Downtown Construction

Just what we needed with only one month remaining in the summer season - a huge construction project on the main street in town. We already survived one major construction project with the widening of the main street earlier in the season, and now there is a project to place new pipes under the road near the center of town. It has made for a traffic nightmare as northbound traffic is being routed south of the main street into the center of town. This is what it looks like:

The construction has resulted in the businesses along the northern side of the main street to suffer huge losses as it is very difficult to access the stores from the road. It's sad that many travelers have come to town to see the mountains - now being blocked by haze and clouds - and the unique downtown area - now being blocked by construction. It has to be done, and the only time that construction can take place is during the warm months of summer.

We walked through town anyway and took a route that we haven't taken previously. We walked about 4 miles overall and it felt good to get some much needed exercise before going to work. We saw many of the hanging baskets that are in full bloom, like this one:

 

 

and we were wondering when the season ending sales were going to begin. Last year, the stores started selling everything at greatly reduced prices at about this time.

Our "Thursday" is today and we can see the change in volume at the lodge this week. There are about 15 - 20 rooms remaining at the end of each day, so the peak season has definitely passed. The telephone calls for reservations is also dropping off, so we have much more free time at the front desk. Another sign that the season is winding down is that our thoughts are beginning to turn to purging the fifth wheel of unnecessary items before traveling again. Before we know it, we will be on the road again...