The weather was perfect and I ran by several splashy spring-color vignettes. There are few things so great as a long run early on a beautiful day.
At noon I had lunch at the local gourmet pizza restaurant, treating myself on this "special" day to a brown ale draft and an Italian Pie. As usual, I kept my eye on the door entrance outside the window table I was sitting at, but no one I knew, or at least nobody I recognized, came in.
Leaving a pizza slice symbolically for each of my estranged sons, I bid adieu to my dining companion of this past decade, the Empty Chair, and departed. JJ&D, I'm sorry I failed to meet your unbelievable, out-of-this-world parenting expectations but I have no regrets and wish you to know that I love you.
Happy birthday, oldster! No, no! I meant to say, "Youngster!"
ReplyDeleteEnjoy it as you will.
I am headed for Peru, so my birthday was spent driving to altitude so as to acclimate a bit first - it is like the 3rd time in preparation!
I remember spending a week in Leadville, Charlie, and for the 3d, 4th and fifth day I just couldn't catch my breath and I was contemplating returning to Denver but on the fifth night the distressing oxygen-hunger broke and I was fine. Happy b'day to you too, Cew Two, and have a great time in Peru!
ReplyDeleteI love the burro race in Leadville.
ReplyDeleteEvery year in the summer months. They travel over Mosquito Pass just south and East of The 10,00 feet in elevation city.
Mosquito Pass?
I take the Jeep over every year!
Wow. The year I was there was during the 100 Ultra race, over the pass and back again and anybody who comes in under 24 hours gets a coveted belt buckle and everybody else gets to just go home. I saw the winner come in, he won by 3 hours, and he immediately retired to a nearby bench where he lay still for 45 minutes as his wife tended to him then he went home. He didn't look like a winner so much as a refugee but he left it all on the course. The second place winner had been an hour back but when it became apparent he wouldn't catch the winner I think he took a nap on the trail. I watched all the winners come in then nobody else did, I think they just shoo all the runners off the trail at the 24 hour mark. There's nothing so fun as watching a 300 meter stretch of ground as exhausted runners come in every few minutes or so for four hours, eh, Charlie? Only runners, past or present, would enjoy that! I have seen pictures of your jeep rides, they are spectacular. The season is fast approaching!
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