Colorado Belle
06-01-2008, 10:35 PM
So the idea was to fly on SWA for peanuts Denver to LAX in the wee hours, have DD pick me up and head over to DL to meet up with LeftCoaster for an easy day at the park.
Sounds simple, right?
Typically, in my neverendingdivorcefromhell, as soon as the other side figures out that I'm out of town, it sends mounds of filings, pleadings, briefs in the hopes that I won't respond and they will be 'confessed'. This trip was no exception. Suffice to say that at 3 a.m I hadn't yet started packing and I needed to leave by 4 am to make my 7a.m flight.
Despite the fact that it was MAY, there was a surprise snowstorm. Not too much accumulation BUT you know those storms where the snow blows into your windshield so that you can't see a thing and you feel kinda epileptic????
Well, that's what it was from my house to Georgetown...a usual trip of 30 minutes, but at 25mph and NO visibilitiy whatsoever (I had a 'feeling' where the right side of the road ended and that's about it...not so good for an interstate. Plus, the other travelers on the road were following ME and that's never any help..I felt like a lemming master.
So it was with great relief that I found myself OUT of the storm, OUT of snow, clear roads ahead, and even downhill to save gas...headed for the airport with about a 1/2 hour to make up timewise. No one else on the highway...still dark...just me....
and
the cop.
Jefforson County...the ONLY place in Colorado I have ever gotten a ticket in 30 years of driving here.
On Mother's Day.
and catch this...he says: do you know how fast yada yada ? I said probably 10 over the limit but I'm trying ot get to the airport after the horrendous snow storm in Summit County. I'm sorry...but I only went fast over the crest of the hill about a mile and then slowed down. He says: well, we've had this stretch of the interstate set at 55mph for awhile now and YOU were going 78.
So he writes me a ticket for over 20 mph with a hefty fee and 6 points. Happy Mother's Day! I'll have to go to the courthouse to fight it as I don't want my perfect record messed with. Plus, I am philosophically opposed to paying for speeding tickets on an interstate with NO CARS, NO PEOPLE, NO ROAD WORK just because Jefferson County has decided it wants to make a little moohlah. And for those with (ahem) more experience, does it really take 20 minutes to write a ticket??????? (or did he just WANT me to miss my flight)
But I digress.
I got to my parking place and waited IMpatiently for the bus. I hate being late and worrying about missing a flight when I have important plans/someone waiting for me. I got off at teh first stop RAN to the SWA counter, they took my bag...it made it...I got through security adn the train ride and JUST made my plane. It was the first nonstop SWA Denver to LAX flight and not at all busy...so, let the pixie dust start...I had an easy time finding 3 across empty seating and snoozed away the 2.5 hour flight. Ah! I love it when that happens.
Picked up bag...it had some issues with a ripped seam and handle. Went into SWA and bless their hearts, gave me $50 credit. I LOVE SWA and actually hate taking money from them...unlike some other airlines.
Kid was late, but that's the way it is. Did youknow that once you go down to baggage in LAX that you can't get back into the main airport to buy a cuppa joe?
We got on the interstate headed for DL and no traffic. Called LC and decided to meet at the motel (one of the cheapies near the main entrance on Harbor).
I was hoping I could check in early to take a quick shower and change clothes, but they told us at check in that our room wasn't ready BUT FOR A MEASELY $15 upgrade we could get a DELUX room that was available now.
Did I mention I am philosophically opposed to paying an extra $15 to get into my room early? Instead I was first sweet, then no so, then said forgettabout it, then talked to the older gentleman who was selling timeshare or something in the lobby who gave me the name of the manager, then went back and asked to speak with the manager who wasn't there because it was saturday and finally used the manager's name as the contact when I'd phoned the day before to see if I might be able to check in early (forgot the name) ....and they said they would have a room ready in about 45 minutes. Not exactly what you want to hear when DL is waiting, but decided to go have breakfast and then come back.
So I wanted to hit McD's for their $1.40 sausage mcmuffin. I love those things!!!! But NO, DD doesn't want to eat fast food so instead we head to IHOP. So I'm looking at the menu and I know I don't get out much these days, but there wasn't a breakfast on it for under $12!!!!!!!! Culture shock. In retrospect, I guess this is cuz the IHOP is across from the main entrance to DL, but we paid $35 for breakfast!!!! And just in case you were wondering...there were no characters.
OK...I'm done beeaching.
LC met us at IHOP and then went back to the motel where we checked in and I jumped into some clothes and off to the parks. We met up with a good friend of LC's who helped us out big time re tickets and fast passes...thank you again Eric, you are a very kind and generous man. Armed with our fastpasses but not an early start, we hit the rides hard and fast. Pretty sure we did everything at least once. I love Indie and it never fails to please, DD hadn't seen the new POC or HH (but I think I like the way both of them are at WDW better), but it was Space Mt that did it for me....WOW...I'd heard about the redo to make it darker and all...but this was like a whole new ride and AWESOME. (I don't think I'm going to bother with WDW SM anymore...that's how great it was. ) I think we rode it 3 times and I loved every wild moment.
I pooped out about 4 and DD and LC didn't seem to mind taking a break. We bought some wine and went back to the room and laid on the bed to chill for a bit, then we decided we'd best get dinner so we'd have time for Fantasmic and fireworks.
Easier said than done. I was hoping we'd meet up with Eric and I'd made ressies at Napa Rose, but Eric was having a going away party and our ressie was too late for Fantasmic SO....we walked around DTD for about 30minutes looking for a place to eat. No luck . (Sorry LC that I'm not big on Italien). In desperation we cruised into Napa Rose an hour early for that ressie and they seated us immediately. Pretty place! We were afraid of missing Fantasmic so only ordered wine and appetizers...which worked out beautifully for DD and me, but LC might have left hungry. the presentation of the food was great, the scallops were yum , the ahi pretty good, but the meat dishes weren't very special. The waiter brought me two glasses of wine tastes for a mother's day treat plus some chocolates since we didn't have time for dessert...way to go waiter!!! We hit the street at about 4.5mph and made it to a good site for Fantasmic. I just love FAntasmic at DL....and remember the very first time when it just blew me away.
From Fantasmic I was ready to head straight to the fireworks, but my intrepid companions managed to get us on two or three other rides before firework time. Then, b ecause I insist at Wishes to sit in the very front of the castle, I started walking to the front only to find that is NOT how they do it here at DL.
We ended up seeing the fireworks fine...it is different than WDW Wishes but OH MY tinkerbell sure does fly around alot instead of just hightailing it from the castle to Tomorrowland at WDW!
After the fireworks we kept going...and closed the park. I was exhausted and after we got back to the motel, LC had to drive all the way home. Yikes!
We decided to meet up at 10 the next day and I must say that after a bath I slept very HARD and probably snored.
We were going to meet up with Eric on Sunday, mother's day, and after some park rides have a brunch before leaving at about 3 to go up to Santa Barbara. DD wanted to get home early. We hit California Adventure and did TOT and Soarin and the rollercoaster. Then we tried to go somewhere nice for brunch but ended up getting tacos from the taco stand because we were all tired and LC had to leave to go to work @ 1. I talked DD to going back to MK to ride the train...she'd never done the train here and didn't know about the DINOSAURS which I've always secretly loved. Anyhow, we might have done another ride on SM but I can't remember. We left right on time and settled in for the 2 hour drive to Santa Barbara.
DTD and the area around DL was clean and spruced up. But for me, the magic isn't as encompassing as it is when staying at the World. I still think of CA as a half day park and tho it is a nice amusement park, I'd rather spend my time at DL. We didnt' get over to pirate's lair and I didn't see the Capt'n. I had my Dole Whip and LC turned me onto cream cheese stuffed pretzels...YUM!!!!!!! I'm glad I get to visit DL every now and then (it had probably been 6 years since the last time), but it can't take the place of WDW for me. I love Indie, SM , Matterhorn and miss those things at WDW, but other than day trips on the way to Santa Barbara, and to have a drink with LC, or MAYBE TO GET AN INVITE TO CLUB 33!!!!! I 'm good to go for another few years.
So...a great trip. Thanks LC!!!!! Thanks Eric!!! Thanks DD!!! :grouphug:
Sounds simple, right?
Typically, in my neverendingdivorcefromhell, as soon as the other side figures out that I'm out of town, it sends mounds of filings, pleadings, briefs in the hopes that I won't respond and they will be 'confessed'. This trip was no exception. Suffice to say that at 3 a.m I hadn't yet started packing and I needed to leave by 4 am to make my 7a.m flight.
Despite the fact that it was MAY, there was a surprise snowstorm. Not too much accumulation BUT you know those storms where the snow blows into your windshield so that you can't see a thing and you feel kinda epileptic????
Well, that's what it was from my house to Georgetown...a usual trip of 30 minutes, but at 25mph and NO visibilitiy whatsoever (I had a 'feeling' where the right side of the road ended and that's about it...not so good for an interstate. Plus, the other travelers on the road were following ME and that's never any help..I felt like a lemming master.
So it was with great relief that I found myself OUT of the storm, OUT of snow, clear roads ahead, and even downhill to save gas...headed for the airport with about a 1/2 hour to make up timewise. No one else on the highway...still dark...just me....
and
the cop.
Jefforson County...the ONLY place in Colorado I have ever gotten a ticket in 30 years of driving here.
On Mother's Day.
and catch this...he says: do you know how fast yada yada ? I said probably 10 over the limit but I'm trying ot get to the airport after the horrendous snow storm in Summit County. I'm sorry...but I only went fast over the crest of the hill about a mile and then slowed down. He says: well, we've had this stretch of the interstate set at 55mph for awhile now and YOU were going 78.
So he writes me a ticket for over 20 mph with a hefty fee and 6 points. Happy Mother's Day! I'll have to go to the courthouse to fight it as I don't want my perfect record messed with. Plus, I am philosophically opposed to paying for speeding tickets on an interstate with NO CARS, NO PEOPLE, NO ROAD WORK just because Jefferson County has decided it wants to make a little moohlah. And for those with (ahem) more experience, does it really take 20 minutes to write a ticket??????? (or did he just WANT me to miss my flight)
But I digress.
I got to my parking place and waited IMpatiently for the bus. I hate being late and worrying about missing a flight when I have important plans/someone waiting for me. I got off at teh first stop RAN to the SWA counter, they took my bag...it made it...I got through security adn the train ride and JUST made my plane. It was the first nonstop SWA Denver to LAX flight and not at all busy...so, let the pixie dust start...I had an easy time finding 3 across empty seating and snoozed away the 2.5 hour flight. Ah! I love it when that happens.
Picked up bag...it had some issues with a ripped seam and handle. Went into SWA and bless their hearts, gave me $50 credit. I LOVE SWA and actually hate taking money from them...unlike some other airlines.
Kid was late, but that's the way it is. Did youknow that once you go down to baggage in LAX that you can't get back into the main airport to buy a cuppa joe?
We got on the interstate headed for DL and no traffic. Called LC and decided to meet at the motel (one of the cheapies near the main entrance on Harbor).
I was hoping I could check in early to take a quick shower and change clothes, but they told us at check in that our room wasn't ready BUT FOR A MEASELY $15 upgrade we could get a DELUX room that was available now.
Did I mention I am philosophically opposed to paying an extra $15 to get into my room early? Instead I was first sweet, then no so, then said forgettabout it, then talked to the older gentleman who was selling timeshare or something in the lobby who gave me the name of the manager, then went back and asked to speak with the manager who wasn't there because it was saturday and finally used the manager's name as the contact when I'd phoned the day before to see if I might be able to check in early (forgot the name) ....and they said they would have a room ready in about 45 minutes. Not exactly what you want to hear when DL is waiting, but decided to go have breakfast and then come back.
So I wanted to hit McD's for their $1.40 sausage mcmuffin. I love those things!!!! But NO, DD doesn't want to eat fast food so instead we head to IHOP. So I'm looking at the menu and I know I don't get out much these days, but there wasn't a breakfast on it for under $12!!!!!!!! Culture shock. In retrospect, I guess this is cuz the IHOP is across from the main entrance to DL, but we paid $35 for breakfast!!!! And just in case you were wondering...there were no characters.
OK...I'm done beeaching.
LC met us at IHOP and then went back to the motel where we checked in and I jumped into some clothes and off to the parks. We met up with a good friend of LC's who helped us out big time re tickets and fast passes...thank you again Eric, you are a very kind and generous man. Armed with our fastpasses but not an early start, we hit the rides hard and fast. Pretty sure we did everything at least once. I love Indie and it never fails to please, DD hadn't seen the new POC or HH (but I think I like the way both of them are at WDW better), but it was Space Mt that did it for me....WOW...I'd heard about the redo to make it darker and all...but this was like a whole new ride and AWESOME. (I don't think I'm going to bother with WDW SM anymore...that's how great it was. ) I think we rode it 3 times and I loved every wild moment.
I pooped out about 4 and DD and LC didn't seem to mind taking a break. We bought some wine and went back to the room and laid on the bed to chill for a bit, then we decided we'd best get dinner so we'd have time for Fantasmic and fireworks.
Easier said than done. I was hoping we'd meet up with Eric and I'd made ressies at Napa Rose, but Eric was having a going away party and our ressie was too late for Fantasmic SO....we walked around DTD for about 30minutes looking for a place to eat. No luck . (Sorry LC that I'm not big on Italien). In desperation we cruised into Napa Rose an hour early for that ressie and they seated us immediately. Pretty place! We were afraid of missing Fantasmic so only ordered wine and appetizers...which worked out beautifully for DD and me, but LC might have left hungry. the presentation of the food was great, the scallops were yum , the ahi pretty good, but the meat dishes weren't very special. The waiter brought me two glasses of wine tastes for a mother's day treat plus some chocolates since we didn't have time for dessert...way to go waiter!!! We hit the street at about 4.5mph and made it to a good site for Fantasmic. I just love FAntasmic at DL....and remember the very first time when it just blew me away.
From Fantasmic I was ready to head straight to the fireworks, but my intrepid companions managed to get us on two or three other rides before firework time. Then, b ecause I insist at Wishes to sit in the very front of the castle, I started walking to the front only to find that is NOT how they do it here at DL.
We ended up seeing the fireworks fine...it is different than WDW Wishes but OH MY tinkerbell sure does fly around alot instead of just hightailing it from the castle to Tomorrowland at WDW!
After the fireworks we kept going...and closed the park. I was exhausted and after we got back to the motel, LC had to drive all the way home. Yikes!
We decided to meet up at 10 the next day and I must say that after a bath I slept very HARD and probably snored.
We were going to meet up with Eric on Sunday, mother's day, and after some park rides have a brunch before leaving at about 3 to go up to Santa Barbara. DD wanted to get home early. We hit California Adventure and did TOT and Soarin and the rollercoaster. Then we tried to go somewhere nice for brunch but ended up getting tacos from the taco stand because we were all tired and LC had to leave to go to work @ 1. I talked DD to going back to MK to ride the train...she'd never done the train here and didn't know about the DINOSAURS which I've always secretly loved. Anyhow, we might have done another ride on SM but I can't remember. We left right on time and settled in for the 2 hour drive to Santa Barbara.
DTD and the area around DL was clean and spruced up. But for me, the magic isn't as encompassing as it is when staying at the World. I still think of CA as a half day park and tho it is a nice amusement park, I'd rather spend my time at DL. We didnt' get over to pirate's lair and I didn't see the Capt'n. I had my Dole Whip and LC turned me onto cream cheese stuffed pretzels...YUM!!!!!!! I'm glad I get to visit DL every now and then (it had probably been 6 years since the last time), but it can't take the place of WDW for me. I love Indie, SM , Matterhorn and miss those things at WDW, but other than day trips on the way to Santa Barbara, and to have a drink with LC, or MAYBE TO GET AN INVITE TO CLUB 33!!!!! I 'm good to go for another few years.
So...a great trip. Thanks LC!!!!! Thanks Eric!!! Thanks DD!!! :grouphug: