The Incline

Back when I lived in Colorado Springs from mid-2001 to mid-2002, the Incline was an illegal fitness endeavor. It was on private property yet folks still challenged it, even if trespassing and unsafe. Fast forward ahead to my first visit back in 18 years and the Incline was purchased by the city and renovated to be safe. So, I gathered a few willing souls (my wife, oldest daughter and nephew who lives in Colorado), we hit the road at 7:30am en route to the Incline via Chick-Fil-A for breakfast. We've had several days of 50F days over the past week but yesterday afternoon into the evening, we got dumped on in the form of snow. We woke up to lots of it but clear skies and sun. Perfect! Even better...no wind. We just needed to safely get there. So instead of dragging you through lots of words, here are some of my favorite photos from the day. In the end, it took us 1hr, 16min to cover all 2768 steps and climb 2000+ feet in elevation. It was awesome and beautiful! After we got to the top, we took the 3 mile hike down on the Barr Trail into Manitou Springs, walked around a bit and grabbed some hot java. Enjoy the photos! Descriptions under each and they are in sequential order as they were taken. (History of the Incline)

At the start!

Every 100 steps, these metal plates were screwed on the step.

Made it! PROOF! One foot per person! Ha!

Someone left this earlier today... Crazy Bob!

At the top!

Our Lady and the Tramp re-creation. This is what 240 days apart does to you. :)

On the hike back down.

Java in Manitou Springs. 

Helen Hunt Falls and a Senior Photo Shoot

As our Christmas in Colorado enters its final day before a travel day tomorrow, it's been a busy few last days. When I last wrote, I had 5 more days of reading to finish the Bible. I did two readings on Sunday and two more on Monday. This morning during my 2nd cup of espresso and in advance of climbing the Incline here in Colorado Springs, I finished it! 122 days early on a 365 day chronological plan. I very much enjoyed this, especially reading it chronologically. I most enjoyed the Gospels, those being Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. 4 different perspectives on the same story and very often, little details only found in one of the books. I also thoroughly enjoyed the writings of Paul. If you've ever thought about reading the Bible through, I can't recommend the Bible app highly enough. There are many, many plans free to use.

Flipping back a few days to Sunday, it began as a lay-low kind of day. I "attended" church online while the house slept but the forecast was going to be magnificent so once everyone got up, some quick plans were made to head out. We decided on Helen Hunt Falls (no relation to the actress) and thankfully, masks weren't mandated on this trail. It was a short hike but I did venture off trail for awhile to climb much higher with my oldest daughter and nephew. Here are a few photos from that hike.

After, we were took a brief walking tour around the Broadmoor Hotel and Conference Center...a very high dollar facility and operation. I chuckled as we walked in the front door and the bellman said "Welcome back, Sir" as I walked in...as if I were a guest. "Thank you very much," I replied. Ha! Shortly after, we found a little coffee shop tucked away in a nearby neighborhood and I enjoyed a pumpkin mocha and some great conversation with Marjie and her sister. You can tell which one is mine. So good!

That evening, I found a local craft brewery (of which, there are MANY!) and my brother-in-law headed to check it out. I love finding local craft breweries with a cool story AND quality flowing from the tap. Goat Patch Brewing definitely was it! Built within an old elementary school, they are a brewery that really partners with local organizations to support them and raise funds/awareness for them while serving top notch brews. We had to sit outside near the heaters as inside dining is forbidden within the city but still, a great time talking and sipping.

On Monday, it was senior photo shoot day! My youngest and last daughter had a wish to get her senior photos taken on this trip so at 10am, we were at the infamous Garden of the Gods park in advance of the incoming weather system dropping temps fast and snow. It went VERY well! In the end, we got 59 photos delivered to us to do with as we will. Best part? She's happy with them.

Once back at my sister-in-law's house post photo shoot, the temps had fallen, snow was falling and wind picking up. But fitness beckoned! There is one pair of 35lb dumbbells in the house so I grabbed them, did a 360m farmer walk to the local park where I did a workout that made the 28F temperature not feel so cold. 2 rounds of a 100m walking lunge with those dumbbells on my shoulders and 50 air squats. 100m doesn't sound long until you lunge with them! After, some shoulder presses while sitting on a picnic table then carrying those dumbbells back to the house. Time well spent! The remainder of evening was spent inside with a great dinner and just spending time together inside.

So today? The Incline. The less than a mile hike gains over 2000 feet in elevation over 2768 steps. It was originally built as a cable car to carry supplies and pipelines up for Pikes Peak. Once that work completed, it was turned into a cable car tourist attraction but a landslide in 1990 ruined that. The rails were removed but railroad ties remained. That turned into an illegal fitness endeavor for years until they renovated it but fixing those steps. Now, it's free but thanks to COVID, pre-registration is required. We have a 9am spot and then once we reach the top, we'll hike down the Barr Trail back to Manitou Springs. So with that, it's time to get moving!

Have a great day, friends!

Breckinridge, Colorado

On a day where many stand in lines to return Christmas gifts, take down Christmas decor, etc., today we headed about 3 hours northwest of Colorado Springs to the skiing resort town of Breckinridge, Colorado. We had a go time of 9am so after my morning espresso and trio of Scripture readings, I found a workout to do at the green space. It was about 40F, sunny and little breeze. Perfect. After, we set out for Breckinridge. Below are a smattering of photos I took throughout the day.

Breckinridge at night

Group Selfie at the downtown Christmas tree

Group photo at the Sevens Resort

Sevens Resort skiers and snowboarders

Scenic stop en route to Breckinridge with a photobomber!

Scenic stop en route to Breckinridge

Scenic stop en route to Breckinridge

Before we left the area, we headed about 20min north of Breckinridge to Frisco, Colorado where Outer Range Brewing is located...one of three breweries highly recommended to me from a friend back home. We had dinner and craft brews there and they did not disappoint!

I have definitely found my way around the country over the last week. As I was winding down my time in Virginia Beach waiting to process off of active duty, I made a 3-day trek down to central North Carolina to see family and then now out to Colorado Springs. Two big concentrations of extended family in each location. I most definitely relish the small town/removed life. I lived many years in a congested, fast-paced area (Virginia Beach) and appreciate living now in a rural area but well within reach of everything we need. Touristy areas, 8 lane highways and tons of STUFF just doesn't have a ton of appeal to me at all. I have really enjoyed these trips so far but inside I crave silence and solitude...with my bride. Fortunately, we both crave the same in that area. We have no idea if Ohio will be our permanent retirement location...truly no idea. For now, we know we are supposed to be there and are 100% good with that. The future? No idea but you can bet we'll be praying heavily over it and will follow that lead when the day comes.

Today's Scripture Reading #1: Day 358 of 365 (+119 days ahead) 1 John 1, 2 and 3 and 1 John 4:1-6.

Today's Scripture Reading #2: Day 359 of 365 (+120 days ahead) 1 John 4:7 - 1 John 5; 2 John and 3 John.

Today's Scripture Reading #3: Day 360 of 365 (+121 days ahead) Jude 1; Revelation 1 and 2.

Goodnight, friends.

Christmas 2020

It was a lazy beginning to Christmas in Colorado today. A very "gourmet" brunch was planned for 10am so we just sat around, sipping espresso and chatting all morning until brunch. As 10am rolled around, this was the scene...

It was nothing short of incredible. So much good food! We're also taking turns presenting a question at each group meal and then everyone answers it. That's fostered some really good conversation and discussion. The afternoon had our gift exchange, more espresso, a fun game and then I ventured outside to do what many could consider a crazy workout. It's called CrossFit Linchpin Test 13 and is quite "simple" ... for time, do the following: 400m run, 20 burpees, 400m run, 19 burpees, 400m run, 18 burpees... etc. and continue all the way to 400m run, 1 burpee. It took me 1hr, 5min, 20sec. I did it a few years ago with a 20lb weight vest on but have no idea how long it took me. After eating like CRAP for several days, it was an eye-opening experience but as always, I'm glad I ventured out. Later at 6pm, we headed over to Marjie's brother's home where his wife made us a Middle-Eastern inspired meal. Lamb, rice, grape leaves, hummus, fresh baked veggies, and much more. It was one of the best meals I have had in some time. So delicious! And with that, that's Christmas 2020. So different than any other which is quite fitting for the year 2020. I was able to squeeze in a few readings, too.

Today's Scripture Reading #1: Day 356 of 365 (+118 days ahead) 1 Peter 2:4 - 5:11. 

Today's Scripture Reading #2: Day 357 of 365 (+119 days ahead) 1 Peter 5:12 - 2 Peter 3.

Goodnight, friends!

Home from Deployment

Just three day ago, I ended a 240 day deployment to the Horn of Africa and like 2011 when I deployed to Afghanistan, I anonymously blogged every day of it. The entire blog can be found here, hosted on Wordpress. I found Wordpress to be much easier to use this time around. However, this blog has existed for a VERY long time and my itch to right remains so here I am... writing again.

One thing I committed to while deployed was a chronological read through the Bible, something I had never done. During my deployment, I was sent home early so I didn't finish the Bible as planned but I'm within days of doing so. For the next few days, I'm going to share those readings in the same format I did on my journal. For other things, I'm not sure what'll happen here on this blog. I'm just going to roll with it and see where I feel led. 

Today, I write to you from a few time zones away from home in Colorado Springs. We actually lived here for one year from mid-2001 to mid-2002. I had a great job that ended abruptly, a short stint as a Starbucks barista, a 2 year old and little did we know, our second daughter on the way in early 2003. As I drove the Hertz moving truck east towards Ohio, I never thought 18+ years would pass before I'd return but sure enough, that is precisely what happened. 18 1/2 years to be more precise. After arriving home on Monday night, Day 240, I had a day of unpacking and repacking Tuesday then caught a non-stop flight to Denver yesterday to join my family for a Colorado Christmas. 

For my deployment, I am now on "terminal leave," which is spending down the leave/vacation I earned while deployed. It will end and my tie to the active duty side of the Navy will be severed in mid-January as I return to Reserve status, at least for a few more years. I now sit at 23+ years of service so when I'm ready to officially hang up the uniform, I'm good to do so as I have more than satisfied the requirements to retire. So with that, I'm going to log my readings below for future reflection and record-keeping. I used the Bible app and a reading plan that is a 365 day chronological guide...meaning much of the Bible was not ready direct cover to cover but rather in an order in which it took place in history. It has been a GREAT journey and learning experience!

Today's Scripture Reading #1: Day 352 of 365 (+115 days ahead) Hebrews 4:14 - 7. The author, as mentioned previously, is anonymous. We know, however, that this letter is written to the Hebrews and it is become clearer in this final few readings that the point was to sum up the Old Testament law and covenant and create a link to the new Covenant via Jesus Christ. There was much resistance from the Jews to abandoning the rituals and laws of Moses and replacing them with the saving knowledge of Christ. Hebrews attempts to connect the two.

Today's Scripture Reading #2: Day 353 of 365 (+116 days ahead) Hebrews 8 - 10.

Today's Scripture Reading #3: Day 354 of 365 (+117 days ahead) Hebrews 11 - 12.

Today's Scripture Reading #4: Day 355 of 365 (+118 days ahead) Hebrews 13, 1 Peter 1 - 2:3. The letter is finished to the Hebrews and full of encouragement, similar to how Paul would encourage his readers. We then turn to the 1st book of Peter, whose author is the Apostle Peter, the same who followed Christ in advance of His crucifixion and resurrection. He is speaking to the Gentiles and much like Paul, will be encouraging the readers to persevere in the face of persecution and to stand fast in the faith.

Merry Christmas Eve, friends!