Ski Memories made on Memorial Day in Aspen.

Skiing on Memorial Day. Totally worth it. Click 4 Pix.Would you drive 1000 miles to ski Aspen Mountain on Memorial Day?  I did. 

When Carmelo and I got the tweet that Ajax was re-opening for Memorial Day weekend...we almost sh*t our collective pants.  30+ days travelling without an agenda or a GPS had led to lots of fun and interesting adventures. Alas, the allure of the open road was getting old.

SKI MEMORIES on Memorial Day.

We had 2 options; pay $459 per night for a crappy hotel in San Francisco over Memorial Day weekend...or point our sled East and rip a few last turns on Ajax.  As an added bonus we'd get to crash in our own beds for the first time in over a month. It was clear that my furry best friend was looking for some stability. Gas...check....cruise control...check...rogain...check.  We headed East   I analyzed the old fashioned road atlas (no GPS for us) and we hit Hwy 50 East, a.k.a The Loneliest Highway.  Have you done it?  1000 miles to glory, a straight shot to our apartment home in Aspen.  Hwy 50 is intense, 3 or 400 miles between gas stations. very few other cars.

Carmelo and I took a quick overnight at the always gorgeous Lake Tahoe.  A drive-by gambling sesh at Harrah's in S. Lake Tahoe yielded results.  Carmelo got to jump in the 48 degree water and I took down Harrah's.  Luckily I scored on almost every doubling opportunity at the black jack table. On the downside smoking is allowed in Nevada casinos and the second hand smoke was killing me.  I was up BIG, I thought...let's blow this town.  We hit the road with a pocket full of Benjamins.

The next 600 miles sucked.  A single lane the whole way through desolate, rural Nevada. But it was worth it.  Coming home to warm, clear, beautiful Aspen.   There was still enough snow up top to slide on...and thanks to Aspen Ski Co. the lifts were spinning all weekend.  All the usual suspects were there, all the Aspenites who love to ski and ride.

Click 4 pix.  SKI MEMORIES on Memorial Day.

New Jock City. The Rippers who Rip. Click 4 pix.Memorial Day Skiing in Aspen. Yeah its fun. Click 4 pix.Beach attire was entirely appropriate on Aspen Mountain for Memorial Day. Click 4 pix.

San Fran is siiiiiiiiiiick.

AspenSpin loves San Francisco...and apparently SF loves AspenSpin.   Carmelo and I had a great time in the Bay Area...and we have the pix to prove it.

Hippie Town USA

Eugene, Oregon Hippie Town USA. Click 4 pix.The official slogan for  Eugene, Oregon is "A Great City for the Arts and Outdoors".  It's also known as "Track Town USA" because Eugene is home to the University of Oregon and it's dominant track & field program. Eugene was the birthplace of Nike for cripes sake.  The classic frat comedy Animal House was filmed in Eugene.  The Mayor once called Eugene "the anarchist capital of the United States". 

I'm calling it Hippie Town USA There's a preponderance of folks who are leading "alternative lifestyles".  These are real hippies...living in the woods, growing their own food, random showers.     Click the pix...you'll see what I mean.

HIPPIE TOWN USA

Carmelo and I hit Eugene at the perfect time.  It was unusually sunny and hot the whole time we were there. Eugene is as green as it gets, visually as well as emotionally. Green for the environment and green for the crops.  For many in Eugene...time has stood still...they're living in the sixties...and they're now in their sixties...or seventies...or eighties. Younger hippies abound... a younger generation of street kids and homeless.

Eugene has a nuanced vibe.  The campus is beautiful, the town is easy to navigate by bike and Mother Nature is a huge part of everything. The McKenzie and Willamette Rivers dominate the area.  Along with the neighboring town, Springfield, about 350,000 live in the MSA.  That's not counting the people living in the woods...and on the streets... and down by the river.

Tweekers in the woods. click 4 pixWhen we heard about Cougar Reservoir and the hot springs up there, Carmelo and I got an early start. Cougar is an hour east of Eugene in the Cascades.  We got to the trail head by 8 a.m.  The place looked deserted... except for the greeter.   I didn't catch his name...but the guy sleeping in his "out of gas" car. He seemed odd.  He was talkin' a mile a minute...asking questions and talking sh*t all at the same time.  "Do you feel uncomfortable, man?"  He asked as Carmelo and I prepared for the short hike to the hot springs.  My answer was quick and honest, "a little".  My car was filled with my stuff and I was a little uncomfortable leaving it under the supervision of an obvious tweeker.  "I'll walk with you guys" he gave the dog a pet and kept talking the whole way.  I thought...WTF?...its only my wallet and clothing & shoes.

After a short, but beautiful walk we got to the pools...lo and behold... sitting in the largest pool was a group of 6 naked lesbians drinking champagne.   One of 'em was cute...but the others...not so much.   Not to be offensive...but there was a lot of  hairy bushes and arm pits in that pool.  Then another tweeker showed up... out of the woods.  It was obvious this skin and bones character had been through a rough night.  I kept Carmelo close...despite the "no dogs allowed" sign. Again...I thought WTF... so I nude-ed up and jumped in the hottest pool for a good soak.  Having the lesbo's and the tweekers around sort of detracted from my experience, they kept me on edge.  It all turned out to be harmless...and it made me realize that the only possetion I really care about...has 4 legs and loves to play ball.

We finished the day at the legendary Eugene Saturday Market.  The Market was heavilly hyped...and I must say it far exceeded my expectations.  The arts & crafts, the music, the tie-dye, the local foods and the "unofficial market" (read hash bash /drum circle) on the courthouse steps confirmed that Eugene is HIPPIE TOWN USA.

Cougar Resevoir E of Eugene. Awesome!on the wat to the hot springs.

Normal Bean and his ol' lady.Hippie dude at the Eugene Saturday Market. 

Seattle: Best Weather Ever.

The Space Needle: Click 4 pixSeattle gets a bad rap.  According to most people who live in Seattle it's gray and gloomy all the time...and it always rains.  Carmelo and I spent the past week in Seattle...and it was warm, beautiful and sunny the entire time.  The locals couldn't stop talking about how great the weather was.  It was the top story at 6 & 11.

Click 4 pix:  SEATTLE: Best Weather Ever

Although we didn't see any wet weather...I totally believe the whole grunge thing is weather related.  The coffee thing too.  When its cold and wet...what better to do than sit around drinking coffee writing introspective songs about yourself...I smell sex and candy,  smells like teen spirit etc.

Maybe it was an aberration...or just good luck...but 80 and sunny is my kind of forecast.  Unfortunately the water temp in Puget Sound is still only about 48 degrees...so no water time for me.  We ran into some hearty scuba divers up North in Edmonds.  48 degree water, with 10 feet of viability??...no thanks.  Dry suits or 7mm wet suits with hoodies, booties and gloves required...it ain't So Cal.

Carmelo and I had a great time in Seattle. No umbrella necessary.

Click 4 Pix.  SEATTLE: Best Weather Ever

Rush Hour on Puget Sound.Mount Rainier towers over Seattle.Fish are always flying at the famous Pike Street Market.Chihuly Museum and Gardens. AWESOME!!! Click 4 pix.