Oh my, what a day . . .

So I got up and out of the hotel this morning right around the time that I should have been checking out anyway and got an early start on what should have been, and was, a short day! I was on I70 highway before noon, and made good time to the CO line. My goal was the Front Range, and Denver, before sunset! Made good time, by just shy of 15:00 mountain I was crossing the line into Colorado. When I was just west of Limon I could see Pikes Peak, small and in the distance, but I knew I was getting closer! About a hundred miles out I could see the mountains, my mountains, small and in the distance but growing with each passed mile.

The tears welled up in my eyes and threatened to choke off my throat, I could only sit there crying, driving and saying 'mou, mou, mou, mou, mou, mou' for something like 25 or 30 miles. Had anyone been in the car with me they'd have had me locked up I 'spect. No matter! I was almost home, almost 'safe' back in the loving embrace of those magestic peaks. Several phone calls, and a few rest stops later I was looking at the Denver skyline, and beyond it the first hints of a sunset in the mountains. A full decade since my last, I just drank in the beauty of it all. I watched every lovely second of sunset over the Rockies, taking my time making the last miles to my sisters house last.

It was in fact nearly dark by the time I pulled into the neighborhood to see my sister standing there waiting for me, talking to me on the phone while I drove up. She sure was a sight for sore eye's, and especially mine. Last time we'd been in the same State, let alone the same room, was more than a year ago. I was home . . .

Sempre Avanti!

Ever forward! I left Cincinatti behind me and continued on my way west today. The weekend with Mark and Val was really cool. We spent a whole bunch of time talking, and just hanging out. Had Lunch Saturday at a wonderful little hilltop spot called City Tavern. Out on the balcony with a view of the river and much of downtown Cincinatti laid out before us, we had some great burgers, a bit of liquid and plenty of good conversation.

From there we wandered down to the Kentucky side of the river. We walked along the river, and then stuck our heads into Hooters of all places. Mark and Val split a pitcher of draft, and I got a pitcher of Sangria, and we all shared several orders of fried pickles. Now I like pickles, and be they cold, cooked into a japanese stir fry, or whatever, I really enjoy them. Lightly batter dipped and fried up like tempura however was a whole new experience and I really, really, enjoyed them! Sometimes you just have to say the heck with the diet, and today was certainly one of them!

Sunday we went over to Donatto's Pizza for link, where they make the most wonderful, fresh French Bread pizza! I'm talking real, honest to goodness bread dough, they load up with your choices of toppings and then put into a pizza oven! Very cool and not the most expensive stuff in the world. I mean for "fast food" this is worth eating and filling.

More just hanging out and talking which seemed to be the theme for the visit and then Mark had to head back up to his house for work at "oh dark ick" in the morning. I stayed at Val's sunday and we wound up up talking until late while Val made cookies. White and regular chocolate chip cookies and tea set off the day nicely.

Morning came, as it does, too soon and I got myself ready for the next legs of my drive. Coolest thing happened as we wer walking out of the house, it started to flurry! First snow flakes of the season to user me west, I was one happy girl as I drove out to the highway and headed west.

So I made a new friend, since Val is perfectly awesome, and reconnected with a dear old one who'd not seen me since the bulk of my changes. From my perspective, everything went well, and I had a great deal of fun. Mark and Val are still talking to me, so I don't think it went all that bad!

I made it as far as Salina Kansas, which is more than halfway, and puts me in great shape to get to Denver tomorrow. I stopped for the night, well really the morning, in the Day's in right off of I70 in Salina. The service was excellent, the room quiet and clean, and the sleep MUCH better than in the days of my youth when I might have slept in the car in a rest stop. More to follow . . .