Some Colorado Pictures Thanks To A $3 Cable

When we left on this trip, I decided not to bring along my laptop. All we have with us is a small Samsung tablet and our smartphones. Normally, this wouldn't be a problem...unless you want to write a blog post with some pictures from your "real" (digital SLR) camera, one that was made before all the wireless Internet connectivity options. Fortunately, as I discovered, my tablet and my wife's phone are newer Android devices and with the aid of a special cable these devices allow you to connect USB peripherals like keyboards, thumb drives, memory card readers, or cameras.

I couldn't find one of these cables while in Summit County, but found them in Denver. BestBuy had one from Samsung for $20, but I found a discount computer center that had them for only $2.50 (and you can find them on the Internet for a similar price). So, if you have an Android device that supports USB  OTG (On The Go), you may want to grab one of these cables. With the cable I was able to edit pictures directly from the camera on the tablet.

While the thin air at high altitude and the remnants of a chest cold are not good things to mix, we did manage to do a little hiking and sightseeing in the Colorado high country. Here are a few pictures from my home state.

Update: The blog editor I was using (on the tablet) didn't create clickable images.  You can now click on them to see larger versions.

The sign and sculpture at the east end of Main Street in Frisco.

Frisco is a cute mountain town. Near all the attractions but 

doesn't feel like as much of a tourist trap as Breckinridge.

Since this is a sailing related blog...here is a sailboat on Lake Dillon 

with Tiger Run and the Breckenridge ski area in the background.

More Dillon reservoir and sailboats with Frisco in the background.

This, and the picture that follows, are what Vaill pass looks

like if you get off the Interstate (I 70).

The road off of Vail pass leads to Shrine pass and the next

Few pictures are also from that area.

You can see the cuts in the trees that make up the Copper

Mountain ski area in the distance.

This rock has its very own wildflower.

Trying to wrangle the dogs for a picture

is a difficult task.

Before it was a tragic school shooting, Columbine

was known as the State flower. They do grow wild here.

A little hike near Freemont Pass, on the

way to Leadville.

A large American flag flying over a park in

Leadville with Mt. Massive in the background. 

Mount Massive is the second highest of the Colorado Fourteeners, prominent mountain peaks with a summit elevation above 14,000 feet. Colorado has 53 of them, the largest number of any state by a pretty wide margin.

Turquoise Lake (actually a reservoir)

with Leadville in the distance.

A bit of a drop off if you don't pay attention

while hiking near Turquoise lake.

Not even sure which mountain this is, 

just know it was west of Turquoise lake.

So there is a little taste of our home state and where we have been spending some of our time the past couple weeks. Places where snow can still be seen in July seems like a world away from our current life on the Atlantic ocean and Chesapeake bay..

Far From The Sea

We made it to Denver, and just beyond, the day after my last post. The plains gave way to the Great American Desert and then finally the Rocky Mountains could be seen in the distance. We drove through Denver and made our way up to Summit County for our first stop to visit family.

Getting pretty flat here.

Unfortunately, the colds we acquired in Baltimore accompanied us on the trip. The congestion in our heads easily indicated our continuous change in altitude. We went from Sea level, through 5280 feet in Denver (it is known as the mile high city after all), and on to 11, 178 feet at the Eisenhower tunnel before descending to just over 9000 feet at our destination.

Back In Colorado

 Up here we are surrounded by many of the ski areas for which the Colorado mountains are well known. While skiing isn't an option this time of year, there is still quite a bit to do here. Hiking, biking, camping, horseback riding, kayaking and...yes...even sailing are options here. At least they are when you well well.

Dillon valley and reservoir.

Not feeling great, we currently aren't in much of a condition to enjoy what the Rockies have to offer. In fact our only plans were to take in a free National Repertory Orchestra 4th of July concert at the Dillon Amphitheater and the fireworks display over the reservoir that evening. Unfortunately we only made it about half way through the concert before our colds had us retreating back home to rest

Dillon theater. Nice setting.

.

Hopefully a couple days of rest will be all that is needed so we can enjoy the rest of our trip. It does feel like we are a long way from our home on the sea.