Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Bandi's Snow Run

 


Song:  Havin' A Ball

Group:  The Partridge Family




(This is a repost from my Colorado Rocky Mountain Living Blog)



This was my first ride since moving to Colorado
(man...did I miss triking on the trails).

For the first couple of months...
as it had rained almost the whole way here...
and my trike was on a car carrier on the back of my car...
the electronics had gotten wet and the trike computer refused to work.

After it fully dried out...
the cold weather had moved in.

As it has been warm and sunny lately...
I decided to take Bandi out on a trike ride...
as she ran beside my as I triked.



I had merely attached her normal leash to the back of my seat.

She quickly caught on where she was supposed to run
(to my right nearest the side of the road)...
and she also kept perfect pace beside me.

I kept a close eye on her to ensure she never tired too much...
and over the approximately four mile stretch...
there and back...
we also took many breaks.

Bandi was enthusiastic the whole way.

She loved our little run.



As you can see...
my driveway is still filled with ice...
however, my trike had no problem climbing up the incline to the road.

My trike was made for this type of road...
hard packed topped off with crushed granite.

It allowed my tires to bite into the surface...
and it provided a soft road for Bandi's paws.





This was on our first break.

Bandi wasn't out of breath...
but I didn't want to push her too much.


After our short break...we continued.
And we would continue to the top of our mountain.















Just around this corner was the top...
along with beautiful panoramic views.








We took a break at the top to enjoy the views.

It was such a beautiful day...
Bandi and I were having a blast.







After a little while at the top of the mountain...
we headed back down toward home.











We passed home and continued to Sunset Point just down the street a short ways.


I parked at sunset point for a short while.






After a few minutes...
a brisk breeze started picking up...
and as my hands were starting to go numb...
we headed back home.





My house is just to the left of center behind the trees in this photo.


Home.







Bandi absolutely loved our little outing.

We shall be doing more of these little mountain runs together.

I will also be looking for nearby bike trails to explore.

As I knew this would be a fairly short run for Bandi...
I didn't take the doggie carrier in case she tired out.

But...
on some of the long bike trails...
I will be towing it so Bandi could ride once she tires.


I went up to the third floor deck to see the sun setting.

Bandi stayed out on the deck for a good 20 minutes just cooling off.






I will now sit in the sauna for half an hour as I listen to some smooth jazz...
stretch...
and then take a hot shower
(my normal after exercise routine).

What a beautiful day Bandi and I had.

We are sure to have many more.












Saturday, August 10, 2024

A New Home...A New Beginning

  


Song:  Land of OZ

Artist:  Hilary Stagg


I've been absent from blogging for a while.

I moved temporarily in preparation to make my final move.

I had finally found my dream home...
a modern log cabin (custom built in 2001)...
a mountain chalet...
my serene mountain temple.

It is located high in the Colorado Rocky Mountains...
but it is within a thirty minute beautiful country drive to a major town...
of which has all the amenities of a major city.
It has a Super Walmart...
Hardware Store...
various super markets...
and a major emergency Kaiser hospital (my health plan)...
and it is one hour west of the second largest city in Colorado...
Colorado Springs.

Its elevation is just over 9,650 feet (almost 3,000 meters).

I am going through the final process of owning it.

I had put in an offer and it was accepted.

Inspections were completed...
and any deficiencies are being corrected...
and final inspections and clean outs are scheduled by the 
previous owners of the home.

If everything goes well...
I take possession of my temple high in the mountains in just over one month
(Sept. 17th).

I have been busy scheduling movers...
buying insurance...etc.

Starting later next month...
I will be blogging from my place of serenity...
the last home I will ever have...
where I will live out the rest of my days...
and where I will die...
serenely happy.


My elder sister and her husband and I drove approximately 1,100 miles
to tour the home.

For me...
it was love at first sight.

It is me...
everything about it...
from its altitude...
the sturdy and unique design...
the pure aesthetic beauty...
the over 2 acres of land...
the great room with its expansive windows facing the sunrise...
everything.

I put in an offer shortly after arriving back home.

I will be taking many a trike ride just exploring the mountain 
upon which it sits...
and I will then explore the great beauty of Colorado.

The following pictures from the realty site for this home were taken 
with the original owners still living in it.

This beautiful home has three stories and is 3112 sq. ft.
It has three bedrooms with three full bathrooms...
a high quality metal roof installed in 2018 with a 40 year warranty...
a full solar panel array... 
an entertainment room...
a study...
an outdoor heated and jetted spa on the first floor deck... 
and a built in large steam sauna...
and all windows are double-paned.

It is also on public water / power / gas...
and all the power lines are buried.

The roads are plowed...
although I will need to purchase a self propelled snow blower for the driveway.

The whole mountain is filled with pine and aspen trees...
so autumn and winter will be especially spectacular.
 
It is warmed by two gas fireplaces with blowers...
and sub floor radiant heating. 

The first floor has a two car heated garage...
a large family / entertainment room (which I plan to make into a home movie theater)
and a gas fireplace with blower...
a study...
a full bathroom... 
an outdoor heated and jetted spa on the first floor deck... 
a large steam sauna...
and access to the first floor deck. 

The second story...
has the great room with a wall of double-paned windows...
with a gas fireplace with blower...
a kitchen with two pantries...
a full bathroom...
a laundry room with extra freezer...
two bedrooms...
and access to the second floor deck.

The third story loft is the master bedroom...
with a master bath with a jetted large tub and separate walk in shower...
 with a separate toilet room...
and a large walk-in closet...
and an access door to the third floor deck. 






 
It has a JennAir gas stove...
which has a downward sucking vent for cooking.
 










 


I am so, so very happy.
 
High altitude living has always been my dream. 

I will be sure to capture many photos of my many miles of triking
throughout Colorado...
and my soon to be...
new...
and last ever...
home.

------------------------------------


And...
a few photos of my visit to my future home.

 My car is on the upper driveway...
and the realtor's car (red) is on the lower driveway.
 
My elder sister is walking towards me from the lower driveway in this photo.


 
The Realtor (blond), my elder sister and I looking at the view from one side of the third floor deck.


 We walked down a little ways in front of the home.
As it is all natural forest all around the home...
there is no maintenance...
just all natural beauty.

 
Some distant mountain views.
 
I am unsure from where on the property this photo was taken...
as my brother in law had taken all of these particular photos.


Closing Out This Blog

 As I already have a blog which I will post my most recent photos... while I will keep this one up as many of the photos were taken  before ...