Its been a couple of weeks since my last confession but here it is.

Jeffs mum Anita kindly gave me a lift to Indian Hills where I was going to stay with Joe on his ranch. Joe had given me instructions to go into a local bar and ask for the owner, Gary. Apparently Gary would let me use his phone to call Joe who would then come down and get me. It would have all gone perfectly if Joe had mentioned to Gary that some bird that talks funny was going to turn up. Gary looked at me blankly and asked "Joe who?". Infortunately I had no idea what Joe's surname was??? Gary is happy to let me use the phone but I learn later he is just concerned which Joe might be turning up to meet me!

When Joe did turn up everyone seemed to sigh with relief "Oh that Joe, you'll be fine with him" He drove me the short distance up to the ranch (about 2 miles) and by the time we arrived at the house he had already offered me the use of his brand new car......there is a man who has never been in a car with me!!! By the end of the first night Joe had already lined up several activities for the week. He did include taking me on a ride on his motorbike as one of those activities, something he has precisely no hope of getting me to do!

On the Monday Joe went to work and I got up and had a shower as you do. Joe had unfortunately forgotten to warn me that in Indian Hills people just knock as they are walking in to your house. Joe's friend Van arrived just as I was getting out of the shower and asked me to rub Aloe Vera into his back! This was probably the most unusual introduction to a person I have ever had. Luckily he wasn't a weirdo so it ended well. In the afternoon Joe finished early and took me up to his condo in Dillon via a 14000 ft mountain. Dillon is a lovely lake town / ski resort and the dogs came with us. During the drunken night out that followed I have set Joe a challenge of being mistaken for an English person in a bar as he seemed to enjoy mimmicking my accent. I also discovered that I like jalepenos on nachos.

On the way up to Dillon Joe had been talking about working in sales, he's good because by the time we got there I wanted a job that didn't exist in an industry I always said I didnt want to work in. I was going to have to be on my guard......still not getting on a motorbike though!

Tuesday while Joe went to work I went exploring the area including Breckenridge and Frisco. I walked to Frisco round the lake front and from there I was to take a bus up to Breckenridge. I met an older man at the bus stop who told me that he had been collecting DVD's, he now had 12 or 13! I had a lovely day exploring the mountain towns and spending times by the rivers and lakes. I also went to a museum where I saw a stuffed bear with no teeth (gummy bear). Joe returned in the evening with Van and his wife Katie and we all went out for some food.

Wednesday had a very relaxed start, sitting in the sunshine horses and dogs in the garden sipping tea in my pj's. We read the problem pages of a local paper, I tell you what the agony uncle was pretty harsh. Some guy had written in with his 'problem' and the response was that the agony uncle said 'he was a hateful piece of s***!'. In the afternoon Joe dropped me off in Denver where I wandered around the shopping area and then went to see the Titanic exhibition at the museum. I really like Denver because unlike alot of places it seems to have a centre plus its clean and the sun shines alot! After meeting Joe and having a few games of pool which I lost we drove home via Red Rocks stadium. As with many places the photos dont do it justice. Its a natural ampitheatre set between huge red rocks that looks out over Denver, it would be amazing to see a band here. I am afraid to say it would beat the Milton Keynes Bowl hands down. In the evening we went to a party up the hill from Camp Joey, Joe got drunk and nearly left without me which made me wonder if he was already sick of me????

Thursday after updating my blog Joe and I decided to go for a ride. Joe has 2 horses Morticia and QB (Queen b****). I have to say that neither of these two names imply lovely kind well behaved animals. Joe decided I would be riding QB and that we should "round pen" her first so that I can gain her respect. This was amazing, its basically horse whispering and by the end of the session QB was following me around the pen with no lead rope! The ride was in the park at the top of the mountain with views over Denver, gorgeous but we had to cut it short when a fairly large thunder storm rolled in. On top of a mountain on a horse is not the best place to be during a storm. As soon as we got back Van and Katie arrived to take us out to dinner so we went out smelling of horses, perfect (I can imagine my mum having kittens at the thought of this, sorry mum).

Friday I learnt that I dont like Mexican Food!

Joe had helped me to plan a road trip so Saturday morning we went and picked up my hire car before meeting Van and Katie for some glow in the dark 10 pin bowling. I was rubbish! Afterwards Joe and I made our way to the Gay Rodeo! This is apparently the largest gay rodeo in the country and it was full to the brim of exceptionally fit attractive young men, none of whom were in the slightest bit interested in me! We wandered about amongst the drag queens, and cowboys to the sound track of Ricky Martin and "Its raining men". I got "pom pommed" by a drag queen cheer leader who then got told off by one of the other cheer leaders for scaring people which I thought was funny!

Tomorrow I leave on my road trip!