I went to Colorado Springs last week to spend the day with Pastor Faye which is always a rare treat for me. Since I had another engagement in the morning, I was later leaving so it was after lunch when I got there. We visited a while and I was surprised to learn that they have had less rain then us which is very unusual as they are higher altitude and the mountains usually get more moisture. But that is a bit of useless information that I just threw in for you.
Then we decided we should venture down the street to the Country Buffet because that is what we always do. Women are such creatures of habit! By this time it was getting to be mid afternoon and I decided I should perhaps head back down the highway to home, so I departed.
Soon after I got on the Interstate I found myself behind an 18 wheeler which is nothing new in itself. I drive with the cruise control set on 72 MPH so I notice if traffic is erratic, and this guy was just that. I passed him, but watched in my rear view mirror as he sped up and around me. I decided to just stay back where I was and watched as he sped away, then slowed, then sped and I knew immediately that the fellow was having trouble staying awake. So for about 10 miles I kept him on the road with prayers and positive thoughts. Then I remembered that the Rest Area was coming up so I decided that I would get in front of him and wave him into the Rest Area and I actually started to put that plan into action. Then I played that scenario out in my head! Here we have an old lady trying to flag a trucker over into a Rest Area. Now, I have never done that, and in my younger days I might have pulled a few shenanigans in my time, but flagging down truckers was never one of them.
I knew that the next stopping place was Koury's Truck Stop, but I also knew it was closed after being there like forever. I had intended to tell him that, but I watched as the rest area exit shot by. Then I watched as he slowed for the exit to the truck stop and watched as he slowly drove down the ramp into the parking lot to join 5 other rigs that were there. No doubt there were 5 guys catching some much needed sleep in that parking lot as I drove past.
The sight made me very sad as Koury had been there for so many years. When we first started our excavation business it was one of our first jobs. A truck had driven into the parking lot and straight into the fuel storage tank. The fire could be seen clear into town and when it was done there was nothing. Our job was to clear the area and excavate for the new truck stop. And when the new truck stop opened it was a mecca for the lonely truckers on I 25. A southwest adobe design with a restaurant, gift shop, shower area for travellers, a small motel, a tire shop and fuel area and a very high berm around the fuel storage area. Fred Koury held sway and what a wonderful place it was.
But, as with all things, time marches on and things change. Fred Koury's kids grew to adulthood and Fred got tired of working, kind of like you and I. I think a couple of the kids took over the Truck Stop, but it was not a passion like it had been with Fred and I remember seeing that it had closed and I was a little sad, but seeing the emptiness when I drove past last week sure brought it home to me. For so many years it had been a regular stop for the big rigs that travel our highways and now it stands as a grim reminder that time and tide wait for no man.
That night I was very sad as I recalled Frank letting a coyote out of a trap when we were working there. I remembered Kenny almost stepping on a Rattle Snake when getting out of the truck. We had gone there for lunch a couple times and it was a real family restaurant that just happened to be a truck stop. No greasy spoon there! Then I remembered something that made me smile. If you were southbound on I25 you were alright. Northbound was a different story. Northbound traffic exited and had to make a left turn under I25. The opening under the highway to the parking lot was exactly the height to allow a tractor/trailer through and not one inch higher. There were several scratch marks on the top from trailers with over inflated tires! Now if you think I am exaggerating, you do not know me very well, do you? I will go take a picture the next time I am in that area and post it on here. Of course to get back on the North bound one had to reverse the procedure.
So there you have it. Another milestone in my rear view mirror. But I figure there are going to be a lot more of those then there are the images in front of me. So, as long as the old gray matter keeps perking along we will have lots to talk about. See you next time something strikes my fancy!
Then we decided we should venture down the street to the Country Buffet because that is what we always do. Women are such creatures of habit! By this time it was getting to be mid afternoon and I decided I should perhaps head back down the highway to home, so I departed.
Soon after I got on the Interstate I found myself behind an 18 wheeler which is nothing new in itself. I drive with the cruise control set on 72 MPH so I notice if traffic is erratic, and this guy was just that. I passed him, but watched in my rear view mirror as he sped up and around me. I decided to just stay back where I was and watched as he sped away, then slowed, then sped and I knew immediately that the fellow was having trouble staying awake. So for about 10 miles I kept him on the road with prayers and positive thoughts. Then I remembered that the Rest Area was coming up so I decided that I would get in front of him and wave him into the Rest Area and I actually started to put that plan into action. Then I played that scenario out in my head! Here we have an old lady trying to flag a trucker over into a Rest Area. Now, I have never done that, and in my younger days I might have pulled a few shenanigans in my time, but flagging down truckers was never one of them.
I knew that the next stopping place was Koury's Truck Stop, but I also knew it was closed after being there like forever. I had intended to tell him that, but I watched as the rest area exit shot by. Then I watched as he slowed for the exit to the truck stop and watched as he slowly drove down the ramp into the parking lot to join 5 other rigs that were there. No doubt there were 5 guys catching some much needed sleep in that parking lot as I drove past.
The sight made me very sad as Koury had been there for so many years. When we first started our excavation business it was one of our first jobs. A truck had driven into the parking lot and straight into the fuel storage tank. The fire could be seen clear into town and when it was done there was nothing. Our job was to clear the area and excavate for the new truck stop. And when the new truck stop opened it was a mecca for the lonely truckers on I 25. A southwest adobe design with a restaurant, gift shop, shower area for travellers, a small motel, a tire shop and fuel area and a very high berm around the fuel storage area. Fred Koury held sway and what a wonderful place it was.
But, as with all things, time marches on and things change. Fred Koury's kids grew to adulthood and Fred got tired of working, kind of like you and I. I think a couple of the kids took over the Truck Stop, but it was not a passion like it had been with Fred and I remember seeing that it had closed and I was a little sad, but seeing the emptiness when I drove past last week sure brought it home to me. For so many years it had been a regular stop for the big rigs that travel our highways and now it stands as a grim reminder that time and tide wait for no man.
That night I was very sad as I recalled Frank letting a coyote out of a trap when we were working there. I remembered Kenny almost stepping on a Rattle Snake when getting out of the truck. We had gone there for lunch a couple times and it was a real family restaurant that just happened to be a truck stop. No greasy spoon there! Then I remembered something that made me smile. If you were southbound on I25 you were alright. Northbound was a different story. Northbound traffic exited and had to make a left turn under I25. The opening under the highway to the parking lot was exactly the height to allow a tractor/trailer through and not one inch higher. There were several scratch marks on the top from trailers with over inflated tires! Now if you think I am exaggerating, you do not know me very well, do you? I will go take a picture the next time I am in that area and post it on here. Of course to get back on the North bound one had to reverse the procedure.
So there you have it. Another milestone in my rear view mirror. But I figure there are going to be a lot more of those then there are the images in front of me. So, as long as the old gray matter keeps perking along we will have lots to talk about. See you next time something strikes my fancy!
