The experience was different this time. Instead of researching a book on a college campus, I toured a town. I enjoyed Boulder, Colorado, as a tourist on his wedding anniversary and not an author on a deadline.
For those who did not see my May 2019
post, Boulder is one of my favorite towns. Like Wallace, Idaho; Virginia City, Nevada; and Coronado, Califoria, it is the kind of quirky community I like visiting over and over again, the kind that makes a great setting for a novel.
Seven years ago, I visited Boulder alone and spent much of my time visiting the University of Colorado, its library, and Greek Row, settings in
Caitlin's Song, the fourth novel in the
Carson Chronicles series. I took a good look at a college town while school was still in session. This time, I traveled to Boulder with my wife Cheryl and Oregon friends Mike and Cathy Hundley when most of the students were gone. We explored the mountain community's vibrant downtown and abundant natural splendors in a less hectic environment.
Those who have visited Boulder know it offers a delightful mix of educational, cultural, and natural attractions. These include the university, the
Pearl Street Mall, the
Boulder Farmers Market, the
Colorado Chataqua, and nearby hiking trails, which provide access to the stunning Front Range. As one who has lived in the Las Vegas Valley for the past nine years, I loved the opportunity to explore a scenic natural area that featured ... trees! Colorado is a hiker's paradise.
Needless to say, I also enjoyed spending time with Mike and Cathy, who have become traveling buddies over the past dozen years, joining us on trips to Myrtle Beach (SC), Virginia City (NV), Imperial Beach (CA), and Ogunquit (ME). On this latest journey, they helped Cheryl and me celebrate our 40th anniversary. As fellow "seniors," they understand of the importance of travel in what many retirees call the "Go" years.
Amid all this travel, work continues on my next book. I expect to finish a first draft of
The Time Spring by the end of September.
Photographs: The dining hall at the Colorado Chataqua. The Enchanted Mesa trail. Pearl Street pedestrian mall in Boulder.
