Day 6 – July 4th, 2016
Colorado Springs – NW Denver
101 Miles/1 hour 40 minutes
Fourth of July. We kicked off the holiday in a patriotic way.
We visited the United States Air Force Academy. The campus is beautiful, although,
of course, I was the only one impressed. To be fair, even I was bored during
the 20 minute introduction video. We snuck out early.
I do have a funny Allie story to tell. In the visitor’s
center we were waiting on Audrey, who was in the bathroom for an unusually long
time. I went in and found her hiding in a stall - texting! I told her that we
were going to leave, and she insisted that she had to use the bathroom. “Then
go!” I told her and watched her go back into the stall. I told her she had three
minutes and left. I collected the boys, who were in the gift shop, and then returned
to the bathroom. I walked back to the stall where I’d seen her enter. “You
better hurry the H*** up Miss Thing. You’re messing with our schedule.”
The toilet flushed, and out walked a bewildered woman I’d
never seen before. I was mortified and mumbled my apologies. Audrey wasn’t even
in the bathroom, but in the gift shop looking for me.
Oops!
We drove up to Denver and stopped to have lunch with some
old friends of mine from Fort Lauderdale, Deb & Steve. I worked with Deb
and Steve at Shooters, right after I graduated from college. Shooter’s was/is a
restaurant on the inter-coastal in Fort Lauderdale We had a lot of fun working there - and we
made a lot of money, which is why I didn’t jump into the professional world
after getting my Master’s. I wasn’t ready to take a pay cut. Anyway, Deb and Steve
were my ideal couple. They were so in love, and yet so down-to-earth. They’re good
people who always looked out for me. I was dating someone at the time who really
wasn’t a nice guy. Steve constantly asked me why I was going out with him and I
couldn’t give him a good reason. Finally, I promised him I wouldn’t. Bets
advice ever!
After lunch we explored downtown Denver for a little bit. Unfortunately,
the capitol was closed - I guess because of the holiday. In fact, the streets
were empty. Then we drove to the hotel, which is located hallway between Denver
and Boulder. We worked out in the gym and then had a Fourth of July dinner at a
restaurant across the street from the hotel. It was a really good. Finally, we
ended the night watching fireworks from our hotel.
Chapel at the USAF Academy
Lunch with the Dotys
The Shooter's Crew (circa 1994)
The Denver State Capitol Building
