Wow! What an Experience! Durango-Silverton Railroad

In all of our travels we have been privileged to zoom by some beautiful places at 70 miles per hour. We have of regretted not taking time to stop and investigate many of the places we pass. One of the places we talk about most as we zoom through is Colorado. We have been here three times in the last 18 years and all of them were very quick trips through or in and out of the state. This year we finally planned a few days off in Colorado. The first thing we learned... a few days is not enough!

The last 3 days have been spent doing something I have always wanted to do. Since the first time I heard about the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad I have wanted to ride it. It travels through 45 miles of absolutely beautiful country. I posted a few pictures yesterday but I could not resist posting a bunch more this evening. Like most of the pictures I post on here these were taken with my iPhone so the quality isn't all that great but I think they turned out pretty good. I hope I haven't overdone the amount pictures.

I have also posted a few pictures of the trip from Colorado Springs to Durango and back. We left the BoggsMobile in the campground here and drove Mr. Cheap Jeep and after several 7% grades I am so glad we did. Wolf Creek Pass on Hwy 160 which we crossed going and coming goes up at 6% for over 10 curvy miles and then down the other side at 6% and 7% for over 8 curvy miles. The pass itself is about 10800 feet above sea level. We crossed it going and coming. That would have been a wild ride in the BoggsMobile. We saw lots of RVs but they were all taking it very easy and holding on very tight!

We drove to Durango through Pueblo, then West Hwy. 160 through Alamosa and Pagosa Springs on Thursday. We rode the train on Friday which is over 7 hours round trip. Today (Saturday) we came back through Pagosa Springs and Del Norte then North on Hwy. 285, then East on Hwy. 24. It was a long trip but so beautiful I can't describe it. We have been having trouble loading pictures on our regular website for weeks but when we resolve that we will post the pictures from Odie's camera there.

I hope you enjoy. Please leave a comment or drop me an email to let us know what you think.

Davy


On The Way to Durango, Colorado Hwy. 160 from about 9000 feet above sea level.


At The Station in Durango


The Beautiful Train Ride From Durango to Silverton and Back













Kelly Jo and Odie in Silverton, CO


These were taken from Wilkerson Pass (9500 feet above sea level) on Hwy. 24 on the way back to Colorado Springs

Durango-Silverton Railroad Pictures

We are half way finished with the train ride. We are in Silverton
eating lunch. Here are a few pictures to wet your appetite. The view
is awesome!

Davy

The Air Force Academy

We went to the Air Force Academy Wednesday and it was awesome! It is at the North end of Colorado Springs and nestled right up against the mountains. It is absolutely beautiful up there. Back in the late 1950s the government purchased the first 10,000 acres for the Academy for $100 and acre. I would like to have 10 or 20 acres of the land myself. I think I would be willing to double their money! lol

The visitors center is very nice and informative. The folks there suggested we walk to the chapel and the cadet grounds which we did. It was only 1/3 mile but it was literally uphill both ways and with the altitude over 6000 ft. it was quite a walk for this fat boy. Kelly Jo has been walking at least 2 miles a day and she was pretty winded as well so I didn't feel so bad. Odie was in her power chair and the hills and thin air didn't seem to bother her at all.

The first picture is one of the cadet grounds and the rest are of the inside of the chapel and one of the outside. The third picture is of the massive pipe organ in the back of the chapel. It is a pretty impressive structure. In fact the whole Academy is pretty impressive. They certainly put the cadets through their paces in four years and I would say every graduate deserves the degree and their place as officers in the Air Force. Thank God for folks that are willing to serve our nation in that capacity.

We were able to see some of the cadets flying gliders which is part of their training and that was a sight to behold as well. Too bad they were to far away to capture pictures with my iPhone.

Today we are off to Durango, Colorado... I'm sure we will have some pictures and stories...

Davy

Souls Harbor Church in Colorado Springs

Tonight we went to Souls Harbor Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado and met some more great people of God. We know folks that know these folks so it was very good to finally make their acquaintance. They received us so warmly that we felt very comfortable in just a few minutes. I was right at home preaching to these fine folks and they helped me every step of the way. We are already looking forward to seeing them again in the future.

If you click in the title to the blog it will take you to their website so if you are ever in this area you can stop in for a visit.

1. Inside the Church
2. Pastor Paul Thomas, Associate Pastor Gary Thomas
3. Sis. Mary Thomas and Sis. Lauren
4. Sis. Kayla (Brimm) Thomas and Justin

Davy

Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods

These are a few pictures I snapped yesterday afternoon with my iPhone. It is absolutely beautiful out here this week. We plan to visit the Air Force Academy this afternoon and then we are singing and preaching tonight at Souls Harbor here in town.
God bless you all,

Davy

Chelino's and Las Fajitas

I told you all the other day that I would post about the great food at Chelinos in OKC. Kelly Jo and I were there before 11:00am on Friday and walked in just as they unlocked the doors. I did snap a picture of the sign and the great complimentary Chips, Salsa, Cheese Sauce, Tortillas and Relish but when the food came I forgot all about a picture! It was so good. I ordered Carne Asada which is probably my favorite dish at Chelinos.

The next day we met the Alexanders in Moore, OK at Las Fajitas, another of my "favorite" Mexican places. Again I started on my food before I thought to take a picture so I snapped a picture of Kelly Jo and Odie's Chicken Fajitas and Bro. JR's Taco Salad. I had Sour Cream Enchiladas and they were delicious as well.

In my opinion you can't find much better Mexican food in a restaurant than you can in Oklahoma. Chelinos and Las Fajitas are just two of the many great places in that state. Although my favorite salsa in a restaurant is found many hundreds of miles away right down the road from my home town. It is in the Mexican place where I took my Dad for his birthday in May called Acapulco in Lebanon, Ohio. It is absolutely perfect! I'm not a tomato eater so Salsa that has a strong tomato taste goes straight to the back of the line. But Salsa that is heavy on Onion and Cilantro.....mmmm mmmm Good! Imagine, good Salsa in Ohio?!?

What is your favorite Mexican food?

Davy

Great Weekend

1. The Alexanders
2. Landmark Holiness Tabernacle
3. Pastor Josh Bush, Hannah & Davy
4. Next Day after flooding in Wichita

We had a great weekend in Oklahoma City and Wichita. We had good food and fellowship along with great services.

Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday morning we were singing and preaching at Landmark Holiness Tabernacle in Oklahoma City. Pastor JR and Sis. Teresa Alexander and their congregation celebrated Five years as a church on Sunday. It was our great privilege to be with them on this special weekend.

The Alexanders are from our home church in Dayton so it is always especially good to see them and be in church with them. God has used Bro. JR all over this country in revivals and youth camps and he is
now doing a work through him in OKC. It was great to be a part of it.

After Sunday morning service we loaded up the BoggsMobile and rushed to Wichita, KS. We made our first visit to First Free Will Baptist Church. Pastor Josh Bush and all his folks were so very kind and receptive to our singing and preaching. May God bless them for
treating us so well. We had a great visit and we look forward to returning.

While we were eating and fellowshipping with Bro. Bush and his family, the rain descended on Wichita. I felt like singing, "The rains came down and the floods came up." We drove Mr. Cheep Jeep through atleast a foot of water and maybe much more judging by the water lapping against the stalled cars.

It was atleast a mile through flooded streets back to the bus but we made it with much fervent prayer. Thankfully the church parking lot was high enough not to flood. I've included a picture of the road and one stalled car today after the waters receded.

Now we are on the road toward Florence, Montana. We are in western Kansas now moving west at a high rate of speed. We plan to be in church at Souls Harbor in Colorado Springs, CO on Wednesday and then casually mosey on up to Montana over the next several days. I plan to post some scenery pics as we drive across our beautiful nation.

God bless you all.

Davy

Kelly Jo with Yet Another Celebrity!

Here is a picture of Kelly Jo with one of our dear friends in Wichita, Kansas last week. This is Sis. Evelyn Mitchell or as we affectionately call her, Grandma Mitchell.

Grandma Mitchell spent most of her life playing the piano. She was born in Austria and gave her first piano recital at age 6 and continued performing and teaching in Europe and in the United States, until she retired from the University of Missouri at age 70.

Sis. Mitchell told us that she has now come to consider all of that as the most unfulfilled part of her life. She was introduced to Christ in her fifties and surrendered her life to Him. In her eighties she attended and graduated from Great Plains Bible School at Bethany Revival Center in Wichita under Pastor John and Judy DiZazzo. Now 2 years away from 90, she is experiencing the richest, most peaceful and wonderful time of her life as she ministers to the inmates at the Sedgwick County Jail.

There is no way of knowing how many people Sis. Mitchell influenced in all her years of playing and teaching the piano. She has brought joy into countless lives. Yet as a Christian dedicated to winning others to Christ her influence can be much greater! She would rather win a soul to Christ than to hear the applause of the crowd. In our book, that makes Grandma Mitchel a real celebrity!

Davy

Sister Esther Richards

A few days ago Odie posted a picture of Kelly Jo with Sis. Esther Richards from Boston. She traveled to Wichita to be in the revival and we were blessed to finally meet her. Pastor John and Judy DiZazzo and a few others in the church came from Boston over 24 years ago to pioneer the Bethany Revival Center in Wichita, KS. Sis. Esther was very influential in their early lives and is still a big part of their home church in Boston.
We have heard so much about her through the years and it was so good to become personally acquainted with her.

The last day of revival she presented each of us with a beautiful card and in my card she included a poem she had written for us that morning. I asked her permission to post it online and Sis. Esther graciously consented. Here it is....

The fields are white, faithful laborers are few,
Work while 'tis day, and your strength He'll renew.
The work is great, many are in need,
Go forth and sow the precious seed.

Hold on! Be faithful! Keep your eyes on the goal!
Never fear, as your life is in His control.
He is with you now and will be to the end,
His power and anointing will on you descend.

Your reward will come from the Lord above,
That you've served with a heart full of love.
Your labor of love He'll ne'er forget,
When you stand before Him,
There will be no regret!

Thank you, Sis. Esther, for your kind words and reminder to all of us that there is still much work to do. It is so easy for us to be caught up in all the "things" of life and we must be reminded that God placed us here to work. We must Hold On, Be Faithful, Keep our eyes on the Goal!

God bless each one as you labor for Christ!

Davy

Ron's in Oklahoma City

We closed revival in Wichita last night (Wednesday) and made the trip to Oklahoma City today. Once we settled in this afternoon in the campground we headed off to Ron's Hamburgers and Chili. I've posted about Ron's in Tulsa but I hadn't been to the one here in OKC so off we went. When we pulled up in front of the place I just about lost it. Two doors down from Ron's and its Double Big Daddy Cheeseburger is Weight Watchers! They are both in the same building about 30 feet apart! Isn't that a riot? I can imagine weighing in at Weight Watchers and then going next door and celebrating the fact that I lost two pounds. It cracked me up! I included the pictures. (I made sure I didn't snap any incriminating pictures of the Weight Watchers customers slipping over to Ron's.)lol

The Double Big Daddy didn't seem quite as big as the ones I've had in Tulsa and Sand Springs but it was every bit as good. It tasted excellent! The only Cheeseburger I've had so far that rivals it is from Spanky's in Broken Arrow, OK. They make a great burger as well. It was still pretty big though. That is a full size plate it's sitting on in the picture.

We sing tomorrow night for Bro. JR. Alexander's church and then preach for them Saturday night and Sunday morning. We are looking forward to it. We are also looking forward to Chelino's (Some of my Favorite Mexican food) tomorrow for lunch! I'll let you know how it goes!

Davy

The DiZazzos, The DiMinicos & The Boglionis

It sure was great to be with our Italian family again this year in Wichita! The DiZazzos pastor the church here and every year the DiMinicos come down from their church in Omaha, Nebraska and we have a great big time. Several years ago they adopted us into their family as the Boglionis! It is great to be loved.
It's a good thing I love Lasagna!

Davy

Terrific Tuesday Recap

Pic 1. Kelly Ann models a hat
Pic 2. Kelly Ann & Odie
Pic 3. Laura, Julia, Kristen, Kelly Ann & Odie

Tuesday before lunch Mom and I met up with Kelly Mitchell. Kelly is a great friend and she is a lot of fun to be with. We are always talking about clothes, latest additions to our music collections, and just general life of girls in their 20's. We have a good time together.
We like to shop together so we were able to squeeze in a trip to Burlington Coat Factory T.J. Max. Kelly and I were proud of ourselves for not buying any clothes.
Burlington did have a really cute orange skirt and I left hanging on the rack! I did find a cute white hat and some hair clips that I did not leave on the rack. LOL I snapped a pic of Kelly Ann trying on this hat. I think I will go back and get it for her. I think it looks great on her. LOL I did not get to snap a picture of the heels she tried on.
Dad, Bro. DiZazzo and Bro. Charles Mitchell did a service this morning at the County Jail. Dad said they had a great response. He preached to them about "A Hunger For God". This was the second of two services Dad preached in the jail this visit to Wichita. Dad really enjoys getting to minister there each year!
After our shopping trip and the jail service we all met up at Chedders for a delicious lunch. I forgot to get pics of our food. Everything at Chedders is good!
We had a really good service Tuesday night. It was a pleasure to see our friends The Fellers from Weir, Kansas and The Walkers from here in Wichita! I think Dad took pictures of them on his phone. Maybe he will share later. I did get a few on my camera.
We have one more service of the revival here at Bethany. Only God knows what's ahead. But I am sure it will be great.


Odie



Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Sis. Esther

Revival continues to go well at Bethany Revival Center. Over the years of coming to Bethany we had met many great friends.
Sis. Esther came all the way from Boston, Massachusetts for revival and to be with friends. Sis. Esther is from the DiZazzo's home church in Boston. For years the DiZazzos have spoken highly of this fine lady. We felt as if we were friends before we even met her! So we were so excited to finally put a face with a name.
Saturday at dinner she gave Mom these beautiful roses. She is so sweet!
I think I have met someone more jumpy than myself. I know its hard to believe! Sis. Esther is a good sport about it and we are having a blast with her!!!!!!!
Several friends of come from out of town to visit revival. Maybe I'll get introduce more of them to you later.
Have a wonderful day!

Odie

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Bro. Chet Meredith

These are pictures of our dear friends the Meredith family on May
10th &11th 2010 in Central City, KY. They came to visit us in revival
that week and as always they were a bright spot in the revival. Their
singing, encouraging words and beautiful smiles have blessed us in
many revivals, camps and special meetings in Kentucky and Indiana the
last several years.

These two nights will always be especially dear to us though. We
had no way of knowing that this would be the last time we would get to
see Bro. Chet this side of glory. Thursday night Bro. Chet passed away
suddenly. For him it was the day he had been anticipating many years
but for his dear wife and precious daughters it is the biggest
challenge they have ever faced.

Please pray for Sis. Beverly, Sis. Beth and Sis. Rachel over the
next few days and weeks. God has helped to this point and they need
that continued help and strength.

As for Bro. Chet, it won't be long Brother and we will see you
again!

Davy

Braum's

No trip to Kansas or Oklahoma is quite complete without a trip to
Braum's for a hamburger and ice cream. So after the first night of
revival Pastor John DiZazzo suggested Braum's and off we went. It was
a wise decision. Kelly Jo even found some lime sherbet on a waffle
cone with a total of 4 fat grams. She said it was tasty but I say
Bring on the Chocolate!

What's your favorite flavor? Anybody ever been to Braum's? Leave a
comment.

Davy