Sunday is Rodeo Day

We did not have to be at Frontier Park for the Rodeo, until 11:00 AM. The behind the shoots tour began at eleven, we got there just in time. WE drove the car to the park and ride and took the school bus to the park. The Rodeo was fun but but there was a couple of accidents, where a horse died and the cowboy went to the hospital. One horse bucked across the arena, and went over the stage, dumped the rider, got up and ran into a fence. He was all right though. A calf was hurt and they carried him off. Virginia and I got up and went shopping for a while. We watched calf roping, bull riding, barrel racing, bronc riding and a wild horse race.  One bull came out, threw his rider off and stood in the middle of the arena and didn't want to go back in the gate.  3 riders roped his horns and tried to pull him off the arena but they couldn't make him budge.  There also was a team of 6 black horses that pulled a wagon and did circle 8's in a small space.  They were just beautiful.  Sunday of course was the hottest day so glad we could sit in the shade.  Afterward we shopped the arena.  Monday was cooler and a kick back day.  We sat around in the morning and than went to the mall and saw Harry Potter.  Instead of going to the pancake breakfast with 10,000 other people we opted for IHOP.  I got my nails done and we did some grocery shopping.  Than we went to friends home for a great dinner and talk.  We also got to see the Thunderbirds fly over and do some practicing for the air show on Wed.  We have enjoyed Cheyenne and the Rodeo, had a few thunder showers and nice cool breezes and great skies with puffy white clouds.  Tomorrow is a travel day and onto Nebraska. JVP

Cheyenne, Wy Parade

Sat morning and we are off to McDonald's for breakfast and than on to put out our chairs on the curb for the parade. It started right on time and a great parade with horses, wagons, fire trucks, tractors, old cars and 2 high school bands.  It was a great parade.  Came home and had lunch at trailer park which we usually don't because we are out.  Then friends our Alpenlite club from Calif (Jim & Zilpha) stopped by for a short visit on their way to Colorado.  After that we drove out to Terry's Buffalo Ranch but decided it really wasn't the tour we wanted but Joy did get her Buffalo skull.  Had dinner at the RV's and relaxed in the cool breeze. Pictures are taken at parade. Buddy and Max are doing good, they are enjoying being able to run around the park without a leash in the storage area. Of course, Max has his own seeing eye person. JVP

Cheyenne, Wy

Arrived here at Jolly Roger's RV Sales and Service on Wed. There is 17 camping spots in the back.  We have full hook ups and some green around otherwise we are in the back of a trailer repair shop.  It is quiet at night and is getting busy as we approach the weekend for the Rodeo.  The ride down was beautiful through a canyon and the river beside us.  We saw a lot of fishermen in the stream fly fishing.  We took the trolly ride through the city to see the sights.  Ate dinner home and barbacued steaks.  Went to Frontier Park to get our rodeo tickets for Sunday and then watched some free shows at the rodeo grounds.  The horses are just beautiful. Today we visited Cheyenne Old West Museum and Wyoming State Museum.  We got a special tour of the Capitol Building with friends of Jim and Mary Pullen.  Mary Lou is secretary for Secretary of State (Max Maxfield). The picture that included of all of us is with him. Try doing that in California. We enjoyed seeing the Building, Tiffinay glass ceilings, wood paneling and house and state rooms.  We saw some magnificent statues and the 3rd largest buffalo ever recorded.  The weather has been perfect.  In the 70's and 80's most days with a nice breeze.  We've seen alot of thunder clouds and it got real black today but it passed us by. This morning we are going to the Parade, got to get an early start. JVP

Last Days of Colorado

Tuesday, July 14th  We drove into Boulder, Colorado to visit the Celestial Tea Factory.  Got to sample some teas and then watched a movie on their plant.  They get their tea leaves from all over the world.  Then we put on our hairnets and went into the plant.  We saw the tea leaves marked from Japan, Thailand, Gutamala and went into a closed room where they store the mint.  You can smell it as soon as you walk in and then your  eyes start burning.  We bought a few things in the store and then headed off to Kaiser.  Joy has had a sore neck for a few days but couldn't sleep last night so found her an appt. in Boulder.  We were there less than an hour and got some pain meds and inflamation pill.  Dr. thought is was from driving for so long.  Had lunch at Red Robin so Joy could start her pills and we were all hungry. Then we went to Leaning Tree (the card company).  They don't give factory tours any more but outside in their garden are huge beautiful bronze statues.  Then inside is a great collection of Western paintings and more sculpures.  Pat & I bought some cards. Ate dinner outside at home.  We have Elk in our campground.  Buddy thought he might see what they were but he minded John and came back.  Than will Pat, Elmon & I went for an evening walk there were 20 of them.  One a nice male with his antlers, a few other young males, about 8 babies and than Moms.  They weren't afraid of people at all.  We also have alot of ground squirrels so Riley (Manes cat) has been busy watching them.  Sat outside last night and watched the beautiful sunset with pink, purple clouds and the gorgeous mountains around.  This has been a beautiful state and weather has been just right.  We leave tomorrow for Cheynee and the rodeo. JVP

I am including a few good pictures.

Rocky Mountain High

This one of those days that a nap is in order. Yesterday we drove to Estes Park, Colorado. About 142 miles. No big deal, but we are climbing to a new level. 7850 ft. The campground good and is the closest to the park. I get Satellite reception, which is good. We are also getting good Cell phone signals. Today we went into the park and drove the 84 miles round trip. It was wonderful. the scenery was spectacular, with lots of wild life. Got back to the park about an hour ago and took a good nap. The altitude in the park got high as 12267 Ft. Air was in short supply. I am going to post a few pictures but don't know which ones yet. 

 The only thing that was disappointing, is seeing the devastation that the Bark Beetle is doing on the pine trees. The forest is ravaged by the insect. Lots of dead trees. They are losing many of the trees, what a shame. I will see if I can post some pictures now. The picture of all of us huddled under my awning is in the Colorado Springs campground, along with the first picture. The rest are in Estes Park, and in the Park. JVP

Colorado Days

Arrived here in Colorado Springs at Garden of Gods Campground.  Joy arrived the next morning so we are all here now.  Went to Mason Jar Restaurant with our niece Melanie and had their famous chicken fried steak.  Our first outing the next morning was to 7 Falls.  We rode the elevator which is inside the mountain (9 stories) rather than walking the 224 steps.  The falls were beautiful, saw some big trout in one of the ponds and lots of chipmunks. They even go inside the gift shop. Next was Miramont Castle built in 1895 with 9 different styles of architecture.  Thursday we were off to Littleton to see our Washington friends Scott and Doreen and celebrate her birthday at her daughters home.  Food and drink were great and Max and Buddy had a tiring day playing with their cocker and new dashound (which Buddy really liked).  While we were gone Elmon, Pat & Joy went to the Garden of the Gods (we had been there last year).  July 10th we went to the town of Manitou Springs and walked around the shops and saw the old buildings.  Next was one of the highlights of our trip.  We took the 1 1/2 hour each way cog railroad to the top of Pikes Peak.  We bought a lunch which we ate on the way up.  Really an interesting railroad trip, scenery and view from the top.  Not a lot of air up there so we took it real easy and then rode the cog back down the hill.  Really steep hills-18% grades in some places.  We also saw where the road comes up to the top.  Joy visited the zoo and wolf preserve while we did the peak.  She had done it many years ago and didn't know how she would do in the altitude.  Came home and  had dinner outside and had thunder, lightning and rain.  John & I sat outside under the awning and watched the storm go by.  Sat, July 11th our last days here in Colorado.  We went out to breakfast and then to Air Force Academy.  We had a short tour of the grounds, saw some of the planes and visited the chapel.  The chapel is just gorgeous inside and out. It was closed shortly after we left for 2 weddings.  Their is a chapel for Protestants upstairs with a huge pipe organ and then downstairs is a Catholic chapel, Jewish and Buddist chapels.  Came home and had a Bar-b-que with rain and thunder storms again.  We huddled under the awning and had our dinner while it rained.  Tomorrow we are off to see more of Colorado.  We have had a great time here.  Too much to see and do in just a few days but we had a good taste and will be back again.  It is a beautiful, green, mountains, rain and thunderstorms and red dirt place.  Pictures are Pikes Peak and  Air Force Chapel and B-52 outside on the grounds.

The First Days

We have been on the road for two days and are in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Its early, I could not sleep. Buddy and Max are in their bed snoring away. The sun is just coming up. Last night we had a beautiful sunset and the moon came up through the clouds. 

On Saturday we left home and drove to Palmdale. We spent the 4th with Pat and Elmon, our good friends that we travel with. On Sunday morning it was up early and on the road. We made it as far as Williams, Arizona. It was hot traveling through the desert, 108 in Needles. The coach did well in the heat. Stayed in a nice RV Park, at 7000 ft. and in the pine trees. The temperature was a mild 86 deg. Went in to Williams for dinner at a good Mexican restaurant. I had a Alaskan Amber beer. We shared a Fajitas and took half of it home for a dinner the next night. Monday was another 400 mile drive here to Albuquerque.  Should be shorter runs from now on-which we are all happy about.  Went to Camping World this morning and picked up a few things.