Estes Park, Colorado... Day one.... Wednesday August 11, 2021

Arriving in Denver with a flourish... these retired Navy pilots... slamming into the runway looking for that elusive hook so ubiquitous on aircraft carriers... then screeching to a sudden halt on the tarmac... glad to be safe and on the ground once again. A bit of turbulence en route... but overall a good flight. Passengers behaving themselves... wearing masks... no drama!

Picking up our rental car... heading up to Estes Park... a beautiful 90 minute ride... ordinarily. Unfortunately western wildfires have blown smoke and ash over the Rockies and the majestic mountains are invisible... regardless... the drive through the pass... a delight.

Arriving at the house discovering one of the two garage doors non-functional. The house however, in good order albeit a huge amount of dust and stale air. Opening the windows proving a new challenge... many painted shut but a quick slice with a razor knife and a bit of banging and they opened wide. Spending the next hours cleaning... vacuuming... dusting... washing sheets... towels... shaking out blankets... checking supplies. While the hubs attempts to repair the garage door... off to food shopping at the market.

Safeway is clean... bright... stocked and open until 11pm... how convenient for those like us arriving late to grab needed supplies... even selling small canisters of oxygen for those in need. Completing shopping... mask on... few others masked as it’s not required and the sign on the door reads “Vaccinated folks do not need to mask”... trust but verify our mantra... home to prepare a quick meal.

Resurgence supper tonite... frozen enchiladas and Spanish rice... what can we say... it’s food... nothing special.

Watched a bit of Planet Earth video then off to bed.... nighty night