Praise Jebus!

The reprieve we had from the heat wave was short lived. The cool temperatures that graced the beginning of the last week were nowhere to be seen in a few days time and the triple digits where back just in time for the weekend.

Upon the insistence of Trout’s friend Dave, Trout and I made one last trip before his big move to the 5600. Retreating to cooler climates, we spent the weekend in Steamboat Springs and Winter Park. Here are the highlights:

• I finally made it to Steamboat. It’s taken since October, but Trout and I got there at the same time. And I finally got to meet Jenn (Dave’s lovely wife).
• Also got to meet the famous Sadie-dog and Marley. Oh how I wish I could have a dog.
• I got the best sleep I’ve had in at least a month. It was dark and quiet and even when I woke up briefly in the mornings, my mind didn’t turn on and start thinking a million miles a minute.
• Got to hang out in a dive of a bar in Winter Park and listen to Jebus (the band Dave sings and plays guitar for). Give me a dive bar over some swanky lounge any day. The drinks are much more affordable.
• Went (car) camping for the first time in years. I have a looong way to go before I’m equipped and experienced enough to be an outdoorsy person, but I’ll get there. Not only was I cold for the first time in months (and was actually happy about it), but I saw the moon, stars and Milky Way; I really, really miss that living in the city. Hooray for camping!
• Overall, I was just incredibly thankful to escape the city and enjoy something a little more slow paced, quiet and cooler. I was never more thankful for the weekend than on my trip home when I got stuck in traffic on I-70, 50 miles outside of Denver. Yes, that’s right, stuck in traffic for an hour, in 90+ degree heat, on the interstate. Apparently half the city had the same idea to escape the heat as I did.

This weekend helped me realize that while the city is fun and exciting and unlike any other thing I’ve done thus far in my short, fairly simple life, it’s not a permanent thing. I need nights that are dark, quiet and star gaze-able. When the temperature climbs, I don’t want it to be intensified by miles of asphalt, concrete and car exhaust. When I’m driving down the interstate I want to be able to go the speed limit, not 55 miles below it.

Call it cliché, but you can take the girl out of the country, but I guess you can’t take the country out of the girl.