Gudy Run with MtnRunner

This past weekend held absolutely beautiful weather so I decided to head out for a run with friend MtnRunner. We did 8 miles (to the mini waterfall on Beaver Brook and back) and it felt wonderful. I had been feeling under the weather the night before and almost bailed on him. I slept most of the day and had a great breakfast; it definitely paid off. I felt great most of the run although the ups had me huffing and puffing like an asthmatic. Whatever I had felt myself coming down with the night before I believe I kicked it's ass during this run.

Argos, as always, was super excited to see MtnRunner. As we headed back from Beaver Brook I was tempted to keep running more miles but we had a dinner date with friends planned and didn't want to make us late (I'm notorious for this).

See MtnRunner's write up and awesome pics here.

Cowboy's friends had invited us into the mountains to their home in Wundervu for dinner. Argos was invited along to play with their two white German Shepherds. We all piled into the car (after scrubbing off the layers of salt and sweat) and headed west. Wondervu was so gorgeous, wow. As we pulled off the main highway onto a nearly 4WD dirt road I knew I was going to love this area. Cowboy insisted I drive since he had been to this house before and knew I would love driving the crazy dirt road.

We crested over a big hill and there lay a view that made my jaw drop. Mountains, snow capped and looming, a big green lush valley dotted with an occasional glass-sided house. Cowboy's friends were super nice and the food was delicious. I snapped a few pics off their balcony and of Argos hanging with his friends.

 Friends!!!

Imagine waking up to this every. single. morning. Sigh....

One thing I noticed was that as soon as I walked into their house and to the back wall of windows my jaw dropped with the view. I asked both the husband and then the wife, "Do you know what mountains all those are?" pointing to the panorama in front of me. My brain was buzzing, overloaded with the running/hiking possibilities.

They both admitted they had no idea what mountains were what. "We have a picture map somewhere of it all," they said. I was floored. No offense meant, but how the heck could you live in this enormous beauty of an area and not know what you are looking at as you sip your coffee early in the morning?

I, for sure, would know every peak and valley!

To give them a little credit, I recall living at the beach during college. The first time I moved there I was in awe of the area and the beauty of the beach. I drove there pretty much every single day, sometimes twice, to just walk or sit and watch the sunset. After a year or two I still enjoyed the beach but the "glow" and excitement of it all started to fade and it became:

Friend: You live at the beach?!!! How awesome!!

Me: Eh, yeah it's cool. It's the beach....

I took it for granted and it lost it's glamour. The trips to the beach started to just make me think of all the tourist activity and annoyances. 

Maybe this is where Cowboy's friends were at. Also, I realize I see things a bit differently as a trail runner. The world is my playground, where as many people don't venture into this land for more than just a short walk.  I will let them off the hook just this once:)