Breckenridge, Colorado

We started out today around 8:30 AM finishing our travel through Nebraska and into Colorado.  The time changes from Central to Mountain time.  This leg of the trip was a little longer, covering 440 miles.

Nebraska's scenery was more of the same.  More rolling hills and cattle farms.

The farm land is irrigated and looks thirsty.

We stopped at a rest area in Ogallala, Nebraska, and saw this tribute to our Vetrans.  My dad received a Purple Heart in WWII.

The scenery changes as you enter Colorado.  There is dry land, sage bushes, and tumbleweeds blow across the highway.

Cattle ranches make up the landscape on both sides of the highway.

We are slowly making our ascent into the mountains as we head to Denver.

If you look closely, you can see a faint outline of the mountains through the clouds.

We followed I-76 through the north side of Denver, and followed it until it turned into I-70.  We exited to Golden for a side trip since it was lunch time.

 

We strolled down the streets and did a little window shopping and meandered in and out of the local shops.  We liked playing the part of "tourist."

This sandwich shop was recommended by a local who overheard us discussing where to eat lunch.   We were not sorry that we took his advice.  There was a line going out the door, but the service was fast and the food was outstanding.  Just take a look.

Lunch time outside at a perfect 77 degrees and sunny Colorado skies.  Doug is enjoying his "Beef & Reef" deli sandwich.

I ordered "Bobby Dazzler" and turned my deli sandwich into a salad.  It was amazing. I will include the recipe and add it to this blog.  The flavors complimented each other with smoked salmon in the spot light.

We finished lunch and got back on the road and headed for Breckenridge.

Here is some of the beautiful scenery we travelled through.

We drove through the Eisenhower Tunnel built in 1973.  What an engineering feat blasting a tunnel through these mountains.
On the return home, we went through the Johnson Tunnel built in 1979.

We arrived in Breckenridge at about 3:00 PM Mountain time.  The views are breath-taking!  The temperature dropped to 59 degrees from Golden's 77 degrees as the altitude in the city is 9,600 feet.  The mountain air is crisp and refreshing.

We arrived and checked into our Mountain Valley Lodge.  This is our view from the balcony outside our living room.  We are ready to explore the area.  More about the city and area to follow!