Friday Funny Sign — Be Careful of the Snowflake that May Tumble Down on You!

Posted on December 28, 2012 by sglaser

Buck Hill, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Honestly, I have to believe this sign is a joke. However, there was nothing to indicate it was a tongue-in-cheek sign. Furthermore, the day Kurt took this photo, Buck had seen three inches of snow all season. (I think I scraped that much off the windshield of the car last night.)

The photo below shows a view of Minneapolis from the top of the hill. You can see the lack of snowfall. I realize, certainly, that Minnesota can get pounded and probably a heap of snow can fall down Mouse Pass.

Travel Oops — Mad about Mountain Biking

Posted on December 19, 2012 by sglaser

Embracing the active, outdoor lifestyle seemed like a great idea when I first arrived in Colorado for a visit.

However, after a few weeks, while white knuckling it on a mountain bike ride, I started thinking that maybe listening to some John Denver while drinking Coors Light was a better idea.

It’s actually best not to know anything about a mountain bike trail before riding it. Ignorance, while not bliss, is definitely an advantage when it comes to participating in an extreme sport. It’s either ignorance or fearlessness —and — since I am not fearless by nature, at least I was clueless. In fact, I was completely clueless about what I was in for.

Most of the Crest Trail, which runs along the continental divide in Colorado, is considered to be “singletrack,” a dirt path not much wider than the bike. When you’re riding downhill next to a sheer drop off on three inches of trail that goes over rocks and tree roots, it seems more like “tightrope trail” with no net.

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Gimme Shelter — Or Something to Lean On

Posted on November 28, 2012 by sglaser

Salida, Colorado, USA. This is a classic, highly photographed scene in the small mountain town. The old school kayaks against an aging brick wall of a local building are postcard ready. Located along the Arkansas River, Salida, is a boating town (river rafting and kayaking), so this is a fitting image.

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Friday Funny Sign — You gotta stop for “The World’s Largest Hand Dug Well”

Posted on November 9, 2012 by sglaser

Greensburg, Kansas. The marketing department of “Big Well” has done their job (do I dare say they’ve done it “well?”) Signs indicating and promoting “The World’s Largest Hand Dug Well” line US Route 54 in Kansas. Of course, there is not much to compete with along that stretch of highway.

In 1993, my dad, Ed, and I were roadtripping to California from Minnesota and kept seeing these signs. Finally, we had to stop. Why not? It’s the World’s Largest Hand Dug Well!! (Actually, there are wells in Egypt and Italy that really vie for that title.) Dug in the 1880’s, “Big Well” is 109 feet deep, and in 2008, was named one of the “Eight Wonders of Kansas” (www.bigwell.org). And, also at the SAME site, you can see a meteorite on display.

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Gimme Shelter — Colorful Colorado Mountain Community

Posted on November 7, 2012 by sglaser

Crested Butte, CO. Although the silver and coal miners didn’t pick the pretty colors, they built some cute buildings back in the day. (And, surely, they referred to them as “cute.”) Colorado mining towns make me smile. Their historic districts, many of which have been restored, offer nostalgia and postcard ready photos.

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The Friday Funny Sign: South Park is a Real Place and Cartman Doesn’t Live Here

Posted on November 2, 2012 by sglaser

I can’t imagine why Fairplay, Colorado would want to clarify that this area is the REAL South Park. Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of the animated Comedy Central show “South Park,” based the setting of the show on the town of Fairplay and some of the other small communities in Park County, CO.

Despite the success of the show and the cult-like following, it doesn’t seem like some of the Fairplay rresidents are avid fans. It’s not all that surprising since the show features some biting satire about small town mountain living. Consequently, this sign above is prominently displayed at one of the main junctions off of Highway 285.

The Friday Funny Sign — Everlasting “Ever Green” Directions

Posted on October 19, 2012 by sglaser

Portland, Oregon. I am totally in favor of recycling and reducing our carbon footprints. At the Portland Farmers Market, I was trying very hard not to be an “eco terrorist,” but in the end, I couldn’t figure out where to put a toothpick (from the food samples). Is it compostable? Is it recyclable? Is it rubbish? I could not find “toothpick” listed anywhere. After five minutes reviewing this sign, I basically, just put the source of confusion into my pocket.

The Travel Ahh….

Posted on September 23, 2012 by sglaser

As anyone who travels knows, there are missteps, mishaps and misadventures, but then there are those perfect moments when we say: “Yeah, this is why I travel.” A Travel Ahh…

These photos are of aspen trees outside of Aspen, Colorado. Fall colors come early in the mountains of Colorado, and Kurt, the kids and I usually go on a drive to see the trees in their glory. I remember when I first moved to CO, I kept thinking, “This is pretty, but really, is this it? Where are all the other vibrant colors like the bright oranges and reds?”

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Hiking the “Mountain Goat Gauntlet” in Colorado

Posted on September 18, 2012 by sglaser

As I looked back at the mountainside “trail” I had just clung to and shimmied along, I decided that it was meant only for hooves — either hooves of mountain goats or hooves of some demonic creature. This was the “Hike to Hell.” At certain points, the path just blended in with the crags and ridges of the mountain and appeared to be completely sheer.

While making my way, I hugged any jutting rock cluster, trying to ignore the fact that when small rocks became dislodged and fell, you did not hear them land. Occasionally, you would hear one skitter down the side for a few feet and then there was nothing but silence.

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