Colorado Bound — Day 5, Kearney, NE to Denver, CO
Happy January 2!   Wifi not real easy over the holiday.  Trying to live life.  All is well.

Dec. 31 — Big Day in the life.  The morning was cold in Kearney, about 8 degrees.  People talked about Husker football to keep their teeth from chattering.  The sole Starbucks in town had closed, and I stopped at  a Walgreens to ask if there might be a place nearby with wifi.  I met the "friendliest" Walgreens manager in the world.

I saw the manager first striding dutifully to the cash register.  He was about 60, graying hair and a blue-striped shirt and blue tie.  I asked if he could recommend a coffee shop.
"I don't drink coffee.  Let me go ask Kathy in the office.  She's a big coffee drinker."
He left, and I browsed the shelves looking for postcards.  Can't find postcards anywhere.
He returned, and reported there was a shop up the road called Pane Bello, and other than that, nothing was open this hour of the morning.  I didn't think 7 a.m. was an outrageous time to be seeking coffee, but non-coffee drinkers don't understand.  I asked if they have free wifi.
"What's wifi?" he asked.
I refrained from calling him Mr. McFly, and explained.
"Aw, cripe!  I know nothing about that computer stuff.  Let me go ask Kathy."

And so I wrote yesterday's blog from Pane Bello.

I forgot to write a section of the blog about the icy roads in Iowa.  Obviously, those of us from Upstate NY know the highway department employs a policy of "sensible salting."  It helps prevent a lot of cars from sliding off the icy pavement.  The Iowa highway cuts through a lot of famlands and cornfields.  Instead of salt, it appears they use sand, which would not disrupt the agricultural economy for those properties along I-80.  I think they are dead wrong.  Many benefits can be derived from sensible salting.  Chiefly, Iowa farmers could begin marketing "Pre-Salted Corn on the Cob."  Such a convenience!  Then, they would have more customers alive to buy it.  Iowa, I'm giving you that one for free.  Stay alive!

Eric Schickler sent me an email from his photo shoot in Vail:  Welcome to Heaven!
I wasn't there yet.

I got on the road about 11 a.m. and enjoyed a sunshine escort at a lawful 75 mph clip.  The snows disappeared and gave way to brown fields that stretched forever.  Hey, Nebraska!  Could you mix in a skyscraper once in awhile?  I mean, there's nothing to look at.  Perhaps the rest of the country could take up a collection and pay for a skyscraper every 20 miles or so.  No disrespect is intended, but the Nebraska Interstate is the small intestine of the country.  Nobody stops, unless something is wrong, and everybody keeps passing through.  Thankfully, it's a 75 mph speed limit.  

The snows of Omaha where giant snowblowers had to carve out the roadside gave way to plains covered with brown vegetation.  Frog Angel spotted a small lake that was frozen, which gave us one of our top 3 Norman Rockwell visions of the excursion.  Out on this expanse of ice, two men sat ice fishing.  I never saw the point of ice fishing.  There is a fine line between ice fishing and sitting on the ice like an idiot with a stick in your hand.

I eagerly awaited the crossing of the Colorado border.  I needed to stop for gas, and found a Love's rest stop.  It was brand spanking new!  It was only open three days.  I found the broken gas pump.  The cashier made me laugh.  Karen looked like she had some strong native American roots, and she was tremendously positive and happy.  About 20 minutes later, or so, I crossed into Colorado.  The first exit:  Julesburg.  I had to laugh because, well, I've pretty much been living there since March.  I stopped to take some pictures and visit the welcome center.  Sue and Barbara shared a lot of valuable information, and I went back to the car to bring FA in to introduce them.  Barbara was impressed that FA brought victory to the Bills, da Bears and the Huskers along our travels (and possibly to the Iowa Hawks today!), and she said we needed to bring some luck to the Broncos.  I set aside my grudges from "The Drive" and "The Fumble" and we'll hope for the best against the Chiefs today.

Fast Forward through a few hours of scenic beauty.  Angela calls, and tells me I'm going to see the Rocky Mts. in the distance, and it will be awe-inspiring.  Just when I reached that point, the phone rang.  I told Celeste, "Just now, I can see the peaks of the Rockies, this is so cool!"  Then, Chris Christensen called immediately after.  The sun created a sort of halo over the mountain tops.  Denver truly appears to have a spiritual quality like no other place I've been.

FA was little help with navigation.  I had the directions on my laptop screen, which was buttoned up.  As I got close to Denver, I pulled off to get my instructions straight, and at the end of the ramp... a roundabout!  When I got back on the highway, I was driving into blinding sunlight.  I thought my retinas were going to be shot forever.  It was pointless to try to read the signs, and I wished I had a navigator who could read.  At this point, I was thinking, I'd hit the Pacific Ocean before finding Denver.  But thr road turned, and all was well.  

The Exit was for 6th Avenue, which is also 6W.  I thought I had been dumped back onto I-25, because it was a superhighway.  I got off to ask direction, and once again, I chose wrong.  None of the signs were in English.  All Espanol, all the time.  I saw two men outside a car repair place, and one spoke passable English, assuring me I had been on the right route.  The genius who named Rt. 6W 6th Avenue was probably the same moron who gave Penfield the two zip codes 14625 and 14526.  

From there, I made it to Littleton and Celeste's home, passing a thriving commercial district the equivalent of three or four Henriettas.  We had a wonderful reunion, and then Celeste led me to the train station.  I took the Light Rail to the 16th St Mall in Denver, for a huge party in my honor.  I spoke with the people next to me on the train and told them this was Day 1 in Denver.  Amazingly, the woman said she was originally from Rochester — Avon to be precise. Thousands of people came.  Free train service.  People in tuxes and gowns, others in jeans and jackets with party hats.  I explored downtown Denver on my own, marvelling at all the street vendors, and shops staying open late.  At 10 pm, they set off fireworks, and I watched in the company of four very attractive Denver women.   Thousands of happy people surrounded me, and I thought what a magnanimous gesture, which took me completely by surprise.  I did not stay for the midnight fireworks, but thanked as many people as I could.  The train was jammed, and I was entertained by six college students sharing their takes on life in general.

I got back and Celeste was watching the news.  Apparently, Denver also had a major celebration with the 10th most elaborate fireworks display in the nation to ring in the New Year.  This city loves to party!

I heard something about the full moon being a blue moon.  How appropriate for Day 1 in Denver.


My cold had reached its peak in the mild, 30-ish night. It was good to be with a friend, after reaching my destination.

New Years' Day was filled with excitement about the Winter Classic VICTORY ny the Bruins in OT, and as darkness fell on the East, a drive through the scenic foothills of the Rockies and beautiful Evergreen, CO.  Celeste informed me that I've been adopted by four couples in her neighborhood who want me to ger off on the right foot in February when I return.  I have not met them yet.  

I wish all my friends could be here to experience this.  

My venture to New Mexico and Prescott AZ is delayed one day so that I can reorganize my car and jettison some of my stuff.  I started the day with a 90-minute mall walk and coffee at the Mall.

Next blog will be from New Mexico, where I'll visit Angela for a few days.