Beautiful days in Buffalo with a side trip to Sheridan Wyoming...

We've visited Buffalo a number of times, but always just for a day or two.  This time we took our time and stayed for five leisurely days at our favorite campground, Deer Park RV.  It's beautiful here, with lots of trees, grass and a swimming pool if one wants.  There is a KOA right down the road at a much higher rate that isn't nearly as nice (we stayed there our first year out) and I'm always surprised at why people choose it, when this one is so much better.

The weather has been absolutely delightful!  It's been so wonderful to be able to just sit outside and read and relax or to work (yes, I still have HOA work to do!). Even sitting on the couch looking out the door, the view has been incredible!  

Our first night was a visit to the historical Occidental Hotel (circa 1908). Wyoming is "beef" country so I was ready for a good steak, and they didn't disappoint!  Looking up, there were taxidermied animals all over the walls - mostly elk and deer, but a sure whole lot of them! 

The next day we took our time and started with the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum.  Jim Gatchell was pharmacist in the early 1900s and became a trusted friend to the region's Native Americans.  They brought him many gifts over the years, which are now in the museum.  You are not allowed to take pictures of any of that collection, but you could of the rest. They had wonderful dioramas of the cattle ranch war, the history of Tom Horn and other scouts.  A beautiful Northern Cheyenne Tipi called "The Water Bird" stands out front as you enter, along with a US Marshall's Wagon.  It was all quite interesting...

Afterward, we just wandered the streets and enjoyed the shops and murals.  Buffalo is the home of Craig Johnson, the author of "Longmire", if you are a fan.  His wife has a store here, full of all his books, posters, shirts, caps, you name it!  They have "Longmire Days" in July that is suppose to be quite something, the actors come and a ton of fans, a parade and all the fuss!  He writes about two books a year now.  ;-)  The other cool thing that people probably don't know about Buffalo, is that it used to be, was sheep country!  Early in the 1900s the Basque moved here and brought their heritage of raising of sheep with them! 

The following day we decided to take the drive over to Sheridan and check it out.  We started early so we could have breakfast there.  We ended up at the Cowboy Cafe.  I decided to try their Bison sausage & cheese omelet - good choice!  Yum!  Great coffee too, wish we would have asked them the brand... Jack liked their cups so much, he bought his!  

Afterwards, we just walked the streets, going in and out of all the shops, up one side and down the others.  Talked with the nicest people.  My favorite was the Crazy Woman Trading Co.  The owners were a hoot and the shop was decorated with so much fun.  I not only bought a shirt ('cause I am a Crazy Woman) but also had to have her other "label" Picky Bitch".  She shared that B.I.T.C.H. actually is a compliment and told me what each letter stood for...and dang if I've forgotten!  I have to contact her and get it again....;-)  

We ended our day there at a great hand-made ice cream stand called Cowboy Creamery "Western Style" and came on back to the rig.  It's been such a delight to just take our time and visit here.  Tomorrow we are off to Jack's favorite Wyoming stop - Cody!

...on the road in Wyoming...

Marie

Colorado friendship...

 Twelve years ago while Jack and I was sitting in our rig in Lexington KY, we spotted an RV exactly like ours.  Because they only made this model for four years, we rarely see it.  When I spotted it driving to the dump area and pointed it out to Jack, he took off running after it!  He ran up to the driver and knocked on his window and announced to him that our coaches were just alike!  They talked for a few minutes and the driver shared that he wasn't leaving, but was going to visit a friend and would be back later and to stop by his spot.  We did, and everyone introduced themselves.  We all sat around and talked until 1am.  That was the beginning of a long and deep friendship with Deb and Rich.  

Over the years we have gone camping together, visited them in their home in Denver several times, getting to know all of their family and kept in close contact.  Rich served in the Army in his youth, and like so many young men, got in contact with Agent Orange.  As with others, it invaded his body, slowly but surly and we lost him a few weeks ago, breaking all our hearts.  He was a terrific person in every way. 

When we made plans for this trip, there was no doubt that it needed to include Colorado, to see Deb and to be able to giver her a real hug in person.  We had been in touch all through those last days on the phone, but of course, that's not the same.  

As per her usual style, she picked the most unique place for us to enjoy the day together and have lunch - a place we hadn't been before (how could that be?  They had shown us so many places in Colorado before!) It was in a small town called Castle Rock and in a small church turned into an incredible Italian restaurant called Scileppi's at The Old Stone Church.  Family owned and operated for several generations, and you could smell the garlic before you even opened the door!  Yum!  They are in the middle of adding to it, with an addition to the side for more "pizza space" (they need it) and have added tables out in front as well.  

Deb and I split our meal (lasagna and salad) and we still have a ton left over for a whole other meal for tomorrow!  Jack's meal has enough left over for two more meals!  All so very good!  

Afterward, we walked all around town and into the few shops they had, but in all honesty they had more restaurants than shops!  We really lucked out on the weather, especially for Colorado, as you can never tell here if it is going to be cold, warm or rain from hour to hour!  It remained nice and warm, yea.  

All to soon our time together was over, and tear full hugs were passed around.  I reminded her that flights do come to Arizona, but I know she has much to adjust to and needs time to heal.  But we will hold her in our hearts and know that one day we will all be together again, here or there, as this friendship will continue on...

...on the road in Colorado,  Marie

Our Summer Trip...First Stop - New Mexico!

 After a long hiatus, we are back on the road again for a couple of months!  First stop, New Mexico!  Silver City has become our "new favorite" town to visit.  With our friends, Jed and Julie having moved here, it makes a good "excuse" for us to come here, but we've actually found that we really love this little town too.  It's about a 5 hour drive, a little longer than I like Jack to do, but it's not a bad one for our first day out.  We have found a great campground (Manzano's) that we've enjoyed staying at.  The owners, John and Barbara are super nice and always host a BBQ of some sort on Saturday evenings which not only is the food great, but meeting all the other campers is such fun and interesting.  We've already established a couple of favorite places we enjoy going to there, like the local coffee place called Tranquilbuzz and the Silver City Book Shop that no matter how many books we already have, Michael talks us into more! 

Even thought we thought we had "seen it all" from out last trip, our friends managed to take us to a new place! We had the best, most unusual breakfast ever...a breakfast pizza!  It was a pizza made with sauce, cheese, bacon and egg on a great pizza dough.  I was skeptical, but boy was it good!  Yum!  The place was a hoot too!  Even when you drove up to it, you went, hmm, wow!  "Eclectic" was your first thought...it had a great garden attached to the side, so, of course, that's where I wandered off to before I even went inside. Got into a wonderful conversation with one of the owners. (she recommended the "killer Bloody Mary" which I took her up on!). We shared the challenge of relearning how to garden in the desert after living in So. Calif.  

Whiskey Creek Zocalo is a bar, a restaurant, a garden, a picnic site, a music venue, et al. It has 9 acres that is still developing itself.  One thing for sure, it has great food and interesting decor!  We've added it to our places that we will return to when we come through here again.  ;-)  

After leaving our friends, our next stop was Albuquerque. It was just a short 2 night stop at a cute little RV Park called Enchanted Trails.  We had been here before way back in 2018.  It has a sweet little "Retro Area" that you can rent early style trailers.  So cute.  They have added a huge "Hub Cap Tree" in the middle of the campground that is really something too.  Pretty cool.  First morning here we were greeted with a spectacular sunrise.  We didn't bother going anywhere as we have been to Albuq. before and just wanted to rest as the next drive was going to be a really long one heading to Colorado Springs. 

This was a great way to start our "summer" trip!

...on the road,  Marie