I was not thrilled about this birthday, I turned 59. I felt deflated and old.

The day was spent answering texts and calls and wishes on social media.
I was overwhelmed with all of the kind and loving words from friends and family. Celebration time has been saved for the weekend with my daughter and son in law and my sidekick the grandbaby.
Because I took time off this week, I was able to lay around and be lazy, do some crafty things and mostly marinate in my own thoughts (which can be a dangerous place some days). One of my birthday wishes contained a link, it was a story about a woman, who on her 69th birthday decided to make her 70th decade unforgettable by trying new things, enjoying new experiences and bringing along some friends. Her goal was 70 amazing things in her 70th decade. Trips, new restaurants, various events – the criteria was that it has to be an amazing thing. A new coffee joint, a new band, a trip to a country or place she had never visited. It was inspiring!
I quickly looked at my checkbook and decided, I could do this if I kept things on a tight budget and very small. No trips to China or the Eiffel Tower, but I could start small and that day. (I can be too spontaneous for my own good sometimes). I was off work, I could do a little day trip, so I looked to see what museums, historic places, or other beautiful things I could see in my area. An idea was rolling around in my noggin. What if I did these new things, trying something out, new cuisine, a new store, a new way home (well not that boring) but I knew I could make myself try or do new things, 60 new things in the next year. I could do this. So I got dressed, got my dog, Opal, and we set out in the first adventure to close out my 50s.

I have always adopted the motto, “It’s the journey, not the destination” and that seemed to be true for this trip as well. When I first put the location into my GPS, it proudly displayed the directions and assured me I was 10.6 miles from this geological marvel, The Continental Divide. I was excited, I didn’t think that I lived that close!
I was right, the GPS was wrong.
Even though I had been misrouted, I smiled because the robot/AI in my Jeep was NOT going to take over the world if it took me to a quarry instead of my destination. Once the robot and I got things sorted and the requisite trip through a drive thru for a big Diet Coke and a burger and fries, I was on my way!

Before we go much further, I need to explain, I like “outside” but I am not “outdoorsy”. I love to drive in the country, to unknown parts BUT, I am not a climber, hiker, runner, bungie jumper, or long walker person. I am the person who drives to the spot, then, depending on the weather and if it is muddy, or if I am just not feeling it that day, I will take picture with my handy cell phone through my windshield. That windshield is usually a little smeared, a little streaked here and there. OK, it’s dirty, dirty windshield.

The GPS said it was 152.5 miles to my destination. I was enjoying one of my favorite True Crime podcasts (while driving alone in the snowy countryside, cause I like my heart rate on the edge). And sipping on my Diet Coke, enjoying the scenery. I did not take the interstate for this trip. It’s easier to make fun little stops if you don’t have to deal with exit ramps. I saw some incredibly beautiful sights along the way. Driving up in higher elevations, on state roads, at the end of February is exciting. I honestly didn’t need the podcast to keep my heart rate up. 📈

This was the first sight of the day to see, fun cars at the gas station! What a fun way to start my adventure! Ghostbusters and Monster Trucks!

Driving up to my destination, I began to think of other road trips in my life. Most recently was an impromptu road trip with my daughter. We drove from Denver to St. Louis for my uncle’s funeral. It was a rough trip, not only because of the loss in our hearts, but because it was when the entire country was in the grip of that polar vortex of some evil super scientists creation and we drove through the night, in Kansas, on ice. Going as slow as the troopers told us, while my daughter deftly drove around flipped over and jack-knifed tractor trailers. That was scary!

Once I got to Fairplay, Colorado, the robot voice in my dashboard alerted me to high winds, poor road conditions and that I was halfway to my destination. I saw the wind whipping up snow on mountain peaks. It was like a Disney movie, enchanting and unbelievable, but there it was. At the time I saw this, I was on the phone with a friend and I began to cry because of the majesty surrounding me.

Taking pictures while driving, with a cell phone is a specific talent, and if you have not tried to grab pics while house hunting alone, or grabbing a quick shot of yard sale items, I suggest you do not start with a little day trip like this one. I think I took about 70 pictures yesterday and I deleted about 50 of them because they were so blurry or my fingers were in the way. So don’t be hard on yourself if you don’t get as many shots as I did 😉

Seeing older buildings like this barn with a windmill adds the extra special sprinkles on trips for me. I remember when I was a kid, living in Northwestern Missouri and my dad pulled over because there was an old train car in a field. It was a dining car, faded and ripped up, but my dad picked my little sister and I up and put us in the windows and doors and broken seats to take picture of us. Another time, there was an old Model T by an old barn, dad pulled over, talked to the farmer, put my sister and I in the car and took pictures. We also got a story from the farmer on how it was his father’s first car and that he was looking for parts.

I crossed Hoosier Pass and was wrapped up in my podcast and didn’t take a picture. They were close to figuring out the deranged person was not only hurting one but multiple people. I was transfixed! And I have no pictures.

Further up the drive, I came to Alma, Colorado which boasts a population of about 300 people, it was a mining town and still has over 17,000 mining sites. It also has the distinction of being the highest elevation incorporated township in Colorado at 11,680 feet.
For a small town, it was pretty bustling for a Tuesday. I definitely want to go back and explore here, without the doggo, and the slush.

I started to descend and realized I was going down the other side of the mountain. I checked the GPS and the robot said that I still had 50ish miles to go. The switchbacks on the slushy road, following a snowplow the size of a city bus got me closer to Jesus who told me to keep my hands on the wheel, but I got a few pictures anyway.

When I came down the other side, I realized I was in Breckinridge, Colorado. I had been wanting to come out this way since I moved to Colorado a little over a year ago. Now that was a bustling town and people really did carry their skis down the street to the bus stop. I did not see lots of fur coats and European cars, but I saw families on their way to the ice rinks and to the resorts, I saw teenagers without coats and in shorts drinking sports drinks and laughing while crossing the street. While following the directions from the robot, I was directed to turn off the main road but before I did, I was able to grab a shot of the gondolas!

When I turned down the road the robot said to take, it became this winter fairyland and I got the surprise of my life! There were two Elk planning a trip to their lodge. I slowed to a crawl, not wanting to startle them and I furiously took pictures and watched them disappear into the snowy woods.

I continued down this road and passed some young women with sleek ski clothes and fur hats taking selfies with a parked snowmobile. The resort worker, to whom the snowmobile belonged, was able to claim his snowmobile from the “influencers” and finish his task. That was when I saw it, the sign that I thought was ending my adventure.
Road Closed.
It was not going to be safe to go forward. So I, along with other vehicles, turned around and headed back.
How anticlimactic!
I kept saying it’s the journey, not the destination, but I didn’t even get a picture of the sign, but I also didn’t get fussed at by troopers/rangers (not sure who the officials were) for taking a picture instead of turning around.
I punched my home address into my GPS and the robot told me I would be home in a couple of hours. I wasn’t in a place where I could get signal to load the next installment of my podcast so I turned on my radio and sang along to some ‘80s hair bands, using my steering wheel as the entire drum set.

And then I saw it!

It was fleeting, so I pulled over on the tiny shoulder of the road and wait my turn to pull out and go back. It was a large park sign. Official and big and I had missed it TWICE!

I had passed my destination at least an hour before while marveling at the scenery and being caught up on a phone call. This was it, my goal. The new place, I wanted to see and as you can tell, I did not get out of the car, but I did roll down the window. (Do you see how deep that snow is?!?)
Remember when I said my GPS robot is not going to be one of the ones that takes over the world? It was off by a far piece. I think it was trying to take me to a scenic overlook or something but this was it, this is where I wanted to go!
I was happy, satisfied and felt complete because I set a goal, I pointed my robot to the site and we eventually got there. It was a start. A start of something new.

On the way back to my house, my daughter called. She said, “Hey Mom, whatcha up to?” And when I replied “Oh, just heading back to town from Breckinridge…” she sighed and laughed and asked how the trip was. My kids know I’m spontaneous and impetuous and they love me anyway.

My goal is 60 new experiences before I turn 60. I have 59 more to go and I can’t wait!

By the way, YOU are invited to come along!