My bike and I made it to Colorado successfully, even without hitch.
Apparently my bike box was inspected by TSA in Portland, I hope they
didn't unpack it entirely because the repacking would likely have been
as unpleasant as the first packing. I arrived late and was met by an
old grad school pal, Matt, who moved to Denver with his wife Kate.
Matt and Kate live in an awesome house in Denver with their two little
boys, Damian and Lucas, and their two cats. Matt and I discussed his
work and whatnot, mostly signal processing in relation speech
recognition/engines. As we made our way through the city streets I
couldn't help but remark at the number of young folks on the streets
making their way into and out of bars and nightspots. Oh, such a far
cry from the oft-sleepy downtown of Silverton, OR.
Over the next two days I had to make full use of what was likely to be
the last kitchen I'd set foot in for a while. Tortillas, tacos,
pancakes (Kate made those and I pitted cherries), sandwiches,
chips...In a rush I said most of my goodbyes and Matt handed me off to
my old pal TJ and his girlfriend at Red Rocks. We drove to Vail
yesterday. Heading into the mountains I always wonder why I let myself
spend so long away. Perhaps I have romanticized them to the extent
that I am enamored of their serenity, of course they can tend towards
tempestuous. So does the sea, so do the plains. Everything sees it's
moment and we bear witness.
My bike is ready, my bags are packed, my general route is mapped out,
rather, I have a few set destinations as I wend my way to the
Willamette valley. There is that itch to move on that compels me to a
far horizon, yet the attraction to the familiar will keep me happily
in place here in Vail another day or so and all the more sad to say
goodbye. I wonder if in transience the only permanence to be found is
just that.
In a few days more I may know.
