Today we visited "Bishop's Castle" - a very strange rambling structure up in the mountains SW of Pueblo. Here's what was written by one person about it:

 You owe it to yourself to see this castle first-hand in your lifetime! Bishop's Castle was built by one man over the course of 42 years and he is still working on building more! It has 3 tall towers (all of which you can climb stairs to the top and look out), a magnificently huge glass ballroom, a fire-breathing dragon, a bell that you can ring, flying buttresses, stained glass windows and a mind-blowing amount of iron and stonework. As I said, do yourself a favor and go out of your way to see one of the last truly free, hand-built wonders of America.

He is there most days visiting with the visitors! He is somewhat of a political radical, and loves an audience, so I was told to be careful about talking to him! There is much, much more to the structure than you can see in these pictures.

Went out to Jim & Peggy Hoobler's place today, to check it out, in case I decide to take him up on the offer to park my camper there, then picked up my mail at the Post Office, and paid my rent  -  to Sept. 7.  Afterwards, John & Syd went bicycle riding. The library has 4 bicycles that may be checked out to ride - just like checking out books! They are not, however, classy 10 speeds or anything like that. They are big old fashioned bikes - no hand brakes, or fancy handlebars or seats - not like anything J or S had ever seen, let alone been on. They rode them around town for an hour or so, though, and afterwards, said it was "kinda fun"!\ This eve we went & ate spaghetti at Sammie's (benefit dinner), but didn't stay for the auction - too crowded and noisy to be fun! Tomorrow - The Castle! Talked to Kerry - guess I'll be sending J & S home on Amtrak, Sat. afternoon, from Raton, New Mexico - about an hour from here. They will get into Hutch. around 2:00 AM. :(

The sign says "His Ranch" - makes you wonder, doesn't it!

 Up and on our way to Alamosa by 9:00 am - beautiful drive over La Veta Pass and to Mass at Sacred Heart Church by 10:30 (on time!). Pretty much everything in this part of Colorado shows the Spanish/Mexican influence - buildings, names of towns and the streets in them, colors, etc - and this church is no exeception, right down to the congregation! Mostly brown skinned people with beautiful black haired children. To eat at Cavillo's Mexican Food Buffet afterwards, then grocery shopping at Walmart and back home by 3:00. There is a town picnic here in La Veta starting at 4:00, and I have promised we'll go check it out...........and we did.....6:00 now, just got home from the picnic. It wasn't a big affair - just a bunch of people gathered in the La Veta City Park, milling around and sitting at picnic tables under the shelter`, live music by a small local group, and someone cooking hotdogs on a grill. For $2, you got a hotdog, chips and a chocolate chip cookie, so now we've had supper!  We sat at a table with Dick & Thelma, a retired minister and his wife, whom we quickly got acquainted with, and were joined by Jim & Peggy Hoobler. Peggy is the local theatre person who directed and organized the melodrama at the Francisco Center for the Performing Arts a couple of weeks ago where Ashley, Ally & I spent a very enjoyable evening. Jim played the "fill in" character "Goober Hoobler", who had everyone laughing so hard!  They live just outside of town and offered to rent me space to park my camper there during the coming winter.

Not much to write about except the weather - It got hot today! Here! Well, not 103 degrees hot like it did in Hutchinson, KS and some other places, but acording to the weather app on my phone, it was 89, and to me, that's hot! So didn't do much but stay inside with the AC on.  J & S walked down to Charlie's to get ice cream. One good thing about this town - you can walk to anyplace in it. Planning a trip to Alamosa tomorrow, to Mass and to a Mexican Buffet Restaurant that I'm very sure John & Syd are going to like! Teresa & Kelly, you know what I'm talkin' about!

Not much going on here today. John & Sydney may be thinking they should have stayed in Kansas! We did drive over to Walsenburg and do a little shopping for paper plates, and other exciting things, The campground is completely full tonight, and I counted 4 extras - campers parked in places that aren't really places, waiting for some one to vacate tomorrow morning. The people on the north side of me are leaving  - going back to Garden City, so that means we'll have new neighbors on that side. The couple on the other side are "fulltimers" - spending the summer in one place (here in La Veta for the last 4-5 years), then moving to a warmer climate for the winter. A lot of the campers in the park are retirees - 60+ - but many are younger folks on vacation. There is one choice area along the river which is almost entirely populated by retirees who have come to spend the whole summer here, and will be back to do the same next year.

A beautiful rainbow over eastern Colorado!

Today mostly spent driving. After spending the night in the Super 8 in Dodge City (and yes, doing a little gambling!), John, Sydney, and I headed for Colorado about 10 a.m.  Stopped several times - once at "Jack & Wanda's Tasty House" cafe in Holly, Colorado to eat lunch.  Had a nice visit with Jack, the owner/waiter, a sweet and friendly little man - kinda reminescent of Dad/Grandpa,  Wanda was going around picking up stuff. (Sydney says). It was a long day, and we're all 3 tired but John drove part of the way, and that helped me a lot!

Made it to Pueblo, found a Jiffy Lube and got the oil changed, then got on Hwy 50 and headed east! Now waiting for Kerry, Tracey, John & Sydney at the Super 8 in Dodge City.


The view today - Western Kansas!

For all you who think Katy is sweet, but not very smart (I hate to admit it, but I include myself in this group) - listen to this! She was begging at the door, so I opened it and went down the steps.  I turned around to take her out and just at that moment, she literally leaped out of the camper and landed on the ground (splat!), picked herself up and took out running toward the dog run area of the campground. I quickly got my shoes on, grabbed the treats, and ran after her, and - guess what - by the time I got there, she was busy doing her business! Maybe she's "seen the light"!! :o

Quite a rain/storm this afternoon, and I saw it coming as we came down Hwy 12 on the way back from Walsenburg. There were some very black clouds hanging over La Veta!

Ate at Sammies this eve - their BLT is really good! Realized my car is badly in need of an oil change - located a couple of places in Pueblo where I can get it done - my plan is to leave by 7:30 or so, and get the oil changed there, then on to Dodge City to meet Kerry & Tracey and bring John & Sydney back with me.





The view from here (actually from over by the office)

  Went to pick up my mail at the Post Office shortly after noon, then to "Charlie's Groceries and Ice Cream" store to get milk. Just couldn't make it past the ice cream counter without stopping to buy a "single dip of praline-pecan ice cream in a waffle cone" - Mmmmmmm!  Later went to what I call "Happy Hour" - a gathering under the trees by the creek (well, it would be a creek if it had any water in it - right now it's just a "slough" full of rocks!). This happens every afternoon at 4:00 - everyone takes lawn chairs and drinks and the women form one large circle with their chairs, the men form their own circle, and a whole lotta visitin' goes on! A good way for everyone to get acquainted, & I have met most of the women in the park this way - don't remember very many of their names, but I've met them! :)  I walked over by the office to take this picture - near sundown.