Colorado: Day 5!

Today was the day- after a yummy breakfast and fond farewells, we left Lincoln and began the last leg of our journey. The landscape slowly changed from corn fields and wide open prairies to desert hills and ranch land. It was a lot like the drive into the Walla Walla valley and brought back many fond memories of our first years of marriage in SE Washington. 

We ate a quick lunch and pushed on. We made it to CO about 3:30pm and stopped at the welcome center. Two more hours of deiving remained. We began to see glimpses of Denver. Our route took us right through the heart of the city, past the towering business buildings and city parks, the Mile Hi Stadium, and downtown amusement park. We finally pulled into our hotel parking lot at 6pm, tired, hungry, and car-weary, yet grateful to have arrived safely. 

To our dismay (honestly we expected no better, but we were hoping against hope our expectations would be wrong), the place was sleazy and janky.  Despite having called ahead several days before, the carpets were not cleaned and the place reeked of smoke and must. But as this was the only extended stay hotel that would even consider a monthly rate of under $2k, we resigned ourselves to our stay. While Matthew unloaded our trailer and vehicles of the things we brought with us, I put Lyssa in her playpen and used Lysol, Simple Green, and cleaning rags to scrub down the suite from top to bottom. Much to our surprise, the place actually looked quite nice after, carpets and furniture aside. Matthew assured me he would get a rug doctor from Home Depot on Monday night after work to give the carpets and couch a thorough cleaning. In the meantime, we kept Lyssa off the floors and entertained her with toys and books. 

While our accommodations are proving be questionable, we are excited to start exploring Denver, the Rockies, and the beautiful foothills between us and the mountains. And to find a house. Come on, new little nest- let us find you!