Fort Collins - 2015 - Final Thoughts

I am a bit slow finishing this.  After all, we have been back in Lawrence over a week.  Thank goodness I made some notes on the drive home.  These are written down as things popped into my mind.  Consequently, sometimes the events won't be in the order they occurred.  Final thoughts are for myself in case we ever want to retrace our path on one of our trips.

We basically lucked out with the weather this trip.  We did have sprinkles and wind on the way to Steamboat.  We just bundled up and kept going.  We traveled over Cameron and Rabbit Ears Passes to and from Steamboat Springs on Tuesday and Wednesday.  On Friday, my sister told me that they saw snow on Cameron Pass on the news.  Wow!  What a difference a few days can make.  I'm glad we had no snow this trip.  I am not yet ready for winter.  Probably won't ever be but in Kansas that season will definitely arrive.

As we were traveling over the mountains to Steamboat, we began to have issues with both cell and data service on our phones.  Not a biggie really but I am surprised at how much I use my phone for directions, weather, history—all things associated with our trip.  Things got worse once we hit Steamboat.  The internet was down.  Come to find out it was a major problem in that part of Colorado.  I'm not sure what went out but fortunately, the issue was resolved by the time we wanted to watch a movie and settle in for the night.  Our B&B uses Apple TV as one way to access movies for their guests.  They had a nice cozy home theatre.

I have already talked about the Victorian Luxury Bed and Breakfast but did want to mention a few more things.  As I said in an earlier post, we were able to order what we wanted off a menu for our breakfast.  We were also able to chose what time we wanted to arrive for breakfast between 7 and 9:30, if I recall correctly.  When we arrived, we were served a few goodies we had chosen and then Jane, our hostess, prepared the hot foods.  I haven't been to very many bed and breakfasts in the past few years, but it was nice to be able to decide what we wanted for breakfast and when  we wanted to eat.  Then to have our food freshly cooked was even more wonderful.  It was a great place.  I would definitely visit again. Below is a link to their web site.

Victorian Luxury Bed and Breakfast

I did post some photos of the ski jumps in Steamboat.  This is a training center and the jumps and landing areas were made of plastic.  These can be used in the warmer temperatures so jumpers can practice all year long.  I wish there would have been some jumpers when we were there.

Another interesting tidbit is that when we reached an area just below Fish Creek Falls, a man around our age, pointed out his mother-in-law to us.  She was 96 years old.  Unbelievable.  She was very spry although she did use a cane.  I asked if she walked on a regular basis.  Naturally, she did.  May I be this active when I am 96.

I need to mention the root beer we had a Gella's in Hays was homemade.  I now wish we had purchased some to bring home.  I must admit we don't have much extra space in our vehicle, though.

Last item is not of great importance but the Flint HIlls were greener coming home than on our way to Colorado.  We definitely had some rain while we were gone.

A couple more snapshots of the golden aspens.  Enjoy.  Hope to see you on our next trip.

Fort Collins - 2015 - Shopping Day

Back in Fort Collins.  Today is going to be slower than the last few.  We have a long drive tomorrow so are trying to rest up.  Of course, no better way to do that than to meander through downtown Fort Collins.  There were two or three stores I wanted to visit.  Those stores were all successful stops. We visited the toy store, a spice store, a kitchen supply store, and a Nepal Tibet import store.  I found some items I needed at every store but the toy store.  I did get some terrific ideas at the toy store for my youngest granddaughter's October birthday.  I will now hit the toy store in Lawrence and look for similar items.

One of the big surprises of the day was the Norman Rockwell Saturday Evening Post cover exhibit at the Fort Collins Museum of Art.  It was delightful.  Rockwell started providing the cover illustrations in 1916 and continued until the end of 1963.

When finished at the exhibit, we headed to Austin's American Grill.  James ordered French onion soup and a delicious cornbread with honey butter.  I chose Beer Cheese soup with 1/2 smoked tuna salad sandwich.  Both were delicious.  We are both hamburger lovers but has been so nice to have a few different things to eat on this trip.

This is the beer cheese soup with smoked tuna salad sandwich.  They serve popcorn with their beer soup.  Not sure why.

After lunch we shopped a little more before heading to Penny and Don's home.  Stopped at Serious Texas Bar-BQ to pick up some ribs for supper.  

Our last happy hour at the Penny and Don's

If you look closely, you can see an oil well nestled between some trees.  This is across from my sister and husband's home.  It does blend into the landscape.

We have a long trip tomorrow.  I will add my final thoughts in a day or two.

Fort Collins - 2015 - Fish Creek Falls

We started the day with a delightful breakfast.  We were able to chose from the menu when we checked in yesterday.  I had a smoothie, pumpkin Belgian waffle, bacon, orange juice, and coffee. Very filling.  Today we went to see Fish Creek Falls.  According to Trip Advisor this is the number one attraction in Steamboat Springs.  We wandered a mile or two in and around the falls.  We hiked to the upper falls and then to the bottom.

When we finished at the falls, we headed downtown to Winona's to pick up some deli sandwiches for our picnic on our return trip to Fort Collins.  Then we headed to the ski jump area where a training center is located.

From there we headed to Fort Collins.  Once again we picniced in Walden's park.  Unfortunately, it was raining.  Consequently, we ate in the car.  Oh well, those sandwiches from Winona's were delicious.

Tomorrow is shopping in Fort Collins.  Fun, fun, fun.   James can hardly wait.  Ha-ha.

Fort Collins - 2015 - Over the mountains to Steamboat Springs

We headed out about 9:30 toward the mountains.  My brother-in-law, Don, was our driver.  James always enjoys this as it is one of the few times he can sit back and just enjoy the sights.  The view of the mountains was outstanding.  I don't think we could have come at a time that was more colorful.  The aspens were as gold as I have ever seen them.  It was cloudy which made the colors more brilliant.  We went over two mountain passes, Cameron and Rabbit Ears.

Penny and Don at our first stop going over the mountains to Steamboat.

Take note of the Poudre River in the background.

Can you believe how brilliant the aspen trees are?

We brought our lunch and found a park in Waldon to enjoy our picnic.  It was very windy but we were able to find a table which was protected with some trees and bushes.  Walden is a very small town but is famous for the 1990 nation's Christmas tree which was supplied from this area.

More aspens in the background.

That is a beautiful blue spruce.

While in Walden, we saw a large number of foreign cars. After a little investigation, we discovered that the Colorado Grand was stopping in Walden for lunch.  This car cruise occurs once a year.  It starts and ends in Steamboat Springs and covers 1000 miles.  The cars must be 1960 or earlier.  I should have taken photos but was so startled to see these wonderful machines.  I did see one in Steamboat so I snapped a photo.  

After leaving Walden, the road became flat and less winding.  It was a different scenery than we had been having but also beautiful.

After arriving in Steamboat, we went hunting for our bed and breakfast.  Once we got close, it was easy to see as it looked exactly like the photos on their web site.  We walked in to find our name on an envelope with the key to our room.  We were on the third floor with no elevator.  It was certainly worth the walk up the stairs. 

My sister playing the music sitting on this Victorian piano.

Our room is the peak looking down on the garage.

We ran uptown for a bit of shopping and then back to the B&B for happy hour.  It consisted of several appetizers and some wine.  After enjoying happy hour, we decided to go downtown for supper.  We chose Mahogany Ridge Brewery and Grill.  We all ordered hamburgers.  These were 8 ounce burgers, so each couple split an order.  We certainly had plenty to eat.

 See brewery in the background.

After supper, we returned to the B&B to watch a movie in the theatre room.  They have a large screen projection TV.  Apple TV is what they use to operate the system.  We chose to watch Rush.  We had all seen it once before but certainly enjoyed it a second time.

 

Fort Collins - 2015 - On to Fort Collins

Today we headed to Fort Collins.  We had a fairly nice breakfast at the Sleep Inn.  Enjoyed the waffle that the attendant cooked for me.  Talk about getting waited on.  We were very satisfied with our room.  Probably made a bit of a mistake by insisting to stay on the front side so James could check on the car occasionally.  Well, the light from the parking lot made our room seem like it was daytime.  I would suggest the backside of the hotel for anyone who is going to stay there.  There is no parking in the back.  We were going to stop and see the Buffalo Bill Cultural Center before leaving town.  They were closed on Sunday but said they would open at 9 a.m. on Monday.  We arrived shortly after 9.  They were closed.  We didn't feel like waiting so on we headed.  I did take a few photos on the outside of the Center.  Pretty amazing.

These bronze sculptures are twice as large as real life.

This is a corn maze behind the Cultural Center.

We decided to not use interstate highways unless absolutely necessary today.  We drove I-70 to highway 27 on the west edge of Kansas.  From there we headed north and drove through the very most southwest corner of Nebraska before heading into Colorado on highway 34.  This is really very flat landscape but yet different than western Kansas.  It did made the drive a little more enjoyable.  

We headed into Greeley where we once again trusted Trip Advisor for lunch.  We ate at the Cranford Cove Tea Tavern.  It was a delightful lunch.  We had paninis.  I had an iced peach melba tea and James had a Colorado beer.  I am beginning to think Trip Advisor is quite useful.  

This is a Little Free Library on top of a small piano in the Tea Tavern.  The piano is short an octave of keys at each end.  

 This is my lunch.

After we finished our meal, we headed to Fort Collins.  We arrived shortly after 2 p.m. Tomorrow we are off to Steamboat Springs.

Fort Collins - 2015 - Travel Day

Well, today has had some great things as well as some disappointments.  We left about 8 am.  Our first stop was a picnic breakfast at the rest stop between Topeka and Manhattan.  We could have stopped somewhere else but I didn't want to get started on fast food too early in the trip.  We had a Fiber One breakfast bar, strawberry tube yogurt (Grandson didn't like it because it wasn' GoGurt. Oh well, we liked it.), half a banana, and either orange or tomato juice.  A pretty decent breakfast picnic. We stood knowing we were going to be in the car for a period of time today.

Next stop was Mushroom State Park.  The rocks were fascinating.  Not as many as I thought there would be.  We had to drive 1.5 miles on gravel road.  My husband loves me lots because he was willing to do that in our bucket list car.

Even though I included quite a few photos, we were not at Mushroom State Park very long.  Maybe 20 minutes.  

From here we headed on down the road to find a place for lunch.  I hate to admit it but food on a trip is fairly important to me.  We decided that we would arrive in Hays about lunch time.  I consulted Trip Advisor and decided that their number restuarant choice sounded very good.  It was Gella's Diner and Lb. Brewing Co..  We ordered smothered bierocks and their homemade root beer.  I must admit, very tasty.  

From here we headed to Castle Rock and Monument Rocks in Gove County.  We headed to Castle to discover that we would have to travel at 15 miles on gravel road.  Neither one of us was willing to do that.  On to Monument Rocks.  Same thing although less mileage but 5 or 6 miles.  Just not worth getting all those rock chips on our car.  Headed to Oakley and our reservation at the Sleep Inn.

Sleep Inn is very nice.  I believe it is fairly new.  Actually, I am quite surprised.  Not a lot of people here but it is Sunday night and this is Oakley, Kansas.

Once again, we chose to eat at the number 1 restaurant according to Trip Advisor, Cap'n Jack's Pub.  It is associated with High Plains RV camp.  It is where you can go to eat fish in the middle of the plains.  We ordered a meal that had fried calamari, fried cod, fried shrimp, and fries.  I thought it was terrific.  I really wanted  to try the crab cakes which is their specialty but it was just too much food.  James and I shared this and it was the perfect amount.  I would certainly recommend it as an eating place as you travel through western Kansas.  

Tomorrow we head on to Fort Collins.

Fort Collins - 2015

Today we are heading west once again.  This time we are going to go to my sister and husband's home in Fort Collins, Colorado.

As we travel through western Kansas to reach Colorado, we are going to be stopping at rock feature. I know, who knew there might be rock features in Kansas.  We visited to Rock City near Minneapolis, Kansas, when we were still living in north central Kansas.  I am hoping we have plenty of time to see all 3 of the ones I have planned for today.  If not, we will just drop one from the list and do that next time.

It is supposed to be a beautiful day.  Cool and currently cloudy.

Will let you know how the day went soon.

Frisco, Colorado 2015 - Final Thoughts

Once again we had a terrific time.  I think that everytime we go on a family vacation it is more fun. We did miss grandson Dominic.  He's missed the last 2 Colorado trips but we are hoping he makes the next one.  He is currently a very busy young man as most college students are.  We were fortunate that he was able to join us last year in Oklahoma.

I think one of the reasons that it keeps getting better is because of the age of the grandchildren.  They are able to enjoy more of the activities that are available.  Even almost 3-year-old Mary is able to do more things.

We all had a safe trip home which is the perfect way to end any trip.  The Davids were the first out the door.  I think around 5 am but am not sure.  They pulled into their home around 3.  The Cole Jrs. left a bit before us and we were on the road about 6.  We were home around 5.  Not sure what took us so much longer.  We did stop to eat twice plus a fill up in Frisco before heading out of town and another along the way.  We did stop at a rest area or two as well.  These old legs of ours need to get out and move a bit from time to time.

Here are a few more photos from this trip.  Enjoy and see you on our next trip.

We even ate breakfast together occasionally.  My husband cooked most of the breakfasts.  We do thank him for that.  Uncle Don helped from time to time as well.

Our trip wouldn't be complete without my sister and her husband.  We are so glad they join us.  They were the last to leave the house this year.  I do thank them for taking the last batch of trash to the trash garage.  I also appreciated that they inspected the house to make sure we left nothing.

The Davids brought a board game, Pass the Mustache.  The kids loved it.  Anyway, James picked up some extra mustaches.  It was fun!

Zeke and Mary

Penny and Don

Hannah

 Ash

Need I say more.  I think we all felt this way.

Eloise at home!