Rural countryside in Larimer County, Colorado north of Fort Collins
While our friends, neighbors and relatives have been sweating out a late summer heat wave in Charlotte, here in Colorado Kathy & I have been treated to mid-70s temperatures with beautiful skies and low humidity. We took full advantage on Thursday when we headed out into the countryside with our pal Monte Stevens.
When we headed out we had no idea what we were looking for or where we were going, but I think we found it! Overall an extremely productive and rewarding effort. Hoping to get into the high country and chase some fall color over the weekend before heading north to Montana, where it is supposed to snow. Yikes!
Rural countryside in Larimer County, Colorado north of Fort CollinsRural countryside in Larimer County, Colorado north of Fort CollinsRural countryside in Larimer County, Colorado north of Fort CollinsRural countryside in Larimer County, Colorado north of Fort CollinsRural countryside in Larimer County, Colorado north of Fort CollinsRural countryside in Larimer County, Colorado north of Fort CollinsRural countryside in Larimer County, Colorado north of Fort CollinsAbandoned store in the rural countryside in Larimer County, Colorado north of Fort CollinsRural countryside in Larimer County, Colorado north of Fort CollinsRural countryside in Larimer County, Colorado north of Fort CollinsRural countryside in Larimer County, Colorado north of Fort Collins
This doesn’t exactly qualify as a photo of Fort Collins but it was taken during an excursion into the countryside with my good friend Monte Stevens. We had fun exploring the grasslands north of the city.
Golden Spike Tower at the Union Pacific’s Bailey Yard in North Platte, Nebraska is the largest railroad classification yard in the world. Named in honor of former Union Pacific President Edd H. Bailey, the massive yard covers 2,850 acres, reaching a total length of eight miles. The yard is located in the midst of key east-west and north-south corridors, on the busiest freight rail line in America, making it a critical component of Union Pacific’s rail network.
Rural scene along US 36 near Breckenridge, Missouri
Caught this scene while driving to St. Joseph MO last evening. There is a hawk perched at the top of the barn, which I didn’t see until I looked at the photos on my computer. He flew off about halfway through his portrait session.
One of my favorite questions from friends and neighbors is “so, where are you off to next?” One of our neighbors is certain that we’re trying to spend all of our retirement dollars on vacations, but since we like having a place to come home to, we only spend part of it! 😉 I guess we’ve developed a well-earned reputation, and one that we’re just a bit proud of. 🙂
In a few days Kathy & I will be setting out to bag a few more states on our path toward 50. We’re looking forward to cooler temperatures and meeting up with some friends along the way. I plan to send “Postcards” from the road as we go, although they likely won’t be daily. Stay tuned!
The third “new” state on our recent DelMarVa excursion was New Jersey. We debated how to do New Jersey, realizing that the state is very diverse in terms of urban vs. rural, city vs. shore, crowded vs. not so crowded. At first we were thinking in terms of Atlantic City or Wildwood, but then we discovered (or remembered) Cape May.
Cape May, New JerseyCape May, New JerseyCape May, New JerseyCape May, New Jersey
While just barely in New Jersey, and the very southern tip of the peninsula, Cape May represented “enough” of New Jersey for us to say that we had visited. Nothing wrong with visiting the rest of the state, but we like to do things our way, and finding a town where we could park the car and leave it for a few days suits us. And Cape May fit that bill just fine.
Cape May, New JerseyCape May, New JerseyCape May, New Jersey
Cape May is recognized as the country’s oldest seaside resort, and the beach has been recognized by many “Top 10” lists, including the Travel Channel. Beach Avenue is lined with amazing homes – hilariously called “cottages” although they are often huge! – and hotels. Very little to no chain restaurants or hotels. They don’t even have a McDonald’s, a Starbucks or a Walmart! Our kind of place.
Cape May, New JerseyCape May, New JerseyCape May, New JerseyCape May, New JerseyCape May, New Jersey
Other than the fact that our hotel was full of families enjoying one last hurrah before school started, complete with loud, misbehaving children, we enjoyed our visit very much. The great part is that we spent most of our day walking around town while they were at the beach or the pool, and by the time we got back and showered for cocktails and dinner, all of the noisy families were headed off to dinner. Ahhhh!
Cape May, New JerseyCape May, New JerseyCape May, New JerseyCape May, New Jersey
Three days in New Jersey were plenty, we’re glad we went and glad to say we were there. And here are a few photos to prove it!
One of the challenges of deciding to “visit” all 50 states is defining how much is “enough” to qualify as a visit. As an example, I’ve been in both New Jersey and Texas before, but only saw the inside of the Newark and Dallas airports. That hardly qualifies as a “visit.”
Along the Boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach, DelawareAlong the Boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach, DelawareAlong the Boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
In order to keep this project from taking another 20 years, Kathy & I decided that in order to count a state as visited, we needed to have a representative grouping of photos from that state. It doesn’t mean that we have to (a) hit all of the Chamber of Commerce sites or (b) create a photo essay worthy of National Geographic. It just means that we need to be there long enough to come back with some representative photographs.
Indian River Inlet Lifesaving Station Museum, Rehoboth Beach, DelawareIndian River Inlet Lifesaving Station Museum, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
I’ll be the first to admit that spending a few hours in a state like Delaware is hardly enough to satisfy either of those above requirements. And while 3 days in New Jersey was plenty, thank you very much, there are states that, out of necessity, we will only get to spend a few hours. We’ll try to keep those to a minimum of course, but that is what we’ve decided.
Indian River Inlet Lifesaving Station Museum, Rehoboth Beach, DelawareIndian River Inlet Lifesaving Station Museum, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
The other part of the equation is that there will be states where we don’t get to the Big Name places. In Indiana, for example, I’d love to get to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. But we’re going to find something else, partly because that’s our style, and partly because we need to keep it simple from the standpoint of time and money. As much as I want to go to Glacier National Park, I’ll probably make do with something like Little Bighorn. For now!
So anyway, here is a collection of photos from Delaware. If you are from the Delaware Chamber of Commerce – sorry! Otherwise, enjoy!
Ferry from Lewes, Delaware to Cape May, New JerseyFerry from Lewes, Delaware to Cape May, New Jersey
