June 27 – July 15, 2012 – Loveland/Ft. Collins, Colorado


We left the Black Hills on Wednesday morning and headed to Colorado.  We ran into a rainstorm by just before Newcastle. WY and it was overcast all the way to Loveland where it rained after we got set up.  We are staying at Loveland RV Resort.  The High Park fire is almost under control and we are glad that there is hardly any smoke here.
   
First thing Thursday morning we took the Jeep to Dinks Auto.  They spent a few days trying to unseize the motor but finally decided that it was ruined so we ordered a new engine.     It took about two weeks to get the new engine and have it installed. They also had to replace the clutch as it was bad.  The Jeep is running great and we need to put 500 miles on it and bring it back for an oil change and to make sure everything is working properly.  This was a very expensive lesson and we will make sure the Jeep is not in gear before we tow it from now on!  We learned it does not pay to get in a hurry when we are hooking up and getting ready to leave.

In the meantime we got to visit with a lot of family and friends.  We attended Nancy’s nephew’s wedding in Genesee Park – what a beautiful setting in the mountains.  The next day was her parent’s 65th wedding anniversary party – WOW - 65 years of marriage is quite an accomplishment.  We were able to visit with many relatives we have not seen for a long time.  All of Nancy’s sisters and her brother were there, along with almost all of her nieces and nephews and their kids.  Many of Nancy’s aunts and uncles and a few cousins were also able to attend.  It was a really nice party and it was great to see everyone.  

 
We also got to visit with a lot of our friends and former co-workers while we were here.  Our friends, Bob and Jean, invited us over to their house for dinner which ended up being a surprise birthday party for Nancy with many of our friends from our old camping group, The RV Rascals.  Rex, Bob and Jean were so good at keeping the secret that Nancy was completely surprised.  We had a great time and enjoyed seeing our friends again. 


We had dinner with Yvonne, a former co-worker of Nancy, and her daughter, Lyra.  Lyra was born a couple of weeks before Nancy retired and here she is now 4 years old and cute as a button.  It is hard to believe that we have been retired 4 years – time sure does fly when you are having fun!

 

We finally got the Jeep back on Friday the 13th.   Dinks Auto did a great job on it and we need to put 500 miles on the engine and return for an oil change and check up.  Just like everywhere in the southwest it is hot and dry here – in the high 90’s to low 100’s so after visiting with our friends, Teri and Bill, in Brighton on Sunday, we decided to head to the mountains where it would be cooler.

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