August Road Trip Day 8 Plateville To Colorado Springs

Today started really early for, I was up at about 4am and just couldn't sleep (had a lot on my mind), so I decided to get up get dressed and go into town and find a place to write up my two missing blogs for Thursday and Friday.

Found out that the local Starbucks opened at 500am, so I was there just a little after that and proceeded to work on my blogs. But only after getting my hot chocolate drink.

Now from where we were camped out in Platteville to Greely where the Starbucks was located is about a 15 mile drive, but what I didn't know at the time is that Greely is a college town and home to the University of Northern Colorado. Yeah I kinda stumbled upon this discovery while I was driving around the town at 430am (the more you know!!!)

After about 3 hours of working on the previous two days worth of blogs and looking at some of the pictures that I had taken, it was time to pack up and head out to the bank (gotta pay my mortgage) and then to Target to pick-up a few additional items..

Once I was done there and after sending a message to Ric about the address for the airport, it was time to head out to the Platteville Valley Airpark and the first event of the day.

The drive out from Greely to the airport took me out on some back roads, with really nothing out there to see but a lot of farm fields and I passed a farm that raised Buffalo and regular cattle as well so that was a little different to see.

On the way out to the airport, I got a call from a couple of the guys (Brigt and Doc Jonas) about the Vintage Aero Flying Museum and that I needed to hurry up and get there. These guys were not wrong, the museum was really cool.

The museum was established in 1983 and was put together to honor those who flew in the LaFayette Flying Corps during the 1st World War. For the exception of two of the flyable aircraft that we saw, the three bi-planes are all re-production aircraft and were all built utilizing the detailed original designs from back in the early 1900's. While some of the new safety features have been added to the planes, they are pretty much what you would have seen during the 1st World War.

The museum is located in one of the hangers at the Platteville Valley Regional Airport and aside from the aircraft, they have a second story section that has a bunch of display cases that show all of the different military uniforms used in the various air forces of the world, during the 1st and 2nd World War.

The museum is open to the public, but you must contact them 1st as they are only open by appointment. If you would like to see this great collection of airplanes and a great showcase of military history, please contact the museum. The website is: https://www.vafm.org/. If you get the chance to see this collection you will not be disappointed.

I think the highlight of the day for a few of the guys and some of the kids that were there with us, was when one of the Vintage Aero Flying Museum guys offered to take people up for a flight in his Stinson L-5 Sentinel. The L-5 Sentinel is a single engine plane what was used extensively during the 2nd World War, The Korean War and finally at the beginning of the war in Vietnam as an Observation, artillery spotting and liaison aircraft for the US Army.

I talked with the pilot about taking some pictures and he walked me over to the grass airstrip runway and told me to have at it, he then proceeded to explain to me what his intentions were for flying our people around. It was pretty simple honestly and I just couldn't wait to do this, as I don't get this type of opportunity very often.

I took pictures of and did a few Facebook live video's of everyone that went up in the plane and just had a blast, I haven't looked at the pictures yet, I know I need to, but I am also kinda of leary and getting my hopes up. I don't want to disappoint these guys.

SO after about an hour or so of taking pictures of the L-5 Sentinel, walked back to the museum, put my cameras down on the table and proceeded to get myself a drink and something to eat. While I ate and had something to drink, Mr. Andy Parks talked to us about the aircraft that were outside the hanger, their capabilities, their history, the men that flew them and then he also spoke about how the museum came to be.

It was very very enlightening.

After leaving the museum, I proceeded back to Greely to get some laundry done and had the chance to hang out with David. I don't get the chance to hang out with David very often as we live on opposite ends of the state, but it was great to kick back get some laundry done and just talk about life and family.

Upon my return to Ric's place, I had made up my mind that it was time to get back on the road and just to go and do what I wanted. I proceeded to take down my tent, and re-pack the truck ("Sarge" Mobile), I was able to off load all of the canned goods my wife had sent with me, and thus have been able to re-claim the back of my truck for the trip towards home.

After saying good-bye to everyone there I proceeded back south towards Colorado Springs and this place called the United States Air Force Aycademy, I guess it's some type of school?

The drive to Colorado Springs from Platteville is only just under 70 miles and you just have to get onto Interstate 25 South and off you go. It took me an 1 1/2 hour(s) to get down there and aside from a little accident (not really, I think that the SUV lost control and smashed the barriers and then caught fire, that's what it looked like when I passed the scene). I proceeded to the North Gate Entrance to the Academy.

The Air Force Academy - All I can say honestly is "WOW!" The school is located on the Northern end of Colorado Springs and right next to the mountains, the campus is sprawled out over a pretty big area, and is just really a nice. Almost reminds me of Camp Pendleton and the Northern end of the base (that's where they stick us Grunts, something about us not being civilized enough to be around the Airwing or Support Units, I dunno...) biggest difference is the lack of live fire ranges and the sparseness..

I drove through the Academy grounds very slowly and took it all in, I passed a Boeing B-52 Superfortress that was on display (BUFF IS THE STUFF) and just took the main road all around the entire place and eventually ended up at the Base Exchange (the Air Force calls it the BX, silly rabbits)

I eventually ended up over by the Chapel Area of the Academy (this is where everyone goes). IT was Saturday and the parking lot was empty, so finding a place to park was easy. I tried to park in the Commanding General's parking space but they put up gates and wouldn't let me any closer to the main Administrative Buildings, so as typical for us Grunts, we end up in the back parking lot...

I grabbed my Camera and my phone and proceeded to walk over towards the Chapel area, upon reaching this area, you get hit not just with the Chapel but a bunch of memorials dedicated to the men and women whom have served in the Air Force in defense of our country, but to many of the aircraft that have served with great distinction over the years as well.

I took my time and took many pictures mainly with my phone of the various memorials and just kept to myself as I got to over hear the Academy Cadets put the new kids through their paces and getting them ready for the start of the new school year. I looked over the wall by the Chapel at one of the dorms (Barracks for us that served in the Marines) and sat in awe as I saw fans in the windows and then I see golf carts out and about, delivering Dominos Pizza to the kids. I wonder how long they had to wait for their pizza's. I remember a time that during Thursday night Field Days at Camp Horno we'd wait for hours to get a pizza... I tell ya.

The Chapel is a beautiful piece of architecture but right now they seem to be in the middle of renovating it. How do I know this you ask, well they had the entire Chapel closed off and surrounded by walls of plywood and then the addition of two huge cranes didn't seem to help. Typical, the one place I wanted to see and get some real pictures of for once, was closed off and wasn't even going to be lit up at night... Oh well, may next time.

I then headed out towards the truck, trying to decided what I was going to do next. As I headed out I came across two Deer (Bucks) with huge antlers and they were just eating some of the plants. This was one of the few times I was able to get close enough to deer and get pictures of them. I spent a few minutes clicking off pictures with my phone and just giggling as this doesn't happen to often to me.

I decided that it was too late to really head out on the road and do anything else and I had been going at it all day, so I found a place to bed down for the night and get a quick bite to eat.

Well that wraps up the day.

Time to get moving and see what happens next.

Semper Fi,
Frank
1/9 Everywhere