The Summer of Travel (2025 Edition)
This summer was filled with beautiful views and remote work from the mountains to the sea. We were only home three weekends between Father's Day and the last day of summer! From living in Fraser for a month to rafting Utah's remote canyons, Montana family time to music festivals, we packed it all in.
Fraser Living in June
I kicked off the summer by moving up to Fraser for the entire month of June. I brought the zoo (two dogs and a cat) with me. The Fraser River Trail became my daily escape, with gorgeous views and warning signs about a local moose. We got a new singletrack trail too, which made the mountain biking even better. Those Fraser sunsets never get old.
Father's Day Golf and Family Time
Father's Day weekend brought the fam together for a hike and some gorgeous golf at Pole Creek. The kids got me a "Best Dad Ever" t-shirt that made me a little emotional. Pole Creek really does have the best views with Byers Peak in the background.
Ruby Horsethief Canyon
Rafting season began with a trip to Ruby Horsethief Canyon on the Colorado River. The first day was beautiful with stunning red rock canyons and perfect conditions. The second day? The worst day of rafting ever. The winds were so strong we and many others had to stop for an hour or more. It took us 8 hours to go 8 miles. Next time, I'll bring a motor.
Blues From The Top
Blues From The Top in Winter Park brought the music and the wildflowers. Daisy was in her element—literally in the daisies. Trish's Dad visited, and we enjoyed hanging out all weekend listening to blues at elevation. The stage setup with the mountain backdrop is hard to beat.
Montana for the 4th of July
We loaded up our suburban and drove to Montana for the entire month of July. My parents' place was home base, and we had 15 people celebrating the 4th together. Abbie and Gracie even marched in the Condon parade!
We explored Holland Lake with views of the Mission and Swan Mountains, hit up Glacier Park from the north, and generally soaked up The Last Best Place.
Pirates at the Pumphouse
The annual Pirates at the Pumphouse rafting trip on the Colorado River is always a highlight. Chris's pirate ship never disappoints, and Captain Mama Tried was in full effect. Great friends, epic river, unforgettable times.
Rhythms on the Rio and BusCamp
Stout the Syncro made it to Del Norte for Rhythms on the Rio and BusCamp. This year they added a community lounge, which we immediately put to good use. The VW scene came out in force, and the music was stellar. Ed, Karen, Bridget, and the Professor joined us for the weekend. Nothing beats good community, excellent music, and tasty beer along the Rio Grande.
Parker Brewfest
I volunteered at the Parker Brewfest with Erich and Ryan for A Bit Twisted in early August. Nothing like serving great beer to happy people all day. Cheers!
Cape Cod and Maine
Next up: the East Coast. We headed to Cape Cod where Trish was in her happy place on the water. We celebrated Joe's birthday at New Seabury, spent happy hours on the Spit, and then moved on to Little Sebago Lake in Maine. Completely different vibe from Colorado, but that's exactly why we love it. Have water? We'd like to visit!
Desolation Canyon
This was the big one: a five-day raft trip through Desolation Canyon on the Green River in Utah. We had a wet start but the new motor on the boys' boat was smooth as silk. The weather turned beautiful on day two and stayed that way. We found old homesteads in the middle of nowhere, the Swifties serenaded us, Starlink even worked on the river (of course it did), and the breakfast crew kept us well-fed. Dawn, Erik, Chris, and the whole gang made it unforgettable. This is the kind of trip that reminds you what really matters.
Billy Idol at Red Rocks
We returned from rafting and went straight to Red Rocks the next night for Billy Idol. Trish and Jen are huge fans, and Red Rocks always delivers.
Las Vegas - Jack Turns 21!
We headed to Vegas to celebrate Jack's 21st birthday in style. We gifted him five laps in a Lamborghini at Dream Racing on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Trish got behind the wheel of a sweet 911, and watching Jack drive that Lambo around the track was pure joy. Vegas Birthday Crew for the win!
Smalltown for the Cause - Salida
The Professor and Laura joined us for Smalltown for the Cause in Salida. We stayed at a very convenient Airbnb a 1/2 block from the venue. The bluegrass was excellent!
Fall in Fraser
As summer wound down, we made it back to Fraser to catch the fall colors. The leaves were peaking in Winter Park with a fresh dusting of snow on the mountain. The mountain sunsets kept delivering right through October.
Jack even got a job working Broncos games for ESPN. We spotted him on TV within the first few minutes of the broadcast!
Looking back, I'm exhausted just thinking about it all. But that's the thing about summer, you have to make the most of it while it lasts. We certainly did. Our rigs got plenty of miles, the dogs got plenty of adventures, and we made memories that'll last a lifetime.
I hope you get a chance to enjoy fall, football, and the Halloween season! 🎃
You can see the full photo album about our Summer of Travel on Flickr.