Mile Hi! How are you? Hope you’re enjoying yourself a nice little weekend. Me? I know that I am!! I couldn’t hav asked for a more amazing and random trip to Denver, which is where I’m writing this from right now.

It started as soon as I got off the plane. And, this could have easily made it into a bad trip … but I didn’t allow it to happen. Here’s the deal, when I was in Ft. Myers the people at the hotel (which I won’t name) didn’t give me my drivers license back from when I checked in. As I said before I was way to sick to even notice that. I had a killer headache, my ears were totally congested and I just wanted to lay down. So, I didn’t realize it unti I got to the Orlando airport the next morning.

It’s a good thing that I carry an ID card as well as a license, or the trip would have had a very short and abrupt ending …. And that would have sucked rather hardcore. Anyway, I could get on the plane, but without a license I couldn’t rent my car. I would like to thank the folks at Alamo in Denver for trying everything they could think of to help me out. But, it just wasn’t in the cards apparently.

And, now, it was a really good thing it worked out that way. I ended up getting transportation to my hotel in Golden, CO just outside of Denver so I could check out the Jason  Mraz concert at Red Rock Amphitheatre. This is literally the only outdoor venue that was left on my list of places I wanted to see a show. But, before I went to the show I took advantage of the only thing that most people think of when they think of Golden, CO.

Coors Brewing Company.

Yup, the Coors factory is right there, 3.4 miles from my hotel using the crisp clean water from the Rockies … which I wasn’t sure how that worked – but check out the pics. They really use it! It’s right at the foothills of the Rockies and is amazingly impressive. The tour was fun and the beer was amazing. There really is not much better than a really fresh and amazingly cold beer. And, you’ll never have more cold or fresh than straight from the source … and I do mean straight. The beers I got to try (note: PLURAL … BEERS) were straight off the line and tasted amazing. I had Coors Original, Blue Moon, Coors Light and Killians on this fine tour.

After the tour, I was going to grab a cab but m the show I took advantage of the only thing that most people think of when they think of Golden, CO.

Coors Brewing Company.

Yup, the Coors factory is right there, 3.4 miles from my hotel using the crisp clean water from the Rockies … which I wasn’t sure how that worked – but check out the pics. They really use it! It’s right at the foothills of the Rockies and is amazingly impressive. The tour was fun and the beer was amazing. There really is not much better than a really fresh and amazingly cold beer. And, you’ll never have more cold or fresh than straight from the source … and I do mean straight. The beers I got to try (note: PLURAL … BEERS) were straight off the line and tasted amazing. I had Coors Original, Blue Moon, Coors Light and Killians on this fine tour.

After the tour, I was going to grab a cab but my guide said it would be quicker and easier if I walked up the street and caught a cab at a local bar as the factory is huge and difficult for a cab to navigate and find a passenger. I took that suggestion and had a drink in a bar that was located in the first building built of 100% cobblestone … the walls were 3 ½ feet thick. Looking back on it, I wish some of my old condos were made of cobblestone as hearing neighbors isn’t all that great.

I had a conversation with the bartender who lived in Boston for a while and we were chatting about various things when I asked for the number to a cab company. I explained what I was doing with Cross Country Carter and I was trying to get to Red Rocks. She said, well, I’m off in 20 minutes …. I can bring you over. Seriously?? AWESOME!! RANDOM!! AWESOMELY RANDOM!! So, sure enough she brought me over to the venue, where I ended up backstage for a little while talking to Mr. Mraz before the show. Even got to use the outdoor restroom, which I have a picture of (my view, not the production of restroom visit) and that alone was amazing.

But, this venue was everything I thought and then some. It was seriously breathtaking, and not just because it’s like 3000 feet above sea level. I can’t explain how pretty and awe inspiring it was. One of the people backstage that worked for the venue made a good point when he said “most venues this size take about 2 to 2 ½ years to make and perfect … this one is at about 300 million years and it’s still a work in progress.” Perfectly put – that was from James, the backstage security manager and I promised I would give him credit for that line.

Then … onto the show, as you can see in one of the pics (from my second row seats) the stage is literally backed up to the rocks and the hood of the concert shell is all natural. I don’t know if you’re religious … I’m not really, but this is one of those places that makes you think there’s something else up there working some magic. I got to take some pictures from those seats where I saw part of the show, then stage left in the 5^th row where I saw the second half and a few from on stage from behind Toca the bongo player and backup singer.

Check out the pictures and I think you’ll agree that as they say a picture is worth a thousand words but I’m currently at over 1000 words and it doesn’t do these pictures any justice whatsoever in my mind.

So, I certainly want to come back to Denver and spend some more time … hopefully this time with a  drivers license so I can explore a little bit more.

And, yes, it is true that breathing is slightly more difficult at this altitude. I can do about 8-10 miles running without much problem but walking to the top fo the stairs at Red Rocks and I was winded to the point of panting!!

Ok, on my way to the airport to head to Boston for a big packing of clothes then the longest non-stop leg of my trip including San Diego, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, LA, San Fran, Oakland and Napa!! Wish me luck!

Talk to you soon and enjoy the videos and photos

Carter