Good morning Wyoming

How do you start your day? Watching crop dusters of course.

ONWARD!

So we knew we had to get up early because Luchies-Schroeder wanted to see Deacon & Keely. Got up at 7 and Wendy wanted to run to start the day.

Fortunately, we were able to adopt Izzy into the Baker Bunch and she showed us all how to run through the neighborhood, counting bunnies (12+), and scaring prairie dogs.

As fate would have it, we finally found something named "Deacon" and we had to go all the way to Mead, Colorado to find it.

Then we visited the Luchies-Schroeder reno and were in awe of their soon-to-be-super-cool home in Longmont Estates and then headed north to Wheatland, Wyoming to visit Heidi and the Platt family at their Rock Lake Ranch.

So the greyhounds (Major & Minor) kind of own the couches and the hearts of Keely for sure. Heidi & Dane were, as always, awesome.

Then they took us out to "work the corner" in a field that Todd needed to swath the field of alfalfa and grass. We all got rides in the swather that was quite air-conditioned and cool.

Then we went into town to crash at Heidi's before tomorrow's big day of working the farm. Hopefully we'll be more help than hindrance. Heard we might have an ultra-cool steak dinner tomorrow.

After the nap

Wendy and I headed out to meet some old friends while the kids relaxed from their exhausting day.

Downtown Longmont has changed soooo much. The whole town is busting at the seams and getting trendy and trafficky and all kinds of stuff that don't resemble the sleepy little cow town we used to live in. 

Fortunately, the Luchies-Schroeders haven't changed - except in volume - so they met us out at the Mountain Sun Brewery. Little Cleo & young Sena are wonderful additions to their clan and so cute. Geoff? Well, he's Geoff and in need of a shave in my opinion.

Afterwards the skies turned dark and we were threatened with a real ugly storm. But as we returned to Mead and the Campbells, the skies brightened and we even saw a wishbone rainbow (double on one side and single on the other). Seeing a full rainbow is one of the key benefits of the West's big sky. Didn't get any shots of it but did catch a beautiful sunset.

Rough having our last meal and talk about leaving the oh-so-gracious Michaela & Troy. I know the kids will miss the fun with Izzy and Ike. But tomorrow morning we head north to Wyoming to see Heidi and the Platt family on their cattle farm.

And after the flood

So there was some serious flooding two years ago in Lyons, CO and one of our favorite hikes - heck, it's our favorite hike - is just up the road at Button Rock Reservoir. We took the kids there today and enjoyed the Sleepy Lion trail. Trail starts out kinda rocky with lots of switchbacks and a pretty good "straight up" incline.

Then it breaks into a high meadow with lots of beautiful, small flowers and grasses. Yes, that's Wendy lying on her back. Think she wanted to see what prairie dogs see, or something like that.

After the meadow, it gets pretty boulder rocky with lots of gnarled trees as well. The interesting part is that this trail buts right up against Hall Ranch. Can't imagine ranching up that high but I'm sure someone does.

The views were pretty spectacular.

Afterwards, we descended to Lyons and my old workplace and home of one of my favorite breweries, Oskar Blues, for a well-deserved lunch.

As we drove out of the town we found this new retailer and figured we had to stop by.

Odd thing is that their whisky won't be sold until the end of the month and they've been open for 2 years. That didn't stop us from trying the offerings at Spirit Dog Distillers. Lucky for us, one of the owners offered the kids some iced cream since they couldn't sample the wares. Then he brought Wendy a cup of salted caramel ice cream with their homemade coffee liquer drizzled on top. Believe it or not, there was a nap in our future.

Revisiting Longmont & Mead

Found our way to the Campbell Compound in Mead yesterday afternoon and had a great time with Michaela, Troy, Izzy, & Ike. Good friends, tasty food, and a good night's sleep has energized us. More to come.

A Walk/Drive Down Memory Lane

We got to Denver and caught up with our old friend Erz at some food trucks.

After we ate, we drove up to Longmont, CO to look at our old houses and look at the new town. Boyd decided that we should go to a shop called "Cheese Importers." 

We went inside and it looked like a glorified gift shop but then I (Deacon) realized there was a cheese tasting room where we tasted all types of cheese.

We are now on our way to Mead, CO to visit old friends!

New Mexico mountains

On our way to Trinidad, Colorado. We slept in a nice Microtel in Raton, New Mexico. When we were on our way to Raton, there was a huge lightning storm all over the sky. Then it started raining and the wind was so fast that tumble weeds were all in the road!!!!

this was before the storm.....
We stopped at a rest stop and the wind was insane!

We didn't do much there but it sure was beautiful!


Written by: Keely Baker