I have to say that the ultimate road trip this summer is the one Raleigh and Arthur Upshur are taking across the United States (west to east) on their bicycles. The father and son duo send word that they are still pedaling furiously across the western states. The state of Utah offered them a few challenges, from freezing cold weather to 100 degree-plus weather and strong headwinds on a 14 percent grade: I guess that’s why it’s called Hellback Ridge. Utah has also offered some breathtaking scenery — mountains, desert, red rocks, and cliffs with “impossible vertical faces,” reports Arthur.

Wildlife has been plentiful, as well. It seems the antelope truly do roam, as do fox, ground squirrels, prairie dogs, and plenty of rabbits who live up to their namesake, “dumb bunnies.” Most of the road kill the Upshurs see is rabbits. Of course, you wouldn’t see any cats dashing around the side of desert roads.

Leaving Panquitch, Utah, on the morning of June 22, the Upshurs were treated to the sight of more than 30 hot air balloons drifting off into the early morning light. And people along the way continue to impress the two guys with their curiosity and generosity. “At nearly every stop, someone comes up and wants to know where we are going and what we are doing,” writes Arthur. And following the tough ride up Hellback Ridge, the Upshurs were greeted by a couple from New York who had pulled their RV off to the side and were waiting for them with ice cold drinks.

They have also weathered a close call when Sunday closings of stores and bad timing found them completely out of food and water in blazing hot weather before they were able to find an open gas station in Blanding, Utah. Despite it all, they are having a wonderful trip and are quite pleased to have found themselves in Colorado on June 28, their last report. But looming ahead are the Rockies.

While at Edmond Town Hall this week, I noticed that the main floor of the movie theater there has had all its new seating installed. What a change. In one swoop, the theater interior seems decades more modern. The more than 300 high-backed dark red chairs each have a cupholder affixed to them, providing theater patrons with a convenient place to position their soft drinks, and hopefully reduce spillage on the theater floor.

Lee Glover turned in his helmet to Newtown Hook and Ladder Company two weeks ago after about a half century of service to the volunteer fire company. Lee, who moved to Southbury a few years back, is moving again — this time to North Carolina.

Eagles of a feather stick together — at least that’s the case in the Cramer family. Al Cramer, his son Dr Jeffrey Cramer, and his grandson Matthew Cramer are all Eagle Scouts. The three generations of Cramers were present for the presentation of Matthew’s Eagle award in Chatham, N.J., last month.

Newtown’s Police Department doesn’t seem to be as colorful as it used to be. I notice that the town’s newest police cars have a subtly different hue than the vehicles that police have been using for the past decade or more. The new vehicles have a blue-gray color that tends more toward the gray, said Police Chief Michael Kehoe. Until now, police have used vehicles with a bright dark blue paint color. The police chief explained that the blue-gray color on the new cars was the closest color match that police were able to obtain in recent vehicle acquisitions. At least the decals will remain the same on the new vehicles.

The graying of the department’s cars is not a reflection on the officers themselves. I’ve been assured that they are as young and vital as ever. Take, for instance, patrol Officer Steve Ketchum. He is awaiting his specialized riding uniform and soon will be on regular traffic patrol on the police department’s new black-and-chrome Harley-Davidson Electra Glide motorcycle. Does it have a cat-sized sidecar, Steve? I’d love to go for a ride-along!

I’ve got to go look for my goggles, but I’ll be back next week, so be sure to…

Read me again.