Betty Gets a Bath, Barnyard Peacocks, and Band Shenanigans

1nonblonde
Aug 25
4 min read

Week three in Loveland, CO, and things are really starting to feel like home - if home means scenic bike rides, barnyard peacocks in the garage, and double-booked rock shows.

Rural Rambling on Two Wheels

This week we hopped on the bikes and took to the rural backroads of Loveland. Picture open fields, mountain backdrops, and that crisp Colorado air that makes you feel like you might just be training for the Tour de Loveland. We didn’t win any races (mostly because there wasn’t one), but we did discover that you can work up quite the appetite just pedaling past cows and cornfields.

Betty’s Spa Day & a Mountain Weekend

Before heading up to the mountains, Betty (our trusty Ford truck) got a long-overdue bath. She strutted out of that car wash looking ten years younger, like she was ready for a night out in Denver instead of hauling our house around. Freshly scrubbed, she took us west for a weekend adventure in Winter Park and Hot Sulphur Springs.

Meeting Nikki, the Farm, and the Dogs

We were in-person introduced to Cory’s amazing new girlfriend, Nikki, and it immediately felt like she was part of the family. What really struck us, though, was how like-minded she and Cory are. He’s a newly promoted Sergeant with the Winter Park Police Department, and she’s in State Trooper School in Golden, CO during the week - heading back home to Hot Sulphur Springs on weekends. Their shared passion for justice and community service made it clear they’re cut from the same cloth (and, bonus, they look darn good in uniform).

Nikki welcomed us to her place, where we were immediately greeted by her two sweet dogs, Pua and Gunner. Then came the real surprise: the backyard was basically a mini petting zoo, thanks to her mom’s passion project.

Goats? Check. Ducks? Check. Chickens and turkeys? Absolutely. Peacocks in the garage? …Wait, what? Yep, apparently that’s a thing. Those birds had the prime real estate, living like feathery royalty while we humans just shuffled past, wide-eyed. Cory was also a huge help on the mini-farm - feeding the animals, collecting eggs, and changing out the water. He even helps feed the dogs. Yep, we raised him right!

Dinner, Rock Bands, and MMA Gyms

Dinner was at Nikki’s family spot - the Grand Manor & Apothecary Bar & Lounge in Granby. The vibe was part cozy mountain restaurant, part destination venue, and the food was on point. Her dad, Rob, was holding down the fort while mom Karen (the farm mastermind) was out sick with the flu. Nikki also casually mentioned Rob also co-owns Mountain Beast MMA & Fitness and sings in a hard rock/blues band. Because of course he does - apparently being a multi-talented rock star is just the family baseline.

After dinner, we took a walk through Nikki’s “neighborhood,” which is more mountain trail than suburban sidewalk. Let’s just say the streetlights are few and the sightlines are plentiful.

Family Surprise in Cheyenne

As if our week wasn’t already full, we managed to squeeze in another family moment. Darren's niece, Kameron, from Asheville, NC, was road-tripping through the area with her daughters, Quinn and Declyn. Since Cheyenne was just a short drive away, there was no way we were going to miss out.

We spotted the girls playing in a nearby park, and because they had no idea we’d be there, I got to sneak up on them. The shock and surprise on their faces was priceless - and the big hugs that followed nearly knocked me over. Those little arms pack a punch!

After the excitement, We then made our way to Accomplice Beer Company - a brewpub that’s anything but ordinary. Located inside the historic Cheyenne Depot, the place is instantly captivating: vintage architecture, trains rumbling just outside the windows, and a lively, family-friendly vibe. The grown-ups enjoyed a flight of their craft beers (research purposes only, of course), while the kids enjoyed being the center of attention. To wrap it up, we took a short stroll around downtown Cheyenne - soaking in the western charm and seriously soaking in the heat. Let’s just say, shade was our best friend that day.

The Reunion Tour Begins

Back in Colorado, KD & the Painkillers officially kicked off our local “Reunion Tour” at our old haunt, Island Grill in Fort Collins. Due to some miscommunication on the venue's part, we ended up sharing the bill with a band called Widespread Hispanic. Despite the name, they are not a Widespread Panic cover band (my disappointment was real).

We alternated sets: Painkillers first, WH second, and then we closed the night with a set that had nearly the entire crowd still on their feet until the very last note. Not too shabby for a band that occasionally forgets where the bridge is supposed to go. The energy was electric, the painkillers were strong, and the night ended with hugs, laughter, and slightly sore feet.