New Family (and Friends)
I suppose the most noteworthy thing about the drive from Colorado Springs to Durango was crossing the Continental Divide - that's the point where on the eastern side, all the water flows towards the Atlantic Ocean, and flows towards the Pacific on the western side. Obviously the Continental Divide tends to be at a fairly high elevation. On this route it was just over 10,000 feet high, and we chugged our way to the top.
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We braved four lanes of traffic at the summit to get this picture.
The last time I was in Durango, seven years ago, we had just left Mesa Verde, an hour away, and decided to get breakfast at McDonalds. It was not easy, 1) to maneuver a motor home towing a car through the streets of Durango, and 2) to find a parking space close enough to McDonalds large enough for said motor home and car.
This time it would be different. We are staying at the local Kampgrounds of America (KOA) which is located just before we got to Durango. Now we only have the car to deal with in Durango proper.
Before we left the campground I thought I would see if I could find a phone number for Davitt Armstrong. Davitt is (was) the husband of my cousin Claudia who currently lives in Panama. I have not seen Claudia since the mid 1950s, about 65 years. Obviously I have never met Davitt. There was no listing, which is not unusual for this era of cell phones, so I set that idea aside.
Nothing else special was planned for the day. Went to a couple of antique shops. We both bought a couple of items each. Found a local pub which had a decent outdoor patio in the back and had what was described as a Navajo Taco.
Some of the bicycle artwork at the bar.
While enjoying the scenery there I happened to mention to Joyce that I recalled I had learned that Davitt had been involved with various civic functions in Durango so she suggested that we check with City Hall, which we had passed by earlier in the day. We found City Hall and as Joyce was putting money into the meter I saw the Elks Club. I recalled then, that I thought I had seen something on the internet with Davitt being involved with the Elks. I saw a guy heading for the door and raced to catch him before the door closed. Asked him if he knew Davitt. Both he and the lady leaving said yes and she said that she would give him my phone number.
That done, we headed for the thrift shop across from City Hall. Joyce got a couple of things there and I got a call from Davitt. He would meet us at the Elks Club in 45 minutes. Great.
We met Davitt and his son, also Davitt, at the club and had a great conversation. Found that Davitt and Claudia have been divorced for some eight years now. I have to assume that Davitt, the younger, is not Davitt Junior, per se, as his middle name is Newman.
Davitt the elder and me. Unfortunately Davitt the younger left before I realized we should be taking pictures.
Davitt the younger had never met anyone from the Newman side and told him that I would get him a copy of the biography of his great-grandfather, Edwin De Baun Newman that I had written.
Was really pleased with the events of the day.
.JPG)
We braved four lanes of traffic at the summit to get this picture.
The last time I was in Durango, seven years ago, we had just left Mesa Verde, an hour away, and decided to get breakfast at McDonalds. It was not easy, 1) to maneuver a motor home towing a car through the streets of Durango, and 2) to find a parking space close enough to McDonalds large enough for said motor home and car.
This time it would be different. We are staying at the local Kampgrounds of America (KOA) which is located just before we got to Durango. Now we only have the car to deal with in Durango proper.
Before we left the campground I thought I would see if I could find a phone number for Davitt Armstrong. Davitt is (was) the husband of my cousin Claudia who currently lives in Panama. I have not seen Claudia since the mid 1950s, about 65 years. Obviously I have never met Davitt. There was no listing, which is not unusual for this era of cell phones, so I set that idea aside.
Nothing else special was planned for the day. Went to a couple of antique shops. We both bought a couple of items each. Found a local pub which had a decent outdoor patio in the back and had what was described as a Navajo Taco.
Some of the bicycle artwork at the bar.
While enjoying the scenery there I happened to mention to Joyce that I recalled I had learned that Davitt had been involved with various civic functions in Durango so she suggested that we check with City Hall, which we had passed by earlier in the day. We found City Hall and as Joyce was putting money into the meter I saw the Elks Club. I recalled then, that I thought I had seen something on the internet with Davitt being involved with the Elks. I saw a guy heading for the door and raced to catch him before the door closed. Asked him if he knew Davitt. Both he and the lady leaving said yes and she said that she would give him my phone number.
That done, we headed for the thrift shop across from City Hall. Joyce got a couple of things there and I got a call from Davitt. He would meet us at the Elks Club in 45 minutes. Great.
We met Davitt and his son, also Davitt, at the club and had a great conversation. Found that Davitt and Claudia have been divorced for some eight years now. I have to assume that Davitt, the younger, is not Davitt Junior, per se, as his middle name is Newman.
Davitt the elder and me. Unfortunately Davitt the younger left before I realized we should be taking pictures.
Davitt the younger had never met anyone from the Newman side and told him that I would get him a copy of the biography of his great-grandfather, Edwin De Baun Newman that I had written.
Was really pleased with the events of the day.
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