Aug 11, 2012 - County Fair

We spent the afternoon and evening at the Jefferson County Fair, located about 5 minutes from our campground. We were definitely out of our element since we are city slickers, but we enjoy seeing different aspects of American life on our travels. From what I could see, cowboy culture continues to survive in the 21st century. The first activity started at 1 p.m., a chili cookoff. We tried about 6 different kinds of chilis. I thought all chilis had beans in them but Jerry advised me that that is not accurate. We got to vote on our favorite...

Aug 7, 2012 - Variety Today

Today was hot, hot, hot. I didn't know it could get this hot in Denver. It may hit 100 this week. I'm not complaining. At least I'm not a farmer worrying about the corn crop. I'm just a retired, taking it easy vagabond who is hoping for some cooler afternoons. We spent the morning walking around Golden. We went to a living history museum but not much was happening there so after a short time, we headed over to Washington Street, the main street. There is a welcoming arch across the street that adds to the feeling of this being a...

Aug 4, 2012 - A Golden Perspective

Yesterday we drove to Golden which is just to the west of Denver. We are in a nice campground which is strategically located so that we can go sightseeing in Denver to the east and then go west into the mountains. We decided to go out to dinner in downtown Golden. Jerry and I both ordered New York Strip steaks. The whole meal was excellent from the salad to the steak. Our waiter, Tim, provided great service. He's getting a degree in Civil Engeineering and then plans to go to law school. Jerry had a good time talking to him and giving out a...

Jun 11, 2012 - Last day in Golden - Let's look for Gold

Monday, June 11, 2012 We had a special treat for breakfast this morning. We planned to go “panning for gold” today as our major event and that deserved a special breakfast with Beth’s pancakes and Ed’s scrambled eggs. Afterwards we went Westward Ho to Idaho Springs, Colorado to a working gold mine. The entry fee was for actually going into the mine, included hardhats and a lesson how to pan for gold. As you already saw, the chipmunks are domesticated and took to the boys (and sunflower seeds) like long lost buddies. We all tried our hand...

Jun 10, 2012 - Back to Golden June 8 thru June 11 - The Hoffmans' Arrive

Friday: June 8, 2012 After using only 2 Marriott luggage carts this time, we re-loaded LUCY with all of our viddles, clothes, computers and such and reunited with John C from his week-long vacation from us. We checked on him every day and are happy to report the temperature in LUCY never got above 70 degrees, he was quite comfortable the whole time. I recommended and Cindy agreed we would drive separately back down the mountains to Golden. LUCY really did well the week before with no TOAD, but she did not fly up the grades as well as I had...

May 31, 2012 - Golden, Colorado - 290 miles

Wednesday, May 30, 2012 We made it to Colorado today with a last minute hold in Kansas. We left Goodland, Kansas early enough to get a nice start for the day. 17 miles later at Exit 1 in Kansas we ran into some TOAD braking problems. Our in cockpit indicator showed low battery in TOAD, which means low or no braking. Found out the battery was exhausted which means TOAD would not work correctly when we traveled. Called AAA road service for a jump on the battery, but helped ourselves by hooking up a battery charger and was able to get TOAD...

May 28, 2012 - Colorado is Green and White

May 28, 2012 Happy Birthday to my brother, Grant. And to my late father-in-law – miss you like crazy, Ronald, and how I wish you could see your newest namesake! Colorado: Tunnels and tall mountains, snow and fir forests, rafting and rivers, another great place to do outdoorsy stuff1 This morning I talked with a woman from Calgary. She and three others were traveling from Canada to Moab in two Land Cruisers, but they looked smaller than Randy's. They were outfitted in such a cool way, two person tents mounted on the roof of the car, lots of...

May 9, 2012 - Golden Terrace RV Park /ELS Park

Short drive today to get to get to Golden.CO, The sites are very close here, but they are concrete pads and side by side. We were going to the Coors tour but they are closed on Wed, so we went to Golden Brewery 2nd largest in Colorado. We had samples and enjoyed setting outside today. Thursday we went to the Coors brewery they start tours at 10AM we were there. They take you on a short bus tour of the city then the brewery, what a place to see. As you tour they offer free beer to you. We had a great time then went for a little lunch. We...

Oct 5, 2011 - Rest Day-RV Park

We intended to leave for Nebraska today but had an incident. I was flushing my empty waste tanks in preparation to leave when a misreading on the tank fullness gauge caused me to overfill the tank and water surged up the shower drain and flooded the floor. The water then draineddownward into my electronics compartment and shorted the lighting system in the salon and bedroom areas of the coach. I had to disassemble and dry the electrical compartment and consult Millennium Coach on what to do. Luckily the weather was sunny and dry which...

Oct 4, 2011 - Boulder,CO

Mike and Lynn Bufkin took us to tour Boulder. It is a very eclectic town full of all types of characters. We had lunch,drank good beer and the ladies shopped till they dropped. It was another fine day and one which we will all treasure. They will return to their winter town home in Naples,Florida in November.

Oct 3, 2011 - Denver(Broomfield) Visit

We drove from our RV Park,Dakota Ridge in Golden, to my friend's summer home in Broomfield,Colorado (Northwest of Metro Denver). From their house on Promontory Loop,one sees the rockies about 14 miles to the west. The subdivision sits on a giant mesa. We spent a grand time reliving old times when we grew up together-since first grade! Mike and his wife Lynn Bufkin have two children and six grandchildren! The entire group lives in the Denver area. Mike is a retired lawyer who practiced near our old home town-Elgin,Illinois. We have stayed...

Oct 2, 2011 - Durango to Denver

We hated to leave beautiful Durango. The drive to Denver-Golden,Colorado was most scenic. We again passed east over Wolf Pass and followed Rt 168 through Buena Vista again and east to Denver. We arrived at Dakota Ridge RV Park about 6PM. The last hour was a big traffic jam since all the locals were returning to the city after spending the weekend at the peak of fall color in the surrounding mountains.