Colorado Springs - Restaurants, Hiking and Car Troubles

I didn't realize how happy I was living without a roommate. I no longer felt confined to the upstairs and could clean the kitchen and keep it clean. If I felt like wearing no pants, not pants it was! The freedom of living solo.

I continued going out to Meetups, hiking and occasional dates, but my home-base remained stable. I visited Castle Rock and Denver, and hiked Spruce Mountain Trail on the way from a Denver Meetup event. "Green Colorado" is what the locals call the state this year with all the rain. Indeed, it reminded me of spring in California after a good rain season.

I revisited The Garden of the Gods, a very popular park with spectacular views that I visited back in 2016, by hiking the 6 and a half mile outer loop that was not as crowded as the rest of the park yet just as impressive.

Another trail that I found to be challenging yet rewarding in the end was Catamount Falls Trail. The 2,000 ft elevation gain was the challenging part, but the flowing water, the views along the way and the view of Pikes Peak at the end were worth it.

No new destination happens without a car trouble. As I was backing out of the driveway, my brake pedal felt stiff allowing the car to roll further than I felt comfortable with. After taking the car to Brakes Plus (big mistake!) and two replaced brake boosters, the car braking system still does not feel the same. Sadly, it is another negative experience with a mechanic that I can live without. Living "on the road" is pretty challenging from that perspective, you always have to find a new one who may or may not be reliable.

I also explored a few restaurants with some company. One of my favorites was Vine & Wheel, a wine bar with an enormous variety of wines, great food and, most importantly, chill yet classy atmosphere. Jazz was playing until almost closing time, but was not too loud allowing for conversation to happen in a light and easy way. Another place specializing in tea, Yellow Mountain Tea House, had an almost authentic Asian-style atmosphere where the server made tea right at the table while trying to convince us that it cures cancer. These billions of dollars spent on research is a total waste of resources... 

Manitou Springs was the last stop on my Colorado Springs adventures. I finally explored the crowded downtown and had a wonderful dinner at a Mexican place followed by a karaoke night back in the Springs. It was time to move on to my next destination. Denver.