Best job in the world

Today, I did more research for my book.

This time I went to Idaho Springs. Thirty miles west of Denver.

This is one of my favorite views.
Just a few minutes up I-70.

Idaho Springs, like most mountain towns, has

a cute main street with shops and restaurants.

Plenty of places to buy fudge (I got hubby

a piece of handmade chocolate).

The bear is wise.

But the main event, the reason for my trip,
was the hot springs. Since I know my characters better now,

I know gambling isn't what takes them to the mountains.

What takes them to the mountains is the Indian Springs resort.

And because I want those scenes to be authentic

I needed to go experience the healing waters

along the Soda Creek for myself.

I booked a reservation for a Mother Earth wrap. A 30-minute

massage followed by being painted with clay and sea kelp mixed

together and wrapped in towels and blankets and

lying under a heat lamp for 30 minutes.

Before you do any spa treatment, you soak and steam.

Either in a private bath (which is where I am here;

I took this picture myself) or in the geothermal caves

(where I went after this, but since there were other undressed women there

I thought it wise not to bring out a camera).

The resort recommends 30-60 minutes of soaking before you

do a spa treatment. Worked for me.

Yes, researching a novel is a dirty job. But somebody had to do it.

And if I needed any proof I'm on the right track, I got it.

I asked my massage therapist if she saw clients

with lupus. (One of my characters has this condition and

I wanted to make sure that a person with lupus

would benefit from the hot springs and massage.)

Her answer was yes. As a matter of fact, one of her

very good friends has been in remission from lupus

for 12 years due to diet and exercise and other

natural methods. She gave me her contact information.

My character, Billie, is into diet, yoga, meditation and

other means to keep her lupus in check.
Destiny, no?

As for me, my skin feels great and my body feels like I've run a marathon (in a good way). I will be going back!