And on into Colorado!

Hello!

Up this morning about 5:30 am and down for breakfast about 6:30.   Robert tells me there was quite a lightning display last night, although I did sleep through most of it.  He said he didn’t hear any thunder, though – just the lightning display!  Breakfast was excellent and filling, and we were checked out and down to the car about 7:30 am. 

Discovered even before we knew it that we were on a very short Kansas tollway, which goes from Lawrence to Topeka, which is the state capital.  We are both fairly ignorant about anything in Kansas – did you know, for instance, that it is called the Sunflower State?  We didn’t, although R did guess at the State mammal – the Bison, and he was, of course, correct. 

Rolling hills in eastern Kansas

Lots of cows!

In looking at the map of the I-70 freeway in Kansas, it is basically as straight as an arrow until just before you leave the state, when I-70 heads a bit north to intersect with Denver.  We discovered that there are very few cities in Kansas, and just huge swathes of agricultural land.  Robert pointed out that there were very few farm houses that you could see from the freeway, and that the territory seemed to be very much managed by large conglomerates.  The eastern part of Kansas is really lovely – rolling hills and crests where you can actually see a view!  I did, however, mistake the fact that the absolutely HUGE grain elevators were not high rise office buildings – but from a distance, they sure do look alike!

Once you pass the middle part of the state, the land flattens out completely, and with the hazy horizon line, it was not what we would call attractive.  We stopped at Arby’s in Colby KS for lunch, and were then back on our way towards Denver.

There are trees in eastern Kansas!

Enjoying the scenery

Starting to flatten out!

Things finally got a bit better as we passed into Colorado, and eventually, voila – we could see the Rockies!  And they had snow on them!  Very neat!  I had been thinking that Denver and other local places have been so hot lately, that all the snow might have melted, but that was definitely not the case!  Very much looking forward to our drive through the mountains tomorrow!

Lovely house in the middle of Denver!

We especially loved the huge median area

Of course, we hit Denver somewhere around 2:30 pm and the freeways were already backing up with traffic, construction and accidents.  We decided to try to completely avoid traffic, and drive instead right through town and out the far side on surface streets.  Well … there are truly some stunning homes and lots of green space and huge trees in the center for Denver!  It was a beautiful drive – also made all the better by being able to avoid the stopped or very slowly moving freeways that we went over or under! 

Finally turned into Lakewood, and arrived at Home2 Suites, our hotel for the night.  For anyone unfamiliar with Home2 Suites, they are very interesting.  A Hilton chain, they are long and wide and wide open, using heavy curtaining to divide up the spaces in the room, if you want.  They have a microwave, full sink, full-size fridge and dishwasher, just no cooktop.  Then there is a lovely desk for the computer, and a full-size and very comfy sofa/sofa bed with ottoman.  Then a TV with shelves and drawers, a very large space for luggage, and then a closet.  As R points out, if he wants to stay up and watch TV, he has only to pull the curtain, and I’ll be able to sleep!  The fact is, though, that if I’m tired, then I can sleep no matter what’s on TV! 

We’ll be heading out soon in search of Indian food – R has found a good place not too far from here, and then back in for (hopefully!) a nice and quiet night!

R in Little India in Lakewood

Lovely decor!

So!  More later!

m

xxx

Back now from the restaurant.  Just a couple of miles away, so not too hard to find.  Part of a shopping area/mall.  Lovely decor.  Excellent appetizers of samosa and pakoras.  Mains were chicken tikka (although they delivered chicken tikka masala, but we decided to live with it...) and shrimp vindaloo, with garlic naan.  Good but not great!  All accompanied by an Indian man playing the sitar, which was really lovely!  Done early and headed back to hotel to watch the Rockies on TV!

m

xxx