3 Highlights:
– Morning piano session and evening guitar jam
– Scenic hike with Erik over the Rockies
– Meeting Maja and experiencing her fabulous hospitality
Daily Summary:
– Distance hiked: Zero
– Starting point: Grand Lake
– Ending point: Boulder
– Weather conditions: Mostly sunshine
Daily Reflections:
Woke up at the unholy hour of 4 AM, which is probably when most normal people are dreaming about unicorns and ice cream. Couldn’t get back to sleep, so I did what any sane person would do: I cocooned myself in my sleeping bag, then got up and did my morning gymnastics like I was auditioning for a circus troupe. Breakfast was sour cream and banana at camp then a full american egg breakfast at Sagebrush, joined by Noah and Logan, who I treated to this breakfast because, well, hiker solidarity. Picked up a second cappuccino (because one is never enough), and started plotting my next move.
My hitchhiking luck kicked in after 30 minutes when a guy named Erik, a young Chinese student, offered me a lift. He wanted to stop a few times to see the sights in Rocky Mountain National Park, and I was happy to tag along. We had a great time, with views that would make your Instagram followers weep.
Erik dropped me off, and I immediately spotted Maja—yes, THE Maja, Petter’s sister. She had that kind of energy that makes you think you’ve known her forever. We had lunch and then drove to Boulder where I also met her.daughter Vika that was preparing for a run (and dog bites it turned out). Their house is like something out of a design magazine: high ceilings, giant windows, and nature practically knocking at the door. The evening ended with a fantastic barbecue and great conversation.
I’m utterly exhausted, and it’s almost 10 PM. Time for some serious sleep. Good night.
