Every young couple starts out with the basics: a map to where you think you want to go and a compass that always leads you back home.
We started off like many naive newlyweds, sinking our toes into the grasses of verdant valleys not realizing what lay ahead. Our journey has led us to wicked wintry peaks where we slipped from our foothold, but we bundled up and braved the biting wind together.
Sometimes we struck out on a new path and bushwhacked our way through avalanche areas filled with fallen trees as the sun set over the next horizon. When one of us tumbled from the mountain, the other was there to lend a hand. The worst days were spent heading in the wrong direction while scrambling over fields of boulders and taking leaps over deadly crevasses and yet we never traveled alone.
And that was just last weekend.
We celebrated our 28th wedding anniversary in Crested Butte. It’s a one blink town, but we loved our stay. Since it’s shoulder season, we found an abundance of peace and quiet, perfect for relaxing. But my battery isn’t recharged by sitting next to a fire, reading a book.
The first day we hiked to a natural infinity pool built by crazed and intense beavers. I thought it would be fun to bushwhack around it. Our one hour hike soon became four.
The second day, we decided to mountain bike along a green (easy) trail. How hard could it be? Being directionally challenged, I missed a turn and led Danny up a red (difficult) trail filled with loose river rock. Hikers coming down the mountain told us to turn around.

We biked back down on a shoulder-wide single track with the mountain dropping off to my left. It was nerve-wracking to thread my front tire through the rocks while avoiding a collision with the pedal. I found it almost impossible to ride in a stable and straight line with left side weakness after knee surgery last January. My bike zigged and slipped off the trail. I fell hard, luckily on my right side. At first, I thought I might have broken my wrist. Danny jumped off his bike to help. We were happy to hit the hot tub once we made it back to our B & B where I soaked my strained tendon.
The last day, we hiked to Three Lakes. Not counting the one at the trailhead, I thought the third might be located over a rocky field of boulders only suitable for mountain goats and pika (giant rodents). We scrambled through gnarly remains of aspen and found a moonlike landscape to nowhere. That extended another short hike.
As we drove back to Boulder feeling restored after a quiet weekend outdoors, Danny and I mapped out what might lay ahead in the years to come.
“With you, it’s always an adventure,” said Danny, laughing. We’ve been in our happy place all along.
This is a response to the Weekly Photo Challenge – Happy Place.
Do you need quiet time to relax or do you get up and go?
Congratulations! Beautiful couple and beautiful pictures! My fiance and I are getting married next October and I aspire to be you all one day, still traveling in love!
http://neverbeenso.com/
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Thank you so much and congratulations to you! It has been a Wild Ride. Life never gets too boring, that’s for sure. Just remember to laugh along the way. A good sense of humor will take you a long way!
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Lovely post.
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Thanks so much for stopping by, Mukul!
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What a beautiful post and congratulations on your anniversary! I really loved those stunning photos of the golden autumn leaves…how incredible!
When it comes to chilling out, I often find peace looking at the water. It can be still, rough surf…it doesn’t matter. I think the movement in the water could be a bit hypnotic moving backwards and forwards, making me “very sleepy”. xx Rowena
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Thank you, Roweeee! We almost missed the fall color up there. Most of the leaves were down.
The trees are often called quaking aspens. They sound like they are clapping or cheering. When were bushwhacking, they giggled. Ha!
I love the ocean too and its rhythmic beat. Being landlocked here in Colorado, I miss that sound. Sometimes when its windy, I listen for the rhythm, but it usually sets me on edge. It can really wail!!
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I love that sound of rustling leaves and quaking aspens is such a great expression. I’d miss the ocean, particularly after spending so much of my life near by but I also love rivers. Colorado has some magnificent rock formations and snow, doesn’t it? Since blogging, I’ve really had to rattle my geography. I did a project on America when I was 12. It’s a long time ago!
I have been playing the violin for the last few years and it has really heightened my appreciation of the musical sounds in nature. The wind sounds incredible, although also rather spooky! xx Rowena
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SO SWEET!! You two are adorable. And looks like a wonderful getaway, too. Happy Anniversary – to many more! xx
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Thanks so much, Liz! It was a great getaway. I had heard a lot about Crested Butte, but was surprised the town was so small. The mountains were incredible!
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The good fortune. Good for the both of you!
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Thanks Bruce! Life is one crazy adventure. 🙂
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Looks like a fantastic way to celebrate your anniversary. Congratulations on 28 years together!
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Thanks Lynn! Never a dull moment, instead, we packed it in. 🙂
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I’ll need quiet time just to recover from reading about your adventures. 🙂
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Hahaha! It was a lot of exercise, but we discovered so many unique places! The one where I was facing down on the ground, I could have done without. 🙂
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What a wonderful post with lovely photos. I too find the restorative powers of a good hot soak life affirming. Happy Anniversary.
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Thanks so much, Dunelight! I love that kind of exercise. After hot-tubbing, I can eat what I want. Ha!
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did you get married bill acini
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Gorgeous photos. What a great way to spend a few days.
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Thanks, Anneli! It really was fun checking out a new place and going on adventures. We never knew what might be beyond the next hill or mountain!
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Loved your photos, and you look great on the bike.
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A few comments. First, congratulations on your anniversary. The hills and the valleys in a marriage will always be there but the steady “stream” of love will always wash away any dust. Secondly, the pictures are spectacular! Lastly, I have been to Crested Butte. I think it is a quaint little town. One question, did you walk around the mountain? It’s the only mountain in the Rockies which can be hiked completely around. And no, I didn’t.
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Happy Anniversary! The hubs and I recently celebrated the same number of years. And your pics are gorgeous!
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Thanks, Carrie and congratulations to you!
The lighting and colors in the Crested Butte landscape were fantastic. I feel the same as when I search for seashells along the shore, I want to take a part of it home with me.
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What a great weekend. I love hiking, and exploring. I am so bad about wanting to know what’s over the next hill, or around the next bend.
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Thanks, Mary.
I’m the same way and am very curious! On that third day, it ended up being quite a scramble for nothing. Ha! At least it was a good workout.
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You are such a lovely couple. What a great way to celebrate. Hope your injury is better.
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Thanks so much, Catherine! Exploring is my favorite way to pass the time and Danny enjoys it too. He was an Eagle Scout like my son, so I’m in good hands when in the wilderness. Ha!
My wrist felt tweaky yesterday, but it’s all healed up today.
Thanks for the tweet too!
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Congratulations!
That does seem a super bit of country to get about in.
Why do I get the feeling that it might not have lasted so well if one of you had been addicted to sports and outdoor action strictly confined to being watched on TV?
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Thanks Colonist!
Colorado is a big state. I haven’t been everywhere yet.
Thank goodness one of us isn’t addicted to weekend sports. We did get back in town in time to watch the Bronco game. Ha!
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At least you earned the right to a bit of spectating.
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We did! I took a nap during the second half. 🙂
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So sweet! Congratulations to you both!! Here’s to many more years together. 🙂
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Thanks John! The years have flown by probably because we’re always moving. 🙂
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Congratulations, Susie and Danny! Porter and I just celebrated our 28th wedding anniversary too–starting with four days of hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park, gorgeous!
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Thank you so much and Congratulations to you! It’s a spectacular time of year. I have to admit…I’m ready for some rain!
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Happy Anniversary, Susie! Wishing you and Danny many more years of happiness and wild riding.
What a gorgeous way to celebrate!
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Thanks so much, Jackie! It really was wonderful to get outside and explore. It is a beautiful part of the country. 🙂
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Susie! 28 years of hanging out with you would be an awesome Wild Ride! Congrats! What an amazing and beautiful way to celebrate. Love it! People probably constantly asking you what your secret is…but I know it already…it’s you girl! You’re the secret weapon 🙂 congrats.
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You’re so sweet! Thank you! And everyone who knows both Danny and I would say the same about him. He is so tolerant of all my shenanigans. Ha! We really enjoyed exploring the area. Good thing since the town was super cute and heavy on the quaint. 🙂
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HAPPY ANNIVERSARY… May your lives be as endless as those wonderful trees you photographed.. HUGGGG
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Wouldn’t that be something??? Thanks so much, Linda and yours as well!
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Happy anniversary! It looks beautiful round there and great to explore, I’m not great on the bike but I’d definitely love to hike around there. Sorry you got yourself an injury but thankfully it sounds not too bad!
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Thanks so much, Vanessa-Jane!
I’m all healed up, but took it easy for a day or two. I talk with my hands so I shook out the tight tendon. The hiking was amazing and we only scratched the surface. I would love to hike to that castle-like rock next time!
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Such a beautiful post!!! so happy for you and your hubby!!! Congrats on 28 years!!
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Thanks so much, Geekkat!
I can’t believe it’s been that long and then I look at my kids who are in their twenties. Wow! Time flies when you’re having fun and all that other stuff in between. 🙂
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Absolutely!!! Time flies when you’re having fun 🙂 Me and my hubby just celebrated 17 yrs!
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Absolutely fantastic!
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Thanks Julie! I can’t believe it’s been that many years! I’m trying to stay in the moment and slow down time as much as I can…:)
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This may be one of my favorite posts so far. *smile*
I’m an introvert with an extrovert blogging personality. This means I need some alone time to recharge but I need the iPod cued to some seriously loud funky soul tunes. *grin*
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Thanks so much! The life posts are harder since there’s so much to blog about. I have to find a focus. That’s my daily goal anyway, come to think of it. Ha!
Listening to music can be a huge mood changer. I can’t listen to it and write, but I blast it when I’m driving and become that ridiculous head-bobbing crazy woman. 🙂
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Only you, dear Suzy, could celebrate her anniversary by almost falling off a mountain! 😀 Happy Anniversary.
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Right??? That was on the 10th too! Luckily I didn’t fall off the trail when the trail passed a cliff or there might have been a medivac involved….
Thanks so much, W!!
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