Week 06 - I guess I rather be in Colorado - 09-24-2006

Hello from Colorado,

Sunday morning, September 17th, we went to church at the Chapel on the Hill. It is at the entrance to Ozarks Luxury RV Resort. Pastor Teddie bought a house here and added on a church! His original house had a motorhome garage. He converted the garage into a cafe with a beautiful church on the second floor (sorry, we forgot to take pictures). The building is now five stories with an incredible view from the crows nest. Pastor Teddie takes no money from the church. He bought a second two-story house near the lake. It is fully furnished and he leaves it open. He allows RV park members to use the house for free when guests visit. He just asks that they clean up after themselves.

On Monday we stayed in Branson, MO. We had only one night, but went to the Shoji Tabuchi show. Shoji is a Japanese fiddle player who had a dream of coming to America to play country music. He went from Japan to Nashville to Branson. His show is incredible and he has tremendous passion for music, dance, the USA, the military and God. When the Japanese Prime Minister visited the US, President Bush invited Shoji to the White House to perform. This show is a must see.

We received an email from a new friend at the Ozarks Luxury RV Resort. He said his motorhome site was struck by lightning just after we left.

Road north of Branson

Dick Clark theater

Rock wall in Branson

We had to leave Branson after one day to have a transmission service in Springfield MO. From there we traveled out of Missouri and through Kansas to Colorado. What can we say? Kansas was green and pretty but flat! We looked for what you should not miss but could not find it. We found rain and wind storms in Wichita. We left after two days for Dodge City just in time to miss the tornadoes that moved through Wichita.

Dodge City (duh) Kansas

On the way through Kansas we encountered powerful winds that blew the 33,000 pound motorhome all over the road, and dust storms that took our visibility away. Dust storm (this was a highlight of Kansas!)

Truck emerging out of nowhere

Ellen at the wheel

Saturday we spent the day in Pueblo CO. We visited the annual Chile and Frijole Festival at the Pueblo river walk.

Pike's Peak in Colorado Springs

In Colorado we happened upon the KOA camp in Colorado City. They had a free concert starring Nashville singer Roger Wynn and his family. His voice was incredible and he sang all the best country songs to perfection. Sunday we went to church in Pueblo at the Mountain View Calvary Chapel.

Mountain View Calvary Chapel in Pueblo CO

We will be in Colorado for most of this week visiting friends and relatives.

Email you next week, love, Pete Ellen

Photos from Sep 2006