No wife should have to celebrate her wedding anniversary with a duster!

September 26, 12:45 PM (Mountain Time)

Well, I’m sitting here at lunchtime on my last day at Kessler Canyon, and I must confess I’m somewhat conflicted. On one hand, this was a trip I was not looking forward to. I’m tired. I’m traveled-out. I miss my family. They miss me. And to cap it all, today is my 22^nd wedding anniversary!

On the other hand, this is was an unusually successful meeting in an unbelievable place, and I have to grudgingly admit that I’m glad I came.

It’s still been tough on my family and me. When I phoned Clare this morning to wish her a happy wedding anniversary, she was in the thick of doing my part of the Saturday cleaning routine around the house. This probably tells you something about why we’re still together after 22 years and happier than ever. But no wife should have to celebrate her wedding anniversary with a duster!

However, these difficulties aside, I did want to say something about this place I’ve been sequestered in for the past few days. Because it truly has been an unforgettable experience.

I’ve stayed in a few five star hotels in my time. But Kessler Canyon makes them look like flea-pits by comparison. The place isn’t what I would call opulent. But the attention to detail is truly impressive.

Just take my bedroom.

To start with, there’s original artwork on the walls – and it’s good! Apparently, Mr. Kessler – the owner – has invested over $1 million in art around the place.

Then there’s the furniture. It’s of a rustic style that could be tacky in the wrong hands. But it’s been executed with such artistry that it reaches the heights of the finest craftwork. Everything has the touch of expert artisans, from the beds to the lamp stands to the mirror frames.

Strange as it might seem, the second most impressive objects in the room are the doors. At home, we have a custom made Shaker dresser, expertly crafted out of cherry wood. It’s beautiful. But I think the doors in my room here at the Kessler Canyon lodge are even more impressive. I have never come across artisan solid wood doors before – and every door in the place is of the same quality. This is doors as art – strange, but impressive.

But the most impressive object in the room must be the pneumatically damped toilet lid.

I ask you, what sort of place plays such attention to detail that even the toilet seat is engineered not to make a nose when closed? You put the lid down, and it gently sighs into place.

Classy!

And this is just the bedroom. The lodge, the food, the staff, and everything in the 23,000 acres surrounding the lodge, all reflect the same attention to detail. Rumor has it that this is where Mr. Kessler hangs out when he wants to relax – I can believe it.

I have to admit here that the hunting and killing theme of the place does disturb me a bit. But the experience has been worth-while. And without a doubt, the surroundings have led to the productivity and success of the workshop.

To wrap this blog up, I can’t resist posting this picture from the six-mile run up the canyon to the lodge. The line of six larger than life mustang sculptures fashioned out of copper provide just a hint of the spirit of this place.