Sunday, August 26, 2018, Move to Cherry Creek SP, Aurora, CO

Today's drive took us into Colorado. Joani secured reservations at Cherry Creek State Park in Aurora, CO, a suburb just south of Denver. The drive was a pleasant (read uneventful) 182.3 miles (90,039.2 total).

When we arrived, the rangers informed us our reserved site was still occupied. The campers had left town and didn't make it back in time to vacate the site. Oops! The park keeps a few sites aside for just that reason. It was a much better site than we had reserved and we were given the option of staying there for the duration of our stay. I jumped on that opportunity. We were close to the entrance of the park, close to the showers and laundry and we saw deer grazing steps away from our coach nearly every morning.

Saturday, August 25, 2018, Cheyenne, WY

In our quest to see all of the state capitols we drove to Cheyenne today. Unfortunately, Wyoming's Capitol building was closed. I mean seriously closed for renovations and not reopening to the public until sometime in 2019. We managed a couple of quick shots from a street that was also closed, but since no one was working, I was able to squeeze by the barricades. It looked like the building had potential but there was really nothing to see this visit. We will just have to stop in next time we are in the area.

Really, the only other thing we had planned on seeing was the Train Depot. The stately old structure had been converted into a multi-use facility and the area around the building had a nice park-like feel that was a great starting point for our walking tour of the historic old buildings.

The station was the kind of building they don't build anymore and it was good to see it renovated and well maintained. Inside there was some kind of new-age swap meet in progress that we opted to ignore. Everywhere around town were painted boots - each with some theme that eluded me. Maybe there was a guide in the welcome center that would have explained the story behind their artwork. I think there was a total of 18 scattered around town paying tribute to Cheyenne's history and traditions.

On a nearby street, there was a lively, well attended, farmer's market in full swing. I guess I have mellowed in my old age - I have actually learned to enjoy some bagpipe music. Sam and I sat in some nearby shade and listened while Joani explored the market offerings.

We really appreciate the opportunity to study old architecture in historic cities and Cheyenne had plenty for us to see. Below is a sampling including the Plains Hotel and the original Wrangler Jeans factory. We didn't spend as much time as we would have liked in Cheyenne because we had a pretty long drive home and we knew we would be back again to see the capitol building in all its splendor when its restoration is complete. 

Thursday, August 23, 2018, Move to Wheatland, WY

Our drive today was 217.8 miles (89,856.9 total) but it was officially the most harried drive we have made in nearly 6 years of full-timing. Highway 85, south of Spearfish, SD, started as beautiful four-lane divided pavement but narrowed as it climbed steeply on the way to Deadwood. I was in 3rd gear chugging along at about 30 mph to the crest of the hill. Then I used exhaust break and 3rd gear back down the hill to maintain a reasonable speed. We saw Deadwood was setting up for something this weekend because several streets were closed. Just outside Deadwood, we started climbing another 7 percent grade for 3 miles and then back down.

I was pretty relieved to finally reach level ground again and actual shoulders so a momentary lapse in concentration wouldn't mean catastrophe.

We had the road to ourselves for the most part - very little traffic. What we did have were some stiff headwinds so nothing about today's drive was easy. 

When we made our last turn towards Wheatland, we heard a terrible knocking sound and quickly realized our patio awning had come loose. Actually, the wind broke our velcro safety straps and had unfurled the awning fabric. We were again on a road with absolutely no shoulder and a steep drainage ditch on each side so I stopped in the road and turned on the flashers.

It would have to have been somewhat comical to an onlooker to watch our panic as we tried to get the awning under control and retracted while a steady 60-70 mph wind continued to thwart our efforts. At one point, while Joani was holding the awning strap the wind lifted her off the ground! We finally got it back in and secured with four straps.

During the entire event, I think only a couple of pickup trucks passed by, probably having a good laugh at us foreigners struggling with the Wyoming breeze.

Wednesday, August 22, 2018, ACA National Rally, Spearfish, SD

I think I already mentioned Elkhorn Ridge RV Park was a very nice place. The sculpture below was one of many scattered around the well kept common areas in the park. The resort and the surrounding area made a great location for the ACA National Rally with the only downside being the limited space available for gatherings.

I always love to see a long arc of beautiful American Coaches lined up at our rallies.

Debbie, our National Membership Chairwoman, preps the ambassadors to meet with rally first-timers. Each new attendee had an ambassador to introduce them to rally activities and to help with any questions or concerns.

The first night's menu was simply "heavy hors-d'oeuvres" but I'm pretty sure everyone had enough to eat. I know that because, as the last table to head to the chow line, we found that the caterers had run out of a lot of the more popular selections. We still managed to find enough to fill ourselves up.

Bob, our rally master and ACA vice-president, emceed the member's meeting along with our president, Tony, on the right.

Representatives from REV Group, the parent company of American Coach, gave members a rundown on new initiatives and the future of the company.

Social hours are the most popular part of a rally (unless you count the catered meals which might be just as popular). Everyone brings an appetizer or snack to share and their favorite beverage for an afternoon of catching up with old friends and making new ones.

I think the look on Bill's face, below, fairly represented the mood of the happy hour crowd - everyone seemed to have a great time!

A couple of 2019 coaches were on display along with a handful of vendors to make sure we had shopping options. I couldn't quite see myself in one of these new Heritage Edition American Eagles just yet - maybe next year?

Who doesn't love a good ice cream social? Especially when the toppings were as delicious as they were plentiful. I know I shouldn't have indulged but just one bowl couldn't hurt that much - right?

Before our last night's entertainment, we had a couple who wanted to tie the knot in front of 200+ close friends. The minister performed a short ceremony, which he repeated in Navajo (a first for me), as we finished our steak dinners.

The evening's entertainment was a magic show that included select members from the audience to provide a bit of light-hearted humiliation with the illusions.

I think the sunset shot below, over an American Coach provides a nice close to this rally post.

Tuesday, August 21, 2018, Deadwood, SD

Just a few miles south and over the hill from Spearfish, is Deadwood, SD. The town bills itself as "The Place where the Wild West Lives." The cobblestoned Main Street surely harkened back to an earlier time, but it did not make me think of the same wild west we saw a few years ago in Tombstone, AZ.

Of course, we could have watched a shootout re-enactment that might have provided more of a wild west flavor, but Sam is not a fan of gunfire so we avoided those.

I'm pretty sure I saw more than one place claiming to be the "Original Location" of Saloon No. 10 where Wild Bill Hickok was shot down in 1876. I was probably just confused.

It was always easy to identify depictions of Wild Bill with his long flowing mustache.

We will have to give Deadwood more time on our next visit to the Black Hills area, but we did not want to miss out on the rally fun, so we headed back early after barely scratching the surface of this interesting and historic tourist trap.