The shorts were wishful thinking...

Paul and Leslie's excellent adventure was a bit chilly and wet this year. Fortunately, each time we were outside it didn't rain too hard. But I didn't end up wearing the two pairs of shorts I took along.

We started out from DSM on Thursday about noon and hit Ogallala, Nebraska early that evening. The first hotel I'd booked admitted that the pet friendly rooms were really just smoker's rooms. That was a no go. We ended up across the Interstate at a Quality Inn. After checking in, we trekked north through town towards Lake McConaughy and found a delish local burger joint. On the way back we spied this swell sign - a lanky cowboy salute.

I kinda wished we'd eaten at the Front Street Café...

Water was high throughout western Nebraska. Our hotel was perched right on the Platte River and there were sandbags sitting ominously close. I don't recall seeing the rivers so high.

On Friday morning it was strange to head north instead of south back to the Interstate - our usual route to Denver. It sprinkled rain lightly as we got out of the Subaru to view the huge lake, which is about three times as big as Iowa's largest lake - Red Rock near Pella, Iowa. There were just a few hardy fishermen about.

Then we were off to Chimney Rock. We paid $3 whole dollars each to view the museum, set out in the middle of no where in NW Nebraska. The view alone was worth it - along with the ten minute video which was chock full o historical information on the story of the westward trail. The Chimney was a welcome landmark as pioneers made their way across the continent in wagons with oxen and horses. From there, Paul and I headed to Cheyenne, Wyoming - lucking into a fab lunch at a cute place filled with kitsch and memorabilia in downtown called Sanford's. I enjoyed a French Dip in a bun that had been quickly fried - wowwy.

Paul
 and Odie near Fort Collins

Fort Collins was the next destination - a real surprise, as it was much larger than we expected. The downtown was large and full of local and national restaurants and stores, with historical buildings. We drove through the compact looking campus that boasts 30,000 plus students. Two of my great nieces attend the school. ISU's former basketball coach Larry Eustacy calls it home. On Amy's advice we drove west of town to Horsetooth Road onto the dam above the city on the reservoir. Gorgeous view.

It's not far from Fort Collins to Denver - and the area in between the two is nearly all developed. Traffic was constant in between the two cities and our GPS kept saying "Traffic Jam Ahead!" We arrived at Amy's late Friday afternoon. Odie was thrilled to see her sissy and Amy's roomie Megan.

That night Amy took us to a big refurbished warehouse in an industrial area filled with several businesses including a brewery that makes only sour beer. We ordered a sampler "flight". Then we ate with three of Amy's friends - Mexican food from a place that had formerly only been a food truck. It was fun! I hope I didn't bore Gail with my pep talk on "you don't have to be an accountant at your present icky job forever." I told her of my crazy career path to my present dream (not feeling it this week!) job.

Amy with sour beer

I love Denver and have enjoyed exploring new places there through the years that Amy has called it home. The next morning we were off to Vail to pick up Cindo to head to Susan's in Grand Junction.