Mountain Trip for the Marshalls

Well, at long last, my parents came, they saw, they quarreled, they left.

My parents arrived around 10:00 am last Wednesday. I, who was worried about getting to the airport too early and having nothing to do, was instead late in picking them up. I'd factored in the time it would take to get luggage, but was foiled as I should have remembered that if my parents can do carry-on, they will, and they did. We stayed pretty close to the itinerary.

Wednesday - we went to the Spicy Pickle for lunch. We then went and dropped off my parents' bags at as Jeff calls it, "my tiny girly apartment." We headed out for CO Springs and Garden of the Gods. I handed my car over to my Dad, since I figured that was easier than having my Mom yell at me as I ran through red lights and such. My Dad was a little confused at the stop light on the on-ramp of the highway. I just told him it was cause people in Denver like to drive like they're in a car race. But, we headed out. It was a nice day at GOG, and I couldn't help but compare it to Ann and Jeff's snowy trip down there.

My Dad kept looking wistfully at Pike's Peak, and making comments about how it would be fun to drive up there, but we could do whatever everyone else wanted to do. Next thing you know Booskie (my car) was chugging up Pike's Peak. I froze my ass off at the top, and my Mom almost passed out from lack of oxygen, but we made it. On the mandatory brake check on the way down, the ranger told us that our brakes were way too hot and to let them cool off for 1/2 hour. Five minutes later Dad decided he just wouldn't use the brakes anymore, and we continued careening down the mountain. It kept raining on and off that afternoon, and Mom, who was sitting behind my Dad, kept yelling every time she got pelted with rain coming in through his window. Of course, upon her screaming, Dad would roll his window down the rest of the way. My Mom would then scream more and throw punches into the back of Dad's seat. I threatened to separate them, and they calmed down.

We got back to Denver and met Brian for Burger/beer night at the Bull and Bush. My Mom behaved herself, and Brian managed to not seem too nervous for their first meeting.

Those of you who are Alison's blog readers already know that since my parents decided to stay with me in my room, I slept with Alison, and as she is still in break up recovery mode, having me in her bed instead of Tim made her cry. But, she must have cried pretty quietly cause I slept right through it! My Mom complained about how hot my room was and that they should have stayed in a hotel (which is of course what I predicted). My Dad rewired my whole room with fans strategically placed for ultimate circulation - brilliant!

Next morning was Estes Park day. We cruised up through Loveland at about 60 on a 75mph road. I think my Dad was trying to let Booskie rest up before her next mountain expedition. The park was nice. We saw elk and some moosen (including a baby) in the woodesen.

My Dad had climbed Long's peak after high school, and explained the proper Long's peak climbing techniques - go early in the morning to avoid thunder storms, and go around the diamond face and up the back. He looked at all of the hiking books on Long's peak in every gift shop. Mom almost bought an Indian flute at a gift shop in Estes, but then decided she'd get an Irish flute in Canada instead. We finally got back to Denver and went for Mexican with Brian and Alison.

Okay, I'm running out of steam, I'll explaaaiin the trip more later. - Naomi