Three Months in Colorado

Currently Dana Point, CA

As most of you can probably tell by the large piece of water in Blake and I's most recent pictures, we are BACK BACK IN CALI CALI!! During our last three months of soul-searching and family time I wasn't sure we'd be officially living back in Southern California...but here I sit at my favorite coffee shop up the street from the same apartment Blake and I have been renting for the last YEAR! I'll catch up on the latest California adventures after this incredibly difficult-to-sum-up blog on our time in COLORADO...

Monument, CO... August 6th-October 29th

I have to sum up a lot of what happened because 1. I could write a book on how grateful I am for all the little and big moments that I was able to be a part of 2. I have way too many pictures (here's my advanced apology) and 3. We were in Colorado for soooooo long. 

The times I know I won't forget: 

1. Meeting Blake's neice for the first time

2. Smiling so much at Danielle and Travis' wedding my cheeks hurt

3. Celebrating Mary's birthday with dinner and guns

4. Celebrating my Mom's birthday with a homecooked meal

5. Running in the rain at Red Rocks with D&T for Raggae on the Rocks 2013

6. Bringing in the Bronco's season in Colorado with blue and orange sunsets

7. Being able to work at two old jobs, La Casa Fiesta and O'Malley's

8. Making new friends and seeing old ones

9. Being a part of the process of putting together Kelsie and Cory's wedding AND being a part of it

10. Celebrating Maddy and Josh's engagement

11. Celebrating my sister's 8th birthday with our bothers

12. Laughing with Cash and Marley Mae

13. Seeing Pepper AND Tribal Seeds at the Ogden Theater

14. Donuts on the 4-wheeler

15. Harley days in the rain, downtown, and in the mountains

16. Selling Pearl, the Honda Ruckus I rode down the coast on

17. Celebrating my Dad's birthday

18. Beer + snowboards + gondolas + sunshine + A Basin + D&T = epic shred session

19. Celebrating Caitlin and Andy's engagement

20. Learning peace and difference by teaching myself headstands and handstands in the quiet outdoors

21. Celebrating Blake and I agreeing to have one more year in Dana Point

22. Spending time with out sweet Raeni cat

23. Playing on bikes with the guys in the dirt

24. Adrenaline rush with go-carts and brothers

25. Being able to finally see my grandparents during their visit from the opposite coast

26. Staying long enough to see Mary come back from Italy

27. Watching my family go through change, become strong together, and move forward in their lives

28. Develop deeper friendships

29. Become excited for a new phase in California

30. Getting Blake's Jeep packed up and adventuring back to California

Colorado sunset.

Baby Marley Mae, how we fell so hard for you. 

Danielle's mom and Blake standing up while Danielle and Travis get hitched.

Mary and Cash at the wedding, so many smiles. 

The party taking the limo to the wedding at the Sunbird. 

Matisyahu at Red Rocks in Denver. 

 Elle and Kelsie before the rehersal for Kelsie and Cory's wedding. 

Fun at Kelsie's wedding.

I fell for these girls this summer. 

Many hikes to Palmer Lake Reservior by myself and with friends.

Blake and Travis.

Awesome bike park in Colorado Springs. 

 We did the zoo, the Golden Bee at the Broadmoor, and Bristol Brewery's new location in one day.

 (blurry, but a good one) We made dinner and caught up with my mom at her new place. 

We joined Mary and Shawn for their anniversary at The Mona Lisa in Manatou Springs.

 Go-cart racing with my brothers and my Dad in Denver. 

 It was fun cruising Colorado on a bike. 

 Broncos!

 Blake and I's Raeni cat (she prefers Colorado's seasons over California's heat.)

 Back where it all started, six (!!!) years ago working at La Casa Fiesta in Monument.

I had such an incredible time going back to work for O'Malley's and all it's craziness and great people!

 Maddy lives in AZ, I live in CA, and we met in our home state to celebrate her engagement to her long-time love, Josh.

 Having known Caitlin since I was four, we HAD to celebrate her engagement to Andy. 

Blake and I had a good time going to a few of my brother, Anthony's, soccer games at LP.

My youth remains in tact because I have such an incredibly fun sister. 

I found out I was allergic to my 'environment', basically meaning Colorado.

We saw two shows in one week at the Ogden in Denver; Tribal Seeds and Pepper.

A little snowboarding in October at Arapahoe Basin.

My brothers Anthony and Matt on a cloudy hike in Palmer Lake.

 My Grandpa and Grandma came for a visit from Florida.

Those BLUE and ORANGE Colorado sunsets. 

 Dinner at O'Malley's with my dad, sister, and brothers. 

 Snow on Pikes Peak. 

 Blake's Jeep packed with three bikes, two snowboards, camping, and clothes. 

Pikes Peak on our final day in Colorado. 

The three months Blake and I spent in Colorado with family and friends filled my cup over the brim! Looking back at all these pictures and the memories that poor in from them are over-whelming. I am so blessed to have been able to be there for those moments, big and small. And we are so furtunate to have the family and friends we have. 

After we finally chose a date to pack up the Jeep, the days flew by even faster. I've learned not to say goodbye (I am way too emotional about it) and to just keep looking forward and knowing I'll see each and every one of those faces soon. After all, who knows what other adventurous decisions Blake and I can come up with in the next year! 

Dream Big. Ride Far.

Top photo: from summer 2012 riding down the West Coast. Bottom photo: summer 2013 cruising mountain towns of Colorado. 

Road Trip!!!

Telluride to Monument, CO... 347 miles ((driving.))

Yesterday was a good day. Blake and I stopped off in Ourey, CO. This is where the memories of Blake's 2011 bicycle ride from Monument to Santa Fe, NM start. He stopped in Ourey and went to the hot springs... So that's what we did. The sun was shining so crisp and warm while we swam around the huge hot springs.  Mainly it was a hot spot for people watching, one of our favorite things to do anywhere we might end up. The springs were nestled in a valley and the view was... serene. The natural elements continued all through town. We stopped off at Goldbelt Bar & Grill and had a gluten free, dairy free, meat free pizza... Mmmm swimming and pizza brings me back to elementary birthday parties. 

Telluride!! Blake's favorite town in Colorado. I felt like I had a personal, smoking hot tour guide who liked all the same things I did. He took me on these great adventures: to good, healthy places to eat, a ride through town on bikes, window shopping. He must have known the perfect evening to show me around because we caught the brightest and closest rainbow I've ever seen. He even made sure the black bears didn't nab me out of my tent that night :)) Its been fun hearing Blake's stories about his bike ride alone that summer. He hiked to Bridal Veil Falls about 3 miles from town and said they were incredible. So we got up from camping at a great campground right at the bottom of town and headed there on our bikes. After a while I dropped my bike off and hiked up the switchbacks hearing the thunder of this great waterfall. At the top was an incredibly huge house. We sat and imagined if we got to look at that view everyday waking up.... Maybe one day we will be in Telluride, CO. It was pretty epic. 

Blake and I are in Monument!!! It was a long 7.5 hr drive today but we grubbed on bananas and watermelon and then got some sushi in Buena Vista. We both have a busy month ahead of us & looking forward to celebrating three birthdays, two weddings, and maybe a hike up good 'ol Pikes Peak. 

We've been discussing our future, laughing, sometimes yelling, and reminicing about the past on this trip. It's been good for us to take a break from the day to day paradise we have in Dana Point. Getting back to our roots with the mountains and crisp air has been humbling. Blake and I are so appreciative of our past, thankful for our present, and passionately excited for our future!!! Here's to the next adventure!!! 

Dream Big, Ride Far!!!

Road Trip!!!

Durango to Telluride, CO... 121 miles ((driving))

Once we drove through Durango last night, Blake and I set up our tent at a beautiful campground right outside of town. You'd think we were pros at setting up and taking down our little green MSR sleeping shack... 

It was so refreshing and exciting to be walking the streets of this beautiful mountain town. It's a lovey-dovey kind of a story about why Blake and I like it so much. 

We had been dating for two years and both hit a point where we needed to be apart. During this time we both were falling in love with ideas and adventures that we each wanted individually. Eventually Blake had called me and was telling me he was outside of Durango on this incredibly brave biking trip. He had quit his job and left Monument to move to Sant Fe, NM and he was biking there through the mountains. I had decided to meet him in Durango just to see where we were at and move on from there. He was sitting on his mat in a white athletic shirt. His face was weathered and burnt and his dreads were longer. I got out of the car, walked into the park, and immediately hugged him.  We both knew then and there we weren't letting go. It only took a few days walking around Durango in the sunshine and the rain to change the course of our both our lives. 

So there we were again. It was heaven. We fueled up at a modern sushi place, Rice Monkey, and walked the streets. Once it got dark we headed to the campsite and slept under the stars, breathing in fresh, newly rained, mountain air ((aaahhhh.))

Up at 6:30 refreshed and ready for the day!! ((Haha, it's a good day if you can wake up from sleeping next to a Dready on the ground like that! but I love him.)) We headed back into town and grabbed fruits for breakfast at Natural Oasis. Then walked the early morning streets again. Last time both of us were here we got breakfast at Jean Pierre Bakery. Today we got a fruit bowl, apple and cinnamon crepes, and fresh squeezed orange juice.

On the road again, headed to Telluride. Blake took Red Mountain pass to get to Ourey. The pass was breathtaking. It amazes me how the ocean and these mountains make me feel so small, and at the same time I get comfort in knowing they are there for me to be in awe at. This earth is incredible and knowing that Blake and I have made the choice to try to respect it a little more each day helps me appreciate these natural beauties even more and care more for where our future is heading. 

Dream Big Ride Far!!! 

Road trip!!!

From Santa Fe to Durango... 241 miles ((driving))

Yesterday Blake and I drove from Flagstaff, Arizona to Santa Fe, New Mexico. The drive was long and full of healthy snacks, filtered water ((yeah, so we brought the filtered water we buy from this awesome place by our apartment in Dana Point, so what? Don't get us started on bottled or tap water at this point in the game...)) and melons! We like to throw them out of the window and smash all over... planting watermelon trees in the process, of course. 

Eventually we got to beautiful, sunny, and hot Santa Fe!! Ah the memories that pour in for the two of us. Blake and I took our mountain bikes out of the truck and rode through the plaza. There was a jewelry and art fair going on in the entire plaza so there were tons of people everywhere, my second favorite version of the Santa Fe Plaza (first being in the dead of winter, silent, and white with sparkling snow; man I miss that town.) After our ride through town and up Canyon Road, we ate at our favorite sushi place, Izmi. Since we were in New Mexico, we naturally had green chilis in our veggie sushi rolls, perfection. The first time we went there my manager and friend while working at The Sleeping Dog Tavern (which is now a Greek place!) took us to Izmi with her husband after she and I had a spa night at one of my favorite places on earth, Ten Thousand Waves Spa. So what goes well with my love, long hours on the road, and a sentimental sushi dinner? We took our box van up the mountain, through winding roads with lush, green plants growing everywhere and had an hour and a half spa session all to ourselves at Ten Thousand Waves. Dear Lord, thank you so much for putting heaven on earth for us.  

After the spa we found ourselves at dinner #2 for the evening at Maria's, for the best sopapillas...ever ((I speak passionately about this hunny and sugar covered dessert.)) 

We stayed at a motel and it was perfect. We watched the X Games on tv, and passed out. 

This morning Blake and I checked out some juice bars and Vegan places. Surprisingly for Santa Fe there were quite a few healthy choices in the area. Not surprisingly they don't like to be open on Sundays. But we did end up at Body, a yoga/cafe/therapy/massage/store who served green juices (ah, finally) and a very impressive vegan and raw menu. We chose the blueberry vegan/gluten free pancakes and I'm pretty sure they were the bet pancakes I've ever had. From there we got on our bikes and headed into the plaza. People watching, shopping, and catching up with familiar faces was our morning. 

 ((This was the street we used to live on ❤))

Now we are getting into Durango, another memorable town for the two of us. Looking forward to today and tomorrow's journey. 

((We picked up a hitchhiker on the way, he didn't make it though. (Sorry vegan world.))

Dream Big, Ride Far!! And try not to bring road kill home...

#pause# Lets take a road trip!!

Actually August 2nd, 2013 

Dana Point to Flagstaff 482 miles ((driving a uhaul))

Dream Big Ride Far!! We are going on another adventure, one year later!! 

Blake and I sat across from each other, and discussed our next month and the months coming up, Blake and I decided we needed another break from the world. Our thought process: 

1. Blake's brother is getting married early this month and my friend is getting married at the very end. Should we fly out for one then come back to Cali, then fly back out for the other?  

2. Both of us were sensing movement and change at our jobs. We were getting antsy and bored and wanted something more. 

3. Blake put in his two weeks and started planning on being in Colorado for the month of August. He is always searching for something bigger around his birthday... And this year is a big one, 25!! So he thought getting a break from California and spending some extra time with his family might help open some doors to a future plan. 

4. I was planning on flying back and forth for both weddings and working in California at my job in between. Of course sad I'd miss Blake and sad I wouldn't get to hang with my family too. 

Opportunity struck at my work where I felt it was a good time to leave. I put in my notice. 

5. Should we fly out to Colorado? ... Remember, I'm talking to Blake about all this... So of course no, we won't fly. Biking would take about 20 days... Nope. 

6. We both wanted to bring our bikes to Colorado so we can still bike around ((its our most comfortable way of getting things done.))

7. While home, we want to go see Santa Fe, NM and Durango, CO... Both very memorable to our relationship. 

8. We've been thinking about selling Pearl ((future planning won't need her, sadly.)) We know more people in CO and it might be easier to sell her there. 

9. Pricing everything out and comparing it to the adventure the only logical thing for us to do is to rent a truck, pack it up, and drive to Colorado!!! 

So we left yesterday morning with a uhaul truck, three bicycles, a moped, our camping gear, enough clothes to last a month and the excitement to be unemployed ((again!)) and traveling. 

((Bye, Dan Point! We will miss you!))

((Blake's enjoying throwing watermelon out the window: "what trash?!")) 

We got into Flagstaff, AZ around 9pm last night. Of course we are two days shy of missing my friend Maddy and her gang, though she did let us crash her place for the night anyways ((what a friend!)) I have to share that they just left to head to Washington so that her boyfriend and his friends can ride bikes down to San Francisco... Funny, huh? 

 

Today we woke up super early and headed out to explore Flagstaff and search for some good grub. We found it at Macy's. Oatmeal and waffles ((yum.)) 

We've been on the road now heading to Santa Fe ((so exciiiittted!)) Not quite sure yet what we will do when we get there, but just being there, sitting in the plaza will make both of us really happy. 

Dream Big, Ride Far sweet travelers!!