RoadTrip: Colorado Rockies

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The Colorado Rockies. Well, what can anyone that has spent time in these majestic mountains say? Myself, I was left speechless, but was filled to the brim with endless words.

Though I have been in these mountains before, for work. I have yet to explore the Colorado backcountry for pleasure; and September was the perfect time for it.

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Day 1.

Started with a flight from Winnipeg, Manitoba to San Antonio, TX. Saturday was the day she lands.

She, is my girlfriend, Candace.

"Remember to pick up the girlfriend at 2:30pm" is what's written on my whiteboard, mixed in with the notes and task for RoadTrip Discovery.

2pm, I'm in my truck and making way to the airport!

Come 2;30pm, I finally have my travel partner sitting next to me, and just as excited as I am for our holiday in the Rocky Mountains; and a very much needed holiday it is.

The Sunday morning sun would flood the room waking us from the night's slumber. Sleepy-eyed and anxious we begin the grueling task of... packing.

Breakfast was definitely our top priority as we had a 7.5 hour drive to our first destination: Caprock Canyons.

Loaded up and supped up, the Texas highways were our moment's destination.

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Just a little history about Caprock Canyons.

Having a rich history in Texas, several Native American cultures made their homes in these canyons, including the Folsom culture some 10,000 years ago.

Paleolithic and Plainview cultures dating back some 9,000 years can also be found, but only in slight traces.

As the climate began to dry, hunting and gathering cultures emerged roughly 8,000 to 2,000 years ago with artifacts ranging from boiling pebbles, grinding stones, oval knives and dart points.

Spanish explorer, Francisco Vazquez de Coronado crossed these plains in 1541 meeting the Plains Apache whom acquired horses and became better buffalo hunters.

The Comanche then arrived in the 1700s forcing the Apache from the area, dominating the northwest of Texas until the 1870s around the time the Anglos arrived.

From there cattleman Charles Goodnight moved cattle into Palo Duro Canyon in 1876, and in 1882 bought large areas of land in this region for John G. Adair creating J.A. Ranch.

By 1936 Theo Geisler was the last private owner to purchase the land. Dying in 1969. By 1975 the state of Texas had bought the land naming the park's lake after Geisler, Lake Theo.

Making camp at Lake Theo was pretty great. Evening was surprisingly cool, and windy; giving way to clear skies revealing this vastness of stars, and galaxies. It was a sweet little pit stop, but Candace and I were ready for the mountains, and ready for some friggin sleep.

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Lemme tell you, Monday morning couldn't have come faster, and with a 7am wake up call, we were cleaning up our campsite and getting the truck loaded up. Now ready and hungry we make a quick decision to stop at the local Waffle House to fuel up for the next 10 hour drive northbound to Fraser, Colorado.

Fraser, Colorado was exactly the little gem we needed. Small, and quiet. Surrounded by tall mountains and trees as far as a 360° view can give you, this mountain town surpassed all my expectations.

Since our Monday was spent mostly driving, a quiet evening at the Hideaway Mountain Lodge was our reward, and our home for a week. Come on Tuesday morning, we're coming for you.

Owners, Mike and Carla, were absolutely exceptional hosts.

Included in our stay were morning breakfasts that did not disappoint, with each dish tailored to your choices you choose from the day before. The room was decorated in classic small town feel. No TV, just a comfortable bed, dresser, armoire and a love seat that faced a wood fireplace.

Our particular room was on the first floor, if 3, but had a wonderful mountain view.

As Tuesday morning made her appearance, Candace and I were ready to adventure out, and explore, but we definitely needed something to wake us up just a little bit more; coffee and that deliciously tailored breakfast.

Blueberry pancakes, mini bagel with strawberry cream cheese, eggs, sausage, a small bowl of fruit with orange juice and coffee was my order. Candace kept hers a bit simpler with eggs over easy, bacon, toast, fruit and orange juice and coffee; and that was just a taste of what was to come every morning.

Getting to know Walkers was a treat in of itself. The 4 of us would cheerfully chat it up every morning over our coffees, where I would learn that they too had spent some time back in Houston, where I'm from, before making their move to Colorado.

Our first hike was a nice little hidden trail