October 28, 2015

Good morning everyone.
We finally made it back to our own bed on Monday evening the 26th after seeing children and grandchildren.
Yesterday we collected the mail, weeded out the fire starters, started the wood burner, cleaned out the suitcases, and returned back to Maine life, the way it should be.
Now to take a few moments to recap the trip  with a few last photos.
Visiting Danvers MA, visiting a Maine native living in exile, we took a stroll around the neighborhood looking at Halloween displays.

 A sign in the Brothers Restaurant in Danvers.

Finally got to purchase cheap gasoline but had to come back to New England to find it.

...and yes we did get back in time to see some wonderful fall foliage.

We were gone 55 days, passing through 17 other states, even if only briefly, resting our heads, the most in Colorado (14 nights), New Mexico (8), and Wyoming (7).  We stayed with family for 12 nights, military installations for 16, friends for 4, on the economy for 15, and a weeks down time in Pagosa Springs.
We visited friends, three whom we hadn't seen for over 45 years, 2 military retirees, several people in the hadn't seen in the 3-5 year category, and several others seen more frequently.  Family included, a sibling, children, an aunt, cousins, relatives, and extended family.

Our goals for the trip were accomplished, visiting Springfield, IL to see more about President Lincoln, visiting 2 state Capitols, Springfield and Santa Fe (# 27 and 28), seeing the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque NM, Canyonlands and Arches National Parks, driving up Mt Evans CO, seeing Doug and Robin, and playing a couple of special golf courses.  Adding up the slips from fabric shops was well over the amount spent at golf courses.  LOL.

Total miles, 8113...number of Maine cars seen west of the Mississippi-2.  Nights being high (over 5000 feet) 32.
Best part of the trip...seeing Doug and Robin; Balloon Fiesta, John Denver Sanctuary, watching Grammie squirm while Tom was driving the Million Dollar Highway (Colorado)...taking lots of pictures... and getting back home to see friends again.
Best unplanned find..Hannibal MO., looking for Mark Twain on the Mississippi River.  A very beautiful Gondola Chair lift ride up over the from Mountain Village to Telluride...but no tickets for the Brewfest   Breweries represented at Telluride...all sold out. Next time better planning. Free lift and, as a bonus, free parking for the day!  Also Maroon Bells just outside Aspen CO.  We got up early to see the sunrise shining off the mountains.  Se more images.  Maroon Bells
This wasn't the photo that we took but an example of how pretty it can be.

And after all that, getting back in Maine breathing in the air, the taste of a carrot fresh from the garden, the taste of fresh apple cider, leaves on the lawn waiting to be raked up.
...and still being connected to everyone while gone, by seeing the same moon at night.

Thanks for keeping an eye out for Grammie.