet.  More traffic today.  Probably the same number of transports, but many more cars.  Still, everyone on the road is very considerate.  They drive in the right lane and only use the left for passing.  They also move over so traffic can enter the roadway.  Very civilized!  The only crowded spots were through St. Louis, but even there we moved very quickly. 

Their downtown roadway puts the Schuyllkill to shame – both in surface conditions and in drivers.  There were a lot of cars but no where near Schuyllkill volume.  We never dropped below 60 MPH!

Trip stats are that I covered 672 miles today.  More than I intended, but in Kansas, the hotels are few and far between.  I filled up my tank ($30) before starting out (BP gas).  Got another $20 (also BP) when I stopped for lunch.  (A quesadilla which I ate half for lunch and the other half just now with my wine.  I got it at a bar where there was a sign saying "We install and service hangovers!")  I expected to gas up in the morning, but kept not finding hotels and was down to my last gallon of gas – the car was not complaining yet, but it would have soon – so I stopped at a no-name station and almost filled up.  For the day, I got 43.5 MPG at an average speed of 70 MPH.

I saw lots of interesting things, but wrote none of them down as I was driving.  Also took no pictures.  Camera is running out of juice, and while I know I packed the charger in the car, am not sure where.  (Well, yes, it is written down, but I haven't bothered to look as I don't want to have to disturb the load...)  Anyway, I skipped stopping at the world's largest windchime although I would have liked to have seen it.  (It was too early in the morning and I didn't know how well the day would progress.  Also did not know how far off I-70 I would have to go to actually see it.)  Also skipped Eisenhower's home, Truman's home, Custer's Museum, and the Oz Museum.  I don't understand how the Oz Museum can be in Kansas as Dorothy distinctly said "We're not in Kansas any more!" but apparently it is.

I did see some cows, maybe some buffalo, (they were buffalo colored, but all were sitting down and I was going at least 75 MPH), 2 Appaloosa horses – black and white; I'd never seen any before!  (Unless they were seriously overgrown Springer Spaniels...)  Loads of wind mills, most of them not turning, but those that were were mesmerizing!

Kansas is not flat.  I don't know who spread that rumor, but I haven't see it yet.  It doesn't have huge mountains, more like rolling hills, but very long ones.  If there were trees, it would look a lot like CT.

I am in Russell, KS tonight.  It looks like I have about 500 miles to do tomorrow, but will have to figure that out as I have the trip-tik that sends me to Boulder, but my extended stay hotel is in Firestone, CO.

Day 4:  Have arrived!  Made incredibly good time.  Absolutely no construction until the ring road around Denver.  But I got off before then.  Also, no traffic until about 25 miles from Denver – and even then, it was just that instead of seeing only 1 car in front of me and 1 behind, I saw 7.  Got "heavy" on the ring road, but we still managed to do at least 75 MPH.

Left Russell around 6:30 am local time.  Dropped another hour into Colorado, so am now on Mountain time.  I got to the hotel around 11 am local time!!!  I was so fortunate that they had a clean room and I could check in right away.  So got car mostly emptied.  (Sorry, Nancy, forgot to take a picture of it totally loaded...)  Then went out to find something to eat.  "Desk" clerk suggested getting the freebie rental papers, but I haven't found one yet.

The view from my room is lovely.  I am on the second floor and have to take pictures through the glass.  If I try from the parking lot, there are too many shorter things between me and the mountains.

Sunset View from My Room in Firestone - Arrival Day.

Today's stats are that I drove 385 miles, at 41.5 MPG and an average speed of 74 MPH.  (All posted speeds were 75 except through one built-up area where it dropped to 65.)

Totals for the trip are 1822.6 miles, 45.4 MPG, 66 MPH.  Crap gas makes a difference of about 10 MPG!  Leslie suggested that ethanol is supposed to drop your mileage by 10 %, but this was more like 25 %.

The Mountains Are Clearer Today!

Peru Trip Days 13 & 14 - Puerta de PuertaHayu Marca & Home

Tour of Peru

June 15-28, 2010

I figure that the easiest way to document this trip is to start from their itinerary and add my own comments, observations, and pictures. My stuff is in black.  Theirs is in blue.

Day 13/June 27: Today experience Hayu Marca, the site of mysterious ruins discovered only in recent years.  The door or the “Puerta de Hayu Marca” (Gate of the Gods) has been at some time in the distant past carved out of a natural rock face and in all measures exactly seven meters in width with a smaller alcove in the center at the base.  A final ceremony and special gathering with Gregg while you are there. Then fly to Lima.

Hayu Marca was our final site.  We left the hotel around 8 am to drive there.  This is the view of it from across the field as we approached on foot.  The story goes that the last Incan was being chased by Spaniards and arrived at this place.  There is a little roundish cut-out (or more like a chiseled dent) in the middle of the small section.  He is supposed to have place some kind of diadem in the inset and then just walked into the rock in front of all the Spaniards.  None of my fellow travelers managed to do it….

 

 

Puerta de Hayu Marca.

From there the buses took us to the airport at Juliaca for our flight to Lima.

Day 14/June 28:  Take a flight from Lima for your return to the U.S..

So we had left the hotel around 8 am, saw this sight, bused to Juliaca, flew to Lima.  Waited in the airport.  Flew to Miami.  Waited in the airport.  Flew to Atlanta.  Waited in the airport.  Flew home.  Got home about 36 hours after having left the hotel!  A good time was had by all