Well 2022 has been a bit of a mega year for me, and now it is coming to a close I thought I would resume writing about the last 12 months as a way of looking back/reflecting and also gearing up for 2023.
Obviously this year has been dominated by the move to Colorado at the very tail-end of 2021. You would think 12 months is enough time to settle but given it took so long for furniture and my belongings to arrive, I only really felt settled in my apartment in June/July so it does not feel like a whole year for me at all.
Within two weeks of moving into my apartment, we had the extremely unusual Louisville fire which results in 1000+ homes/properties being destroyed and me having to be evacuated in the first 2 weeks of moving in. Thankfully, I was right on the edge of the evacuation zone so it was only one night away for me, but I remember watching the news then suddenly being able to see the flames and not just smoke from the balcony. At the moment I saw the flames, the Code Red SMS came through and it was off to the 1st Bank Center (an arena) as a shelter until got the green light. In the end it was decided the 1st Bank Center was not to be an overnight shelter so I ended up booking myself into the Aloft Hotel for an evening and we got the green light to return the next morning.
January 2022
After the stressful introduction with the fire, it was time to start exploring and I decided what better way to get into the Colorado spirit than to go to the National Western Stock Show and the Rodeo finals? I had gone far too early so spent the whole day at the Stock Show which is essentially stalls of loads of cowboy gear and them showing (competitions) cattle, alpaca, llamas and all-sorts! The food was good though so after becoming an Alpaca expert it was then time to hit the Rodeo which was pretty spectacular. The Rodeo finals was in an indoor arena and was packed out, I got to see the world’s best bull riders, rodeo, some incredible horsemanship in sprints and cowboys grabbing and tying cows. Of course some get a bit tetchy about these sorts of things online these days but all this is deep-rooted Western America culture and I loved every minute of it.
In addition to the old-style Western culture, I had to start exploring what Colorado is known for today and that’s open spaces, hikes and mountains so I kicked off trekking some of the Flatirons mountains routes. I thought my boots would be enough and was wondering why everybody else was walking so confidently whilst I was like Bambi even with boots on – I then saw somebody putting on their crampons (had never heard of them until that day) and I loaded up the Amazon basket straight away!
I did also get to my first Denver sports match going to see the Denver Nuggets in the NBA, a great experience and I have been enjoying watching the NBA on TV again – another one of Papa Kroenke’s sports teams. Also, the local library has free passes to things closeby so the first thing I hit up was the Broomfield Butterfly sanctuary, pretty cool, but not something I would have wanted to fork out dosh for!
February 2022
Into February and I still did not have a sofa and my things still had not been delivered from the UK, but I had a bed and a TV so was all good from my perspective (at that point anyway). February was all about getting myself sorted, so I joined a running club in Boulder, which was high on the priority list given I had not run for quite a while with the move (and Rona). Then really my focus was getting a car/license sorted. The car market was an absolute nightmare and being on a visa with under 3 years left made it complicated also. I managed to order a brand new motor and it arrived at the end of February. The only problem was that gave me 3 weeks to practice in the US when I could legally drive on my UK license, and pass the test by the 4th of March. I went ahead and booked my test for the 4th March so I had no choice, thankfully I had already passed the painfully easy written test (I wish I had no bothered revising so much).
What didn’t help was that 3 weeks was already cut to two because I had booked a week away in California to go and see a few Islanders games – San Jose Sharks, LA Kings and Anaheim Ducks.
My first US domestic trip was amazing though, the weather was superb in San Jose where I stayed first and I hiked up and around the Hollywood sign. We lost our first game against the Sharks in a shootout after a 3-3 draw.
Then it was onto Los Angeles for me where we got a shoe-in, beaten 5-2. Still, was great to spend some time in downtown LA and go to see Sunset Boulevard and spend some time on LA beaches.
My final stage of the trip was to Anaheim to see Isles vs the Ducks and I met up with an Islanders fans meetup there before the game which was great and meant was sat by a load of Islanders fans. We gave the Ducks a beating 4-0 which topped off the trip perfectly. 3 more pucks for the display after 3 more teams ticked off for the Islanders (A). Now it was back to Colorado as the Islanders were playing the Colorado Avalanche in Denver.
I did also manage to squeeze a great Curling lesson into February too back in Colorado which was very cool, but I don’t think I will be heading for the olympics anytime soon.
March 2022
Into March and first thing was to see the Islanders defeated by the Avalanche (owned by Big Stan Kroenke) who would eventually go onto win the Stanley Cup in May.
My major priority though, was to pass this driving test or it would have caused all sorts of problems and expense for me. Thankfully, it was the easiest thing ever, 20 minutes of driving – no manoeuvres like the UK test. The only challenging thing on the test was a tiny roundabout, I had not seen or driven on a roundabout in the US but thankfully I remembered to join it turning right and not left! I passed with 1 minor so I was good to go! Now with a car and a license I could start to properly explore this huge, amazing state of Colorado!
First thing was for me to check out the Garden of the Gods and walk up the Manitou Incline (2768 steps). The Garden of Gods is spectacular and I ended up going back when the folks came in April also. The Manitou incline is 2768 steps at 6,400ft of elevation so tough on the legs and lungs, but I had been back at running club for a bit by then so it was not as bad as it could have been. I clocked it in about an hour and that was chilling out pace really, so I am looking forward to tackling it again in 2023 and chopping that time down.
I also got to Fort Collins to hike around the amazing Horsetooth reservoir and I was blown away by how amazing the state is, always with the glorious sunshine regardless if warm or not. It was absolutely true what they said about Colorado, strangest weather ever, always sunny and even when it belts down with snow… due to the altitude and strength of the sun, it can all disappear in half a day.
April 2022
I continued to try and get to as many hikes and locations as I could, and Lookout Mountain (along with the resting place of Buffalo Bill) was first up in April. I also got to the old mining town of Idaho Springs and hiked up a Glacier in snowmageddon which was cool (if not terrifying).
I started running in mid 2018 and Parkrun was a big part of me catching the bug. However, due to Rona it took me an age to get to 50, but in April I snapped up my 50 finally at South Boulder Creek Parkrun. I would be at a lot more but unfortunately my running club’s long run is a Saturday morning and not Sunday (should be illegal). I don’t anticipate getting to 100 in 2023, no chance in fact with marathon training I will be needing to be on all of the Rev Runners long runs – maybe after the marathon when I won’t want to race ever again, I can switch back to the 5k Saturday parkrun.
Denver (or surrounding) has pretty much all the US Sports so I’d been to Avalanche, Denver Nuggets and now it was time to tick off the Colorado Rapids (football/soccer). The stadium was pretty cool to be honest but I have never really been a fan of going to watch football with teams I have no interest in (anybody other than The Arsenal or Wales basically), so whilst it was a good game and great stadium… I was bored and it isn’t helped by the fact I loathe how football is supported in the US.
May 2022
Firstly, May was a momentous month… because the sofa I bought in December arrived woo hoo! I could now sit and chill out watching TV and not on kitchen counter stools. I started the month with a really good race the Denver Colfax Urban 10 miler which was 10 miles through Denver which was very cool and I think I would like to do that marathon at some point.
The big May activity was the first visit of my folks for a few weeks. I was buzzing for this so could show them about, see new places and also they had both turned 60 this year (February and April) and it had just passed their 40th wedding anniversary (Ruby). Whilst they were here I did surprise them with trips to Vegas and also Mt Princeton Springs but more on that in a bit.
We went to Estes Park and the Rocky Mountain National Park but my folks are not hikers so we drove through it and stopped at loads of points to take photos of the Elk etc. We spent some time in the town Estes Park and had lunch and a few drinks before heading back. As well as the trips and sightseeing, just hanging around the pool, using the grills and going to all the local pubs for live music was just epic and the whole visit was brilliant start to finish.
However, it was time for our first trip, to Las Vegas for their 40th anniversary present. We stayed at the MGM and hit many of the standard sort of attractions like the fountains at the Bellagio, Mirage volcano etc. The folks went on the Gondolas at the Venetian and we all came up winners in roulette at New York New York. Fair play to my mother, she reluctantly went on the New York, New York rollercoaster and she still claims to be traumatised by it now (December 2022). We also went to Freemont St which was incredible (I had not been the last time I went to Vegas), I recommend it to everybody going to Vegas.
After a tiring few days in Vegas it was back to Colorado and to go to a few of the major sights near me. We went to the Garden of the Gods and spend time in Manitou and also went to the Cliff Dwellings site which was pretty cool.
On my birthday I had the Bolder Boulder 10k race which my folks came to watch, it was a beautiful day and amazing race with 10’s of thousands of runners. As it was memorial day the finish line was in the CU Buffaloes stadium and they had an epic flyover during the anthem. We rounded off a great birthday by going to Benihaha’s for Teppanyaki.
Denver does not rain much, but we had the Baseball cancelled twice on us, but we did manage to get there in the end, the sport is boring as shit but it was a great day/night out, we were pretty sloshed. I was looking forward to going to the Country Music famous venue The Grizzly Rose and we got a taxi there, but despite being 60yrs old they would not let us in because my folks did not have photo ID! Madness, I was FUMING but we have said it will be the first thing we do next time they come.
The last surprise for the folks was a trip to Mt Princeton Springs resort up in the Colorado mountains. This spectacular place has natural springs and many pools on a resort up in the mountains. The drive there was bizarre, I said it would be scorching so we all packed for summer, but on the drive there we encountered rain, snowmageddon and thankfully when we arrived it was blazing hot! The pools were amazing but I got sunburnt on the first day which was not ideal, I have not burnt since, I learnt my lesson! The on-site restaurant was incredible and we took a trip out to St Elmo Ghost town, a deserted old Western style town. My old man and I did try our hand at mountain biking but the route she said was easy turned out to be a bit of a cliff nightmare! I once turned back to see my father laying down in the bushes after he had come off! First and last time we did that, that’s for sure.
Too many other great moments out and about to mention, but one I must is the Royal Gorge Railroad trip we took which was unbelievable. The weather was again amazing so we were in the outdoor cart the whole time and the scenery was breathtaking.
Many drinks, great meals, great laughs, days and nights out and I cannot wait until they visit again in 2023!
June 2022
The end of June brought a miracle, my belongings arriving which was amazing. My bike, my computers and just my sentimental things from travels meant my apartment finally felt like my home. I did have a few casualties from the trip which I got repaired but all in all, I was just buzzing to finally have it all – over 7 months since it was packed in Norfolk, England!
I kicked off my June by going to a Standley Lake sunset canoeing event which was great, I love Standley Lake so to get out there on a canoe at sunset was pretty epic. Other than that June was fairly quiet after the folks left, mainly running and lazing by the pool – the Colorado summers are absolutely blinding.
July 2022
I really ramped up the summer hikes in July including Flagstaff, Sanitas and a few others. I also got free tickets to go to Denver Zoo, the place is enormous!
It was also my first independence day in the US (4th July), always slightly awkward for a Brit but I went to the Erie fireworks display which was pretty cool, they did not skimp here in the US on their fireworks displays!
August 2022
August was a brilliant month as I headed to Mexico to see one of my oldest and best friends (Craig) get married in Playa Del Carmen (to Nai). It was a great time, the trip and the wedding day itself, I was proud to be asked to perform best man duties again. The resort was great and it was great company with a lot of laughs.
Due to Covid, I had not been able to keep up my 5-7 new countries a year, and with the move now I doubt that will be possible given I need time off to go back and for folks to come here etc. Still, Mexico was my only +1 new country in 2022 making it 54. After the wedding, I headed to Tulum to do some exploring and it did not disappoint. I went on a mountain bike tour of Cenotes, went to see the archaeological ruins in Tulum as well as trips to Chichen Itza and the Sian Ka’an biosphere which was spectacular!
September 2022
In what was promising to be a big season for the Broncos, I was buzzing when I snapped up a ticket to the opener. Broncos won the game but it was uninspiring (spoiler alert, they were shit for the rest of the season) but the pre-game tailgate in the baking sun was worth it on its own. I continued to hit as many new hikes as I can ticking off the 3 lakes Hessie, Lost Lake, Jasper and Devil’s thumb. I was pretty ill for a lot of September to be honest, after I came back from Mexico I was whacked by a virus I have never experienced ever, was totally wiped out with a fever, I was close to calling 911 one night!
October 2022
Most of October was back in the UK for a work trip. The day after I landed it was the North London Derby which was an epic day from start to finish (and also the cracking meal the night before in the Pig and Butcher London). The Arsenal won 3-1 and quite frankly it was an absolute walk in the park!
After that I headed to the East of England to the office and also the spend time with my 3 x Godsons. Managed to sneak an few drinks in with Lee on one evening and was great to spend time with everybody back in Norfolk. Then it was to Birmingham to meet my folks and spend a weekend in my apartment there, we went out for a meal and had a good few drinks.
Onto Wales, to spend some quality time at home with the family and see my niece and nephew. Was especially great to see how much Dougie had come on playing for Cam and Cardiff City academy, incredible to be able to watch him train and play. Craig and Nai wedding pt 2 in Cheltenham was another pit stop on my whistlestop tour of the UK, and it was a cracking night, very boozy but a brilliant way to catch up with the great people I’d spent the wedding pt 1 in Mexico with and meet all the rest of the family/friends.
After working from Wales it was back to Brum for a quick pit stop then back to the East of England for work. I got to do Run Norwich and catch-up with friends from Norwich and then it was a few days off to Eindhoven for The Arsenal (A). My last event of the east England trip was a work night out and meal in Ipswich which and a ropey stay in EasyHotel.
Eindhoven trip was absolutely class, the result was shite (we lost) but the trip (as always) was amazing. Eindhoven was my 30th Euro away and almost all of them have been amazing trips, so I am hoping to squeeze at least one trip back to the UK next year to get to more Euro aways.
The final weekend was meeting my folks in London for a night out and then The Arsenal vs Forest at home (we won 4-0). The night before was great and so was the day of the game, an absolutely perfect way to end a great trip and a pretty epic October – although I was knackered by the end of it!
November 2022
November was pretty tame after a busy October but I continued to hike, including Soderberg, Horsetooth falls and a challenging snowy but great hike up Bear Peak (NACAR – Mesa – Fearn – Bear Peak). The only other things that were really pertinent in November was Thanksgiving which I declined a couple of invites for, instead I just did a Turkey Trot and whipped up my own dinner with proper gravy and mint sauce. The other good move I made was to go the Denver Islanders meet-up for the Blue Jackets game. I had already booked most of my Phoenix/Vegas/Colorado (A) trip but after going to the Denver meet-up, met a couple of cool Islanders fans who booked up the trip also.
I was in full Christmas mode by the end of November and started hitting the lighting up events as they tend to happen straight after Thanksgiving. The Old Town Arvada one was the best, and I was hitting the Christmas songs and films hard by end of November.
December 2022
Well Christmas was coming fast and I was a bit nervous about my choice to stay in Colorado this year (because I was home for nearly a month in October), but thankfully I had a trip to look forward to. Firstly though I went to a Brits in Denver party in Highlands Ranch (the place where my most hated ever race took place earlier in the year (I forgot to mention it in the blog, PTSD)). I was staying the night and as part of the party you had to bring a dish, I was not going to cook anything to put anybody at such risk so I rustled up some chocolate coconut balls I remembered from primarily school. They were delicious (if I say so myself) but I have no patience so they looked awful so doubt they went down well – big rugged coconut chocolate turds. I met some cool people at the party but unfortunately I (and others) got struck down by Rona there. I had not done badly, nearly 3 yrs and it finally got me. I was vaccinated up to the eyeballs of course, all 4 or whatever it is now and I was ill but not horrendous… I was most worried about it scuppering my Phoenix/Vegas trip!
Thankfully I pulled a negative test on trip – 2 days and trip – 1 days so green light for the trip. I headed to Phoenix to explore for a couple of days before the boys arrived. Phoenix was a weird place, not much too it but I did venture out to Papago Park and Old Town Scottsdale which was great. On the day of the game, I was down the pub very early for the Isles Arizona meet-up and it was a seriously good turnout. The Isles lost (they shouldn’t have as Coyotes are shit) but it was great to be in the Tempe Campus Arena which is a temporary Arena as the Coyotes sort out their main arena location. The attendance was only 5000 and with around 80-90 Isles fans we made some cracking noise fair play. I got ghosted by Lou Lamarillo (Isles General Manager) but it was a great day and little trip to Arizona.
Now I had been joined by the 2 others it was time for Vegas so we headed off there and it was a VERY rough day/night. Alcohol fuelled carnage pre-game, during game and post-game. We beat Vegas which was great, and the seats we had were brilliant. After the game we headed to a Piano Bar in New York New York where carnage ensued, a great night, somehow picked up a broken little finger and I was absolutely ruined and dreading the flight the next day.
I had got buddy passes for my flights out and back from my mate so I was grateful not to have to spend cash on those, but I was REALLY struggling to make that one back to Denver. How I got there, on it and home without being ill I do not know, it was a serious grind.
Anyway, I made it back to Colorado and had 1 day to recover before heading to Denver for the Isles Colorado game. I was still feeling super rough so very little alcohol passed my lips, and it was a highly unusual 0-0 (terrible game) and we lost on a shootout.
Still, despite the carnage, the Phoenix/Vegas trip was a great way to end a pretty big year for me with the relocation. Now it was time for me to chill out for the rest of December, focus on running, work and relaxing for Christmas ready for a big 2023.
Christmas was weird but still good. Of course not being home was not nice and sat on my own in the house but video calls (on the Portals I’d got for my folks last year) on Christmas eve night to open presents (morning for them in the UK) and throughout Christmas Day was great. I rustled up a Christmas dinner of my own which was pretty good and ate loads of chocolates imported from the UK my folks had sent.
In the next few days I am getting back into the routing I had for many years of setting some goals for 2023, I will be scribbling them on a blog post as always so they’re out there and I can remember them and review them this time next year.
Hope everybody has had an epic 2022, happy new year to you all!
