THURSDAY | We’d been advised by many to take the scenic route from Boulder to Aspen and so we set off in Tyson (name of our car) bright and early on Thursday morning. The scenery did not disappoint. The road snaked through and over the snow-covered mountains. What wasn’t covered in reflective white flakes was teaming with lush deep green trees and flora. Our lunch stop was a small café in a strip of shops in Dillion. The Pouring Pot served us hearty sandwiches and a side of kettle chips. Then it was back on the road. The highways took us up towards heaven and we could feel the air thinning out as we made the ascent. Then within minutes we were back in valley flying through the Forrest. We arrived into Aspen just after 5pm, which happen to coincidence with the hotels Cheese and Wine hour. So bags dumped in our room (that came complete with giant moose heads over each bed) we skipped back downstairs to make the most of our accommodations generosity. For dinner we agreed on the Red Onion however on approach just after 6pm the place was empty so we made a detour via Justice Snow’s for a cocktail. Their speciality was fancy cocktails, of which I ordered one but Ashs latest liquid obsession is Bloody Marys so she went with that. Whilst I sipped on a concoction of basil, mint and an array of alcohols she had a ‘tasteless tomatoes juice and vodka’ (her description). Seated at the end of the bar the staff chatted in front of us which became very entertaining when a patron advised that 40 people would be coming in at 10pm tonight after the Aspen film festival wrapped up. None of the staff had communicated this, the one girl who was rostered had planned to close at 10pm and she was not happy. Paxton bitched and moaned in the most enduring way. As we sailed out the door for dinner we wished her good luck. Dinner at the Red Onion served up the best Chicken Wings we’d had thus far. It also gave us some great people watching as the locals came and went up at the bar. With weed being legal in Colorado we had the added layer of some every stoned individuals trying to blend in and socialise. On to our official entertainment of the night we wandered down to Belly Up to hear some bluegrass music. The first band was Chain Station and despite the half-filled venue the dance floor was rocking. After they finished up we got chatting to the lonesome snow boarder beside us. Chatting with him filled in the time before the main act Steak Revival took to the stage. We decided to get boot scooting and headed down to the d-floor with our new friend. For the entirety of their set we danced to our hearts content. Energy up but the gig over we decided to swing back to Justice Snow to see how Paxton was coping. As we swung through the door she lit up with excitement at our return. In between attending to the short film festival buffs she chatted with us and mixed us up some great cocktails. We also exchanged words with some albino-esque gents from Iceland and a couple of staff from local bars/restaurants. One of whom invited me across the way for a puff on this legal weed we’d heard so much about. So, with him I ducked across the road, passed the bins, into the empty kitchen for a chat and a smoke. When I returned, Ash was outside on the stoop chatting to the Iceland dudes. Shortly after my return she came inside and after a sip of her beverage realised that the night had run its course and to home we would go. On the brief walk home we ran into some guys on a bucks night. On the street corner, we chatted with them before we linked arms and made our merry way home to bed. FRIDAY | and in bed is where Ash stayed for the entirety of Friday. Well bed and wrapped around the toilet bowl. The altitude, the mixing of drinks and the number of beverages wreaked havoc on her body. I was also feeling a little worse for wear but found the strength to shower, dress and make my way into town for a walk and a fed. But then I was just as happy to come home and climb back into bed to watch Sister Act 2 and Ru Pauls Drag Race.
SATURDAY | Having seen barely any Aspen by daylight we hit up the Hotel breakfast before heading into town for a wander. The streets were bear with the shops not opening till late morning and the majority of tourists heading up the mountain for the last snow weekend of the season. We managed to cover the entire town in under 30 minutes and then we were off on our way to the next stop. As we sailed out of town we passed a sign that read ‘no gas for 60 miles’. With the dash at half full and telling us we had 240 miles worth of gas we figured, we’d got this.
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