We left on Christmas morning heading to Golden Colorado and spent the night in Durango. The weather was good and we enjoyed the trip through the mountains and high desert. We enjoyed being in Durango again but it had changed a lot in the last 20 years. On Boxing day we drove to Golden through the mountains and the weather was good. The mountain roads were winding but clear and we spent most of the trip in a large flat valley with straight roads and good views of the snowcapped mountains around us. There was only one place where driving was challenging. After we left Durango we headed over Wolf Creek pass with the Wolf Creek Ski Area at its peak. The road up was steep and winding with a lot of traffic and when we reached the top there was snow and ice on the road. The traffic thinned out but the road was icy part of the way down and that was not fun on winding roads with steep drop-offs. (That which doesn't kill you, makes you stronger.) We arrived in Golden to a cordial welcome by Steve and Laura, their daughter Kate, her husband Brian and their son, George. We are staying at Kate's house since they have plenty of rooms. I say rooms but each room is pretty much like a hotel suite including a bathroom. The last time we were in Golden, for Kate and Brian's wedding, the home where we are staying was just an empty poured concrete basement. Brian, a plumber, has done a wonderful job building this 4-story home with a lookout on top surrounded by their 2 rentals in downtown Goden. After settling in a bit, we took a walk along Clear Creek before returning for the night. Needless to say it will be a very comfortable visit with great company. It just so happens that my step-cousin was visiting his daughter at the same time just north of Golden and we thought we could meet but we are just going to be too busy.