Hanging in Longmont for a week
After four straight weeks of camping in the wild, a planned stop in civilization in what I now consider my home town; Longmont, Colorado. Longmont has been on the schedule for a long time, primarily because my son turn’s 18 years old this weekend, and graduates high school later this month. It also happens to be my home Moose Lodge which I had not had the opportunity to visit this past year as we were in Alaska. Even with civilized camping, complete with 20 amp power, we did not sit on our butts playing video games for too long. We got out an about pretty quickly…
The first thing to do was to visit Left Hand Brewery (we were here last year) and get our growler filled and to sample a few of the new additions on tap. We found yet another great Porter that hit the spot. Kerri and I agree that Porters are hitting our B-spot (see what I did there? B, for beer, instead of G?) when we have an urge for a dark beer. Nitro, of course, just makes it better and Left Hand has some fantastic creamy and smooth Nitro beers. Yum!
Button Rock Preserve’s (just outside of town in the foothills) Sleeping Lion trail was one of my first hikes upon moving into the Longmont area an I have hiked it numerous times since. I recall that the hike just about killed me. I eventually hobbled back to my vehicle and didn’t hike for weeks after. My hiking persisted, over time, and nowadays those distances are done before breakfast. Both Moose and Byron joined us for the hike out to the Reservoir and back, knocking out just over 4.5 miles in good order. Byron, even with his bum leg handled it like a champ. Moose, as usual, ran around like a madman and urinated on everything (that’s my boy).
Still Cellars movie night was next on our to do list. Kerri and I have have been here once in the past and loved the vibe, and drinks. With a Facebook notification that Monday night would be movie night – Royal Tenenbaums – we jumped at the opportunity to see the one and only 
Wes Anderson flick we had not yet watched together. A few cocktails had to be put in their place during the showing, and Kerri adopted yet another bottle of booze for her closet. She is still working on rebuilding her bar since the Alaska trip where booze was scarce through Canada and Alaska.
The next morning, before work, we set out to get in a quick hike. Unfortunately, the trail I had planned was closed (Why? I do not know). Hall Ranch, a Boulder County open space, was right down the street so there we went. I have hiked or biked numerous times, but it was better than just turning back to start off the work-day. It turned out to be only a 2 mile hike, but it was a nice day-starter.
From there the week turned into a blitz of work, chores, honey-dos, and hanging out with my son when I had time. Our stay consisted of parking at the Longmont Moose Lodge. Just what all full-timers look for; an asphalt parking lot, with numerous neighbors in close proximity and the sounds of inner-city traffic and sirens whispering us to sleep each night. I am thankful for the Lodge, but more anxious than anything to get up that mountain and back into some trees.
On the plus side, I did get to rejoin my gym and start working out again. It’s been more than a year and a half since my injury that caused me to stop working out, and I am super excited about getting back into it. In fact, I am off to the gym right now… see ya!
