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We kicked off our 76 day road trip in Las Vegas with the Cher show at Caesars Palace. This 60 year old diva still puts on a great show with her husky voice and her more than 10 elaborate costume changes. The huge screens behind her showcased her amazing 40 year career. I remember how excited I was to receive my 1st Sonny & Cher album from my parents on my 16th birthday in 1967. The nostalgia continued as we left Las Vegas and followed parts of the historic Route 66; staying in Flagstaff, Durango and our 1st longer stop of Colorado Springs. We were impressed by this picturesque town with Pikes Peak as a backdrop. Being both Air Force brats, our 1st attraction had to be the Air Force Academy. Unlike the other military academies, the AFA was established in the 1950s and had a more modern appearance. We toured the 3 unique chapels-Protestant, Catholic and Jewish. We also observed the cadets walking at right angles along the strips of granite in the open area between classes. We were told this was mandatory for their freshman year. We also watched the cadets learn to fly glider planes and to parachute out of small planes. We even saw a white “escaped” falcon soaring above our car. Falconry is an integral part of life at the Academy as well as the football team’s signature symbol. Our 2nd day in the “Springs” was spent with our cruise friends who graciously showed us the progress on the home they’re building. The 4 of us enjoyed lunch at the exclusive European style Broadmoor resort and we later toured the red rock formations of the “Garden of the Gods”. When we were leaving the Broadmoor, we were surprised and excited to see 3 black bears cross the road; a mama and her 2 cubs. After our successful Colorado Springs visit, we continued to the corn/ethanol cities of North Platte, Nebraska and Sioux City, Iowa. It was great seeing another cruise friend who at 98 years young still lives in his 110 year old Victorian home surrounded by his travel treasures. Later we all enjoyed lunch and good conversation at a river front restaurant. We then continued to Des Moines and on to Chicago, our next 3 night stay.

This was our 1st visit to the “windy city” in 28 years, and the 1st thing we learned was that its nickname of “windy” is not related to the weather but to the “wind bag” politicians that sold Chicago as the site of the Worlds Fair. You learn something new every day! I had spent a lot of time here during my Bell & Howell/Mamiya days and I had forgotten what a vibrant city it was. Our hotel was right off the busy Michigan Ave. and 2 blocks from the famous John Hancock building. Dinner the 1st night was at a sidewalk café on the trendy Rush St. with my old friend from Bell & Howell. She had planned our 2 a.m. surprise wedding reception after Chuck and I were married in Las Vegas at midnight in Sept. of 1979. She and I were the only 2 women in a sales force of men. It was a fun reunion with lots to talk about! The next day, our long time cruise friends braved the Chicago traffic to give us an interesting tour of the town followed by lunch at a famous Italian restaurant on Taylor St. This is the old Mafia neighborhood and as we laughed and enjoyed each others company we saw an “Untouchables” bus tour out the window complete with a guide dressed up like Al Capone. The rest of our Chicago visit was spent seeing as many sights as we could cram into the remaining 1 ½ days. The most interesting was a boat tour; 1st pointing out the architectural history of all the buildings along the Chicago River, then moving through the locks into Lake Michigan for a spectacular view of the Chicago skyline. That evening we had one of the best meals of the trip. Recommended by “1000 Places to See Before you Die” Aruns featured a 12 course Thai menu that was innovative and yes spicy and one that we won’t soon forget.

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