Happiness is Not a Place

August 16, 2017



 









Happiness is Not a Place

Before departing Colorado Springs, Kathy spent our last evening there attending a concert at a small club called the Black Sheep to see a band called the Wind and the Wave. I was completely unfamiliar with the band, but Kathy had checked them out and really wanted to go, so we got tickets. The band, a duo from Austin, Texas is touring in support of their second CD release and first for Island Records, “Happiness Is Not A Place”.



One Flew West 





 



First off, the club was fantastic, the Black Sheep was just the sort of slightly seedy, yet comfortable and open with plenty of great space to see the bands, a large bar and excellent sound. The opening act was a Colorado based band called One Flew West. Normally local opening bands can leave a lot to be desired, but this band was excellent and well-polished. Really worth checking out.



The headliners, The Wind and the Wave were amazingly good. In the past two weeks I have had the good fortune to see two great young bands, the Wild Reeds and now the Wind and the Wave. Though there was a pretty sparse crowd, the band delivered an amazing set that featured cuts from both their cds as well as a few well-placed covers. I was so thankful that Kathy had pressed us to go see this as I really, really enjoyed it.



 







The main reason for my birthday getaway was to visit the Princeton Hot Springs. She had booked a room for us at the beautiful Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort in Nathrop, Colorado. The natural hot springs feed a few beautiful pools, hot tubs, a water slide and a beautiful spa. They even flow into the river that runs along the property creating warm pools of water along the banks of the flowing river. It is a spectacular place and a wonderful place to spend a couple of days relaxing.







It had been some time since I had been on a waterslide and this was a good one and reminded me of how much I have always enjoyed them, since my days as a kid at Boogie Mountain Water Park in Indianapolis. We spent the day longing and playing then had a fantastic meal at the lodge before a late-night dip in the beautiful spa pool under the stars, it was a just about perfect day.



 





The next day we were off on a leisurely trip to Estes Park with stops at Dillon Lake at Pug Ryan’s brewery and for a long afternoon exploring Breckenridge as well. We took our time traveling the back way to Estes that would take us across Trail Ridge Road through Rocky Mountain National Park. Breckenridge is a cute little touristy town. We had a nice lunch at the Breckenridge Brewery and walked around downtown checking out the art galleries, shops and bars. 





 





We crossed the Continental Divide at the Hoosier Pass, altitude 11,539 ft. and had to stop and get photos, being a good Hoosier and all. It was a pretty cool drive as we wound our way towards Rocky Mountain National Park for the final leg of our journey to see our friend Kerry in Estes Park.







 



http://mtprinceton.com/
 
http://thewindandthewave.com/