Tuesday, July 15th

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Mountains, Mountains and more Mountains

We slept late this morning. Then having skipped dinner last night we had a big, delicious breakfast and set out for Denver.  

Wyoming State House.

We left Cheyenne via the interstate and around Loveland, Colorado we moved onto back roads.  We took a quiet drive up into Rocky Mountain National Park which was beautiful. We made it above the tree line, about 11,500 feet, but not to the summit which was about 1000 feet higher.  We had dinner plans in Denver and we were a bit worried about the time.  Since we wanted to take the scenic route into Denver we cut our drive short and headed south.  The roads through the Rockies were immeasurably better then those on Mt. Washington in NH.  Go U.S. Park Service!

Just some of the amazing scenery in the Rockies

The Rocky Mountains are aptly named.  They are lush green mountains interspersed with craggy rock outcroppings.  We have been struck by the transitions in the topography as we drove westward from Illinois, which we thought was flat till we saw eastern South Dakota. Then, western SD and the spectacular mountains and the improbable Badlands. The differences within each state, even smaller states was wonderful to watch. Seeing the transition is something that is completely missed when flying coast to coast.  Watching it on our barnstorming trip has been fascinating.   

Enroute to Denver we stopped in Nederland and Boulder. Nederland is a cute little town with some galleries and gift shops.  They sell ice cream there too.  By the time we rolled into Boulder it was happy hour and we were happy to oblige. Since the mountains wreak havoc with cell service we contacted Sean, our internet search sensei, for his assistance in identifying a local brewery for Lester as he was beginning to feel more than a little beer deprived.  Sean's recommendation of the Avery Brewing Company was a hit. And, I learned that I am partial to wheat beers - to Lester's horror.  I do need to work on what makes a good wheat beer since the next one I ordered at dinner was a flop.  Oh well, I will just keep experimenting. In the meantime, feeling gun shy I got a caipirinha. If you don't know what that is, go to a good bar and order one.  You won't be sorry.

Avery Brewery in Boulder.

Dinner in beautiful downtown Denver was delightful.  And it wasn't the good food or 1oo beers on tap (literally) that made the dinner, it was our dining companions that were the real hit.  Elizabeth, our one time babysitter, and her wonderful husband Steve are now lifetime friends.  Catching up with them was a delight.

Steve and Elizabeth had some recommendations we're going to try and work into the next day or two.  As a teaser, it includes wild flowers!

As always we saw some unusual sights in our travels.  Today's slice of life, which served as an address sign for the nearby home...

Lawn art, of a sort

If one is good, two must be better

Lester is considering replacing the subaru because gas is cheap in WY.

 

A few things that struck us over the last few days that haven't made it into previous entries:

We noted in WY and SD, when eating at a restaurant, that NO ONE was looking at a cellphone while eating (except people who were clearly not of that place - and they were easy to pick out).  Kids sat and ate with everyone else with no electronics at all to keep them in line.  No judgement, just a comment.

There are a lot more trains out here than at home.  They seem to be everywhere from small towns to big cities and when one blocks your way, get ready for a long wait as these trains are probably 100+ cars long. And they're usually full of one commodity or the other, coal or lumber, predominantly.

And for anyone wondering whether we still have nuclear missiles after the decommissioning of the Minuteman I arsenal, rest assured, we're still protected.  We now have many, many Minuteman III missiles, each of which has 3 warheads which can each be individually targeted.  Sleep well.  

A&L