Leaving Utah arriving in Golden, Co

I70 East Utah / Colorado

We left Thursday the 1st of July and headed to Wendy's in Golden, Co., and arrived late in the afternoon. We drove across I 70 from Utah to just outside Denver. I70 offers some scenic drive and high elevations up to 11,400 feet. Some areas were slow going up these 8 mile climbs and same for the downhill side.

Vietnam War Memorial, Fruita, CO.

When we entered into Colorado we stopped at a state info center in Fruita, Co., where they had a Vietnam War Memorial there. It was great to see such a memorial in a highly visible area and displayed in such a manner that you have to stop and read the inscriptions and plaques and dedications. The State of Colorado should be proud of this Memorial.



We made it up to Coal Creek Canyon to Wendy and Troy and of course Copper, our granddog, who we like to spoil. We have been doing local things -- farmers market, going into Golden, (no haven't made it for my annual tour of the Coors Brewery, but it will happen soon). We were at Wendy & Troys for a week and then we headed to Loup City, Nebraska to Troy's home town for a celebration party of his retirement from the Air Force National Guard.

We traveled up there in one day and stayed for four days. Accompanying us was Wendy and Wendy's nieces Cydney and Colby. Also onboard was Copper. Kirstie kitty allowed Copper on the RV -- she was the boss and he respected that. It was about an 8 hour trip with an RV. So on the way up the weather was hot so we started the generator and put on a in flight movie. I figured it was only right to break these newcomers to RVing by watching "RV the Movie with Robin Williams. (Because of Troy's work schedule, he traveled to Loup City by car with his brother Brian & his wife Bonnie and sister Janelle. They also had in the car their two dogs.)

"Copper" one of our Grand Dogs

Loup City, Nebraska (The Polish Capitol of Nebraska)

We arrived in Loup City and set up in front of Troy's parents house. We could only open up 2 slides as we were on the city street. We had a lot of fun there with family and friends that we met 18 years ago when Wendy and Troy got married. We went out to the farm and got to see several hundred acres of corn, soy beans and alfalfa. We got to see Troy's dad work the farm cutting the hay and then bailing it into 1800 lbs rolls. While there we had a very heavy thunder shower with hail and a couple of days later we saw the damage that occurred about 20 miles north of Loup City and the corn fields were just destroyed as well as the soy beans. What disappointment as the season was going great till then as they didn't have to irrigate the fields much this year. A total lost to those farmers. We had a beautiful visit with Troy's grandparents Harry and Catherine it was great to see them at the party and at their home before we returned to Colorado.

The party was for Troy's retirement from the AZ Air National Guard and was at the American Legion in town and over the period of the night between family and friends there was well over 100 people who attended or stopped in and wished Troy and Wendy congratulations and best wishes.

Loup City, NE is the Polish Capitol of Nebraska and has about 1200 population and the main street has a couple of blinking stop lights at the 2 major intersections. The town commons has a Veteran Memorial walkway that has upright monuments with the names of those hometown citizens that have served our nation. They take a lot of pride of their veterans and those who served and those who are serving today. We enjoyed our stay and most of all those who we got to reunite after 18 years.

Troy's retirement American Flag, Retirement certificate and certificates and plaques received during his career.

Here is Troy with his Grandparents Harry and Catherine.

We had a pleasant trip back to Golden, except for the bugs on the windshield. That takes a few hours to clean, worse part of driving a motorhome. We are back in Golden with Wendy up on the mountain. The weather has been beautiful -- temp in the mid 70's daytime and low 50's at night. Yesterday Wed. July 28th, in the town of Nederland, Co about 10 miles northwest of us as the crow flies they had a a thunder storm that brought in some hail about 8+ inches. The town had to put the plows back on the road to clear the hail so emergency vehicles can get around. Some roads were washed out and others blocked by some rock slides. It made national news this morning. Where we are we just had thunder some lightning and pea size hail that lasted only a few minutes. We were lucky. Last year while we were here, the town of Arvada had a storm very similar to yesterdays. Right now it looks like we will be leaving around the end of August to head towards SD and then to the northwest to Seattle and then down the coast back to Santa Cruz to be there right after Labor Day.

Sue and I are still able to talk to one another even after 2+ years on the road and in tight quarters. We are enjoying what we are doing and look forward to seeing more of our beautiful country and meeting people.