Our Accidental Odyssey

A few highlights from a BIG month! California Kickoff We started August with a quick trip out to California to celebrate Marc’s grandparents’ anniversary. While there, Marc made sure Caitlin tried the famous specials at Joe Jost’s , dipped our toes in the Pacific Ocean at Newport Beach (a first for Caitlin), watched local surfers catch a few waves, and of course snag a breakfast burrito before heading out.          

What is RAGBRAI?  RAGBRAI (Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa) is the world’s largest multi-day recreational bike ride, attracting thousands of cyclists each summer. Over seven days, riders travel anywhere 400–500 miles from the Missouri River to the Mississippi, crossing Iowa, enjoying local food, live music, and the fellowship with fellow cyclists. It's a rolling festival that happens to include an endurance challenge, providing an unforgettable way to experience Iowa’s beauty and community spirit. The 2025 ride, taking place July 20–26, marked Caitlin’s second time participating and Marc’s first, spanning approximately 420 miles, starting in Orange City and finishing in Guttenberg. Day 0 - Saturday, July 19: Guttenberg to Orange City Our adventure began before we even climbed on the bike. Marc parked the car for the week, and we loaded the bus—duffels and all—for the five-hour trek across Iowa. A gusty rainstorm greeted us, soaking both us and our bags before we ...

First Pitch at Coors Field We kicked off the trip with the Colorado Rockies game — Caitlin’s very first Major League Baseball experience — starting with $3 beers at the Coors Field Rooftop before the first pitch. The sun dipped low over the stadium, the crowd buzzing as the game began.     Flavors of Golden An afternoon in Golden, Colorado brought a surprise highlight: incredible Nepalese cuisine that was bursting with flavor and far beyond expectations.   Music Under the Stars at Red Rocks As night fell, we made our way to Red Rocks Amphitheatre for Watchhouse and The Avett Brothers . The iconic natural amphitheater glowed under stage lights, the acoustics ringing clear into the cool, unexpected mountain evening . The forecast had threatened rain, but instead, the night was perfect — crisp, electric, and unforgettable.      

  Rest Day in Glenwood Springs We left Echo Park in the morning, heading toward Glenwood Springs. Along the way, we hiked up a small hill overlooking the town to visit Doc Holliday’s grave—the exact location remains lost to time, but a monument stands in his honor.  The afternoon was spent soaking in the hot springs at Iron Mountain, charcuterie and drinks in hand, while marmots darted in and out of the flowerbeds.         By evening, we made our way into the park to our campsite at Timber Creek. Before heading to camp, we explored Alpine Ridge Road and some of the high alpine trails, spotting a massive elk on the way back.          When we finally pulled into our site, we found it already occupied—by two young moose. We asked a couple of fellow campers to clear the spot so we could unpack, but the moose didn’t seem to mind our presence and eventually wandered off into the trees.            Ro...