NELSON'S NOTES #62, PART 1 

Written at the end of the historic Chisholm Trail, Abilene, Kansas

Aug. 15, 2006

For six weeks we stayed at Johnson's Corner RV Retreat in Loveland, Colorado. These are a few of the things we'll remember about the park and the vicinity.

1. The view - This view of the Rockies was part of Bruce's morning walks.

2. The exercise room - While Bruce walked, I rode a bike in the park's big exercise room (a loft overlooking the swimming pool). About four times a week, I moved one of the bikes next to a small window air conditioner and started to pedal. I increased the resistance until I felt like I was climbing uphill. I continued pedaling for 30 minutes, then cooled down with strengthening and stretching exercises.

3. Clotheslines - It's very unusual for an RV park to have clotheslines. I like to hang up clothes, especially in Colorado with its abundant sunshine and dry air.

4. A baby robin's demise - One evening Bruce found this cute baby robin next to our motor home. "He" was unable to fly. The next morning the bird seemed to be about the same, but when Bruce got back from his walk, it was lying under our motor home on its chest. He says the bird's legs were stretched out behind it and its body was stiff as a board.

5. Fellow Fun N Suners - we visited Barbara Carter and Harold Kurth while they were camping at Carter Lake in Loveland. Here we're enjoying each other's company at Biaggi's restaurant in the upscale Centerra complex.

6. Our favorite restaurant - Mike O'Shay's Restaurant and Alehouse has the feel of a friendly neighborhood pub. We loved it. The food was consistently good and the service excellent. The restaurant is near two of our favorite places in downtown Longmont: the Used Book Emporium, a booklover's paradise with a science fiction section that has books even Bruce hasn't read; and the city library, where I got a free card that's good for the rest of my life (!).

Marianna Nelson