Our Visit with The Riley's

As I mentioned in my previous blog post, our really good friends Shane and Krysta moved from Johnstown, PA to Colorado Springs, CO a little under three years ago. We decided to take a trip out there to visit them!

August 29, 2017 We arrived at our Airbnb in Cortez, CO pretty late at night. It was dark, there were barely any lights and we were exhausted from our busy day...so we immediately got in and situated ourselves. We didn't really unpack much because unfortunately we were only staying there to sleep and head back out on the road early in the morning.

August 30, 2017 I say unfortunately because this Airbnb was not only really nice on the inside, but it came with the most gorgeous sunrise/view the next morning. I've never seen the sun look as big as it did in Cortez. It was breathtaking and the photos above don't do it any justice. I wish I would've had enough time to enjoy a cup of coffee on that back patio and also take in the sunrise in the evening. However, we were only forty-five minutes from the Four Corners Monument. I knew we'd be backtracking, but I really wanted to stand in the center of Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona. I'm glad I did because it was pretty cool and now I can cross that off my bucket list! We then headed to The Pie Maker Bakery in Cortez for breakfast, which is a quaint little joint that specializes in mini pies, artisan bagels and many other specialty desserts. I found this place on the internet before we left (naturally) and knew I had to try one of the mini pies...it was delicious! Jon got a breakfast bagel sandwich and we both got some coffee. We then started heading to Colorado Springs, which was a little over a six hour drive and had plenty of new views to see. One of the roadside attractions along the way was the Giant Arrows in Mancos, CO so we stopped to take some pictures. Shane and Krysta were waiting in the driveway as soon as we pulled in and I was smiling from ear to ear. We gave them both massive hugs because it had been months since we'd seen them last! We got our stuff unloaded in the room we were staying in and then went back out shortly after to grab some food at Mod Pizza. After dinner we took a quick trip to Garden of the Gods in the evening to end the day.

August 31, 2017 We tried Dutch Brothers Coffee and Drifter's Hamburgers for the first time. Shane and Krysta wanted to make sure we got as many Colorado Springs experiences as we could, and we were very thankful to have them show us around. They took us for a hike at North Cheyenne Canon Park, which had beautiful views. It was a very big hill and I was completely fine going up, but had a difficult time coming down...I don't do well with steep downhill slopes LOL!

September 1, 2017 Whatever moments aren't highlighted in this blog were filled with relaxing time at Shane and Krysta's house. We would just talk and hang out with them, Joe and Laura (also good friends of ours who they lived with at the time) and our new friends Caleb and Hannah...who were also staying at their house that same week. We watched The Office a lot and all just got to know each other better. It was great! In the past two years, Hannah has stayed at our house once and Joe and Laura have twice. We were very happy to host them and they are always welcome in our home (along with many other friends). Unfortunately we haven't had the chance to see Caleb since then. Hopefully our paths cross again someday though...and if you're reading this, we miss you man! We tried Panda Express for the first time since they had one close to their house. In the evening we all went for a hike together at Pulpit Rock which was spectacular. More gorgeous views!

September 2, 2017 We ate the best quesadillas I ever had at Taco Bus...literally you get to order and eat your food on a bus. I miss that bus so much and dream of those quesadillas! It was pretty hot this day and we were wondering if there were actually any "springs" in Colorado Springs, or anywhere we could take a dip. Joe mentioned a hike in Canon City where he believed we could swim as well. However, after walking for a WHILE we learned there was actually nowhere to swim HA HA! It was still a really nice hike though, especially because it was all flat. I finally went to visit Krysta at the coffee shop she used to work at (Peak Place) and had her make me a delicious latte. Krysta has made me the best lattes I've ever had and I really miss being able to have her make me one any time I want when she worked/lived in Johnstown. She's the friend I mention in my "about me" on why I started drinking coffee and why I became more interested in trying new beverages. She's very knowledgeable about coffee and you can taste all the love and skill in every cup she makes. Seriously, it's ridiculous how much she knows and how good she is at making beverages...I mean, look at that latte art. I now know it's called a rosetta because of her. I always called it a "fancy leaf thing" LOL! I also had to get a photo at the famous "wing wall" at Peak Place since I saw it on Instagram. After she got off work, some of us went and did a round of late night mini golf. It was a blast!

September 3, 2017

I watched Jon and our friends play some flag football. It didn't last long because Shane ended up hurting his ankle and we had to go get him a pair of crutches at the thrift store. He goes HARD! Later on, Jon and I went hiking at Red Rocks Open Space and Garden of the Gods. It was nice for him and I to get away and do something alone for a bit. I seriously miss all the different hikes and views out there. Honestly, I'd never get bored. There's still so much more we didn't see.

September 4, 2017

I unfortunately had my last latte from Krysta at her work. After her shift, she drove us to Denver so we could go see Shane's band play that evening. I really wanted to try Voodoo Doughnut and she was nice enough to try to find street parking in Denver (not easy) and take us there. SO WORTH IT! Again, thank you so much Krysta...you know I love you. We then went to see Shane's band Tigerwine play. He was still using crutches for his ankle and he plays drums...so needless to say, he was pretty miserable. We went to Illegal Pete's after, which is similar to Chipotle and it seemed to cheer him up a bit. It was really good! Afterwards, we headed back to Colorado Springs for our last night with the Riley's.

September 5, 2017 We had already returned our rental car in Colorado Springs because Shane and Krysta were kind enough to drive us to the Denver airport for our flight back home. I was really sad our trip had ended, but also really thankful I was even able to take this trip.

From the beginning in Phoenix, AZ to the end in Denver, CO it was honestly one of the greatest and most eye opening experiences of my life. It was full of so many amazing memories and emotions. I was genuinely happy in every single moment of that trip. I miss how I felt over those several days. I've seen Shane and Krysta a couple times in the past few years since they've come home to visit, but it's been extremely hard having two of your closest friends move almost the whole way across the country. I'm hoping to go back to Colorado to visit them since there's still so much more to see. I want to try Blank Coffee which is where Krysta AND Laura work now. I also really want to visit Pike's Peak since we didn't get a chance to. I miss them so much it hurts, but I know they're living their best life in Colorado and I'm very happy for them. I'm still chasing my own happiness and my own dreams and figuring it out as life goes on...one adventure at a time.