Camping, Volunteering, Hot Air Balloons, Hot Springs and Big Fucking Pipes. I had Planned to go to Copper Mountain for a music festival. Seemed like the place to sell BFP’s and meet new people. But, I found out that Steamboat Springs was having a Hot Air Balloon Festival the same weekend, not likely to be a great place to sell BFP’s. However, in my Twenties, I worked for a Hot Air Balloon Company in Alaska called Hot Air Affair and I cherish those memories. I decided to take my nephew, Kyle, and his girlfriend with me to Steamboat Springs. I wanted to share this experience with them. I signed us up as Volunteers, to assist in setting up the Hot Air Balloons.

Now, this will be my first trip to Steamboat, so I was Excited. We Camped in the National Forest, just past Dry Lake, and found a beautiful meadow, high in the mountains, with wild flowers everywhere, Picture Perfect. This will be our campsite. As it will become apparent, I have no charger in my beater of a truck, not even a lighter outlet. This will cause some difficulty for me as far as documenting the Trip. After a few hours of sleep, I Wake and Bake and get them up. We mobbed the volunteer tent for doughnuts and got our volunteer t shirts.

filling the envelope

I got to crew with a group from Boulder. My Nephew and his girlfriend helped a couple different Balloonist set theirs up. I love the feel of the Hot blasts of heat as the Balloon is lifted into position. Like opening a raku kiln and being hit by the heat. Once sent aloft we gathered up and I took them to the river so they could fish and I would go do sales in town.

Steamboat Springs is not like Denver, There are not head shops and Dispensaries everywhere. a few that were listed were closed but the Good People at RMR guided me to other establishments in town that I was unaware of. One being two doors down, the Y-Not Shop at 2730 Downhill Plaza #101 Steamboat Springs 80487. I talked with Alex, who manned the shop and he sent me to the Owner, Eric. who was operating the Y-Not Wagon, a local food truck with Delicious Cheesesteak Sandwiches, which I highly recommend.
I worked my way towards town, finding the Sand Gallery, Inc at 1104 Lincoln Ave.#105A where I met JJ, the co owner. When I walked in, JJ was helping a group of three. I waited and Explained my Purpose. He was happy to see what I had. I think I blew him away when he saw the BFP. One of the customers, a young hot blonde, wanted the Blue Camo BFP right away. so I sold it to her. I tried to take her picture but was having battery and Memory issues. I’ll regret this later, because I love to Post pics of people with BFP’s, Big Fucking Pipes. As they leave I keep the conversation going and tell another person in the store that if he wants, we can smoke one I have in the truck. (all ready been used). He takes me up on the offer and I follow him to his vehicle to drop off his skateboard. I asked him if he had any friends he wanted to smoke with. A Pipe this big needs Friends.

fishing the yampa river

After my sales calls, I met up with Kyle and to my surprise they have a few Huge Rainbow trouts and a Brown trout in the bucket. Looks like dinner is going to be Trout. I can’t express the happiness that they had catching them, but he was reluctant to cook the 19 inch rainbow only because he wanted to show it to his dad. “Not possible, better take pictures”, I said. knowing he’s not going to eat it. His girlfriend ate both of hers to my surprise, 16 inch rainbow and brown trout. I had some corn on the cob before starting on the trout. I thought I could eat a potato afterwards. I was wrong. Full.
The Next morning started late. Feels good to sleep in. I decided that I wanted to spend the day at the Hot Springs relaxing in the warm water. With the sales of BFP’s I could afford to take us all. Nestled in a valley that gets constant sun, surrounded by forest, alongside a slow moving river, the scene was set. Soaking in the water was so relaxing. We made regular trips to various areas to smoke. I did get a bit light headed from the hot water and had to find relief in the form of a large snow cone, sold on site.
As for the wild life, We lived it. But we experienced all sorts, most memorable were the two Moose. but we saw Elk, deer, a fox and kits, porcupine, marmot, chipmunks, rabbit, squirrels, snakes, butterflies, and the like. Overall I had a Blast. Looking forward to returning.