I took another weekend trip to Colorado recently to visit with family. Fortunately, I was able to secure United Mileage Plus Award tickets in First Class for only 82,000 miles roundtrip on the non-stop morning flights between Raleigh and Denver. When my Friday travel day rolled around in mid-April, I made sure to arrive at RDU Airport a few hours before departure as early morning is a busy time at my local airport. In fact, travelers waiting to undergo TSA Security were backed up outside the security area, snaking their way along the west end of the Terminal 2 ticketing lobby. But, having a CLEAR membership meant my wait time was minimal. Instead of standing in line, I simply approached a CLEAR pod which scanned my eyes and boarding pass, after which an ambassador escorted me to the front of the security line for physical screening by the TSA. The entire process took no longer than three minutes, giving me more time to relax and enjoy the United Club. Be aware there is a bill pending in California (SB-1372) attempting to ban CLEAR from expanding at the state’s airports unless the security company uses its own dedicated security lanes, thereby offering “a more equitable experience at airport security checkpoints.”
The United Club across from Gate D3 was virtually empty at 6:30 that morning with only two other guests, which was surprising as boarding time for the 8:15 flight was scheduled for 7:35. The hot breakfast offerings included Scrambled Eggs with Shredded Cheddar, Green Onions and Cherry Tomato, along with Pork Sausage and Roasted Potatoes with Paprika and Chives. Muffins, Breads, Bagels were also available as were a variety of Yogurts, Fruit, Meats and Cheeses. Coffee, Tea and Juice rounded out the selections. I only availed myself of the coffee as I knew I’d be having breakfast on the airplane. One item of interest to share with you is that the United Club in Raleigh has installed all gender restrooms, which I suspect was meant to cover every eventuality.
Boarding was delayed by nearly 20 minutes. The gate agent explained, “The cleaners are still onboard. The flight came in from San Francisco and we had some rowdy passengers.” All appeared to be in order and very tidy when I eventually took my aisle seat 2B on the port side of the 737 MAX 9 aircraft. Our flight attendant offered either water or champagne as pre-departure beverage choices while our aircraft taxied out to Runway 23L. We were airborne at 8:42 AM and were told to expect a flight time of three hours and 27 minutes. Before too long, my preordered breakfast entrée arrived and after the meal service, we enjoyed a smooth cross-country flight, landing as predicted at 10:09 AM and soon pulling into Gate B65. Since I had some time before my mountain shuttle departed, I visited the renovated United Club next to Gate B44 where I caught up on some work and (believe it or not) had a quick lunch. I was impressed with the Roasted Pork Tenderloin and Mashed Potatoes on the buffet, which also included the requisite Pasta and Salad offerings, along with Focaccia Sandwiches of both Chicken Salad or Roasted Vegetables.
My shuttle of choice for the journey to Summit County is Peak 1 Express. To meet the shuttle, one has to exit on the east side of the terminal through Door 513 then cross over to Island 1 and wait by the sign reading “Mountain Carriers.” Our driver showed up exactly at 1:00 PM and we left the airport in short order, making good time until we passed the Georgetown exit on Interstate 70 when we came to a dead stop for about a half hour. When the westbound traffic started moving again, we soon passed a partially burned out 18-wheeler on the side of the road surrounded by emergency vehicles. I hope no-one was injured in the mishap, which delayed my arrival in Frisco by about 40 minutes. Confusion reigned at first when we passed the AC Hotel and the driver went instead directly to the station about a mile away. From there, I was instructed to exit the van and get in another one for the very short ride back to the hotel. No-one seemed to know why this “Keystone Cops” maneuver was performed, but I arrived at the hotel around 3:40 that afternoon. I reviewed the AC Hotel in Frisco in my post of November 18, 2023 titled Back to the High Country, so I won’t review it again here. After settling in, it was time to visit the family and my daughter-in-law and grandson picked me up for the short ride to Breckenridge where we rendezvoused with my son and granddaughter who had just finished skiing late that afternoon.
Our group soon headed over to the Horseshoe Restaurant on Main Street in the heart of Breckenridge for dinner. We arrived about 6:00 PM, just in time to avoid the crowds, when we had our choice of seating and elected to dine upstairs at a table for six overlooking the entrance and bar below. Within 15 minutes, most seats were taken as it was “first come, first served and they don’t take reservations.” This Mexican-themed restaurant just hit the spot and we enjoyed Chips and Salsa (with a rather addictive Spicy Dip), Burgers, Fries, Chicken and Pork Tacos and tasty Tortilla Soup. The best part was being together and catching up with family. On our return to the hotel, we spotted a moose casually grazing in someone’s front yard. Curious creatures, moose are often seen on social media peering in windows or walking the streets of Breckenridge and this large, lumbering, slow moving animal appeared to be docile and almost tame. But, looks can be deceiving and we knew enough to never try and get near a moose. They are one of the deadliest mammals in North America and will trample a threatening human. We enjoyed the sighting from the safety of our vehicle!
We must’ve had moose on our minds as we decided to have breakfast on Saturday morning at the Blue Moose Restaurant in Breckenridge. They’re well known for serving some of the best breakfast meals in town. A favorite among locals and visitors alike, the café dishes up hearty pancakes and home-style breakfast burritos. We started our day off right by dining in this casual and friendly establishment with its delicious food and top-notch service. Then it was off to the Breckenridge Connect Gondola for the picturesque ride up to Peak 8. The gondola carries up to eight passengers in each pod and covers almost 400 feet of vertical rise and 7,600 feet in around 13 minutes. A 25-foot statue of Ullr, the Norse God of Skiing and Bow Hunting sits at the base of the Peak 8 chairlifts. The statue was funded by Breckenridge Grand Vacations and his official name is “Let it Snow.” Created by Scottish sculptor Andy Scott, it’s made from a wire frame covered in thousands of steel pieces that were then galvanized at an industrial factory for weather resistance. This impressive piece of art stands ready to greet all arriving at Peak 8 while helping to assure a good snow cover.
Following our gondola descent, we toured the Barney Ford House and then went on a walking tour of historic Breckenridge. Barney Ford was born into slavery, escaped captivity and eventually settled in Colorado. An entrepreneur, he became one of the richest men in the state. It was in Breckenridge that Ford had a Victorian home built for his family. Despite the racism he continued to face, he advocated for civil rights and was a respected member of the Breckenridge community. Our walking tour started at the downtown Breckenridge Tourism Office, during which we learned about historic businesses and families and viewed several of the earliest buildings in town, from log cabins to stately residences. Along the way, our docent entertained us with stories about the gold seekers, hardy souls, and socialites who lived in Breckenridge more than a century ago. Family time was on tap for Saturday evening during which time we enjoyed a delicious home-cooked meal.
Sunday afternoon found me on the return Peak 1 Express shuttle back to the Denver Airport, where I spent the night at the Westin Hotel before my return flight to Raleigh on Monday morning. It was another fine weekend of making memories with those we love.
Until next time…safe travels.
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