Colorado Chronicles : Granby

See that photo up there^^^? That's what I'm talkin' about ! That is Lake Granby,near Granby, CO, about 85 west of Denver. I have been there and as beautiful as this picture is, it still doesn't do justice to what is shown. In person Lake Granby is even more visually stunning. Imagine that if you can. At 7935 feet high in the Rockies and home to a touch over 1500 lucky people, Granby is in one of the most scenic locales in the world. The town was founded in 1904 by a  lawyer named Hilyer Granby and was incorporated in 1905. As you have probably surmised by now, in the summer months there are numerous outdoor activities to take advantage of and some oustanding places to visit while you're in Granby. Just beacause Old Man Winter makes his annual trek through the Rockies, doesn't mean you have to be stranded inside for several months. Au contraire, podnuh. Granby is just a hop, skip and a jump from some of the best snow skiing in the world at Winter Park. Towns like Granby are just one of several thousand reasons I'd live in a small town over the city any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

Maine Minutiae : Hallowell (Home of 2 New Fishin' Holes)

Hallowell Classical and Scientific Academy, 1882 (courtesy vintagemaineimages.com)

I was in Hallowell yesterday. Actually, I was at the reservoir there watching the wife and kids do some swimming. Add to that, the fact that I found a new fishin' hole and it was a good day. Not bad for an 11.6 mile round trip. Hallowell was first settled in 1762 by Deacon Pease Clark, his wife and son Peter on what is now Water Street in downtown Hallowell. As far as commerce in early Hallowell, Wikipedia informs us : "Thriving industries included shipbuilding (between 1783 and 1901, 50 ships were launched from Hallowell's wharves), trading, publishing and logging. Two grist mills, five sawmills and two slaughterhouses served the needs of residents near and far." Of course being on the banks of the Kennebec River played a large role in these businesses. Augusta was considered part of Hallowell until 1797 when it became its own city. Today Hallowell is home to artisans, musicians and folks who've lived their entire lives there. Ooooooooooooohhhhhh...I am almost forgot that while looking up stuff for this post, I found this old granite quarry. I just might have thoroughly investigate whether or not any species of the piscatorial variety inhabit that water.

Texas Tidbits : Texas Monthly's Top 10 Hiking Trails (For Tim F.)

With 267,000 square miles to explore, it makes sense that Texas would have some great places to take a hike. And it does. Today we'll take a look at Texas Monthly Magazine's choices for the Top 10 hiking trails in the Lone Star State. Before getting started, I'd like to dedicate this post to a long-time friend, Tim F., who recently had some major heart surgery. Tim, I know you have two speeds - full tilt boogie and asleep - so I offer to you these places to get some rehab in, since a large part of your rehab is walking. Tim, these are ten of the best places in Texas to walk! So, get walkin', Mister! :) These trails stretch  from the Davis Mountains in Far West Texas to my personal favorite The Big Thicket in Southeast Texas. (Village Creek in the Big Thicket is one of the hidden jewels of Texas fishing. Trust me on this. I have fished there hundreds of times. It's Top 10 worthy itself). With all that said I'll send you off to Texas Monthly's website to get the full story. Tim...click this link !