we decided to go back to Colorado—the state that we truly enjoy spending time in.  We spent the first night in Davenport, Iowa, and the second night in Ogallala, Nebraska.  From there we cut southwest into the Colorado plains.  Again we looked at properties all along that route in  Holyoke, Fort Morgan, Kersey, and Millikan, headed toward Greeley and Fort Collins.  By chance, as I was searching thru Zillow, Redfin, and Rent.com, an ad popped up for an apartment complex in Greeley.  The thought of having a place where someone else handled all the landscaping and snow removal was enticing, so I called the place and made an appointment to see it later that afternoon. When we got there, we were early. So we drove thru and realized that the complex was only half built.   We saw a larger complex across the busy street,  they had balloons and “Now Leasing” signs out front.  To kill time before our appointment, we decided to go over there and have a look around.  We walked into the office and arranged a tour of the complex.  We saw multiple floor plans, they have a workout/weight room, a movement room with stationary bikes and tvs, a pool table, tv lounge, “work at home” soundproof cubicles, a conference room, outdoor pool, grilling deck, hot tub, everything!  Instead of going back across the street for our tour appointment, we filled out an application for a studio apartment there.  It took a full week to get approved, but it finally happened.

While we were waiting for approval we stayed three nights at a Comfort Inn.  That started to feel expensive, plus the daytime temps were in the 90s, so we took off for Creede, Colorado, one of our favorite, cool in the summer, locations.  Bristol Head Campground is about 30 minutes outside Creede, has water and trash service, and is first come, first serve—perfect for us.  At this time—July 19-July  26–wildfires in Canada were raging, the town of Jasper, Alberta burned up, and the smoke in Colorado was horrendous.  Especially in the Denver area.  Greeley is an hour north/east of Denver.  Smoke was bad there too.  It was an oppressive haze holding the heat over the city.  Air quality measures put Greeley at one point at 144, “unhealthy for sensitive groups”.  I fit in those sensitive groups with my asthma and other respiratory issues.  My cough was terrible, I had a sore throat and both ears ached.  We left for Creede where air quality measures were at 50 “moderate”. Being in an area with cleaner air (we could actually see the mountains around us, while around Denver the mountains were invisible) helped me feel better, but I did get a Covid Rapid Test in Creede to rule that out.

Today, July 26, is moving day.  We are traveling back to Greeley from Creede, will finish up all the paper work, hand over the cash, and then carry our meager belongings up to our 3rd floor apartment.  We have our mattress from the van, two camp chairs, a camping table, our clothes, towels. and kitchen goods.  Shouldn’t take long.   The apartment has all appliances including a washer/dryer, so I’m excited about that.