Day 5 was nonstop action driving from Colorado Springs to North Platte, NEBRASKA!
We started our day with a tour of
US Olympic Training Center, where we were entertained by
Mike Prout, a 2004 and 2008 Paralympian swimmer - he won gold in 400 freestyle at 2004 Paralympics in Athens.
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| Allegra prepares for Rio 2016 |
We were able to see weightlifters, wrestlers, and swimmers in training, and we picked up a little US Olympic Team merchandise, of course. We learned that 1/3 of the athletes living at the Training Center are paralympic athletes. We didn't get to see any
team handball practice, but that is sure to be the next sport the US dominates in the Olympics - they've started by putting up a sign on the campus, to let folks know the sport exists (though Allan Kingston is ahead of the curve on that). We also realized why the US is so weak at table tennis - we should try tables with tops...it couldn't hurt.
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| Why isn't the ball bouncing? |
We managed to switch our (slightly) damaged Prius for a new one, at a local Enterprise office in Denver. Then we stopped by the Colorado State Capitol to snap a picture - I sense a trend here, as we will be passing through at least 4 more state capitals on our journey.
Also, after just 5 days, we have heard the entire 70's channel playlist on XM/Sirius, so we will need to find another channel to fill the time in the car. Unfortunately, wall-to-wall Ira Glass is not ideal for driving long distances. Let's hope the
Real Jazz channel has a longer playlist!
The drive out of the Rockies brought us into the prairies, where we will be for a few days. But it was an especially huge transition when we crossed the state line from Colorado into Nebraska. See if you can spot 10 differences between these two photos.
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| Colorado |
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| Nebraska - or is it Colorado? |
We'd hoped that the 'Welcome to Nebraska' sign would have some bullet holes in it, like the North Dakota sign from a view years ago. Oh well, the sketchy dudes with the emergency gas can and beatdown pickup truck would have to suffice.
Just like our last road trip, we just seem to find interesting and/or giant sculpture. The giraffes and the butterfly-thing were done in wood, then bronzed - they are in
several sites around Sterling, Colorado. Then, as we pulled into North Platte, we were struck by the awesomeness of
Fort Cody, complete with the 50 foot statue of Buffalo Bill Cody.
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| the butterfly thing |
And definite props to the
Canteen Grille of North Platte and Chef Lalanne - excellent steaks!
Time to sign off - talk to you later!
