Aimless Wandering

OCD

If you are afflicted this post may not suit you as it is an aimless ramble.

352 Miles

The company that employees me as an agent often can’t find people willing to travel outside their self imposed comfort zone. Me? If the money is right I will go most anywhere. Monday was a trip through Northeast Colorado and the Nebraska Panhandle, returning by way of Cheyenne.

Highway 34/Weld County Road 49

Blocked this morning by  truck vs car crash. Not uncommon and I know the detours so my delay was minimal.

Briggsdale

Being dead center in the oil patch, and the only place for miles, this place does a brisk business. They make their own burritos in the back and I’m a sucker. The food plan goes out the window.

Pawnee National Grasslands

Bladder call, and I noticed this plant in the ditch. There were several along the road. I can’t remember noticing one before and I don’t know what it is. Any ideas?

Chimney Rock

Alongside the highway between Bridgeport and Gering/Scottsbluff this was an important landmark for wagon train travelers. I’m too cheap to pay the $20 admission to view it close up.

Good Excuse

When nobody answers the door I leave an envelope taped to the door with the owner(s) name and stamped CONFIDENTIAL.  As I was taking my notes a young lady across the street, retrieving her garbage cans called out, “Sir, you won’t get a response. He passed away”. Just a guess on my part but that might be why the payments are in arrears.

Things seen

There is always something interesting to see in most small towns.

Banner News

Now ten years old, he has a lot of gray hair. Next month is his annual physical. Poor dog, he will require several shots and a new rabies shot. Along with a year’s supply of heart worm medicine, it won’t be a cheap visit. He is worth it.

Delayed Hike

I think we will wait for colder weather before exploring this area.

Should you make it this far, thank you for reading. Perhaps the muse may visit me and something more pointed will get written, probably political.

I feel blessed that I can still, at 78, do useful and productive work. The knees hate stairs and the bladder rules the clock but I can still work around the challenges.

Boring

Business yesterday took me around the Nebraska Panhandle. Miles and miles of miles and miles. Not as bad as Texas, if that is a recommendation.

At least the weather was decent as was the remuneration.. 

 

Well Shucky Darn

 Past trips in the Nebraska Panhandle have been time driven and places I would like to visit were passed by. Yesterday my business in the area was handled when I wanted.

Chimney Rock was a major landmark along the Oregon Trail. My visit? See photo.

Oh well, dropped down to Bridgeport and then west on Hwy 88 to visit Courthouse and Jail Rocks.

Yep, the road up to them is closed.

Strange day in terms of wildlife, as in none except for a one coyote at a dead run. Dropping down Hwy 85 from Cheyenne I did see a few Pronghorn a few miles into Colorado.

My business was contacting an individual far behind on his mortgage. Cute, he had a wrong address painted on his mailbox. Called up overhead pictures on Google and MapQuest, matched with what I was seeing, and knocked on the door. He was not pleased to see me. Big surprise, there! Concluded my business and left with him holding the documents I was paid to deliver.

If there is a typical call in my biz, this was it. Large brick home, attached two car garage plus outbuildings showing neglect. Unkempt yard, broken window in the garage, torn screen and what appeared to be one garage door off tracks. In the driveway were a newish Dodge Megacab 4x4 and two year old GMC Yukon.

As a man who has always tried to live below his means, I have no sympathy for people who make these economic decisions.