Are you a true Coloradan? Do you …
- Still refer to Xcel Energy as “Public Service”? No, but my bill-paying shortcut still does.
- Know people whose bicycles are worth more than their cars? No.
- Associate the scent of roasting chile peppers with the end of summer? No … with Margie’s posole …
- Own a huge assortment of athletic clothing but nothing appropriate for dinner at a swanky restaurant? Afraid not … though, generally speaking, there aren’t a lot of Colorado restaurants that are so swanky you can’t get away with denim.
- Know where to find the Valley Highway and the Boulder Turnpike? Of course (that would be I-25 south of downtown (the first “freeway” in the area), and SR 36 up toward Boulder (notably a turnpike that actually was turned “free” once it was paid off).
- Assume that a conversation about the Triple Bypass refers to the bicycling event, not a medical procedure. Um … no.
- Know how longtime Denver residents pronounce these north Denver street names: Zuni, Pecos and Galapago? I know the first (Zoo-nigh). Not surprised to read BD’s answer of the rest (Pay-cus, Gala-paygo).
- Know where “Pee-eblo” is located? Not heard it pronounced that way.
- Know people who pronounce “Buena” in Buena Vista as if it rhymed with either “grainy” or “tuna”? No.
- Still refer to Whole Foods as “Alfalfa’s”? No. I tend to refer to it as “Whole Paycheck.”
- Have seen trick-or-treaters soldiering through a Halloween snowstorm? Been tehre, escorted that. While we have had occasional clement Halloweens, it’s generally best to go for a costume that you can wear a parka over (or under).
- Never confuse Empire’s Hard Rock Cafe with the famous chain? Um … no clue.
- Have comfortably worn shorts outdoors in December or January? Since we can get into pleasant weather in those months, it’s happened. And sandals.
- Know which Colorado town competes with International Falls, Minn., for the title of “Icebox of the Nation”? No.
- Automatically bring a fleece pullover or jacket on a day hike in the mountains, even when the temperature in Denver and Grand Junction is solidly in the 90s? At least a sweatshirt.
- Watched a flick at Buena Vista’s Comanche Drive-in or Monte Vista’s Movie Manor? Nope, but I used to drive by the lamented Cinderella Drive-in for many years, thrilling to each “See you next season” marquee.
- Know where alligators thrive in the San Luis Valley? Nope.
- Made it through a meal at Casa Bonita? More than I care to remember.
- Ran (or walked) the Bolder Boulder and have the T-shirt to prove it? Never did it myself, but familiar with the name.
- Know what the Leadville Trail 100 is? Nope.
- Extra credit if you know how many LT 100s must be completed to earn the belt buckle? Um, still nope.
- Know the difference between the Front Range and the Western Slope? Um … yeah. I’d say that’s a “1 week” learning curve here.
Not surprisingly, the native-born (they do exist!) BD did better than the 15-year vet me. Ah, well.
Happy (Day After) Colorado Day!
73 view(s)
Pee-eblo is very old timer, same group that would say Crick instead of Creek.
Pew-eblo is from the days that CF&I was running (until ’82) and the stench of the iron furnaces and coke ovens was very stinky. As a Bonus, you had to watch which way the wind blew or else your clothes out drying out on the line would turn red.
Buena Vista is just one of the many Colorado place names that the silly GPS’s mispronounce. =P
The Leadville 1oo is very insane. If you think just hiking at 10,00o feet is a strain, try running a 100 mile race. they added a mountain bike version in the 90s.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leadville_Trail_100
the Gators of San Luis Valley are just another reason to go there. It’s on a Geothermal Spring that is 87 degrees year round. The grow taplia and the gators, and it is it’s own little circle of life since the Talpia eat the gator waste and the gators eat the talapia.
Ah, tilapia. Ask Dave Sutherland about tilapia some day …
Re: Knowing people whose bicycles are worth more than their cars: If we’re talking singular in both cases, one of my bikes is worth more than one of my cars, or at least when my mountain bike was new in 2004, it was worth more than my older car.
If you don’t know what the Leadville Trail 100 is, then I haven’t been pushy enough in explaining that I’ve been doing the LT100 mountain bike race every summer for the last four years. I’d agree that the people who do the LT100 run are a little bit insane, but while the bike race is very hard, there are much harder bike races out there, including Montezuma’s Revenge and the Vapor Trail 125.
Oh cool, then I have probably seen you zoom past me since I have watched 2 of the past 4 races.
So, have you done the 24 hours of Leadville race yet?
This year is the first year of the 24 hour race. I haven’t yet felt the need to do a 24 hour race strongly enough to enter.