2015 has been a busy but memorable year for me, and my arrival in Aspen on the 7th October was by way of the spectacular Independence Pass. This was my fourth visit to Aspen but I had never seen the aspen trees as spectacular as they were in October this year.  The weather was mild, and although I experienced the smallest amount of sleet on the Continental Divide, it was be the only snow that fell during the five days I spent in Aspen.

 

Aspen in October is all about the music - the celebration of the music and life of John Denver.  This year, the Wheeler Opera House would not be available for the concerts, and the Aspen Showcase concerts hosted by Willie Hoevers were held at the Mountain Chalet Breakfast Room.   Despite the difficulties with the sound, all artists provided wonderful concerts.

 

As well as the formal concerts, the nightly 'jam' in the foyer of the Mountain Chalet proved to not only be a popular venue to listen to music, but to catch up with old and new friends.  The cameraderie and easy-going atmosphere each night was a wonderful addition to the Aspen in October timetable.

 

And then, along came Jimmy Fong, a dear friend of Higher Ground Australia, who quickly became a popular and much loved musician, who not only managed to sing 'Grandma's Feather Bed' in Chinese, but joined in with so many other musicians to show off his extraordinary talent.

 

What can I say about the spectacular surroundings?  The mountains, the trees, Maroon Bells, Ashcroft, the 'four-lane', Starwood, Woody Creek, to name but a few of the most wonderful sights around Aspen, and which gave John Denver the inspiration to write so many of the beautiful songs that we love so much.

 

All too soon, the time to say 'Goodbye Again' comes along.  It is sad to say farewell, but many of us know that within a short time, we will meet again in Aspen in October.