Trip to Colorado 2011 - Monday August 1

Monday

8-1-11

Got on the road this morning at about 8:00 a.m. Stopped at a gas station in Casey, IA around 9:20 and picked up some Diet Coke. As we were about to enter the gas station a little old man who must have been in his 80's shuffled out and said good morning. He had on a plaid shirt, khaki pants and a baseball cap. I've seen this look on guys this age as we've traveled through Nebraska and Iowa. You won't find this look on men too much younger than this fellow. I find it to be rather endearing.

After a few other stops including lunch, our final break was at the Straight River rest area in Minnesota. We made it home around 3 p.m. It was a fabulous vacation but, as always, it was sure wonderful to be home.

The top photo was taken in Casey, Iowa. The bottom photo shows our final stop before reaching home.

Trip to Colorado 2011 - Sunday July 31

Sunday

7-31-11

Woke up at 7:00 this morning and Dale and I were on the road by 8. After saying our goodbyes we stopped at Starbucks for coffee. We drove until we hit Fort Morgan, Colorado and then stopped for breakfast at McDonald's.

Went east on I-76. The landscape to the south of the highway was gently rolling hills which looked very grassy with no trees. I remember back in 1986 when Mom, Dad, Sam, Pete and I were driving back from Las Vegas after visiting my Aunt Linda and her daughters. We were covering this same stretch of highway only it was night time and the moon was full. This same landscape looked absolutely lunar at night. I was listening to a song by U2 which added to the whole moody atmosphere.

Dale said that I-76 used to be I-80S but that during the Bicentennial there was a push to rename it 76 in honor of 1776-1976 for the nation and 1876-1976 for Colorado's centennial.

Backup on I-80 near exit 366 so we decided to get off the highway there. Drove north and picked up US-34 going east. We drove through the charming town of Seward, Nebraska where I got a few photos. Decided to stay on 34 until Lincoln, Nebraska. Pushed a little further through Omaha and decided to stop in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Dinner at Olive Garden.

Top photo is a grain elevator in Fort Morgan, Colorado. Bottom picture is a county building in Seward, Nebraska.

Trip to Colorado 2011 - Saturday July 30 Photos

The following photos are some old familiar Denver haunts of Brenda, Irv, Dale and Dianne. The bottom photo shows Alamo Placito which is near the park Brenda and Irv met.

Trip to Colorado 2011 - Saturday July 30

Saturday

7-30-11

John went to the golf course this morning and picked up breakfast burritos for all of us. We ate them with green chili that John and Dianne had on hand.

Brenda, Dale and I drove into Denver and saw some places they used to live.

We videotapped Irv tonight. He told lots of stories about his childhood, his young adult life in high school and then in the service, and the early days of his marriage to Brenda. He was very funny and his stories often touching.

In the above photo you can see downtown Denver in the distance if you squint. The photo was taken from a park across the street from John and Dianne's.

Trip to Colorado 2011 - Friday July 29 Photos

Photos of John and Dianne's back deck.

Trip to Colorado 2011 - Friday July 29

Friday 7-29-11

Irv took us all to breakfast at Village Inn this morning. Dale and I left Grand Junction at about 12:30 p.m. We'll drive to John & Dianne's in Denver and Brenda and Irv will join us there tonight.

Made it to the Continental Divide at about 4:45 p.m. Saw Mount Quandry which is a mountain Dale and I hiked up way back in 1993.

Got to John and Dianne's in Arvada around 7 p.m. Brenda and Irv got there about a half hour before us. John made chicken on the grill for dinner. Gotta love grilled chicken especially when it's perfectly done. I drank martinis tonight and had one in the hot tub with John. Dale joined us in the tub for a little bit.

Trip to Colorado 2011 - Thursday July 28

Thursday

7-28-11

Up and at 'em by 6:00 a.m. Took a nice walk as the rising sun was clearing trees and houses. Irv took Dale and me to the shooting range and we fired a .38 Special. Dale did a much better job of hitting the bullsey than I did and when I say "much better job" I mean he actually hit it more than once and I didn't hit it at all. Ericka and Kelly joined us for dinner. Dale made chicken on the grill along with asparagus. I made an orzo salad.

Trip to Colorado 2011 - Wednesday July 27 Photos

More photos of Mount Garfield.

Trip to Colorado 2011 - Wednesday July 27

Wednesday

7-27-11

Dale and I woke up early today. Got a nice walk in and then Dale and I had coffee with Brenda & Irv. Went to Red Robin for lunch and saw Ericka. Irv drove us to Palisade and I got some good shots of Mount Garfield.

Trip to Colorado 2011 - The Drive Part 2

Tuesday

7-26-11

Left Kearney at about 7:45 a.m. and hopped back on I80. Crossed into Wyoming at 10:55 a.m. mountain time. Our cell phones kept jumping back and forth between time zones for a little while after we crossed. Crossed into Colorado at about 4:00 p.m. and made it to Brenda and Irv's around 7:30.

The top two photos at left are near Sidney, Nebraska. The bottom photo is a cornfield.

Trip to Colorado 2011 - The Drive Part 1

Monday

7-25-11

On the road by 7:55 am. Highway 62 West to 100 South and then 169 South to Mankato. Went by LeSeur, Minnesota and through the valley of the Jolly Green Giant. Very pretty country. Went through St. Peter, Minnesota which was lovely. Dale said it was the kind of small town he could live in. We picked up Highway 60 just west of Mankato and the had lunch at Perkins in Worthington, Minnesota. Dale had the salmon. I had a burger. Crossed into Iowa shortly after noon. 60 turned into Highway 75 a little was before we hit Merrill, Iowa. Went by the Loess Hills while driving south on 29. Got onto US 30. Lots of flooding of the Missouri River. In many places the water was nearly up to the road. Crossed over Missouri River into Nebraska. Eventually got onto Highway 680 near Omaha and then got on I80. We stopped in Kearney, Nebraska and had dinner at Red Lobster. The waitress told us she wanted to come to Colorado with us. Did a lot of walking around Kearney in the evening.

Second Trip to Madeline Island for 2011 - Photos of Lake Superior

Second Trip to Madeline Island for 2011 Day Four

Monday 7-12-11

Warren, Gary and I left about 8:15 am to get coffee at Mission Hill. We got in line a little before 9:00 am for the 9:15 ferry. Perfectly beautiful day to drive home through rural Wisconsin.

Photos: Both photos were taken as the ferry was pulling away from the dock on Madeline Island. In the top photo you can just make out a house on Nebraska Row on the Island. It's right in the middle of the picture. In the bottom photo you can see Madeline Island on the left in the foreground and Bayfield in the background.

Second Trip to Madeline Island for 2011 Day Three

Sunday

6-11-11

Trip to Bayfield today with Warren and Gary. We had lunch at Maggie's and then did lots of walking and lots of shopping. Once back on the Island, Dale took us on a tour of the Music Camp's dorms and then we had pizza and movies at home.

Photos top to bottom:

1) Maggie's Restaurant in Bayfield

2) Joe and Dale at Maggie's

3) Music Camp Dorms

Second Trip to Madeline Island for 2011 Day Two

Saturday 6-10-11

Coffee with Dale on the porch and then went for a nice walk. Dale went to work and then Warren, Gary and I went to Mission Hill for coffee and blueberry muffins. After Dale got home from work he drove us around the perimeter of the whole island making a stop at Big Bay Town Park. We then did a walking tour of Nebraska Row. Cocktails at home and then dinner at the Pub.

Photos top to bottom: 1) Shops including Mission Hill Coffee House 2) Big Bay Town Park 3) The Pub Restaurant

Second Trip to Madeline Island for 2011 Day One

Friday

6-9-11

Gary and Warren picked me up just before noon and we hopped on 35W going north. Next we got onto Highway 8 going east and stopped at Eichten's which is not too far outside of Lindstrom, Minnesota. Crossed the Apple River and then picked up Highway 63 going north in Turtle Lake, Wisconsin. I remember having a blast inner tubbing on the Apple River as a kid. There's a casino in Turtle Lake and we noticed that Lynyrd Skynyrd was soon to play there. We got to Madeline around 6pm and briefly crossed paths with Dale as he was leaving to take the ferry to Washburn, WI for work. Gary, Warren and I had cocktails at the apartment and then went to to Beach Club for dinner.

Photos from top: 1) Eichten's Mouse

2) Eichten's Bistro and Market 3) The Beach Club as seen from the Madeline Island Ferry

Choir Trip to Chicago 1985 - "Flamingo"

Flamingo sculpture by Pablo Picasso.

Choir Trip to Chicago 1985 - Tribune Tower

Choir Trip to Chicago 1985 - Lion at the Art Institute of Chicago

Choir Trip to Chicago 1985 - Aon Tower

Choir Trip to Chicago 1985 - Buckingham Fountain

Choir Trip to Chicago - 1985 Part 3

I love wide open spaces but I also love the feeling of being surrounded by tall dramatic buildings. This photo definitely captures that. The John Hancock tower is in the background. It's nice to know that some buildings still have the same name.

Choir Trip to Chicago - 1985 Part 2

My friend Mary is checking out some of the Loop buildings along the Chicago River. I always found it amazing that the course of that river was reversed.

Choir Trip to Chicago - 1985 Part 1

In 1985 my college choir took a trip to Chicago. I don't remember much about the trip but I did get some decent shots of some of the buildings. I recently found the pictures while sorting and then scanning some photos from an old album. The two pictures where taken from the Sears (now Willis) Tower observation deck. The red building in the first picture is known as the CNA Center. I don't know if that's what it was in 1985. So many building names have changed. The second picture is also from the observation deck of the Willis Tower. The bottom picture is the Willis Tower itself. It's now the 7th tallest building in the world and the tallest in the U.S.

First Trip to Madeline Island for 2011 Part 4 More Photos

Sunday

6-20-11

Photos from train museum at the Duluth Depot.

Top to bottom:

1. Mail car.

2 & 3. Dining car.

4. Model of old rail

way building.

5. Caboose.