In early June I went to Colorado to visit friends and explore some spots I hadn’t been to yet. I drove to Loveland and visited my buddy and his lady. It was nice to visit them, as I hadn’t seen either of them in a year or so.

The day after I arrived, we went to Ham Radio Outlet in Denver. I was expecting a gritty place, but it was clean and well appointed.

We stopped in Windsor to eat at Jim’s Burger Haven-highly recommended:

The next day we drove to Anderson’s Auto Wrecking in Greely to see what was available. Turns out, not much but it was a fun diversion. We stopped to get photos of building bearing my name:

We made a couple trips into the mountains above Lyons and around Eastes Park. It was pretty crowded, but beautiful. There were Bighorn sheep along the road:

A couple more days in the mountains around Apex, an old mining settlement.

We also drove out to the East portal of the Moffatt Tunnel: I took a few photos of the tunnel entrance while my buddy took photos of the run down housing nearby.

We stopped at the Seventh Day Adventist cam above Lyons to get shots of the mill:

I took off from Loveland and drove up Rocky Mountain National Park, but I wasn’t able to see much because there were clouds much of the way up. Next time, I’ll do it in nice weather.

The tRusty old Ford was able to get over the summit at 12, 183 feet.

I arrived Timber Creek campground just prior to the road being closed behind me, and spent a night there. There were lots of elk in the campground,

and owing to heavy rain (which froze and closed the road) I hid in the camper. Later that afternoon, the weather cleared, and after exploring the campground, I started a charcoal fire and cooked my supper.

The next morning I drove by Grand Lake and into Grandby for fuel and breakfast. On to Steamboat Springs (vis Rabbit Ears Pass)

for fuel and supplies, then Clark, and to Hinman Park Campground, where I spent a night. Back to the Clark Store for a GREAT breakfast of steak and eggs, and then to Columbine to visit the Colombine store and Hahn’s peak.

I left, and drove to Craig for more fuel and windshield wipers, then to Meeker, where I spent a night at a little family owned campground. I showered and slept like a baby. On to Rifle and I-70, over Vail pass (barely)

then to the Eisenhower tunnel, where the pickup said no more.  I got a tow from one of the many tow trucks that circle like vultures in the area (nice guy, though-can’t complain) to Johnson’s Corner on I-25, and the truck fired up as soon as we unloaded it. I blame Colorado gas.

I made another stop at Anderson’s, and had a late breakfast at the Kitchen in Greely, also highly recommended.

I drove back to Loveland, spent a day with my friends, and headed in to Wyoming, camping at Vedauwoo campground near Laramie. It was windy and cold, and not very pleasant. I headed North, and took Sibley canyon road towards Wheatland. I stopped at the Tom Thorn/Beth Williams Wildlife Habitat Management Area-it’s a beautiful area for camping and fishing, and I’d have spent a night there, but it was pretty full next to the water. I will next time.

On to Wheatland, where I had lunch and fuel. I drove on to Glendo, and spent a couple nights at Two Moon campground. I really like this campground-it’s full of Ponderosa pine trees, and it’s a maze of roads and trails. I put up my Chameleon MPAS antenna, but didn’t get out at all. The sunset was excellent:

I stopped in Douglas on the way back, and took the old road through Rolling Hills, then home to Casper.