October 9, 2016 Fort Collins

Today we, Alice, Tom, Robin and Doug went to Fort Collins for a little walking exercise and a meal.

It was a great day with plenty of sunshine and a good crowd of people attending Parents Day.

 The mountains off to the west are snow covered and probably will be for the remainder of the year.

Off in the distance the fire still burns and as of last reporting was about 75% contained.

This is not sundown, it is the late day sun behind the clouds of smoke.

 The smoke was heading north and was up to and beyond Cheyenne.

While in the city browsing the shops, there were a few good pics.

 Let's see if this person responds.  You know who you are.

 Anyone know this person?

 This makes sense doesn't it.

Have a great day everyone and thanks for looking out for Grammie... and for the folks that have been affected by the storm, it's good to hear you are safe.

Last night when we got out of the car just after dusk, about 10-15 antelope went running by us.  We were certainly surprised at how close they came, some within 10 feet, but not surprised that we saw them as there are many that just wander around unimpeded on the base.

October 6, 2016 USAF Academy

Today is our last day staying at the AF Academy and is has been a good slowdown in our travels.
As you can see at the beginning of the day the sun started off rather brightly until is it rose up behind the clouds.  On one side the mountains had a dusting of snow, and on the other a couple of hours later...sunshine.

During the 2nd year at the academy, many of the cadets get the opportunity to get in some gliding time.  Planes are constantly pulling the gliders up all day long. Peaceful and quiet flights...no engines.

United States Air Force Cadet Chapel

Completed in 1962, it was named a National Historic Landmark in 2004.  The chapel can accommodate  over 1800 cadets.  The academy has a wonderful visiting center and is open to tours daily, 9-5.  Escorted tours are available to prospective students only.  Others are self guided.

 The chapel is one of the popular areas to stop at with prospective future students.

The pipe organ was donated.

A view of one of the cadet housing buildings.

Grammie wanted all of the grandchildren to know that she has something for them...but, they have to come to Grammie's home to play.

Thanks for keeping an eye out for Grammie.

October 5, 2016 Royal Gorge, CO

Good evening everyone.
Today we took a drive about 70 miles to go to the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park Near Canon City Colorado.  Royal Gorge
The park includes a bridge that is 880 feet between towers that is over 1000 feet above the Arkansas River. 

Grammie

The location also includes white water rafting.

It was a great day to see in all directions.

I don't think the fishing reel would have enough line to make it to the water.

A view of the Arkansas River from a hole in the board!!!

The camera man.

Views from the bridge

The mountains that surround the gorge.

Looking North towards the Colorado 14 ers

Pikes Peak in the background.

There are other activities at the Royal Gorge park.  Here you get a chance to sign away your children's inheritance.

Yes!  The Zipline, and yes, across the gorge.

    

For more of today's blog, click on the Read More

October 2, 2016 Manhattan, Kansas that is.

Good evening everyone.
This morning we left Offutt AFB and changed plans ... and directions.  Instead of heading west on I-80 to North Platte, we headed South to Manhattan, KS.  We went to see Grammie's niece who is attending the Kansas State Veterinarian School.

Because this was a new route that we hadn't researched we discovered that we were riding along the  Pony Express Trail.  This historic place is in the town of Marysville, KS.

We followed the signs to the museum only to discover that it was closed today.   Back on the road, taking the next right turn we were now on the California Tour Trail.  California Tour Trail

 Shortly after leaving town we came across a marker noting the location of the Oregon Trail. This web site has a picture of the marker we drove by.
Oregon Trail Marker

Finally arriving in Manhattan, We met up with Karen and had a good visit. We took a tour of the school.  Grammie commented that Ivy would love a place like this.

Grammie is always happy seeing family.  After the visit, we headed to Salina, KS where we are staying overnight resting up for the drive Monday when Grammie won't be in Kansas anymore.

Thanks for keep an eye out for Grammie.

September 30, 2016 Moline, IL

Hello everyone.
Yesterday was a day of rest and reflection after spending several hours on the road.  Before we left South Bend, Grammie wanted to go to a yarn shop so away we went.  As he often sometimes does, Tom sits out in the car and catches up with sports on the ipad.  After a couple of minutes, he notices a man sitting in the next car over who is probably taking a breather too.  Tom grabs the short list of yarn shops to visit that Grammie has written down and goes over to the other car.  The guy rolls down his window and Tom says if you give me 5 bucks, I won't show this list to your wife.  He thought that was funny and before we left, having shared travel experiences while traveling and visiting yarn/quilt shops, it was already past noon and time to head to Moline.      

Today we went into town and visited the John Deere Pavilion.  It is sort of a mini showcase of the newest in John Deere tractors and also of the Deere family and the business.  The John Deere Corporate headquarters are also in Moline.

Even though Grammie is popular  on this blog, as you can see, she isn't the biggest wheel in town.

A wood harvester that has 6 legs and crawls rather than rides along the ground.  This allows the operator to work on side hills and move the rig higher or lower too.

Grammie sitting in the temperature controlled cab of a tractor with a hay roller behind.  $$$$$$

Grammie is sitting in the cab of a John Deere 670 Combine.

The newest tractor to come along is the Autonomous Tractor that is capable of operating by itself night and day.  It uses GPS technology to travel where ever it needs to.  It has the capability of moving around an obstacle in it's path, will call you on the phone if it is getting low on fuel and even will drive back to the pump and return after fueled up.  If it is spraying an orchard and is running low on fuel or spray, it will stop spraying, return to the farm for more chemicals, then return to the same spot and continue.

In the building next door there was a gift shop.  This panograph pic shows a nice assortment of farm vehicles (toys).

Moline is a city that is undergoing rejuvenation with old brick buildings being repaired and repurposed. 

We found a Microbrewery that has polish sausage with onions and sauerkraut.

The Deere family were very generous and over the years have donated land around the area to the city.  The TPC Deere Run’s golf course is built on the site of a former Arabian horse farm.
John Deere Corp donates land

 Before we did a tour of the John Deere Symposium, Tom wanted to tour the land donated by the John Deere property. Tom thought that is was a nice piece of property.

Flags at half staff honoring  "The King"

After Tom finished the round of golf, a turkey wanted to know how he did.

Thanks for keeping an eye out for Grammie.