I woke up this morning and realized, bald spot and receding hairline be damned, I’m just going to get my head shaved.
And off I went to Supercuts and Jenna was there who did an amazing job I must say. Compared to my self-butcherings, this fade cut looks pretty good all things considered. A #1 on the side faded to a #3 on top. It’s very low maintenance and it doesn’t look like I’m trying to attempt growing my hair out for a combover any more. Sweet.
I wanted to check in and put up the latest in my non-Europe pictures, which as I knew it would, is a giant ball and chain I will have to drag around until I actually get them done. But there’s so many!!!!!!!! Anyways, here are pics from when Mom & Harv visited a few weeks ago, as well as my hike to St. Mary’s Falls (almost), and finally from Kyle’s 30th Birthday night. Oh yeah, and don’t bother with Spiderman 3.
26-29 April 2007 – Mom & Harv Come to Visit
Harv & Mom at the USAFA museum
27-Apr-2007 11:24, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 141
Outside in the parking lot nestled in the beautiful mountains
27-Apr-2007 11:36, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.006 sec
Me too
27-Apr-2007 11:37, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.006 sec
Walking towards the chapel and observation deck
27-Apr-2007 11:43, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.005 sec
There's the USAFA chapel again - so amazing
27-Apr-2007 11:45, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec
Mom felt like she could fly
27-Apr-2007 11:45, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec
And here's where I learned to point!
27-Apr-2007 11:45, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec
Mom laughs
27-Apr-2007 11:45, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 10.0, 12.523mm, 0.005 sec
We caught the cadets upon Friday lunch formation - kinda cool to watch
27-Apr-2007 11:51, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec
A picture of one of the many dorm buildings there
27-Apr-2007 11:51, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.006 sec
The chapel exterior - I didn't go in this time as I was watching the formation
27-Apr-2007 11:53, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec
Picture of the observation deck and the cadets forming up
27-Apr-2007 11:54, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec
Formation and one of the static F-15s
27-Apr-2007 11:55, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec
Both sides of the academy have a formation - that's a lot of people
27-Apr-2007 11:55, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec
Almost at the point of formation
27-Apr-2007 11:57, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec
ReeeeeePORT!
27-Apr-2007 11:59, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec
27-Apr-2007 12:01, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 10.0, 12.523mm, 0.003 sec
The Color Guard leads the charge to lunch
27-Apr-2007 12:06, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 11.0, 15.599mm, 0.004 sec
27-Apr-2007 12:07, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 11.0, 15.599mm, 0.004 sec
And the flights file out, column-right style
27-Apr-2007 12:07, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 11.0, 15.599mm, 0.005 sec
Me and Harv
27-Apr-2007 12:12, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec
Me and Mom
27-Apr-2007 12:13, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec
So the previous week I went hiking with Jeremy and we had gone to the Helen Hunt Falls trail, at the top of which we went out-of-bounds and made it to the other side of the tunnel you’ll see below. After Mom and Harv left Sunday morning to fly back to Los Angeles, I went out hiking, consulting the Trail book for directions, in order to see the other side of the tunnel. Turns out there’s a trail that leads from the tunnel up to St Mary’s Falls, which is about 2 miles up some initially gradual trail and then finally it turns upwards and gets a little bit more tiring. You first have to walk about 1 mile on the closed-to-cars Gold Camp Road (at which you pass by the Seven Bridges trail, which is probably my next trail to tackle) to get to the tunnel – I mention this because I got to the area in the mid-afternoon time and already it had gotten a little cloudy. Colorado Springs is fairly regular in the fact that in the afternoon you’ll more than likely get clouds rushing over the mountains to you, and this afternoon was no different. It hadn’t started raining yet though, so I pressed on. About a half mile past the tunnel though, it started to rain. I had a hat on, but other than that, no rain gear. But I decided to push through anyways. I got about another mile up, and hit the very steep section and eventually the giant switchbacks, but it seriously started getting colder and rainier and while I really wanted to see the Falls, I made a judgment call to finally turn around and hike the 3 miles or so back. I probably was right near the top of the trail, but I figure I can always go back. Anyways, here are pictures from my hike up the road, by and past the tunnel, and up the trail that follows along the stream from the Falls. You’ll see that those shots in the fourth row below are pretty high up – it’s quite a view.
29 April 2007 – Hiking to St Mary’s Falls in Cheyenne Canyon
Looking to where we had hiked last time
29-Apr-2007 15:05, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.01 sec
The Gold Camp Road and view of the parking lot I just left
29-Apr-2007 15:06, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.005 sec
You can just see the notch in the mountain where Gold Camp Road goes
29-Apr-2007 15:07, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.008 sec
Gold Camp Road on bottom left - beautiful mountains above
29-Apr-2007 15:15, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.006 sec
Where Seven Bridges trail starts - maybe my next hike?
29-Apr-2007 15:19, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec
Looking up at the bare rock face of the mountain
29-Apr-2007 15:22, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.004 sec
Across the valley is the Road you just hiked from
29-Apr-2007 15:23, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.01 sec
Looking up the road towards where the tunnel lies
29-Apr-2007 15:23, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.006 sec
There's the St Mary's Tunnel, from the other side this time
29-Apr-2007 15:28, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.004 sec
You can see through to the other end
29-Apr-2007 15:28, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.9, 23.1mm, 0.013 sec, ISO 141
Perspective shot
29-Apr-2007 15:28, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec
There's CS in the distance
29-Apr-2007 15:30, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec
Where Gold Camp Road continues and where I hit the trail
29-Apr-2007 15:30, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.004 sec
Looking down the cliff face
29-Apr-2007 15:32, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.006 sec
There's the parking lot a mile or so back
29-Apr-2007 15:32, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.008 sec
View of the valley exit
29-Apr-2007 15:32, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.01 sec
Looking down to the tunnel
29-Apr-2007 15:33, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.01 sec
And where Gold Camp road continues, again
29-Apr-2007 15:33, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.004 sec
Here's where the trail truly begins
29-Apr-2007 15:37, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.01 sec
Pretty stream that accompanies you on the way up
29-Apr-2007 15:40, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.9, 23.1mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 223
ME!
29-Apr-2007 15:41, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 109
29-Apr-2007 15:41, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 107
More picturesque mini-waterfalls
29-Apr-2007 15:41, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.0, 15.599mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 141
Looking up at the impending rain clouds
29-Apr-2007 15:44, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.006 sec
Ah, bigger mini-waterfalls
29-Apr-2007 15:51, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.0, 15.599mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 254
29-Apr-2007 15:51, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 3.5, 12.523mm, 0.02 sec, ISO 141
Pretty, yet eerie, Aspen trees?
29-Apr-2007 15:51, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 141
29-Apr-2007 16:07, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 315
Where the stream diverged left and the trail began heavily switchbacking to the right
29-Apr-2007 16:07, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 315
Here's my uppermost point on this hike and looking out at the city
29-Apr-2007 16:12, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.004 sec
Very beautiful view - but also at this time, rainy and cool.
29-Apr-2007 16:13, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec
On the way back down now, with a shot of the trail and the stream
29-Apr-2007 16:34, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.5, 18.776mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 315
Trail, Tree, and Stream
29-Apr-2007 16:34, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 141
Trail and Stream - going downhill is so much easier; it's not even much exercise
29-Apr-2007 16:37, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 209
Again with the eerie white trunk trees
29-Apr-2007 16:46, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 107
Near the end of the stream before it hits the Spoon Falls area
29-Apr-2007 16:47, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 109
And this is the true trailhead
29-Apr-2007 16:49, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.0, 15.599mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 204
So Kyle turned 30 too! He is exactly 6 months behind me in that race. He tried to go under-the-radar with this (COMPLETELY unlike how I handled that situation) but alas, his attempts failed and I rounded us all up for at least a night out. Unfortunately his 30th birthday was on a Thursday – sucks. So while we went out and had fun, we didn’t let loose like we potentially could have! We ended up at the Golden Bee, which is a neat English pub owned and ran by the illustrious Broadmoor Hotel. It’s not exactly a young person’s hangout, but it’s still fun and there is a piano guy who sings all sorts of songs….but best and most unique of all, they can sell you a beer by the YARD. As you’ll see in the pics below, they have these ridiculous tall, but slim, glasses that hold like 4 or 5 pints of beer in them. They’re a yard tall. Awesome. I didn’t have one (it was a school night), but I may need to go back. Oh yeah, this was also Melissa’s last night here in Colorado – she was flying out for her deployment to Tampastan the next day – everyone keep her in your thoughts while she’s sunning herself on the beaches of Florida (although from all the fires going out there, maybe she is in danger?)
3 May 2007 -Â Kyle’s 30th at the Golden Bee
Eric and his yard-long Beer
03-May-2007 19:17, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 141
Tom shows how to drink one
03-May-2007 19:17, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 141
KD shows off her ring
03-May-2007 19:18, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 141
Melissa's BCGs
03-May-2007 19:19, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 141
A very awesome pic of myself
03-May-2007 19:22, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 179
Sexy!
03-May-2007 19:22, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 141
Birthday Boy Kyle drinks up
03-May-2007 19:24, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 141
Now you can see KD's engagement ring!
03-May-2007 19:25, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 3.5, 12.523mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 800
HI-larious pic
03-May-2007 19:31, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 141
Definitely not ready for the camera there
03-May-2007 19:32, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 141
Cheesy-shot!
03-May-2007 19:32, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 141
And a great shot of KD's ring
03-May-2007 19:37, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 233
And that’s the latest! Hopefully I’ll knock out another page of Europe pics soon and/or get in a hike. And tomorrow’s Mother’s Day, so make sure to do something nice!
