PJ's Run

Looking west at sunrise from Singletree Trail

Most days of this year of 2013 have begun in single-digit temperatures.  But as my running buddy, Schaef, adamantly proclaimed, there's no bad running weather, just improper running gear.  Thus I've tried out every combination of cold-weather running attire that I own working up to two layers on my legs and five layers on top for the 5-7 degree days.  Today, however, was a relatively balmy 15 degrees when I left my house.  The bigger challenge was the 6 a.m., pre-sunrise, departure time with some concern about visibility on ice-packed roads as well as my visibility vs. any traffic that might be out there.  But, again, it was all about proper preparation.  This morning's gear, from the bottom up:
- trail shoes for the ice and snow
- semi-high-cut socks for cold and snow
- one pair of warm tights
- one mid-weight tech shirt, a heavier tech-shirt, warm hooded polypro pull-over, bright yellow reflective jacket
- neck warmer (what a good investment that was a few years back!)
- warm hat
- reflective running cap with a blinky light in back.
'Twas quite the sight, I'm sure, what with the warm hat pulled low, hood up (most effective piece of gear for warming the entire body, in my humble opinion), all topped with the bright yellow blinky cap!

And it was all worth it.  The run started with about 4 miles on fairly quiet almost-country roads then continued with about 6 trail miles that took me up high enough, at just the right time, for a spectacular view of the Continental Divide at sunrise.  The picture, via my very inadequate phone camera, does not do it justice.  The glow from this sunrise, however, warmed my entire day!

When I last posted, our bags were packed and we were about to set off for Australia.  What a trip we had!  Melbourne, Dandenongs, Great Ocean Road, Cairns, Cape Tribulation, Port Douglas, total eclipse!, Sydney.  All fantastic!  Far too many tales to tell, but perhaps a few photos will give a taste of our adventures.

A few of the many surprises of Melbourne:
the Melbourne library (State Library of Victoria) reading room (looking down and looking up),
the Yarra River so full of activity,  the architectural mix of old and new and oh-so-unique,
brilliantly colored birds everywhere, and some of the best signs I've ever seen!

National Rhododendron Gardens, Olinda, Australia

 Next up: the Great Ocean Road!  "Great" doesn't even come close to describing this magnificent journey along the Great Southern Ocean.  We saw everything from lawn bowling to kangaroos and  koalas to penguins to spectacular ocean views - not to mention the spaghetti jaffle for breakfast (not quite as tasty as most of the food we had been enjoying - like pumpkin pinenut feta salad - but so out of the ordinary that Lysa and I just had to try it) and the continued spottings of humorous signs.   Marvelous!

Mort, Kendall, Lysa, and me at the Twelve Apostles - awaiting dusk and returning penguins

After our tour of Victoria we flew to Queensland where wonders abounded.  Rain forest!  Great Barrier Reef!  Crawling critters!  Swimming critters!  Flying critters!  And last but oh-so-far from least, the total solar eclipse.  If you ever ever get a chance to put yourself in the path of a total eclipse of the sun, DO IT!!!!!  And, of course, more marvelous food (tropical ice cream!  yum!) and eye-catching signs.

Spider at Cairns Botanical Garden

3-meter Croc in river near Cairns

Flying Foxes - lots & lots of flying foxes in trees in Cairns (then they all fly off at dusk)

In awe of the Total Solar Eclipse (me, Lysa, Mort, near Mount Malloy, Queensland, Australia)

 

The ocean!!!  Happy! Happy! Happy!

Our Australian Adventure concluded with a few days in Sydney - and delightful surprises continued!  Fantastic museums, free historical tours, and a whale sighting!!!!!

"The Rocks" area of Sydney - where the convicts first arrived

Sydney already prepping for Christmas

Whale sighting! Off Manly Beach

Sampling pavlova in Sydney, after another marvelous day

Paul's Christmas tree (he got the top, we got the bottom)

Today, Boulder on a crisp autumn day.

This past spring, Kendall and I had the good fortune to hear about a behind-the-scenes Broadway Tour that the head of Boulder's Dinner Theatre would be leading this fall.  We quickly signed up figuring it would be fabulous way to celebrate both Kendall's retirement and our 37th wedding anniversary.  And indeed it was!

Thirty-four hearty individuals of all ages and shapes set off for Broadway from Boulder and spent a whirlwind 5 days and 4 nights experiencing the sights and sounds of New York City.  A note to those of you who have wondered about touring with a group.  We had our concerns about the number of activities and shows packed into a few days, as well as the dynamics of touring with so many people.  It was great!  We would never have planned four shows and daily sight-seeing tours on our own, figuring it would be too much.  Not so!  Seeing a show a night was fabulous (Peter and the Star Catchers, Chaplin, Nice Work If You Can Get It, and Once - each stellar in their own way), and the daily tours had plenty of on-our-own time built in around them for chillin' or cruising or whatever we felt like doing.  And knowing almost 3 dozen people meant that we were often running into people we knew - right in the heart of The City!  The tour definitely let us stretch our wings soar through a delightfully unique NYC experience!

Some highlights:

Times Square on video image - Kendall and I are in upper left!

Broadway Billboards

 

 

Fabulous Art and Architecture!

 

Atlas at the Rockefeller Center

Washington Square Arch (underside)

Grand Central Station

Skyscrapers reflected in skyscrapers

 

 

 

 

George Washington Crossing the Delaware.  HUGE! (Approx 12.5 feet x 21 feet!!!)

 

Wonderful Food!

Cafe Regio - home of the 1st USA cappucino

Kendall sampling Joe's Pizza, Greenwich Village

Vegetable garden atop a van in Greenwich Village

Fresh food Market in Grand Central Station

Kendall and Kersti (our family guide for the day) sipping cider at Union Square Farmer's Market

New York City - and the Great Outdoors!

Walking the street of New York City - a fine way to spend the day!

Central Park, at a dry moment - and Central Park whilst running in a downpour (many volunteer rivers!)

Walking the HighLine Park (former elevated railway) with Kersti - and running into tour friends

Strolling across the Brooklyn Bridge with Kersti (and hundreds of other New Yorkers out & about for the day)

The Carousel!

We Remember

New York! New York!