I have spent the last 10 days meeting and photographing the amazing faces, places, art and events in Salida, CO. In anticipation of those posts, I submit this photo taken at the Farmer's Market last Saturday at Alpine Park, Salida. Thanks to these good folks and to all those who made my stay here so magical and diverse. And a very special thanks to my host Jennifer Ricci for making me feel so at home (and for the clever headline above), and to her awesome son Tristan Ricci for reminding me of just how cool teenagers can be. I look forward to seeing you all again in a couple of months when I return from my big trip!
Cover Contents Books Home Hire Stories Alex Maes and Harper Powell are both extremely gifted musicians from Salida, CO. They are playing their first gig together at the Salida SteamPlant on June 28, 2017 from 7PM to 9PM. They asked me to do some promotional photos for them, and it wasn't just the fact that it was a very windy day that blew me away. As you will see by the slideshow photos on the link below, these talented ladies slayed their first shoot!!
While every shot was fun, my favorite was at the outdoor piano. I saw it and asked them to channel the original bad boy of music - and the man responsible for turning the piano in a rock and roll instrument - Jerry Lee Lewis playing his epic rock anthem. It was soooo much funnnn!!! To keep posted in upcoming events or to inquire about booking them for gigs, go to https://www.facebook.com/alexmaesmusic/ or contact harpereliza@gmail.com. Cover Contents Books Home Hire Stories I did my first photo shoot with my buddy, Danny Shuford in 2013 and a second one with him and his fiance Kat Diamond last year. So I loved being able to update some of their images for their website Rhythm Assisted Heart Wisdom while I was in Salida, CO. I also got to see them lead the worship music at the First Presbyterian Church and host a performance there by renowned Native American musician Leon Joseph Littlebird. As you can see by the photos in the slideshow below, it is a pleasure to photograph them whenever ever possible.
Cover Contents Books Home Hire Stories When you haven't camped in over 40 years, it's a little bit weird to hear how much Coloradans love to go out to the mountains and rough it. But after spending my first night car camping in Crested Butte, CO and waking up to this, I can finally say that I get it. I'll post more photos soon, but for now I'll just let this shot remind you that there is truly another world out there waiting for you to discover.
Cover Contents Books Home Hire Stories There is a place like no other place on earth called Garden Of The Gods. Located between Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs, CO this magnificent park looks like something out of a science fiction movie. With jagged spires jutting to the sky, giant boulders balancing precariously on narrow pedestals, other worldly valleys carved by ancient winds, rock ridges resembling prehistoric dinosaur backs and snow capped peaks towering over green meadows, it is a constant changing visual delight. You can see more photos of this national landmark below or on this aerial footage posted on Youtube.
Cover Contents Books Home Hire Stories Green Mountain Falls, CO is a kind of magical place. It is located right off the highway between Manitou Springs and Woodland Park, yet you would never know it's there unless someone told you about it. So I have made it my mission to do just that. Why? First, because it has the greatest breakfast place in the world, The Pantry (try the cinnamon toast on your diet cheat day), which looks out a gorgeous pond and gazebo. Secondly, because as my trusted hiking companion Susanna Kelland (photo here) showed me, it has a terrific trek up to the falls for which it is named. Thirdly, like many places in Colorado, it has lots of deer friends to see along the way. And lastly, the tiny village has a couple of places to quench your thirst or satisfy your hunger if you are feeling a little peckish after hiking.
Cover Contents Books Home Hire Stories One of the things you quickly discover when visiting Colorado for the first time is how fit the people are. Colorado consistently ranks number one as the leanest state in the US and has some of the lowest rates of obesity, hypertension and diabetes in the nation. There are several reasons the people here remain in the perpetual state of fitness, but I think the words of a local summed it up best. "People in some other states diet and exercise to look and feel good. People in Colorado do it because they want to go outside and play."
Susanna Kelland is a prime example of that latter philosophy. This Manitou Springs resident is an avid runner, works out regularly and watches her nutritional intake so she can play hard outdoors. She also teaches yoga to prison inmates and competes in events that challenge her to do better and be better. And as I recently discovered on our trek up Green Mountain Falls, CO, she loves to blaze new trails. Cover Contents Books Home Hire Stories I met John Taylor a few years ago in Scottsdale, AZ when we both attended Personal Development workshops at UandImproved.com. The leadership company founder and my gym training partner, Jodi Low told me that John was an expert hiker and suggested I connect with him. Well, that one hike led to a lasting friendship and quite a few adventures - including the time he saved me from being devoured by two ugly javelinas.
I'll post some of our Colorado adventures soon, but I wanted to dedicate this post to honoring this military Veteran, author of TaylorMadeHiking.com, former Mr. Colorado and dedicated husband the incredible Patti Taylor and Dad to his terrific daughter, Stephanie Taylor. Thanks for being a great friend, patient listener, terrific role model, laid back travel buddy, hiking mentor, magical campsite locator, fellow punster, and especially, for being the guy who kept me off the javelina's lunch menu. Cover Contents Books Home Hire Stories When my friend John Taylor and his daughter Stephanie Taylor suggested we hike and sight see near the towns of Morrison (no relation to Jim) and Evergreen, CO area, I got excited. Morrison is the home of one of the premiere music venues in the world, Red Rocks Amphitheater - an absolute must see for any music lover. Morrison also hosts some really cool spots like Beso de Arte, Rooftop Tavern and more.
Evergreen is like a time portal to the cowboy era with it's wooden walkways, vintage buildings and great places to grab chow or quench a parched thirst. Among those places are Cactus Jacks, which has a great patio with a music stage, and Little Bear Saloon which is really Old West - if the women of the Old West threw their bras at the musicians on stage. :-) But what makes Evergreen even more desirable is the hike around Evergreen Lake. It's a beautiful way to spend the day and admire what happens when smart planners integrate nature with history. Cover Contents Books Home Hire Stories I saw this intricately designed truck pull into a parking lot in Grand Junction, CO. I asked the driver and creator, Halle Halle if I could take a few pics and she graciously agreed. During the process she told me this was the third art car she had decorated. She said she was from a part of Canada near Hamilton, ON, where my Mom was born. And she and her good friend, Kerry Lehmann were touring parts of America in her truck and getting asked for photos all along the way.
Update 2017: Little did I know that this chance meeting in Colorado would lead to an invitation to stay at Halle's home in Canada (story here), and the start of a great friendship between two fellow travelers. Cover Contents Books Home Hire Stories |
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