Before we left on our trip Tom had a crop duster spray the corn field next to the house. The pilot came pretty close, can you see the plane clearing the tree and house?
We spent the first night in Manhattan, Kansas, home of Kansas State University. The cocktail of choice, of course, was a Manhattan!
After Manhattan we peeled off the interstate and took back roads across Kansas for a slice of Americana. Here's Tom checking out a 1 row planter at the Kansas Barbed Wire Museum.
This guitar was made with barbed wire and a bedpan.
There's not much sorghum in Illinois so we stopped by a Kansas farmer's field to check it out.
Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado. Marta told us that we
had climb a sand dune if we were going to visit this park. If you enlarge this picture you can see a person at the top of this dune behind Tom.
After this picture I took off my shoes and ran back down the dune. It was quite delightful!
San Juan Mountains, Colorado
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado. This hike isn't for those with a fear of heights.
This was also along our hike - notice the trail below us and the Gunnison river in the distance. Dan told us that his college roommate has kayaked the Gunnison. The rapids are considered Class V and some sections are unrunnable (his is roommate is an expert kayaker).
We also visited Mesa Verde National Park in SW Colorado.
Hiking in the American Basin, San Juan Mountains. The columbine flowers were in full bloom.
This one-lane road was tricky, especially when encountering an oncoming vehicle. One of the vehicles would have to back up (!) to let the other through.
At the end of our trip we visited Dan at the Boulder Watershed along the Continental Divide where he's worked the past two summers as a crew member. They maintain the watershed property by clearing brush and trees, and making sure roads and path to the dams and radios are clear, etc.
The crew lives in a cabin at 10,000 feet during the week and they travel back to civilization on the weekends. The cook will be gone over the next two weeks so each crew member will take turns making meals for everyone else. Dan is going to make Aunt Ollie's spaghetti sauce and meatballs for his contribution!
Tom's favorite after dinner chocolate is made by Chocolove, a Boulder company. The bars are not sold at the company, rather they are available for purchase in grocery stores and specialty retailers. Imagine Tom's surprise when he came across a Chocolove display at Dan's favorite grocery store, King Soopers!
With 72 bars of chocolate in tow we were ready to return to IL. It was a great trip!
This guitar was made with barbed wire and a bedpan.
There's not much sorghum in Illinois so we stopped by a Kansas farmer's field to check it out. 
Hi Matt!!
