Wednesday Weekly September 12: Flying to Colorado for a Wedding

This adventure was a bit different than my other adventures. I pushed past my hate of flying to fly out to Colorado for a wedding.

Earlier last week, I changed oil on my car.

Silver Ford Focus with hood open in parking lot showing engine compartment, with Texas license plate visible

That was good because it started to rain on and off after that.

View through window screen of heavy rainfall during storm with trees and apartment buildings visible in background

Victoria and I skipped our Friday lunch date. She was skipping lunch so she could get done earlier so we'd be in time for our flight. I went to Jimmy John's for lunch by myself.

Italian submarine sandwich on white paper wrapper with layered meats, cheese, and vegetables on hoagie roll

When we left for the airport, the weather proved to be a bit bipolar.

Wet residential street after rain with trees lining both sides under partly cloudy blue sky, view from car windshield Rainy highway driving view through windshield showing wet pavement and truck ahead with speed limit sign visible Highway construction zone with traffic and orange barrels, green overhead signs for San Marcos visible ahead

We made it to the airport with plenty of time to explore.

Woman with red suitcase standing in Level 2N airport parking garage next to white Hyundai sedan Austin airport terminal interior showing Second Bar + Kitchen restaurant sign, escalators, and travelers with luggage

For supper, we got some good Tex-Mex at Maudie's.

Maudie's Tex-Mex restaurant entrance in airport terminal with orange signage and travelers passing by Taco salad in edible tortilla bowl shell topped with seasoned ground beef, shredded cheese, sour cream, and tomatoes

After a little waiting, we were on the plane to Denver. The night came upon us and it got much cooler.

View through airplane window at dusk showing Southwest Airlines wing and American Airlines plane at gate Aerial night view from airplane window showing scattered lights of suburban development below Weather app screenshot showing Austin, Texas at 80°F with thunderstorm forecast and 30% rain chance in evening Weather app screenshot showing Denver, Colorado at 64°F with clear skies and Hurricane Florence news alert

The Denver airport is much bigger than Austin. We ended up having to take a train to baggage claim and then a bus to the car rental place.

Long airport corridor with white walls, recessed lighting, and travelers walking with luggage ahead Denver airport train platform with automated train doors open and Coffee Bean advertisement visible Interior of Denver airport train car with standing passengers holding handrails during commute Denver airport arrival area with large digital Welcome to Denver screen showing city skyline and host Nighttime view of Denver airport bus and shuttle pickup area with covered loading zone Enterprise Rent-A-Car sign illuminated at night in Denver airport ground transportation area with traveler passing by

We got our rental car and then headed to the DoubleTree hotel.

Gray Nissan Altima rental car parked at night in hotel parking lot with Enterprise signage visible in background Night view from car windshield of wide empty highway with street lights and distant buildings on horizon DoubleTree by Hilton hotel entrance illuminated at night with covered driveway and shuttle van visible

The next morning on Saturday was cold for Texas standards. I decided to rock out the CILU hoodie my buddy Ryan gave to me in Canada.

Weather app screenshot showing Denver, Colorado at 51°F sunny with forecast and Hurricane Florence news alert Back view of person wearing black hoodie with CILU 102.7fm radio station logo and broadcast tower design in hotel room mirror

We got up and went to breakfast at Rosie's Diner. This is one of Victoria's dad's favorite places to eat. I had the Whole Lotta Skillet. Being that we only got a few hours of sleep, I made sure to also drink a lot of coffee.

Rosie's Diner exterior with red striped awnings and outdoor patio seating in parking lot on clear day White ceramic coffee mug with Rosie's Diner Aurora, CO logo featuring retro car design, filled with black coffee on red table Breakfast hash bowl with two fried eggs on top of potatoes, peppers, and vegetables served on white plate

After breakfast, Victoria's brother Michael had to get his suit hemmed. We went to Men's Wearhouse in this shopping center. There was a no skateboarding sign. I can see why they did that because the shopper center looked straight out of a Tony Hawk video game.

Red and white sign prohibiting rollerskating, rollerblading, skateboarding, or bicycles on sidewalk mounted on beige wall Aurora City Place shopping center with clock tower, Barnes & Noble store, and red sports car in parking lot on sunny day Street light pole with two Aurora City Place banners featuring colorful geometric design against blue sky Aurora City Place directory kiosk with map showing shopping center layout and store locations on pedestrian walkway Aurora City Place shopping street with parked cars, decorative planters, and brick storefronts on clear day

For lunch, we all met up with Victoria's aunt and uncle at Wood Paddle Pizza and Tap.

Strip mall storefront with Pizza sign and Now Open Ward Paddle Pizza & Tap banner advertising new business

Once we ate, it was time to go back to the hotel for a nap. The nap went fast and we were soon at the wedding venue.

Two-story municipal or civic building with modern architecture, glass tower entrance, American flag, and landscaped entrance on sunny day

The wedding went off well, but ended relatively early. We headed to the liquor store to get some drinks. I got some Dry Dock beer. This is brewed right in Aurora and something I got last time.

Dawn or dusk view of building exterior with dramatic cloudy sky, American flag, and parking lot lights illuminated Liquor store at night with illuminated sign, Bud Light pricing banner, and neon Open signs in windows with car parked outside Six-pack of Dry Dock Brewing Company Amber Ale cans with vintage label design arranged on light wood table

Victoria, Michael, and her aunt and uncle all came to our room and we sat around and talked for a while. At about 10:30pm, Michael left to fly back to Florida. Her aunt and uncle went to their rooms. We passed out after a long day.

The next morning came fast. In a way it was disappointing we had to leave because I was loving the views of the mountains.

Elevated view of suburban residential neighborhood with parking lot, multi-family housing units, and trees under cloudy sky Distant view of Rocky Mountains with hazy atmospheric conditions visible over suburban rooftops and trees

We decided to have an easy breakfast at McDonald's. We drove there and Victoria's aunt and uncle followed.

View from car windshield of tree-lined suburban road with traffic under overcast sky with dramatic cloud formations McDonald's restaurant exterior with brown facade, yellow striped awnings, outdoor patio with red umbrellas, and parked cars under blue sky McDonald's breakfast tray with Egg McMuffin in yellow wrapper, burrito, hash brown, and promotional materials on counter

After breakfast, we said our goodbyes and headed back to the airport.

Woman with sunglasses driving rental car with park and trees visible through passenger window on sunny day Straight rural highway through open prairie landscape with rolling hills under blue sky with wispy clouds, view from windshield Highway view approaching 95th Avenue exit with blue directional sign for rental car return, shuttle parking, gas, food, and cell phone lot Denver International Airport terminal building with distinctive white tensile fabric roof structure visible from highway Blue airport shuttle bus number 12 at covered terminal stop with driver standing outside and directional signage visible Crowded Denver airport security checkpoint area with distinctive white fabric ceiling and travelers waiting in TSA lines Large airport mural depicting stylized Colorado landscape with plateaus, canyons, agricultural fields, and desert vegetation in yellow and green tones Closed stainless steel airport train doors with blurred reflection and window view Interior of Denver airport train car with standing passengers holding handrails during commute Airport gate sign showing Gate C36 with Austin destination displayed in red LED text and Greeley tourism advertisement below Gate window view of Southwest Airlines plane at jet bridge with ground service vehicles on sunny tarmac

We decided to sit in the way back of the plane. This flight was much more turbulent than the last flight coming to Denver. Being that it was during the day, we did get some good views out the window.

Interior view down Southwest Airlines aircraft cabin aisle showing passengers boarding and blue striped seats with safety information cards View from airplane window showing ground crew worker in orange vest walking on tarmac with Southwest tail visible and terminal building Airplane window view during takeoff showing rural farmland with scattered buildings, trees, and fields below Aerial view from airplane window showing Southwest wing over flat agricultural landscape with roads and sparse development below Airplane window view of thick white cloud layer with blue sky above during flight Airplane window view showing scattered clouds over green landscape with visible roads and development patterns below

We were the last ones off the plane, but it was nice to be back in Austin. It was still as rainy as when we left it.

Empty Southwest Airlines cabin interior showing rows of seats with seatback screens and flight attendant standing in aisle under blue accent lighting Highway view from windshield showing threatening dark storm clouds approaching over road with sparse traffic and buildings visible ahead

Right now it's still raining on and off. It looks like rain is in the forecast for the foreseeable future. This trip was the last major trip I had planned. I'm starting to put things in full gear for being back in Austin. I've started to apply for more jobs and clearing my calendar to start steady work again. There's definitely a lot more to come, and I plan to explore Central Texas a lot more. Stay tuned!

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