Travelodge Lamar

... similar to many others that we have seen. The national park rangers in period costumes and acting as interpreters gave a fantastic tour.

After the tour we had a quick lunch in the coach and continued on to Lamar, Colorado. We arrived here in time to check into the RV park, unhitch the car, hook up, slide out and level, and hop into the car for the 50 mile drive to Sand Creek ...

... Judy one of the staff after I had a flat 10 miles into the ride. The landscape was vast expanses of farm lands quit a change from the rocky mountains. Tomorrow we will be in Kansas and another 100 mile plus day. Time to eat and then you guessed it early to bed and an early start to beat the afternoon storms.

... prone to exaggeration (hard to believe, I know), I do mean hundreds, maybe a thousand. They swarmed (do moths swarm?) as I drove off. I shoe'd a few stragglers away inside the van over the first few miles, and one continued to buzz me during the entire 370 mile drive to Black Canyon. I began to think of this one loner as a new pet. I named him "Spike".

... to root out the natives to make the way for western expansion and profit for the "white man." Anyway, the Boot Hill museum and Old West stores/saloon is worth a visit if your in the area. The antique gun display is especially impressive and informative...even if you're not a member of the NRA. Found a great burger joint in Wichita. Spangles. They had ...

Wednesday 28th May We got up and left about 8 am and headed for a small National Park called Bents Old Fort. This turned out to be one of the most interesting places we have visited yet. It is located on the famous Santa Fe Trail near Las Animas in Eastern Colorado. It was built along the trail in the mid 1800's by Mr Bent , close to the Mexican border near the river as a refuge and trading post for people using ...

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... the floor of the town gymnasium, which doubled up as a hostel, proved to be great fun. Just as we starting cooking outside the heavens opened and the lightening started. We gave up, and went to get a burger. At 'Wendy's' we went through the now familiar process of everyone in the restaurant asking us where we were from. Guesses ranged from California to Switzerland! With 220 ...

... the nearest water source. As Galvin returned with bottles full of brown water, in rolled the car and lunch was consumed. The final 35 miles were supposed to be a doddle on the flats. That was the case, at least until the stinging dust clouds and wind found us; we discovered why these plains are also known as the Dust Bowl! Having battled through these obstacles we arrived ...

... and the man (Mr Hoover) told us we were on the wrong road. He was brilliant and gave us a lift to the start of the right road. Phew! After 20miles(with 20 still to go) and 90+ degrees F of heat, strong wind and dust blowing, we were getting low on water. We came across road men and they kindly topped up our bottles. Phew! But guess what! 2 miles on ...

... down no-complies, railslides w/o ollies and various hand plants and street plants...all set to a soundtrack of Minor Threat and The Dead Kennedys. I was trying to jump off flat ground and rail tap the ceiling(???) when all of a sudden a sesame street parade came down the hall and we heckled it because "people dressed as Hostess cakes were not on Sesame St. NOT EVER! They were crushed and I landed my ceiling plant right in their faces, just to rub it in.--Nick