Colorado

October 11-13, 2016 – Days 52-53

Colorado

Tuesday, October 11, 2016 saw us completing our x-Kansas drive and continuing west into the state of Colorado.  We were fortunate to be in time for a beautiful fall Aspen Show – gorgeous shimmering golden yellow leaves.  The prairie gave way to agricultural spreads of hay and corn. We appreciated the creative and functional living snow fences that were planted along the way – double rows of evergreens planted to block the snow from blowing off the plains and on to the highway. These look so much nicer than the wooden ones still in use.

living snow fence

We took a sentimental visit back to Greeley where Mike graduated from University of Northern Colorado in December of 1970. We had only been back once in the mid-70’s, so we were in for a real surprise -- how things had changed! The campus looked little like we remembered, although the music building still is Frasier Hall, but it had been revamped and a new music library added. We stopped by and walked through the building to try and remember the time we spent there. The school has grown, new buildings and facilities: dorms, library, football stadium, sports fields and classrooms have seemed to double the campus footprint. We had lunch at a little pub across from the campus – we were looking for the old Chef Diner where we ate breakfast for $.49 - for an egg, hash browns, toast and coffee, back in the day. Driving through the city of Greeley was quite an experience, some of the old downtown was really dilapidated, Karen’s old employer Garnsey and Wheeler Ford were completely boarded up, along with many other establishments, her favorite donut shop was gone also. It did appear that there was some new businesses and plans for more improvements a few blocks up. No sign of our old married students housing (quonset huts) down on the railroad tracks, but our 1^st apartment complex still stands across from the campus.

our first apartment in Greeley Colorado

Music building, Frasier Hall at U of No. Coorado

Leaving Greeley we drove through Denver and stopped at Stranahan’s Whiskey Distillery. They make a good single malt whiskey. The evening ended with Mike really learning how to play the dice game Zilch. He beat me 3 games to 1 (each of his games he scored the 6 or a kind - 5000 points).

Stranahan's Whiskey Distillery

Thursday morning we drove up to Estes Park to see the Rocky Mountain National Park. What a beautiful drive, vibrant blue skies decorated with fluffy white clouds, distinctive Rocky Mountains, more vibrant fall colors, and vistas that were indescribable. Following our tour of the park we stopped in the little town of Lyons for lunch enjoying a great pizza at the fun and funky Oskar Blues Club and restaurant.  Leaving town we stopped at the Spirit Hound Distillery where we sampled and purchased some of their gin and whiskey. This was a quick and fun packed Colorado experience.

gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park