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Roadtrip SW USA...With Home & Away...Colorado way. We have just had a roadtrip through Utah & Arizona to beat all roadtrips...but it may never have happened if it wasn't for Bob.
He didn't arrange the polar vortex to lay thick snow on our path through deserts and eroded striated vistas...but I wouldn't begrudge him if he claimed he did.
A few months before we left Oz I contacted Bob and said we planned to drop in from Canada on our way to meet other TBers in USA.
We had entertained Bob & Linda when they visited Sydney in 2012
Treking the Bush with David and Denise...and the invitation to reciprocate still stood.
Within minutes came a message back..."Great news...we'll take you on a roadtrip!"
Within hours came a suggested itinerary.
Sensational idea...the seed was planted...all it needed was watering.
Then the snag... how do we agree on dates to suit us all?
They have family commitments that time of year...and we will only be available after spending Christmas with our son Simon in Toronto.
Where there is a will there is a way they say...but their son Will was their way from Wales for a short stay...as
well as their daughters...so our plans for a roadtrip together had to be thrown away.
So we decided to do a roadtrip of the South West anyway...the Dancing Ones way...and stay with them at the end before heading off on our next foray.
And our next foray...Denise suggested this one.
And the vehicle was suggested by Travelbloggers.
We'll head off on the birthday of the King...in a Cadillac...to dance with the King!
Dates set...driving the Dodge Durango as if it was a jet...on Interstate 70...Denise determined...the arrival time with Bob & Linda would be met!
******
Everything would have gone just fine if I wasn't the navigator.
You'd think by this time I could read the Navcam.
I thought we'd arrive in Woodland Park by lunchtime so we flew from our digs in Grand Junction, dawdled through Aspen, through Vail, lengthy lunch at Eagle...sojourns by the Colorado...sometimes frozen sometimes rippling blue. When we got to Frisco and turned off Interstate 70...the Navcam adjusted. Yeeka we'd better hurry we've got heaps to go!
To Beckenbridge...up Hoosier Pass (not a touch on Bob's cracker photo )...way above the snowline up
there.
Saw an RV camped in a massive snow white field...couldn't even stop for the pic of that frozen family in there...so I decided to make a phonecall.
"Will...its the Dancing Ones...better put out the red carpet...we'll be there in half an hour."
But it got dark before we got there.
Found the lane I'd written down but couldn't find the number.
So we rang Bob. "What? I've misspelt the lane...your miles away?"
Arrived at the right lane this time...but couldn't find the number...up and down...in and out trying to suss out letterbox numbers.
Then I saw a shape...like an apparition.
There was a guy in the shadows...laying out a long red carpet!
So just like in Sydney we were greeted with hugs...and ventured inside to be greeted by Linda.
There's something special about reunions of old friends...and its extra special if they are Travelblog friends.
Nice to see Will again whom we had met in Sydney.
But before we were led to our bedroom I had to exclaim...
"You told me Bob you just live down the lane...its taken us weeks to get here!"
******
The Paris Massacre The bedroom of one of their married daughters was spruced up for us...our own bathroom...talk about laid on.
Mexican fare and US beer for dinner...ice wine we had brought from Canada with dessert...chatting into the night...couldn't have felt more welcome.
Best sleep we'd had in weeks.
But our welcome to the morning was a shocker.
Over breakfast the Charlie Hebdo Magazine massacre was in progress in Paris.
Will was able to access unedited footage...so the images of the shootings will remain in my psyche forever.
We had left Oz not long after the fatal Lindt Cafe seige in Sydney.
Our daughter knew the guy that was killed...used to visit the cafe daily...also knew rels of the woman that was killed.
Our daughter used to work in the same building until the month before...would have been in the cafe and one of the hostages if not for her new job.
Her routine was to get coffees at the very time the Islamic terrorist pulled out his rifle that day.
But for...but for...
It could have been her.
In Sydney we had sympathised
with Islamic people who want to distance their religion from fanatics.
In Colorado we sat stunned...Islamic fanatics were executing a massacre in Paris on a larger scale...before our eyes.
Its kinda sad but the only time in our 10 weeks away that we watched news on TV...was to check on these events in Paris...while we stayed tucked up and safe...with Home & Away.
******
Shooting deer and the Garden of the Gods A mule deer arrived at the window...Bob topping up the bird feeder so his visitors from Oz could get some great camera shots of the wildlife...the stag chomping while a young buck patiently waited until the stag leapt the fence to get away.
He had had Travelblog logo transfers made so I did the scissor work and Bob ironed them on T-shirts.
Hats on. We are now dressed and ready to venture out into the day.
An icy mist had coated the trees like sprayed on frosting.
Through valleys and forests...shown this and that...then stopping and alighting...at the Garden of the Gods.
Kinda glad we were rugged up cause as soon as we got out of
TBers together
The Garden of the Gods the car it started snowing.
Bob smiled...that look of someone who knew us travellers from Oz would enjoy the show...when he cranked it up...by turning on the snow!
And enjoy it we did...walking among the red rocks...while the snow fell gently over us.
No wonder the pics of us Travelblog friends came out so well...happy smiles for happy times.
******
They took us that night to an Irish pub for dinner.
Chatting until the staff would allow us to stay no more.
Picking their brains of how they met...their early days in Vietnam with the air raid siren next to their room...Bob's roles with the UN...diplomatic service...the young Linda's bravery in foreign lands.
It was captivating...enrapturing...exhilarating for us to hear their life stories...very matter of fact to them.
You can see it in Bob's writing style in his blogs...somewhat understated.
But to meet Bob & Linda in person and to share their life story is an eye-opener indeed.
These guys have got to have some of the most interesting lives of any of our fellow Travelbloggers.
And are some of the most generous.
I of
course insisted I pay for dinner...but everything else was so graciously laid on.
What a great way to finish our SW USA roadtrip...enjoying our homestay with Home & Away.
And Linda had crocheted three snow flake stars for Denise...to remember them by.
******
But all good things must come to an end.
At breakfast we were greeted with the news of another death in Paris...a traffic cop this time...abundantly clear the French would make sure the Islamists did not get away.
Midday flight from Colorado Springs allowing us to enjoy our last breakfast together...to say heartfelt goodbyes...to Bob, Linda and Will.
And as we drove out of their driveway...biggest hugs...broadest smiles...warmest waves...one last photo to remember them by.
It's Elvis Presley's 80th birthday.
After a short flight to Memphis we will collect our Cadillac...start our next roadtrip.
Kinda excited.
'Cause today is a very special day.
Relax & Enjoy,
Dancing Dave
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Laila the Tuareg
Denise Hooper
Winter wonderland
So lovely to be reminded of the spectacular beauty of Colorado, having traveled through it I now understand why it is so popular and to be met at the end by Bob, Linda & Will was such a treat.