Steamboat Springs

The route we had planned on taking to Steamboat Springs, Colorado - the scenic mountain drive along Hwy 14 - was closed because of the forest fire that had darkened the sky over Fort Collins.  On the national news it was now being called the High Park fire, and the experts were telling us that it was caused by a lightning strike (the storm that passed over us) in an area where almost half the trees were dead from that pine beetle infestation I mentioned previously.

We detoured north into Wyoming, which looked like Western movie country, then west across the southern part of the state, and eventually back south into Colorado, fighting heavy crosswinds for most of the day.

Steamboat Springs is a pretty town adjoining a major ski area, whose top runs are visible from downtown.  It's another of those friendly, low key Colorado places where everybody is healthy and nobody is fat.  We had great shrimp po-boys for lunch one day at a restaurant with tables outside overlooking the river.

It's a scenic area, and Nancy and I took a few hikes.  One of them took us to Fish Creek Falls. 

We drove up to Steamboat Ski Resort, which was pretty much deserted at this time of year. 

Nancy and I always check out property values everywhere we go, particularly if it's a place we like.  I took a tour of an open house - Nancy is always too embarrassed to waste the salesman's time - in an upscale development.  Five thousand square feet, five bedrooms, big but not exactly a stunner, in my opinion - $2.5M.  But we also saw condos on the slopes advertised for sale for under $200,000.  So I think there are bargains to be had.