Superlatives

Greeting from Denver and the ISTE conference. I've been too busy attending sessions and drinking vendors' free beer to get much writing done, but I am skipping the Tuesday keynote to get caught up a little. Here goes...

This trip seems to have a been trip filled with superlatives.

Driving the highest paved road in North America that leads to Mount Evans. (Funny how roads hugging sheer cliffs tend to diminish the LWW's sense of humor.)

We're staying right next door to The World's Largest Discount Laundromat (with free wi-fi!) on East Colfax, Denver.

On our road trip here from Minnesota (ignoring both Google's and Mapquest's advice), we visited:

• the highest point in Iowa (Hawkeye Point, 1670 ft)
• the Ice Cream Capital of the World (Le Mars, Iowa)
• the town "Too Tough to Die" (Cody, Nebraska)
• the highest town in Nebraska (Harrison, 4865 ft)
• the site of my silage truck accident that changed my life in Vermillion, SD (I was fired and moved to Colorado.)
• the aquarium and Gavins Dam outside Yankton, SD

It's hard to keep the excitement contained!

Back to the conference. More experience await on the drive home.

Comments

[Tori J.]

Hey Doug!
I couldn't get to ISTE this year. However.....I do plan to attend next year and hearing that they actually have FREE beer at this thing, well I now see that I should have postponed the Australia trip. Just have to wait until next year.
Have fun, but don't drink ALL the beer. Leave some for me.
Tori

[Susan E]

Hi Doug,

Are you staying at the Ramada on East Colfax??
Me too.....

On the first day, I walked down Colfax the mile and a half to the Convention Center.
I thought it looked a little seedy..
That night our tour bus guide said Colfax had been named by Playboy magazine as one of America's most 'seedy' [or some word to that effect] streets.
I've been walking down 17th Street ever since. :)

P.S. Heard you say 'nice job' to me today after I walked away from the mic at the SIGMS Smackdown...a nice compliment coming from you!

[Carole]

Hello from a Nebraska School Librarian. Glad to see you ignored Mapquest and Google. Highway 20 is a much more interesting drive than 80. I may be prejudice since it passes through my town of Hay Springs (about half way between Cody and Harrison).

[India from Postal Gold]

I am sooo so jealous you got to go to the The World's Largest Discount Laundromat!!!! Amazing haha!! What a claim to fame! I love the bit about going to places against googles wishes, good to see you´re sticking it to the virtual man!

[Doug Johnson]

Hi Tori,

I think I left one beer. I know for a fact they have beer in Oz.

You'll enjoy the ISTE conference,

Doug

Hi Susan,

Yup, we're at the Ramada - a surprising nice place given the location, I thought. I can't bring myself to spend $200+ per night on a conference hotel! And the mile and half walk is good for me.

The LWW liked walking down 16th better as well. Personally, I found Colfax very interesting!

The Smackdown was great and you all did a great job. I applaud anyone who will get up in front of peers and share.

Safe travels home,

Doug

Hi Carole,

I think the Sand Hill country is beautiful. Greener than I remember this year from previous trips. Don't let the secret get out.

Doug

Hi India,

A good rule of thumb is to listen to advice but not always follow it.

All the best,

Doug