Visiting Family in Colorado – Winter 2023

Visited on: Friday, November 17, 2023
Departed: December 13, 2023

I headed to my Mom’s house in the northern Colorado Rockies to spend some time in a big bed and celebrate my family’s favorite holiday—Thanksgiving. Over the years, it’s become our most important holiday, and everyone looks forward to it.

I was also very excited to get my Mom to try her first taco truck! She loved it!

An older woman with curly gray hair sits outdoors at a white table in a parking lot. She wears a blue jacket over a pink top and is eating food from a white plate. Two glass Coca-Cola bottles and other plates with food and condiments are on the table. Cars are visible in the background.
A black food truck with a serving window is parked on a sunny day. The window displays an "OPEN" sign. Outside, there's a trash can, a stack of boxes, a folded table, and a container with bags of oranges. The background shows leafless trees, a stop sign, and an empty parking lot.

Of course, winter in the Rockies means one thing…

Snow-covered forest landscape viewed from a wooden deck. Trees are blanketed in thick snow, creating a serene, wintery scene. The deck has a railing and outdoor furniture, including a chair and a table. The sky is overcast, adding to the calm, chilly atmosphere.
A large pine tree covered in snow stands in a snowy landscape. The branches are heavy with snow, and the ground is blanketed in white. The sky is overcast, creating a serene, wintery atmosphere. Other snow-laden trees are visible in the background, blending with the gray sky.
A snowy landscape with tall pine trees covered in snow stands in the foreground. The ground is blanketed in fresh snow, and small patches of dried grass peek through. The sky is overcast, adding to the wintry feel. Snowflakes are visible in the air, creating a serene atmosphere.
Snow-covered landscape featuring tall pine trees in the foreground and rolling hills in the background. The trees are blanketed with fresh snow, creating a serene winter scene. The sky is overcast, adding a muted, tranquil ambiance to the picturesque setting.

And before you know it, the sun is back out.

Snow-dusted evergreen trees cover a mountain landscape under a vivid blue sky. The foreground features a mix of snow and dry grass, while distant mountains create a scenic background. Bright sunlight casts long shadows, enhancing the contrast between the snow and the greenery.
Snow-covered evergreen trees are scattered across a gently sloping mountainside under a clear blue sky. Sunlight casts long shadows on the fresh snow, highlighting the textures of the landscape. In the distance, additional tree-covered hills rise against the backdrop of the bright, cloudless sky.
Snow-covered forest with tall evergreens and a clear blue sky. The foreground features a pine tree on the right, laden with patches of snow. Rolling hills and distant mountains are visible in the background, creating a serene winter landscape bathed in sunlight.

I always play chauffeur for my mom whenever I’m in town, and one of the days I managed to catch a spectacular sunrise and a cool architectural photo.

A vibrant sunset with orange, pink, and purple hues stretches across the sky above a parking lot filled with cars. A hotel building is on the left, and streetlights line the area. The foreground features a paved walkway bordered by landscaping with grass and stones.
Modern building with glass windows and a wooden facade under a clear blue sky. An architectural feature above includes horizontal wooden slats, creating an open roof design. Part of a metallic structure is visible in the foreground, adding contrast to the scene.

As luck would have it, the weather in the mountains turned snowy the day I decided to leave. While I considered waiting, I was eager to start the next segment of my adventure, and the weather on the front range was not as bad. So, I packed up and headed down the road.

A Jeep with snow on its roof is towing a teardrop trailer on a snowy road. The trailer has orange graphics and a bicycle mounted on top. Snow covers the surrounding trees and landscape, creating a wintry scene. Tire tracks are visible in the snow on the ground.
A black SUV is parked on a snow-covered driveway, towing a teardrop camper. A bicycle is mounted on the camper's roof. Snow-laden pine trees are in the background, with a foggy atmosphere. Another car is parked further down the driveway near a green house.
View from a vehicle showing a snow-covered winding road in foggy conditions. Snow accumulates on the car's hood, and trees line both sides of the road, partially obscured by mist. The sky is overcast, creating a serene yet challenging driving environment.
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