Tag Archives: trail Angel

Ordway, CO

hostel or church,

As the trip wore on, I started to get up later and later in the morning. The next day was no exception. I ate breakfast at 9:30 at a place called “The Diner” at 8th and Main. I got about a pint of hash browns, seasoned refried beans (I never knew that these could taste so good), 2 eggs, Green Chili (shredded pork – no beans or hamburger), warm flour tortillas and butter. $2.95. It was enough for dinner. This was one of the best, if not THE best, meal on the trip.

Best meal on the trip. I was fully fueled and ready to roll!
Sunflowers grew wild in the region.
This is a better picture of the Buffalo Gourd that was ubiquitous. I didn’t dare taste it, remembering the Biblical story from 2 Kings 4:38-41 about poisonous wild gourds.
Eastern Colorado was not as cool and green as my stereotypical image of the state. These cows have the right idea.

I stopped at Ding’s Cafe in Olney Springs for lunch. This place had been consistently recommended to me from hundreds of miles back. I was not disappointed. The three ladies running the place were very nice. “Ding” is a nickname for “Dionisia,” a Filipina who moved to the midwest. Ding gave me a free piece of pie and a key chain, her standard for cyclists.

Olney Springs, home of Ding’s Cafe
L to R: Me, Dionisia “Ding” Suher, Shannon Sharp, Michelle Martin.

My planned stop for the day was Ordway, but I sailed right on by without seeing it. The main highway did NOT become Main St. of the town, as was usual. Ordway was a block north of the highway. When I realized that my odometer showed I was far past where Ordway should be, I doubled back.

I missed Ordway the first time.

They were having “Crowley County Days,” the local county fair, in Ordway that day. Their idea of a county fair is to have everybody go to the park, put up an inflatable castle for the kids to jump on, and roll in a couple of novelty wagons selling such disgusting items as fake vomit, dogshit, fart spray, itching power, and fart powder (secretly put a pinch in someone’s coffee – causes uncontrollable flatulence).

Crowley County Days

I stayed at the Hotel Ordway – another place which had received recommendations. Since it was Saturday, I stayed an extra day for my Sunday rest. Madeline Ferguson, the owner, was such a nice lady. I joined her and several of her friends in putting together a jigsaw puzzle in the lobby.

no A/C, TV, nor bathroom in the room, but the hospitality was unbeatable. At what other hotel can you do a puzzle with the owner in the evening?

Sunday, July 31, 1988

On Sunday, I went to the local Baptist church, and later was invited to lunch by Habib Khaliqi and his family. David, their son, was a junior in high school. Zora, the charming daughter, was going to teach math in Houston. I spent the afternoon with the family, then returned to the hotel.

The Khaliqis, L-to-R: Virginia, David, Habib “Herb”, Zora.

That night, I paid for the room.

“$4.25,” Madeline said.

“TWO nights,” I reminded her.

“Oh, for bikers, the second night is free,” she replied.

I really didn’t see how she could make any money.