Thursday, August 22 — Monday August, 26, 2019
I left off after we picked up Jeff and Katia at the airport in Denver. They’re from El Paso, Texas, and will be taking this trailer west to Nevada, New Mexico and California. We spent Thursday afternoon getting acquainted and showing them the trailer.
On our way back from the airport, I noticed one of my favorite California restaurants, the Lazy Dog, so I knew where we’d be having dinner! Then on the way to Lazy Dog, I saw a sign for HuHot, a Mongolian Grill place 
I’d visited two years ago in Fargo, North Dakota when I’d been at a pesticide conference. I knew Dave would love it, so problem solved about where to have dinner tomorrow night!
Friday morning we began training Jeff and Katia. We unloaded the boxes of RALI supplies, the popup shelters, the generator, etc. We set up the trailer from its travel mode. Jeff and Katia had watched the videos I took in Indianapolis of Joe and Frank training us, and read the transcripts I’d done, so they basically knew the info. I gave them my tour. Dave gave them his tour. Then the guys did some shopping and worked on truck and trailer maintenance while I went back to the hotel to work.
As I predicted, HuHot was a hit for dinner. Saturday involved more training, but this was about driving the truck and trailer. First, Dave drove all of us to downtown Denver to
check out the venue where the trailer was scheduled to be Monday and Tuesday on the grounds of the Capitol. Downtown venues are always tricky, with narrow, one-way streets. We had directions about where to place the trailer and we wanted to be sure it was possible. We found the location, discussed how to make it happen, and we were satisfied. It would take some maneuvering and stopping traffic for a few minutes, but it was doable.
Back at the hotel, the guys dropped off Katia and me, hooked up the trailer and drove to a truck wash to get both the truck and trailer washed and all pretty for the trailer’s Denver debut on Sunday. It was also Jeff’s first trailer driving lesson. I had work to do. 
Part of my work involved repairing a part of the trailer decor which kept losing its horns during transport and finally one broke. That night we walked across the street to a BBQ place, Jim ‘n’ Nick’s, that was amazing! The cheese corn muffins are to die for! We shared riblets, a salad, and blackeyed peas.
Sunday we had an event in Greenwood Village. This was Jeff and Katia’s first event, so they got to ease into giving tours. They did great! We were also treated to a visit from our cousin, Trena, who moved to Denver a few years ago. Catching up with her was wonderful! It was a warm day and everyone kept apologizing for the weather, but honestly, after what we’d had in Iowa, it wasn’t that bad.
The event itself didn’t have a great turnout, but it was sponsored by state representative, Meg Froelich. As usual, everyone who came through was surprised by what they learned. I did one media interview. And HuHot was such a hit Friday evening, we went back again Sunday for dinner.
Monday morning Dave and I rode in the back seat and Jeff and Katia drove us to the Capitol. We did stop traffic, but we got the trailer in position relatively quickly. After a 
smooth set up, but a not-so-smooth unhitching of truck from trailer (which involved a broken jack), I gave one tour to some RALI people. We took some pictures, said goodbye, then headed to the airport via a free downtown shuttle and Denver’s light rail.
We’re now at the gate, waiting to board our flight to San Francisco, then to Fresno. I’ve written this post in three stages today. At the hotel this morning, on the train, at the airport.
Make that four five stages. I had to board the plane. I finished writing on the plane, and in San Francisco, I will insert the pictures and (I hope) post.
We’ll be home for about a week, visiting family and going to see the Fresno State vs. USC football game this weekend. Then we fly to Vancouver for our long awaited Alaska cruise. We’re not quite sure when and where we’ll rejoin the trailer. We thought it would be DC on Sept. 17, but we were just told today plans and schedules have changed, so … once again, we’re being flexible. Stay tuned …
We hadn’t had lunch yet, so we called it a late lunch/early dinner. I found a place called Kue’d that looked good. It was a bit out of our way, but we weren’t in a hurry.
We arrived in Lincoln about 8:00 and stopped for runzas at a restaurant called Runza’s. I did a little reading on the way and discovered Nebraska’s claim to culinary fame is the runza, which is very similar to what we in the Central Valley call bierocks. They’re a kind of savory meat pie/turnover. I liked it, but Dave didn’t care for the spices in the meat.
an event, or three hours the next morning. So we drove to Fort Morgan, Colorado, to a Comfort Inn, took a quick dip in their pool, and went to bed.
pictures of their dog, Cuda. She was just a love sponge. One day I was giving a tour and she sauntered into the trailer, looking for someone, or wanting some attention. The garage owner, Bryan, is a super-nice guy, as are his employees. He shared some stories with several of us that show his big heart, his work ethic, and his love of muscle cars. I also posted a couple of videos. Every so often Bryan would get into one of the cars he had on display, fire up the ignition and rev the engine. The sound was deafening. I’m not exaggerating. Many of you know I have a severe hearing loss in my right ear and my doctor has cautioned me to protect the hearing I have left in that ear and all my hearing in my left ear. So whenever Bryan fired up an engine, I’d stick my fingers in my ears, apologize to anyone I was giving a tour to, and wait it out. After about a minute, Bryan would turn off the engine. It was interesting to watch though. Whenever he did that, people would flock to his tents from all around us. It was like bugs to a bug light. (Also … Bryan shared with one of our team … a family member is going through a health crisis, and … it’s not going to end well. In fact, the end, is imminent and Bryan can’t bring himself to talk about it. So, my praying readers, please pray for Bryan.)
Scooters. We’ve seen lots of electric scooters taking people to see exhibits and booths. And this picture … The man is driving an electric scooter … towing his wife in a wheelchair. He rigged up a tow line with PVC pipe. Talk about ingenuity …
who’d followed me around earlier in the week with a different cameraman for publicity videos, happened to be at the trailer so his wife could tour it. He tried giving sotto voce suggestions (“Turn around so the trailer is in the background!”) to no avail. But because Dave was giving his wife a tour when the news guys arrived, she ended up being the “random parent” interviewed during the news story. And really, the news guys had no idea she had any connection to the trailer at all. Which she really didn’t, except for her husband working there for a few hours earlier in the week, but it just all seemed to come full circle.
pop-up shade covers mangled and destroyed, despite having been lowered and secured. At least we weren’t the only casualty. There was a “graveyard” of twisted aluminum by a dumpster.
Writer of Sweet Small Town Stories of Love and Family 