Colorado/New Mexico Vacation - 2015
Day 9 - Saturday, October 3rd
This was departure day for everyone to head home, and most of the gang met early for breakfast. I declined and slept-in for a bit. I'm not really a morning and/or breakfast person anyway. I had plans for lunch in another city along the way and wanted to save room.
I got all cleaned up, packed, and loaded the car, then began saying goodbye to everyone. We had a great time together, made some new friends, and we all look forward to our next Chama adventure. I'm not actually sure I'll go next year though. This is the first time I've done this annual trek two years in a row, so I might skip a year so as to keep it fresh.
Driving north out of Chama I passed that day's double-header steam train. That means there are two engines on the front, which they do on weekends when there are larger crowds and more passenger cars. The small steam engines can only pull so much up a mountain, so longer trains means more steam engines. They have actually run triple-headers before, and that would be so cool so see!
Over the mountain passes I go, the highest being 10,300 feet, and make my way into Antonito, CO. I stopped and took some pictures, then proceeded north to Alamosa, CO, which is where I had my planned lunch. Three years ago I was there and discovered this excellent Italian restaurant called the Rialto, which was actually the name of the old movie theatre it is housed in. Although the piped-in old Italian music was cheesy and unnecessary, the food was excellent. I enjoyed a pasta dish with shrimp, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and mushrooms, all in a delightful cream sauce. Yummy!
I headed east on Highway 160 from there through the open plains to later arrive in Walsenburg, CO and the entrance to I-25 north towards Denver. I passed through Pueblo, Colorado Springs, and eventually into Denver. It all took about 6 hours with lunch, photo and potty stops. I'm staying at my friend's apartment while they are out of town. I started some laundry and took what was supposed to be a brief nap. I woke up two hours later! I guess I was more tired than I thought. It was dark outside, and I was ready for dinner. Luckily, the place I've been wanting to go to is only about 6 miles from the apartment, and that's Helga's German Restaurant, which is where we tried to go last weekend, but Octoberfest was in full swing and I wasn't going to wait two hours. Surprisingly, being a Saturday evening, I had no wait and sat right down. I ordered the Rouladen, which is a rolled-up beef dish, along with spätzle and red cabbage.
Back to the apartment I go to fold laundry and get ready to fly back to Houston tomorrow from DIA. With that being said, this will be my final entry for this trip as tomorrow is just a travel day. If anything unusual happens that is newsworthy, I might make a brief entry, but don't count on it. I look forward to getting home as I have missed everyone a lot.
Thanks for all the wonderful comments about my daily posts. I enjoy doing this not only because of the necessity of it (my very bad memory), but to hopefully give you something different to read and enjoy as well.
So far, no more trips planned for the rest of the year, but that could change. Lawrence and I and the dog may just take a long weekend and go somewhere. That means more stories to write!
See ya next time.....
Saturday, October 3, 2015
Colorado/New Mexico Vacation - 2015
Day 8 - Friday, October 2nd
Today was the denouement of my vacation this week as our group rode the amazing Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad here in Chama, NM. This group has certainly grown over the years from when it started well over 20 years ago. Our passenger count was 34 today. The group chartered our own parlor car on the rear of the train, and includes our own car attendant who serves snacks, sodas, and yes, alcohol. It's all included in the price which is $200 per person. We also receive gifts from the railroad in ways of insulated beverage canisters, embroidered tote bags, and a lapel pin.
The railroad runs their narrow gauge steam trains between Chama, NM and Antonito, CO. Each day a train departs from both ends at 10am and meets in the middle of the line where they serve a delicious hot lunch to all passengers and crew members, again all being included in the price. We left Chama by bus at 8:30am and met the train at the other end about an hour later. It was a smooth train ride and fun was had by all. The scenery was spectacular of course with the aspens changing colors in the cool weather. Speaking of weather, it was inclement as rain was forecast today, and we certainly got it. It actually hailed on us, but we were safe and dry inside.
We arrived back in Chama just after 4pm, and we all went back to the motel and relaxed a bit before heading to dinner at the popular steak house across the street. We walked over at 6:30pm and the staff was totally inundated not only with our group, but two others at the same time. They eventually got our dinner out to us and we all enjoyed it. I had the ribeye steak.
After dinner we all waddled back to the motel where I was approached by the innkeeper, Chester. He wanted to go to the local casino about 30 minutes away and wanted me to go with him. Sure, why not! I actually doubled my money at one point, but of course gave it all back and then some for a total loss of about $75.
Tomorrow I'll have a chance to sleep-in a bit as I am driving to Denver and have all day to get there. It's about a 5-hour drive. I'm staying at Christopher and Rob's place again tomorrow night, although they won't be there. They are on vacation in Louisiana for a few days, but they gave me a key and I'll just make myself at home.
I just hope the rain goes away. I don't like driving unfamiliar mountain roads in the rain!
Day 8 - Friday, October 2nd
Today was the denouement of my vacation this week as our group rode the amazing Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad here in Chama, NM. This group has certainly grown over the years from when it started well over 20 years ago. Our passenger count was 34 today. The group chartered our own parlor car on the rear of the train, and includes our own car attendant who serves snacks, sodas, and yes, alcohol. It's all included in the price which is $200 per person. We also receive gifts from the railroad in ways of insulated beverage canisters, embroidered tote bags, and a lapel pin.
The railroad runs their narrow gauge steam trains between Chama, NM and Antonito, CO. Each day a train departs from both ends at 10am and meets in the middle of the line where they serve a delicious hot lunch to all passengers and crew members, again all being included in the price. We left Chama by bus at 8:30am and met the train at the other end about an hour later. It was a smooth train ride and fun was had by all. The scenery was spectacular of course with the aspens changing colors in the cool weather. Speaking of weather, it was inclement as rain was forecast today, and we certainly got it. It actually hailed on us, but we were safe and dry inside.
We arrived back in Chama just after 4pm, and we all went back to the motel and relaxed a bit before heading to dinner at the popular steak house across the street. We walked over at 6:30pm and the staff was totally inundated not only with our group, but two others at the same time. They eventually got our dinner out to us and we all enjoyed it. I had the ribeye steak.
After dinner we all waddled back to the motel where I was approached by the innkeeper, Chester. He wanted to go to the local casino about 30 minutes away and wanted me to go with him. Sure, why not! I actually doubled my money at one point, but of course gave it all back and then some for a total loss of about $75.
Tomorrow I'll have a chance to sleep-in a bit as I am driving to Denver and have all day to get there. It's about a 5-hour drive. I'm staying at Christopher and Rob's place again tomorrow night, although they won't be there. They are on vacation in Louisiana for a few days, but they gave me a key and I'll just make myself at home.
I just hope the rain goes away. I don't like driving unfamiliar mountain roads in the rain!
Thursday, October 1, 2015
Colorado/New Mexico Vacation - 2015
Day 7 - Thursday, October 1st
I had a rough night last night. There wasn't a room for me at the inn, so I had to share a room with friends. There were 4 of us in there, and I got the roll-away. As you can imagine, it was lumpy and somewhat uncomfortable. They got up at 6am to go ride the train, and I went back to sleep after they left.
I met one of our group for breakfast at 8am, and we were designated as the ride back to Chama for the group riding the train, which is a one-way trip. We chased the train through the mountains and got a lot of great pictures of not only the train, but the beautiful scenery. The Aspen trees were ablaze with bright reds, oranges and yellows, and the steam train winding through it all was spectacular.
About a third of the way through the trip, the train was having air problems and kept stopping. After about 10 times of this, we decided to go to the end of the line and wait for them. They were supposed to arrive at 3pm. They got there a little after 7pm. We sat there for almost five hours with nowhere to go, and nothing to do. We went to the cafe next door for a sandwich then went to the car and took a nap. I haven't been that bored in a long time. While we were chasing the train, we went over two mountain passes, each one a little over 10,000 feet. In the lower elevations it was in the 80's. On the passes it was in the 50's. I'm not used to temperature changes like that. I was constantly putting my jacket on and back off again throughout the day. As I'm writing this, it's already in the 40's outside.
After we all got back to home base in Chama, and after more of our group drove in from all over the country, we now have well over 30 people gathered. The Thursday night before the big train ride day is always pizza night. A dozen pizzas, salad, lemon bars and other desserts, and plenty of alcohol flowing, it was a party in full swing. Being that we all have to get up early for breakfast and to ride the train, we broke it up kinda early so we will be rested and ready for the trip tomorrow. I stayed up late catching up with my good and long time friend Bob Krieger as we are sharing a room together. So many stories, so little time.
Tomorrow's forecast doesn't look good. Highs in the 60's and a 50% chance of rain will make for a messy train ride, but I'm here with a lot of great friends, so let it rain!
Day 7 - Thursday, October 1st
I had a rough night last night. There wasn't a room for me at the inn, so I had to share a room with friends. There were 4 of us in there, and I got the roll-away. As you can imagine, it was lumpy and somewhat uncomfortable. They got up at 6am to go ride the train, and I went back to sleep after they left.
I met one of our group for breakfast at 8am, and we were designated as the ride back to Chama for the group riding the train, which is a one-way trip. We chased the train through the mountains and got a lot of great pictures of not only the train, but the beautiful scenery. The Aspen trees were ablaze with bright reds, oranges and yellows, and the steam train winding through it all was spectacular.
About a third of the way through the trip, the train was having air problems and kept stopping. After about 10 times of this, we decided to go to the end of the line and wait for them. They were supposed to arrive at 3pm. They got there a little after 7pm. We sat there for almost five hours with nowhere to go, and nothing to do. We went to the cafe next door for a sandwich then went to the car and took a nap. I haven't been that bored in a long time. While we were chasing the train, we went over two mountain passes, each one a little over 10,000 feet. In the lower elevations it was in the 80's. On the passes it was in the 50's. I'm not used to temperature changes like that. I was constantly putting my jacket on and back off again throughout the day. As I'm writing this, it's already in the 40's outside.
After we all got back to home base in Chama, and after more of our group drove in from all over the country, we now have well over 30 people gathered. The Thursday night before the big train ride day is always pizza night. A dozen pizzas, salad, lemon bars and other desserts, and plenty of alcohol flowing, it was a party in full swing. Being that we all have to get up early for breakfast and to ride the train, we broke it up kinda early so we will be rested and ready for the trip tomorrow. I stayed up late catching up with my good and long time friend Bob Krieger as we are sharing a room together. So many stories, so little time.
Tomorrow's forecast doesn't look good. Highs in the 60's and a 50% chance of rain will make for a messy train ride, but I'm here with a lot of great friends, so let it rain!
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Colorado/New Mexico Vacation - 2015
Day 6 - Wednesday, September 30th
I slept in a little as I only had to drive about 2 hours to Chama today. I got all packed and loaded the car, went and got a late breakfast, filled up the car, and then headed about 4 miles south to a local church that was recommended to visit. It's called San Francisco de Asis and was built in 1772. That's 4 years before we were our own country! Another reminder of how old everything is in this area.
As I was headed out of town I crossed the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, which is about 1000 feet above the river. I took a bunch of pictures and then continued on my way. It was a lovely drive up through the mountains until I reached Chama about 1pm. All my friends I am meeting here were out chasing trains, so I did some laundry, took a nap, then headed to Subway for a late lunch.
The inn we always stay at is owned by a wonderful couple named Starla and Chester. They live here on the premises, and we all met in their attached home about 6:30pm. Starla cooked a delicious dinner of Indonesian egg rolls called Lumpia, Cole slaw, white rice, cantaloupe, and for dessert, lemon bars. Some people reading this will be familiar with the term Lumpia, as this is what they call their same rolled delights in Guam. Starla told me the name originates from the Dutch that occupied Borneo for 500 years. Starla lived and worked in Borneo many years ago.
After dinner we all just sat around and told war stories, caught up on each other's lives, dove into politics a bit, and then called it a night. Tomorrow we don't have any special plans and we'll just see what happens as the day progresses. We might go chase the steam train a bit...always fun.
Day 6 - Wednesday, September 30th
I slept in a little as I only had to drive about 2 hours to Chama today. I got all packed and loaded the car, went and got a late breakfast, filled up the car, and then headed about 4 miles south to a local church that was recommended to visit. It's called San Francisco de Asis and was built in 1772. That's 4 years before we were our own country! Another reminder of how old everything is in this area.
As I was headed out of town I crossed the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, which is about 1000 feet above the river. I took a bunch of pictures and then continued on my way. It was a lovely drive up through the mountains until I reached Chama about 1pm. All my friends I am meeting here were out chasing trains, so I did some laundry, took a nap, then headed to Subway for a late lunch.
The inn we always stay at is owned by a wonderful couple named Starla and Chester. They live here on the premises, and we all met in their attached home about 6:30pm. Starla cooked a delicious dinner of Indonesian egg rolls called Lumpia, Cole slaw, white rice, cantaloupe, and for dessert, lemon bars. Some people reading this will be familiar with the term Lumpia, as this is what they call their same rolled delights in Guam. Starla told me the name originates from the Dutch that occupied Borneo for 500 years. Starla lived and worked in Borneo many years ago.
After dinner we all just sat around and told war stories, caught up on each other's lives, dove into politics a bit, and then called it a night. Tomorrow we don't have any special plans and we'll just see what happens as the day progresses. We might go chase the steam train a bit...always fun.
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Colorado/New Mexico Vacation - 2015
Day 5 - Tuesday, September 29th
I am not a morning person, but I had no problem getting up at 7am to start my day as I was meeting a new friend who was going to tell me all about Taos, New Mexico.
It all started when I drove through this town last year driving up from Albuquerque to Chama for our annual train ride. It was amazing and beautiful and different from any place I had seen before. I knew right then I would come back for an extended stay, and today was that day.
Through my sister and a couple of different groups I am a part of on Facebook, I ran across this gentleman named John Hoyt. I found out he was from Houston, now lived in Taos, and we have a lot of mutual interests. We met for breakfast this morning at the same place I ate dinner at last night. I had no idea what he looked like except for a couple of pictures on Facebook, but somehow I knew it was him when he walked in the front door. We shook hands, said hello, and the whirlwind day started from that moment. I was thinking he would give me a few suggestions on places to visit, trails to hike, etc. then be on his way. He didn't give me any suggestions...we jumped into his Honda CR-V and he drove me all over town to see all the beautiful homes owned by famous artists, novelists and movie stars. He showed me art galleries, old hotels and shops, and everything this town had to offer. We then headed up into the mountains to places he likes to hike, river gorges that are vast and amazing, and wide-open expanses where you can see for miles. I was snapping pictures all day!
Taos is very old, and dates back thousands of years to the original Indian settlers nestled at the base of the mountains. There are no cookie-cutter homes in straight-line neighborhoods here. No building is over two stories high, and all buildings, be it a home or business, has to be fashioned in an original Adobe style. The city is very strict as to what materials you can use, and what colors can be painted. The homes here give no indication as to what economic level the residents are at. Rich people can live next to not-so-rich people, and you can't tell the difference driving by. The size may be a bit larger or smaller, but the look is all the same for the most part. Coming from a big city, and seeing big cities all over the world with their big gated communities with every house in a straight line and looking so different, this town has none of that, and that's why I have quickly become attracted to this beautiful place.
We stopped at John's residence for a quick break and I met his lovely wife, and his best friend, Buddy the dog. Buddy is 13 years old and was moving a little slow with arthritis, but he's very sweet and took to me right away. He was laying in the yard and I was scratching his chest and around his ears, and massaging his joints where he had arthritis. His eyes closed with relaxation, then he lifted his head and gave me a big kiss right on my hand. I was hooked, and I am proud to say I'm now a F.O.B. - Friend of Buddy.
After our whirlwind tour of the area, John brought me back to town and I took a nap and got a shower. We did a lot of walking so I was tired, and I wore a big sweatshirt all day since it was about 50 degrees when I left this morning, and it got pretty warm later in the day, so I definitely needed that shower.
John and I coordinated again to meet for dinner at a great local Italian restaurant. The service was good and the food was excellent, and we talked about his living in Houston and elsewhere throughout his life. He's quite the storyteller, and is a wealth of knowledge on the history of Taos. He loves this town, and it shows. He just beams when he speaks of this place.
Afterwards, we walked to the original town square and got some ice cream, then continued to walk around looking into some of the shops and galleries, and ended up at the Adobe Inn, which had a live band playing in the front lobby and bar area, and the locals come and have drinks and listen. There is never a cover charge, so it's very popular. It started to rain slightly during our walk and it turned chilly, but that just added to the incredible ending of an amazing day.
I couldn't thank John enough for everything he did for me, and we had a wonderful day together. I consider him a new and valued friend, and I look forward to coming back next year for another visit.
Day 5 - Tuesday, September 29th
I am not a morning person, but I had no problem getting up at 7am to start my day as I was meeting a new friend who was going to tell me all about Taos, New Mexico.
It all started when I drove through this town last year driving up from Albuquerque to Chama for our annual train ride. It was amazing and beautiful and different from any place I had seen before. I knew right then I would come back for an extended stay, and today was that day.
Through my sister and a couple of different groups I am a part of on Facebook, I ran across this gentleman named John Hoyt. I found out he was from Houston, now lived in Taos, and we have a lot of mutual interests. We met for breakfast this morning at the same place I ate dinner at last night. I had no idea what he looked like except for a couple of pictures on Facebook, but somehow I knew it was him when he walked in the front door. We shook hands, said hello, and the whirlwind day started from that moment. I was thinking he would give me a few suggestions on places to visit, trails to hike, etc. then be on his way. He didn't give me any suggestions...we jumped into his Honda CR-V and he drove me all over town to see all the beautiful homes owned by famous artists, novelists and movie stars. He showed me art galleries, old hotels and shops, and everything this town had to offer. We then headed up into the mountains to places he likes to hike, river gorges that are vast and amazing, and wide-open expanses where you can see for miles. I was snapping pictures all day!
Taos is very old, and dates back thousands of years to the original Indian settlers nestled at the base of the mountains. There are no cookie-cutter homes in straight-line neighborhoods here. No building is over two stories high, and all buildings, be it a home or business, has to be fashioned in an original Adobe style. The city is very strict as to what materials you can use, and what colors can be painted. The homes here give no indication as to what economic level the residents are at. Rich people can live next to not-so-rich people, and you can't tell the difference driving by. The size may be a bit larger or smaller, but the look is all the same for the most part. Coming from a big city, and seeing big cities all over the world with their big gated communities with every house in a straight line and looking so different, this town has none of that, and that's why I have quickly become attracted to this beautiful place.
We stopped at John's residence for a quick break and I met his lovely wife, and his best friend, Buddy the dog. Buddy is 13 years old and was moving a little slow with arthritis, but he's very sweet and took to me right away. He was laying in the yard and I was scratching his chest and around his ears, and massaging his joints where he had arthritis. His eyes closed with relaxation, then he lifted his head and gave me a big kiss right on my hand. I was hooked, and I am proud to say I'm now a F.O.B. - Friend of Buddy.
After our whirlwind tour of the area, John brought me back to town and I took a nap and got a shower. We did a lot of walking so I was tired, and I wore a big sweatshirt all day since it was about 50 degrees when I left this morning, and it got pretty warm later in the day, so I definitely needed that shower.
John and I coordinated again to meet for dinner at a great local Italian restaurant. The service was good and the food was excellent, and we talked about his living in Houston and elsewhere throughout his life. He's quite the storyteller, and is a wealth of knowledge on the history of Taos. He loves this town, and it shows. He just beams when he speaks of this place.
Afterwards, we walked to the original town square and got some ice cream, then continued to walk around looking into some of the shops and galleries, and ended up at the Adobe Inn, which had a live band playing in the front lobby and bar area, and the locals come and have drinks and listen. There is never a cover charge, so it's very popular. It started to rain slightly during our walk and it turned chilly, but that just added to the incredible ending of an amazing day.
I couldn't thank John enough for everything he did for me, and we had a wonderful day together. I consider him a new and valued friend, and I look forward to coming back next year for another visit.
Colorado/New Mexico Vacation - 2015
Day 4 - Monday, September 28th
Unlike the past few days of sleeping in, that's not the case today. I had a train to catch!
After cleaning up, packing and loading the car, and grabbing a bit of breakfast at the hotel, I was off to ride the Royal Gorge Train, which by namesake rolls through the Royal Gorge Canyon along the Arkansas River out of Canon City, Colorado. It only goes about 12 miles, then reverses and heads back. It takes two hours for the entire journey.
I always ride in the open-air car so I can take good pictures and enjoy the view. Other passengers sit the entire journey in their coach seat, while others pay a lot more and ride in the full length dome dining cars and have a full gourmet meal served to them at their table, all freshly prepared onboard in each car's own kitchen. The frustrating part of that is while in the open-air car, we can smell the delicious food being cooked from the car in front of us!
The weather was beautiful with temps in the low 70's and blue skies, and it's always windy in the gorge. We encountered a number of white water rafters plying their skills along the way, and some decided to "moon" the train. Everyone got a kick out of it.
After we got back to the depot, I immediately headed out of town and began driving to Taos, New Mexico, which is about 300 miles and almost 5 hours away. I was winding through the mountains cutting through tight canyons on winding roads and stopped in Salida, CO to grab a burger at Sonic. The girl at the drive-thru speaker was absolutely clueless of what she was supposed to do. She would take an order at the speaker, the car would move up, they would pay and drive off, and THEN she would take the next car's order. There's room for four cars to stack up, but nooooo....one at a time. She's an idiot.
In this town, I also ran across one of the many marijuana retail stores along my route. Looks like any other business...big sign out front, everyone welcome, come on in, etc. With me working in law enforcement, it's just really strange to see that.
After my mountain driving, I eventually ended up in a huge open plain of very flat land as I headed south. There was a mountain range to my left (the one I just went through), and another to my right. The air was so clear and the ground so flat, I could see mountains 100 miles away in front of me. Really amazing. This is the third time I've driven this route, and I love it every time.
I passed through Alamosa and Antonito, Colorado, and soon crossed the border into New Mexico. 45 minutes later I pull into Taos and look for my hotel, another Super 8. Driving through Taos is interesting. It's very "artsy" and cool and hip. Lots of craft stores, art galleries, pottery stores, and of course the beautiful mountains in which this city lies at the base of. I checked into the hotel and immediately notice the hallways to the rooms are painted red on one side, yellow on the other, with a weird color of orange and brown carpet. I affectionately call the look "Early Mexican Brothel". Thankfully, the rooms are normal with white walls and decent decor.
I had dinner at a restaurant about a mile from the hotel called El Taoseno, as recommended by a friend. Although it sounds like a Mexican restaurant, and they indeed did have Mexican food, they also had chicken fried steak, burgers, chicken sandwiches, etc. I had the hamburger steak with onions and gravy, corn, mashed potatoes, and a side salad. Very delicious, and inexpensive. My kinda place! I'm meeting a new friend I met on Facebook at the same place tomorrow morning for breakfast, then we're going for a hike and doing some looking around. My new friend is from Houston, and he and his wife retired to Taos, and has the same outlook on politics as I do, so the conversation should be fun. We've never met in person, but I look forward to doing so, and meeting his dog Buddy of which he posts daily updates as to Buddy's daily hikes and romps in the river.
If I'm lucky, I'll become a FOB.....Friend of Buddy.
Day 4 - Monday, September 28th
Unlike the past few days of sleeping in, that's not the case today. I had a train to catch!
After cleaning up, packing and loading the car, and grabbing a bit of breakfast at the hotel, I was off to ride the Royal Gorge Train, which by namesake rolls through the Royal Gorge Canyon along the Arkansas River out of Canon City, Colorado. It only goes about 12 miles, then reverses and heads back. It takes two hours for the entire journey.
I always ride in the open-air car so I can take good pictures and enjoy the view. Other passengers sit the entire journey in their coach seat, while others pay a lot more and ride in the full length dome dining cars and have a full gourmet meal served to them at their table, all freshly prepared onboard in each car's own kitchen. The frustrating part of that is while in the open-air car, we can smell the delicious food being cooked from the car in front of us!
The weather was beautiful with temps in the low 70's and blue skies, and it's always windy in the gorge. We encountered a number of white water rafters plying their skills along the way, and some decided to "moon" the train. Everyone got a kick out of it.
After we got back to the depot, I immediately headed out of town and began driving to Taos, New Mexico, which is about 300 miles and almost 5 hours away. I was winding through the mountains cutting through tight canyons on winding roads and stopped in Salida, CO to grab a burger at Sonic. The girl at the drive-thru speaker was absolutely clueless of what she was supposed to do. She would take an order at the speaker, the car would move up, they would pay and drive off, and THEN she would take the next car's order. There's room for four cars to stack up, but nooooo....one at a time. She's an idiot.
In this town, I also ran across one of the many marijuana retail stores along my route. Looks like any other business...big sign out front, everyone welcome, come on in, etc. With me working in law enforcement, it's just really strange to see that.
After my mountain driving, I eventually ended up in a huge open plain of very flat land as I headed south. There was a mountain range to my left (the one I just went through), and another to my right. The air was so clear and the ground so flat, I could see mountains 100 miles away in front of me. Really amazing. This is the third time I've driven this route, and I love it every time.
I passed through Alamosa and Antonito, Colorado, and soon crossed the border into New Mexico. 45 minutes later I pull into Taos and look for my hotel, another Super 8. Driving through Taos is interesting. It's very "artsy" and cool and hip. Lots of craft stores, art galleries, pottery stores, and of course the beautiful mountains in which this city lies at the base of. I checked into the hotel and immediately notice the hallways to the rooms are painted red on one side, yellow on the other, with a weird color of orange and brown carpet. I affectionately call the look "Early Mexican Brothel". Thankfully, the rooms are normal with white walls and decent decor.
I had dinner at a restaurant about a mile from the hotel called El Taoseno, as recommended by a friend. Although it sounds like a Mexican restaurant, and they indeed did have Mexican food, they also had chicken fried steak, burgers, chicken sandwiches, etc. I had the hamburger steak with onions and gravy, corn, mashed potatoes, and a side salad. Very delicious, and inexpensive. My kinda place! I'm meeting a new friend I met on Facebook at the same place tomorrow morning for breakfast, then we're going for a hike and doing some looking around. My new friend is from Houston, and he and his wife retired to Taos, and has the same outlook on politics as I do, so the conversation should be fun. We've never met in person, but I look forward to doing so, and meeting his dog Buddy of which he posts daily updates as to Buddy's daily hikes and romps in the river.
If I'm lucky, I'll become a FOB.....Friend of Buddy.
Monday, September 28, 2015
Colorado/New Mexico Vacation - 2015
Day 4 - Monday, September 28th
Unlike the past few days of sleeping in, that's not the case today. I had a train to catch!
After cleaning up, packing and loading the car, and grabbing a bit of breakfast at the hotel, I was off to ride the Royal Gorge Train, which by namesake rolls through the Royal Gorge Canyon along the Arkansas River out of Canon City, Colorado. It only goes about 12 miles, then reverses and heads back. It takes two hours for the entire journey.
I always ride in the open-air car so I can take good pictures and enjoy the view. Other passengers sit the entire journey in their coach seat, while others pay a lot more and ride in the full length dome dining cars and have a full gourmet meal served to them at their table, all freshly prepared onboard in each car's own kitchen. The frustrating part of that is while in the open-air car, we can smell the delicious food being cooked from the car in front of us!
The weather was beautiful with temps in the low 70's and blue skies, and it's always windy in the gorge. We encountered a number of white water rafters plying their skills along the way, and some decided to "moon" the train. Everyone got a kick out of it.
After we got back to the depot, I immediately headed out of town and began driving to Taos, New Mexico, which is about 300 miles and almost 5 hours away. I was winding through the mountains cutting through tight canyons on winding roads and stopped in Salida, CO to grab a burger at Sonic. The girl at the drive-thru speaker was absolutely clueless of what she was supposed to do. She would take an order at the speaker, the car would move up, they would pay and drive off, and THEN she would take the next car's order. There's room for four cars to stack up, but nooooo....one at a time. She's an idiot.
In this town, I also ran across one of the many marijuana retail stores along my route. Looks like any other business...big sign out front, everyone welcome, come on in, etc. With me working in law enforcement, it's just really strange to see that.
After my mountain driving, I eventually ended up in a huge open plain of very flat land as I headed south. There was a mountain range to my left (the one I just went through), and another to my right. The air was so clear and the ground so flat, I could see mountains 100 miles away in front of me. Really amazing. This is the third time I've driven this route, and I love it every time.
I passed through Alamosa and Antonito, Colorado, and soon crossed the border into New Mexico. 45 minutes later I pull into Taos and look for my hotel, another Super 8. Driving through Taos is interesting. It's very "artsy" and cool and hip. Lots of craft stores, art galleries, pottery stores, and of course the beautiful mountains in which this city lies at the base of. I checked into the hotel and immediately notice the hallways to the rooms are painted red on one side, yellow on the other, with a weird color of orange and brown carpet. I affectionately call the look "Early Mexican Brothel". Thankfully, the rooms are normal with white walls and decent decor.
I had dinner at a restaurant about a mile from the hotel called El Taoseno, as recommended by a friend. Although it sounds like a Mexican restaurant, and they indeed did have Mexican food, they also had chicken fried steak, burgers, chicken sandwiches, etc. I had the hamburger steak with onions and gravy, corn, mashed potatoes, and a side salad. Very delicious, and inexpensive. My kinda place! I'm meeting a new friend I met on Facebook at the same place tomorrow morning for breakfast, then we're going for a hike and doing some looking around. My new friend is from Houston, and he and his wife retired to Taos, and has the same outlook on politics as I do, so the conversation should be fun. We've never met in person, but I look forward to doing so, and meeting his dog Buddy of which he posts daily updates as to Buddy's daily hikes and romps in the river.
If I'm lucky, I'll become a FOB.....Friend of Buddy.
Day 4 - Monday, September 28th
Unlike the past few days of sleeping in, that's not the case today. I had a train to catch!
After cleaning up, packing and loading the car, and grabbing a bit of breakfast at the hotel, I was off to ride the Royal Gorge Train, which by namesake rolls through the Royal Gorge Canyon along the Arkansas River out of Canon City, Colorado. It only goes about 12 miles, then reverses and heads back. It takes two hours for the entire journey.
I always ride in the open-air car so I can take good pictures and enjoy the view. Other passengers sit the entire journey in their coach seat, while others pay a lot more and ride in the full length dome dining cars and have a full gourmet meal served to them at their table, all freshly prepared onboard in each car's own kitchen. The frustrating part of that is while in the open-air car, we can smell the delicious food being cooked from the car in front of us!
The weather was beautiful with temps in the low 70's and blue skies, and it's always windy in the gorge. We encountered a number of white water rafters plying their skills along the way, and some decided to "moon" the train. Everyone got a kick out of it.
After we got back to the depot, I immediately headed out of town and began driving to Taos, New Mexico, which is about 300 miles and almost 5 hours away. I was winding through the mountains cutting through tight canyons on winding roads and stopped in Salida, CO to grab a burger at Sonic. The girl at the drive-thru speaker was absolutely clueless of what she was supposed to do. She would take an order at the speaker, the car would move up, they would pay and drive off, and THEN she would take the next car's order. There's room for four cars to stack up, but nooooo....one at a time. She's an idiot.
In this town, I also ran across one of the many marijuana retail stores along my route. Looks like any other business...big sign out front, everyone welcome, come on in, etc. With me working in law enforcement, it's just really strange to see that.
After my mountain driving, I eventually ended up in a huge open plain of very flat land as I headed south. There was a mountain range to my left (the one I just went through), and another to my right. The air was so clear and the ground so flat, I could see mountains 100 miles away in front of me. Really amazing. This is the third time I've driven this route, and I love it every time.
I passed through Alamosa and Antonito, Colorado, and soon crossed the border into New Mexico. 45 minutes later I pull into Taos and look for my hotel, another Super 8. Driving through Taos is interesting. It's very "artsy" and cool and hip. Lots of craft stores, art galleries, pottery stores, and of course the beautiful mountains in which this city lies at the base of. I checked into the hotel and immediately notice the hallways to the rooms are painted red on one side, yellow on the other, with a weird color of orange and brown carpet. I affectionately call the look "Early Mexican Brothel". Thankfully, the rooms are normal with white walls and decent decor.
I had dinner at a restaurant about a mile from the hotel called El Taoseno, as recommended by a friend. Although it sounds like a Mexican restaurant, and they indeed did have Mexican food, they also had chicken fried steak, burgers, chicken sandwiches, etc. I had the hamburger steak with onions and gravy, corn, mashed potatoes, and a side salad. Very delicious, and inexpensive. My kinda place! I'm meeting a new friend I met on Facebook at the same place tomorrow morning for breakfast, then we're going for a hike and doing some looking around. My new friend is from Houston, and he and his wife retired to Taos, and has the same outlook on politics as I do, so the conversation should be fun. We've never met in person, but I look forward to doing so, and meeting his dog Buddy of which he posts daily updates as to Buddy's daily hikes and romps in the river.
If I'm lucky, I'll become a FOB.....Friend of Buddy.
Saturday, September 26, 2015
Colorado/New Mexico Vacation - 2015
Day 2 - Saturday, September 26
These are the kinds of days I really enjoy while on vacation. We slept in and didn't have to get up for anything. No schedule, no destination, just relaxing. You don't realize how busy, crazy and hectic your everyday life is until you can take a step back and wind down like we did this morning.
We gathered in the living room and chatted for over an hour catching up on friends, family, and generally solved the world's problems until we got hungry. Time for a late breakfast/lunch! After showering we headed to a neat bistro called Sassafras in Downtown Denver. It must be good as we had to wait about 45 minutes to get a table. We sat in the upstairs waiting area playing Scrabble until called. This place specializes in southern cooking, and found out the owner/chef was from Morgan City, Louisiana. We were served fresh made biscuits with homemade mixed berry jam to start with, and I ordered the fried catfish lunch. The fish was a bit greasy but good, and the cole slaw was delicious and had a nice kick to it. A little later I realized eating fried food as the first meal of the day isn't a good idea, especially since I rarely eat fried anything. My tummy was a bit upset but it soon passed and I was fine. This establishment is near the state Capitol and it made for interesting people watching. Lots of street people walking around mixed in with young hipsters and old hippies, and about everything in between.
After lunch we again headed back to Christopher and Rob's new house under construction to check the progress, and everything was on track. Afterwards we went back to the apartment and ended up napping a while, as one does while on vacation.
We got up and decided to go ride the new light rail line out to Golden, Colorado. It was a long trip, and honestly I got a little bored, but I thanked the guys for indulging me in getting my rail fix for the day. On the way out to Golden we stopped at the newly revamped Union Station in Downtown Denver, and it is spectacular! When I last saw it two years ago they were just starting the reconstruction of the area and all the tracks were gone and it was just a big hole and dirt everywhere in back off the depot. Also, if you went inside the station it was barren and mostly unused except for the Amtrak ticket counter. Not now! There are new canopies over new tracks, a new hotel and bar inside, gift shops, and even a live jazz band playing inside. The place was bustling with lots of people looking around, enjoying beverages at the bar while listening to music, shopping in the little boutiques lining the inside walls, and it was just a real hip hang out for everyone, and it was satisfying to see people coming here and taking advantage of this beautiful place. Well done, Denver!
We got back to the car after the long Golden trip and decided to get Vietnamese food for dinner, so we headed to an area called Centennial, Colorado and stopped at Pho95. The service was excellent, and so was the food. We had an appetizer of spring rolls, and I enjoyed a big bowl of Pho. Christopher and Rob had rice bowls which looked yummy. The restaurant is located in an open concept shopping area that seems to be the trend across the country. Lots of bars, restaurants, shops, and apartments, all in the same area. We walked into the Whole Foods Market to look around and soon discovered what I had heard for years...this place is expensive! If you don't mind paying $6 for a loaf of bread and $12 for mini-desserts, this is the place for you. It's definitely not MY kind of place, but it was nice to finally see the store.
Afterwards, we headed back to the apartment and watched some TV and talked a bit.
Not an overly exciting day, but like I said earlier, it's nice to just relax and do next to nothing. I head south to Canon City, Colorado tomorrow, which is only about two and a half hours from Denver, so I have no plans to leave early. I'll be riding the Royal Gorge train Monday morning and then heading into New Mexico for the remainder of my vacation. Details on those plans will be forthcoming.
See ya tomorrow!
Day 2 - Saturday, September 26
These are the kinds of days I really enjoy while on vacation. We slept in and didn't have to get up for anything. No schedule, no destination, just relaxing. You don't realize how busy, crazy and hectic your everyday life is until you can take a step back and wind down like we did this morning.
We gathered in the living room and chatted for over an hour catching up on friends, family, and generally solved the world's problems until we got hungry. Time for a late breakfast/lunch! After showering we headed to a neat bistro called Sassafras in Downtown Denver. It must be good as we had to wait about 45 minutes to get a table. We sat in the upstairs waiting area playing Scrabble until called. This place specializes in southern cooking, and found out the owner/chef was from Morgan City, Louisiana. We were served fresh made biscuits with homemade mixed berry jam to start with, and I ordered the fried catfish lunch. The fish was a bit greasy but good, and the cole slaw was delicious and had a nice kick to it. A little later I realized eating fried food as the first meal of the day isn't a good idea, especially since I rarely eat fried anything. My tummy was a bit upset but it soon passed and I was fine. This establishment is near the state Capitol and it made for interesting people watching. Lots of street people walking around mixed in with young hipsters and old hippies, and about everything in between.
After lunch we again headed back to Christopher and Rob's new house under construction to check the progress, and everything was on track. Afterwards we went back to the apartment and ended up napping a while, as one does while on vacation.
We got up and decided to go ride the new light rail line out to Golden, Colorado. It was a long trip, and honestly I got a little bored, but I thanked the guys for indulging me in getting my rail fix for the day. On the way out to Golden we stopped at the newly revamped Union Station in Downtown Denver, and it is spectacular! When I last saw it two years ago they were just starting the reconstruction of the area and all the tracks were gone and it was just a big hole and dirt everywhere in back off the depot. Also, if you went inside the station it was barren and mostly unused except for the Amtrak ticket counter. Not now! There are new canopies over new tracks, a new hotel and bar inside, gift shops, and even a live jazz band playing inside. The place was bustling with lots of people looking around, enjoying beverages at the bar while listening to music, shopping in the little boutiques lining the inside walls, and it was just a real hip hang out for everyone, and it was satisfying to see people coming here and taking advantage of this beautiful place. Well done, Denver!
We got back to the car after the long Golden trip and decided to get Vietnamese food for dinner, so we headed to an area called Centennial, Colorado and stopped at Pho95. The service was excellent, and so was the food. We had an appetizer of spring rolls, and I enjoyed a big bowl of Pho. Christopher and Rob had rice bowls which looked yummy. The restaurant is located in an open concept shopping area that seems to be the trend across the country. Lots of bars, restaurants, shops, and apartments, all in the same area. We walked into the Whole Foods Market to look around and soon discovered what I had heard for years...this place is expensive! If you don't mind paying $6 for a loaf of bread and $12 for mini-desserts, this is the place for you. It's definitely not MY kind of place, but it was nice to finally see the store.
Afterwards, we headed back to the apartment and watched some TV and talked a bit.
Not an overly exciting day, but like I said earlier, it's nice to just relax and do next to nothing. I head south to Canon City, Colorado tomorrow, which is only about two and a half hours from Denver, so I have no plans to leave early. I'll be riding the Royal Gorge train Monday morning and then heading into New Mexico for the remainder of my vacation. Details on those plans will be forthcoming.
See ya tomorrow!
Friday, September 25, 2015
Colorado/New Mexico Vacation - 2015
This latest adventure is my somewhat-annual trip to Colorado and New Mexico to catch up with old friends, with the possibility of meeting new ones. I start in Denver and work my way south to various destinations. Some are for sightseeing, others are for riding trains, which is no surprise to anyone that knows me. Although I love Houston and my job, it's becoming more and more necessary for me to escape to remote destinations...ones I've been to before, as well as news ones I hope to encounter. It's been a tough year with the passing of my mom, but it's also been a wonderful year for many reasons. Life, with it's changes, adventures and unknowns, continue to excite me and maintain my positive outlook on the world around me.
With that being said, and my already missing Lawrence and our dog Desiree, let the adventure begin:
Day 1 - Friday, September 25th
11:45 am - Here I sit at the terminal at Hobby Airport waiting for my flight to board for Denver. I got up early and packed some warm clothes as it's getting into the 30's where I'm heading, and got all my camera gear packed as well. Thanks to my friends and co-workers at the police department's helicopter division here at the airport, I was able to park my car there and get a ride to the terminal. In a police car. Why not arrive in style! At least I didn't have to ride in the backseat, but my luggage did.
I got through security in no time and then stopped for some lunch. Eating at the airport is like eating at a ballpark...two tacos with rice and a drink...$20. Being a captive audience is definitely to their advantage.
I was number 39 to board the plane, which is wonderful for seat selection. It costs a few bucks more, but it's worth it. I got my aisle seat, and pretty soon a nice young lady arrives with her 2-year-old to sit next to me. This will possibly turn into the 2-hour Screaming Baby Express pretty quickly. I might slip the child a Dramamine in her sippy cup.
If I have any sanity left when I arrive in Denver in two hours, it will be a good thing. Doors are closing...gotta go.
1:45pm (Mountain Time) - A smooth flight, and right on time into Denver. Surprisingly, the 2-year-old was very quiet, other than the usual banter with her mother concerning a banana and Mickey Mouse, and some cute singing. No screaming, at least not from her. A few rows up it was a different story. Although they were a few rows up, it's still ear shattering whilst inside a metal tube. I should have just started chunking Dramamine up there. Anonymously, of course.
The weather in Denver is amazing as always. Sunny and mid-70's with low humidity. It's a little hazy making it difficult to see the Rocky Mountains, but I know they're there. It's supposed to be around 50 degrees tonight. Awesome!
I'm on the shuttle to the rental car lot. Let's see if the Bentley (Toyota or equivalent) is ready for me.
3:45pm - It took over an hour to get through the line at the rental car place. Their computers were messed up and there were a lot of irritated customers, understandably. I wasn't one of them. I understand these things happen, and I felt sorry for the employees. Besides, I do the same thing at my job, and now I'm on vacation and not in any hurry, so I'm chillin'. As for the car, I got a bright red Hyundai Elantra. It has 4800 miles on it, rides like a rock, is ergonomically uncomfortable, and has the pickup of a turtle. I now remember why I have driven Hondas for 30+ years, and I miss mine already.
I'm staying the next two nights with my newly-married friends Christopher and Rob here in Denver. I'm waiting for Christopher at the subdivision where they are building a new house, then we'll head to their apartment and settle in. I have no idea what plans we have for dinner tonight, but I know a good German restaurant close by in Aurora. There are no good German restaurants in Houston, so I've been craving it! I'll try and convince them.
8:30pm - We actually did try to go to Helga's for German food, but it was Octoberfest, and the wait was long. We decided to go to a close-by Greek restaurant instead and it was quite good. We'll try Helga's for lunch tomorrow.
Speaking of tomorrow....I have no idea what the plans are, but since I'm on vacation, I don't really care. I just want to relax and enjoy the beautiful, low humidity weather and the view of the mountains.
This latest adventure is my somewhat-annual trip to Colorado and New Mexico to catch up with old friends, with the possibility of meeting new ones. I start in Denver and work my way south to various destinations. Some are for sightseeing, others are for riding trains, which is no surprise to anyone that knows me. Although I love Houston and my job, it's becoming more and more necessary for me to escape to remote destinations...ones I've been to before, as well as news ones I hope to encounter. It's been a tough year with the passing of my mom, but it's also been a wonderful year for many reasons. Life, with it's changes, adventures and unknowns, continue to excite me and maintain my positive outlook on the world around me.
With that being said, and my already missing Lawrence and our dog Desiree, let the adventure begin:
Day 1 - Friday, September 25th
11:45 am - Here I sit at the terminal at Hobby Airport waiting for my flight to board for Denver. I got up early and packed some warm clothes as it's getting into the 30's where I'm heading, and got all my camera gear packed as well. Thanks to my friends and co-workers at the police department's helicopter division here at the airport, I was able to park my car there and get a ride to the terminal. In a police car. Why not arrive in style! At least I didn't have to ride in the backseat, but my luggage did.
I got through security in no time and then stopped for some lunch. Eating at the airport is like eating at a ballpark...two tacos with rice and a drink...$20. Being a captive audience is definitely to their advantage.
I was number 39 to board the plane, which is wonderful for seat selection. It costs a few bucks more, but it's worth it. I got my aisle seat, and pretty soon a nice young lady arrives with her 2-year-old to sit next to me. This will possibly turn into the 2-hour Screaming Baby Express pretty quickly. I might slip the child a Dramamine in her sippy cup.
If I have any sanity left when I arrive in Denver in two hours, it will be a good thing. Doors are closing...gotta go.
1:45pm (Mountain Time) - A smooth flight, and right on time into Denver. Surprisingly, the 2-year-old was very quiet, other than the usual banter with her mother concerning a banana and Mickey Mouse, and some cute singing. No screaming, at least not from her. A few rows up it was a different story. Although they were a few rows up, it's still ear shattering whilst inside a metal tube. I should have just started chunking Dramamine up there. Anonymously, of course.
The weather in Denver is amazing as always. Sunny and mid-70's with low humidity. It's a little hazy making it difficult to see the Rocky Mountains, but I know they're there. It's supposed to be around 50 degrees tonight. Awesome!
I'm on the shuttle to the rental car lot. Let's see if the Bentley (Toyota or equivalent) is ready for me.
3:45pm - It took over an hour to get through the line at the rental car place. Their computers were messed up and there were a lot of irritated customers, understandably. I wasn't one of them. I understand these things happen, and I felt sorry for the employees. Besides, I do the same thing at my job, and now I'm on vacation and not in any hurry, so I'm chillin'. As for the car, I got a bright red Hyundai Elantra. It has 4800 miles on it, rides like a rock, is ergonomically uncomfortable, and has the pickup of a turtle. I now remember why I have driven Hondas for 30+ years, and I miss mine already.
I'm staying the next two nights with my newly-married friends Christopher and Rob here in Denver. I'm waiting for Christopher at the subdivision where they are building a new house, then we'll head to their apartment and settle in. I have no idea what plans we have for dinner tonight, but I know a good German restaurant close by in Aurora. There are no good German restaurants in Houston, so I've been craving it! I'll try and convince them.
8:30pm - We actually did try to go to Helga's for German food, but it was Octoberfest, and the wait was long. We decided to go to a close-by Greek restaurant instead and it was quite good. We'll try Helga's for lunch tomorrow.
Speaking of tomorrow....I have no idea what the plans are, but since I'm on vacation, I don't really care. I just want to relax and enjoy the beautiful, low humidity weather and the view of the mountains.
Sunday, June 7, 2015
Minnesota Vacation - 2015
Day 3
We got up this morning in Osceola, Iowa and first things first, took the dog out. It was overcast, a little chilly, and very windy. It looked like we had gotten a very small amount of rain overnight by the dirty water spots on the windshield. We loaded up the car and headed out. We went back to the casino we visited last night, but this time only for the breakfast buffet...no gambling. Too early for that. The buffet was fair at best, but inexpensive. One weird item they had was a breakfast egg roll. Never seen that before, and it had no real flavor. I'm not even sure what was in it. One bite was enough.
We left and headed north once again and hit Des Moines about 44 miles later. We stopped in Ames, Iowa a little north of Des Moines and filled up. With a clean windshield and purchased snacks, as well as a bottle of water for the dog, we're off.
We hit some freeway construction on I-35, but no backups. Not surprising on a Sunday. We stopped again just before the Minnesota border at the last rest area in Iowa. Potty breaks for everyone, and once again, we're off.
It's always exciting to cross into Minnesota as we realize we have finally made it after three days of driving. We exit in Owatanna and head west on Hwy 14 towards Mankato and eventually New Ulm. After a total of 1286 miles and about 22 hours driving time, we arrive right on schedule at 3pm at Lawrence's brother's home out in the country amongst the corn fields. It's a big, beautiful multi-level place with a basement, which is where we stay. The basement has its own entrance doors leading out to the backyard and the lake and river flowing by. It's not what you would think of as a regular, dark, closed-in basement. It's really nice.
Lawrence's family from all over the area started arriving and there were lots of hugs and shaking of hands since we haven't been here in four years. Lots of catching up to do, and we did. We were sitting on the back patio watching a large, dark thunderstorm move our way, and when it arrived the temperature dropped very quickly into the low 60's with strong winds and heavy rain. We watched the three horses run from grazing towards the barn for protection. The numerous ducks wandering the property were fine in the rain.
It soon became dinner time, and for some reason I started to get an upset tummy. Bad enough that I excused myself to the basement to lie down for a while as others ate dinner upstairs. They had grilled German bratwursts, burgers, potato salad and watermelon. It must have been the breakfast buffet that didn't agree with me. Too much grease and that breakfast egg roll. I took some Tums and the tummy felt better soon, but I still wasn't able to eat much until hours later when I heat up a couple of small burger patties and enjoyed those.
Now it's getting late and I'm getting tired. It's still chilly outside and we need jackets. It's supposed to get into the 50's tonight, something I'm not used to this time of year in Texas. So far the only plans we have are this Thursday were going to an old fashioned ice cream social at a local church, and we'll do bingo at the casino one night this week, and this weekend we may go to Minneapolis to visit more family and stay the night with them. Other than that, we're here to just relax and unwind, and so far, we're off to a good start.
Saturday, June 6, 2015
Minnesota Vacation - Day 2
Saturday, June 6th
All three of us had a restful night and like yesterday, had an earlier than expected departure. This time at 9:45am. Next to the hotel was a gas station so I decided to fill up. The problem was the pumps were running extremely slow, so after a few agonizing gallons, half a tank, and frustration, we hit I-35 and headed north again. Yesterday we drove a total of 345 miles. Today we travel from the Texas/Oklahoma border to almost Des Moines, Iowa. It will be a lot more than 345 miles.
We didn't go far until we stopped in Ardmore, OK and the Denny's for breakfast. I saw another customer use her AARP card for a discount, so I did too! Saved a little over $3. I handed the cashier a $50 bill for my check totaling $19.90, and she promptly gave me 10 cents change. Um, that was a fifty my dear, so she quickly opened the drawer and gave me an additional $30. She said it was her first day. Uh-huh.
Somewhere well on the other side of Oklahoma City we pulled off for potty breaks and goodies. Is was at this point I finally figured out why the dog loves to travel in the car with us. I thought it was because she was with her daddy and Uncle Bill. But no, I was wrong. I can sum up her joy of traveling in one word: Snacks. At home, she eats dog food and the occasional scrap from dinner. On the road, and so far today, she's had a ham and cheese omelette, DQ soft-serve ice cream with whipped cream, Chex mix, and a Hardee's cheeseburger. We're only halfway through our day and she's eating like royalty. They're very small portions, of course, but to her, it's heaven.
If you've never driven through Oklahoma and Kansas, I can tell you it's always windy. It's mostly open plains and of the few trees along this freeway, you can see that they all grow a little askew and lean north because of the constant wind hitting them. Pretty interesting.
We made another stop at a large "convenience area" along the Kansas Turnpike. It has a Hardee's burger place, gas station, convenience store and large restrooms. It's no Buc-ee's, but it'll suffice. I was surprised when Lawrence said he wanted to drive! He NEVER drives! It's open turnpike and not much traffic, so why not. I'm sitting in the backseat with the dog and feel like a nervous parent riding with a teenager beginning to drive. I won't nap, I assure you.
I wanted to make note that we haven't seen one highway patrol officer yet. That was until Lawrence started driving and within 5 minutes a Kansas State Trooper passed us. The key phrase here is "passed us", not followed us. The nervous parent came out again.
(Later that same day.....)
I took back over the controls before we got into Kansas City and stayed with it until we arrived in Osceola, Iowa, our overnight destination. This small town is south of, and is also the Amtrak stop for, Des Moines. We arrived at 8:15pm, which means we drove for 10 1/2 hours and 625 miles. We checked into the Days Inn, and after unloading the car of valuables, we weren't really feeling too tired, so we loaded up the car with us and the dog and headed one exit north on the freeway to what used to be called Terrible's Casino. I guess they finally figured out that it was not an appealing name and changed it to the Lakeside Hotel and Casino. We played slots and maintained for a while. Lawrence about broke even and I was down a little, much like last night at Winstar. Not too bad.
On the way back to the hotel we stopped at Subway for a sandwich. It's the first Subway I've ever seen that is 24 hours. I guess being next to a casino you have to. We ate back at the hotel and got ready for bed. Yes, the dog ate Subway with us. She hasn't eaten any of her dry food for two days now. I'm beginning to think she might be a little spoiled.
Tomorrow we reach our destination of New Ulm, Minnesota. According to Google Maps it's 4 1/2 hours and 300 miles. Easy, compared to today. It will be good to finally arrive as we haven't been back there for four years. We usually go every year, but a few things kept us in Houston. We bought and remodeled a new house, which took a year and a half to complete. We also moved, I was promoted at work, we lost our baby boy Rusty and got our new baby girl Desiree 6 days later, I started driving for Uber, and we bought a new car, which is the one we are driving to Minnesota in. The time finally came to slow down and take time from all our jobs, drive for two and a half days on a very familiar route, and finally get to visit family we have missed for years.
Friday, June 5, 2015
Minnesota Vacation - 2015
Day One - Friday, June 5th
Surprisingly, we got out of Houston earlier than I thought we would. I thought we'd leave around 2pm...early enough to beat the Friday afternoon rush hour of Houston, and get into Dallas at the tail-end of theirs. We departed the house a little before noon, went to the bank, then headed north.
We made it to Buc-ee's in Madisonville a couple of hours later, and it was packed! I thought it would be fairly normal being a weekday, but I was wrong. I guess everyone had the same idea we did. After walking the dog, a restroom break for us and purchasing sandwiches and drinks (no, we did not get Beaver Nuggets or beef jerky) we were once again headed north on I-45.
Right on schedule, we hit Dallas Friday afternoon rush hour, and it was heavy of course, but the worst part was after we got on I35E towards Denton, we crawled all the way into Denton. There was a stalled vehicle in one area, and then everyone was gawking at how high the water was in Lake Lewisville. Throw in some construction the whole way, and you've got a miserable and hot two hour stop-and-go parade.
It was about 91 when we left Houston, and we hit 96 in Dallas. Thankfully, my new Honda CR-V has great air conditioning so we were comfortable the entire time. The car is getting about 32 miles per gallon and is very comfortable. Of course, the inside of the car looks like a rolling Radio Shack with all the Apple iPhones, Apple Watches, Apple iPads and their associated chargers all plugged into a power inverter. It was a geek-fest. That's just us.
We crossed the Red River into Oklahoma, and it was the highest I'd ever seen it after all the rains they had up here the last couple of weeks. We took OK Exit 1 and headed to our hotel at the Winstar Casino. We unloaded the car of anything valuable, got settled into the room, walked the dog again, and Lawrence and I headed to the casino. We could have walked there, but it was too darn hot. I drove the 1/2 mile to the casino and parked.
This casino claims to be the largest in the world, and it just may be. It goes on forever, and there are thousands of slot machines, and numerous table games. I did pretty well as I hit a $179 jackpot, which is very rare for me. We were getting hungry and decided to go the DQ inside the casino for dinner. Surprisingly, this particular DQ only sells desserts...no burgers or other popular menu items. We were directed next door to an actual burger place and had a quick bite.
A little after 11pm I started to get sleepy and we headed to the hotel for the night. Once again, we walked the dog and gave her something to eat, and we started reading and writing on our various devices. The noisy air conditioner, which I like because it blocks out freeway noise, is lulling me to sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day as we are traveling through Oklahoma, Kansas, a little bit of Missouri, and into Iowa where we will stay the night somewhere near Des Moines. We normally go to Kansas City, but we want to get into New Ulm, Minnesota, our final destination, fairly early to visit family and have dinner together.
Until tomorrow......
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