Hiking in the morning and rafting in the afternoon: I could not have imagined a better way to spend my last sunny Colorado spring Sunday of the year. We put in on Clear Creek west of Idaho Springs. The river was raging — highest it’s been in years. The water was ice cold. We were barely into the first rapids when our guide was catapulted from the back of the raft all the way to the front. Not long after, a girl was thrown from the raft ahead of us and into the icy and rocky water. It was an intense and wet ride from there on out. And playing in the cold river was the perfect warm-up for a summer on the lakes of Minnesota.

For next week begins my Summer in Sota. The plan is to spend at least two months in the Crosslake, Breezy Point, and Pequot Lakes areas as inspiration for my new novel, THE SKELETON LAKE BOYS, while cramming in as much quality time with the family as possible. Playing with the nieces and nephew is high on the list. I’m hoping for at least a dozen lazy days on the beaches of “Goat Island” on Pelican Lake. I expect to hurt myself wakeboarding, at least twice. BONFIRES! Trading tales around the kitchen table at the Cabin will be a long-missed treat. I’m looking forward to a family wedding in July. And, of course, soaking copious amounts of beer at the beach, the bonfire, the boat, the river, the back decks of dozens of family members and few fine lakeside establishments is also near the top of my list.

With the count down clock for leaving my beloved mountains having ticked down to only days, it’s my impending Road Trip that best battles the sadness brought on by the thought of missing another Colorado Summer. I do love a good Road Trip. Even the sixteen hour sightless trip between Colorado and Minnesota is a mind freeing drive in the right state.

Packing lots of bug spray,

R.j

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