Stopping by Friends...and Cars...and Red Rocks

     After three days with Marilyn's nieces' and their amazing families, we headed to the new home of our friends Brian and Judy--they'd moved to Colorado a year ago to be near their children and grandchildren. 

Judy and Marilyn hiked the North Table Mountain Trail in the foothills of the Rockies, a good climb to the mesa above Golden, home of the Colorado School of Mines and Coors beer. 

Looking toward Denver from the mesa at the trail's top.

A unique occurrence along the trail: bull snakes mating. They were there when we hiked up...and when we hiked back down.

Doug and Brian built wood boxes for Brian and Judy's plot in the community garden.

After three wonderful days with good friends and time with their daughter and her children (unfortunately, Dad was working), we were back on the road. Well, almost... First we stopped at the Clive Cussler Car Museum. 

If you're a fan of Dirk Pitt, you already know that Cussler collects cars, like this 1937 Pierce Arrow Motor Car and Travelodge Trailer that featured in "Inca Gold"...

...and this 1958 Chrysler that featured in "Black Wind"...

...and this 1925 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8 that featured in "Odessa Sea"...

...and this lovely mauve 1931 Marmon V16 Town Car of "Trojan Odyssey."

Even if you don't read Cussler or are even a car buff, you can't help but be in awe of the artistry of old cars, such as this 1932 Stutz DV-32 Town Car--the colors, the curves, the angles, the lights!

Or this avant-garde 1947 Czechoslovakian Tatra Type 87.

Leaving the art museum of cars behind, we drove on to Red Rocks Canyon. 

Again the beauty of geologic history surrounded us. What an inspiring location for the high school graduation that was taking place in the amphitheater that day.

The amphitheater sits between the rock formations, bottom center.

What an awesome visit and an inspiring departure. And yet more of Colorado awaited us!