Trip Advisor Review for Allenspark Lodge

 Our lodge just got this review on TripAdvisor.com and I need some advice on my potential response...

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The Allenspark Lodge is an authentic wooden beam lodge with plenty of character. The owners are extremely friendly and nice. But be aware that the place has the feeling of staying with family which comes with "Game rules" and therefore we felt there was little flexibility. The customer is always right doesn't seem to apply. Breakfast is at 9 - no exceptions, so if your a hiker and want an early start this is not the place for you. However, breakfast is homemade and lovely.
Though in a small town, it is not remote or secluded. The room we stayed in (Mom's room) was very small and due to the overhang outside the window, only provided a view of the tarmac road outside. For the first time in a B&B I noticed the Linens, which were poor, especially the towels.
The Lodge being made of wooden beams carries the sound far and loud. We could hear all conversations in the reception downstairs.
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This is Bill Martin from the Allenspark Lodge B&B.  I rarely respond to anonymous postings, because 40 years ago, my Texan grandpa told me "You should never get into a spitting match if you are the only one wearing a blindfold".  I think he was talking about anonymous phone calls at the time, but it still applies.  However, marketing folks say we should respond, so I'll give it a whirl.

  The reason the place has the feel of staying in someones home is because it IS our home.  We have a bedroom upstairs and share the rest of our home with everyone else.  We start off with a tour of our home with information like: Please don't feed the dog (twenty "just one" chocolate chip cookies a day would kill her),  don't let the dog in your room (we have some guests with dog allergies, and they need a safe haven), don't let the dog out (we live in a leash-law county), etc.

  Breakfast is served at 9:am on weekends, and 8:am on weekdays, family style.  We ring a brass bell and everyone comes down and eats all at once and it's great fun!  We will pack a bag breakfast for hikers if they are leaving early, but they need to tell us (Juanita is frighteningly good at reading MY mind, but I am dismal at guessing what others are thinking).

  Our lodge is located at "184 Main Street" in Allenspark, CO.  That is in town.  Less than 500 people, but a town.  I wonder if I could talk everyone else into leaving?

   The roof was added over the deck 60 or so years ago.  One of the daughters of the owner who put it up thinks that "Daddy put it there so we girls couldn't sun bathe so close to the road".  Don't know, I wasn't there.

  We have "Forest Green" and "Burgundy" towels.  If anybody knows where we can get reasonably priced towels that are NOT "Military Olive Drab" or "Rust Orange", please email me!.

  Sound does carry here.  That is why we don't take kids under 14.  Sorry.

   And lastly, I have a sign over the bar that says  "Notice To Our Guests-  It is our policy that the customer is always right.  If you are wrong, please leave now."  Sigh.  I thought it was funny,


Bill Martin, Allenspark Lodge B&B






Or maybe I should just say "Bla Bla Bla"


What do ya'll think?

Bill

Adjusted?

GunDiva's horse, Estes, has been having a bit of a time with her back lately.  Last time I took her out, she didn't like doing downhill and just felt 'off' to me, so I called my equine chiropractor, Dr. Dave Siemens, for a check-up.  I was not expecting him to answer his cell as he is out of town (country, etc.) a lot, so imagine my surprise when he answered and said he'd love to come up to the Lodge.  It seems he was laying a laminate floor and thought a break would be just right.  Needless to say, he appears at the Lodge at 9:00....P.M. none the less.


The Livery across the street was gracious enough to let us use their front load-up area, which had a good light so Dr. Dave could actually see the horse.  He also gave an impromptu chiropractic class to the available wranglers and we all had a great time, giggling and laughing over his jokes and antics.  Estes was a jewel of a patient and only raised her eyebrows at the sight of Dr. Dave's infamous blue barrel.  There were lots of sighs as she felt better, but as many came from the observers as from horse.

An added plus was that I could discuss with him in person, about presenting at our EquiBlogger Retreat, High Country Rendevous, on August 21.  He will be a wonderful addition to our fun weekend, and a great opportunity to pick the brain of a super horse lover and care giver.  And Estes?  She is feeling much better and we will be looking at our saddles to see if one fits her better.  Dr. Dave is coming back this weekend to help with that.

Happy riding,
Juanita

North American Grade Horse Registry

  Does you horse make the grade?  Now you can prove it does with a certificate from the North American Grade Horse Registry. 

  Are you tired of feeling second rate because YOUR horse isn't registered?  Your horse has no papers to prove it is special?  Now you can DO something about it!  This is the registry for the rest of us.

  To qualify, your horse must not be listed with other foo foo registrys.

   No intentional past "Line Breeding" will be allowed.  An extra thumb or two may help a human play a banjo, but it doesn't help horses that much.

 The "registered as name" should be the same as the "barn name".  Exceptions can be made on this matter.  For instance, a horse named "Richard Edwards" may be called "Dick Ed" for convenience and accuracy.

  If the sire and dam are known, they may be listed on your application.  If either parent is registered with any other breed registry, a formal letter of apology for any undesirable traits of the parents must be included.  IE...  the lack of a tail on an Appaloosa,  the lack of a butt on a Tennessee Walker, the lack of a brain in an Arab.  If parentage isn't known, make something up.  For instance, my mustang Ranger would be listed as  "Out of Nevada, by Old Trailer".

  If we can get enough suckers members in our registry, we can keep others from using the "grade horse" designation unless they register, too!

   So send a photo of your horse, the required information and pony up $29.95 and I will send you a certificate suitable for flinging framing, cash your check and laugh all the way to the bank.



Bill

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Foot note... I googled  "Grade Horse Registry", and there actually is one.  Wow.

CPR for Dummies

  Our daughter, "The GunDiva", in addition to her myriad other talents and jobs, is a certified CPR instructor.  She forces helps Juanita and I keep our "cards" current.  She also gives the classes and gets cards for the wranglers at the livery across the street.

  A couple weeks ago, GunDiva had given a class to the wranglers and Juanita and I, and had left the CPR dummies in our "Sun Room" to dry after cleaning.  We had a Dr. guest- a "hospitalist"(sp?) that saw the dummies and was delighted to hear that our daughter was coming back up in a couple of days and could give her a CPR class and re-up HER card.

  Class day comes, the Dr. passes her test (kind of surprising how good THAT made me feel).  While talking after the test, we heard one of our other guests, a very sweet older gal making gasping, choking sounds in the other room.  Juanita, I, GunDiva and the Doc all sort of scuttled sauntered in to hover over her like vultures stand near her, just waiting to pounce on help her if she got any worse.  "Pill went down the wrong pipe" she gasps, eyes watering.  Pills are small, and while very uncomfortable to inhale, will probably not completely cut off the air supply.  Rats.  Maybe next time.

Bill

Thunder and Lightning

Went for a couple hour trail ride today with a couple friends.  We took Ranger and the two "grays" out.  The weather was looking kind of "iffy" so we took rain gear.  Actually, we always take rain gear as the weather is ALWAYS iffy.
  We were out about 30 minutes when the rain started.  And boy did it rain.  I love riding in the rain with a good slicker and a broad brimmed hat.  So quiet and no dust. Okay, maybe not so quiet today.  We kept to the lower trails as we were hearing some thunder nearby.  While walking along the creek bank, FLASH and BOOM!  Lightning struck the hill top about 100 yards south of us.  Three horses and three riders jumped three feet straight up. We all came down okay- but looked around kind of bug-eyed for a moment, then sheepishly went on our way.  We rode out the next hour or so and then went back to the lodge to change our pants. Umm, wet with rain,you know.

Bill

A Dog's Life

                                             The watch dog.

                                The "I can't bare to watch" dog.

Sophie the Lodge Dog has it ruff.

Bill

Crustless Quiche - Recipe

Crustless Quiche

(Call it an egg casserole if you have "sensitive" guys!)
9" x 13" pan, sprayed with non-stick spray
350 degrees for 45 minutes

Mix together:
6 eggs, beaten
1 c. milk
4 c. Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
3 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 c. cottage cheese

Add to egg mixture:
4 T. green pepper, chopped
4 T. red onion, chopped
2 T. green chili, chopped

Add to egg mixture; stir well.
1/2 c. butter, melted
1/2 c. flour
1 t. baking powder
1 t. salt
1 t. sugar
Pour into baking dish.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 min., until golden brown.
Let set 5 minutes to settle.
12 - 15 pieces; may be halved and baked in 8" x 8" pan.

It's Summer

We are busy, and I am kind of tired.
I made a stick horse today...

             (_)
            (oo)\________ 
            (__)\               )\
                  ||--------- |  \
                   ]]            ]]  

Bill

The 3rd 4th

What If You Gave a Parade and Nobody Came?

Today is July third. The 3rd of July. This morning we found out that this years 4th of July parade in our little town of Allenspark was this morning. On the 3rd of July. Just a quick scan of the spectators on my part found attendance was about 20% of last years 4th of July parade that was held on the 4th of July. We hear the folks that set up the parade didn't want it interfering with the late morning church services. So rather than moving services out an hour, they moved the holiday up a day.  Hmmm...



I can't wait to see what happens at Christmas this year. Maybe we can do it on New Years.





Bill
Our internet provider is down(thanks Qwest), I'll post pictures when I'm not on dial-up.

Bear Canisters

  Living in the mountains subjects you to a lot of wildlife.  A lot of it.  And when people feed the wildlife, they get not quite so wild.  They become bad neighbors.  You know the kind... they take your stuff, break it and don't apologize or offer to replace it.

  When we bought the lodge twelve years ago, we were told there were 34 bears in the national park.  Now we have been told the number is in the low 20's.  Most of the deaths are due to food issues.  The bears want it, and will take it from people.  The park service has tried to relocate the problem bears, but they just cause problems where they end up, or just find their way "home".  So the bears must be killed.

 A real campaign has been going on to keep the bears out of people food and garbage to keep them "alive".

 The rangers in Rocky Mountain National Park approached us last year, and asked us if we would rent "bear canisters" for the back-packers to store their food in when camping in the back country.  It seems that the local bears are onto the "tie the bag up into a tree" way of storing food, and will climb-chew-eat in no time at all.  The bear canisters are a lot more difficult for the critters to break into.  We bought several canisters and have started renting them out to help save the bears from themselves.

 Several months ago I got a call.
  Caller-   The rangers say you rent bear canisters at your lodge.
  Me-       Yes, we do.  We charge $5 per night for them.
  Caller-   How big are your canisters?
  Me-       They're  the three gallon models.
  Caller-   THREE GALLONS!
  Me-      Yes, we only carry one size, and thought the larger canisters would be better to stock.
  Caller-   THREE GALLONS!  There are only two of us!  And we're only going to be in for a couple days!
  Me-       Three gallons should be enough then.  You might need another if you were out much longer.
  Caller-    THREE GALLONS!  HOW BIG ARE YOUR BEARS OUT THERE?!?
  Me-        Wait, are you thinking you need Pepper Spray?


                 What I'm talking about.....

                                  

What he's talking about............

                                      RAWHURRR!!
Bill