On the road back to Colorado
It is now Friday, July 8th. At the time of this writing, 10:30 am Mountain Daylight Time, we just recently crossed over into Colorado from New Mexico. We left last night at 2:30 am, beginning the round-about trip home. We wanted to drive through the New Mexican desert in the night. It’s easiest on the car, and on us! I just about melted during our time in El Paso. It got up to 103 to 105 each day. We visited during a heat wave. Our poor car couldn’t keep up with the heat, so the air conditioner simply did not work very well. It was nice to see all our family, but next time I think we should do it during winter time. That way we miss the heat of Texas, and as a bonus, get a break from the cold of Wisconsin.
We managed to find the same disgusting gas station as on our trip out. It’s the only one for a great distance that we can use our gas card. No improvements to the bathroom! Ick!
We stopped about two hours into our trip last night to get out and look at the night sky. Desert skies away from city lights offer some very nice viewing. The MilkyWay stretched from horizon to horizon. So very quiet! So very still! It would make a nice picture for the blog, except my camera wouldn’t capture the image. Oh well! You’ll just have to believe me. I think it would be nice to spend a night in such a remote place, and to lay out and watch the night sky rotate above. To let the silence soak into your soul.
We continued on, and the sun came up. I did take a picture of the rising sun, however as soon as the sun crested the horizon, in typical desert fashion, it was already too bright to allow for further pictures. Because there is very little moisture in the atmosphere, there is very little distortion. The sun is very bright very fast! As we drove on, we saw the change out of the evening crew of animals for the daytime. All night there were an abundance of jackrabbits and cottontails on the side of the road. But with the morning light we saw mule deer, and pronghorn antelope. At one point, a bobcat raced across the road. We also stopped to nudge a very large (at least 5 feet) bull or king snake off the road. Without my guidebook I can’t be sure which. I just knew it wasn’t a rattlesnake. He was probably laying out to warm up in the morning light. But, we nudged him off the road before someone else came by and ran over him, for spite. Some people will do that simply because they hate snakes. Sad! He was very beautiful, and healthy looking.
There were ravens everywhere! And as it became warmer, the occasional hawk sitting out, sunning, warming up and watching for the first morning opportunity for breakfast. Such small scrawny Western red tailed hawks . . . when compared to our Eastern raptors. But in the heat of the desert, they don’t need quite as much body mass to conserve heat in the winter. At one of our stops I spied a Western scrub jay.
A nice morning for a drive. We are a couple hours out of our destination. Colorado Springs, and visiting tonight one of Shawn’s sisters. After that visit, we’ll return to Joan and Jerry’s for a couple days, to wind up our trip, and pick Neta up.
We’ve spent many nice hours in each other’s company. Talking, listening to music, making jokes. And we’ve seen some nice landscapes. We’ve visited family, and renewed ties. But, I’m ready to go home. A part of me would like to bypass Colorado all together, and simply head on north to Wisconsin. But, soon enough we’ll be back on the road home. To return to work (sigh), and the usual routine. To friends we’ve missed. And to our poor dogs . . . who I hear are really beginning to wonder where we went. They’ve not been acting normal, and are getting worse. One of them, Sam, ran away a couple days ago, and traced the path we normally take when we take the dogs out for a walk. Maybe he was going out, trying to see if we got lost or something. Well, we did go for a very long walk . . . far longer than Sam could follow. But soon, we’ll turn the car towards home.
Very soon!
* * *
We arrived at our destination earlier than expected at my husband's sister's house. So we took the opportunity to visit Manitou Springs, and do some shopping. Lots of very nice, quaint shops filled with expensive art, books, and junk. We did lay down some money for a few items. But mostly, a nice chance to get out and stretch our legs.
After 5:00 we came to our relatives home. And now I should go visit! I think a visit to the zoo is in order for tomorrow, and maybe a scenic waterfall. I'll take pictures, and upload any of interest as soon as I can!
We managed to find the same disgusting gas station as on our trip out. It’s the only one for a great distance that we can use our gas card. No improvements to the bathroom! Ick!
We stopped about two hours into our trip last night to get out and look at the night sky. Desert skies away from city lights offer some very nice viewing. The MilkyWay stretched from horizon to horizon. So very quiet! So very still! It would make a nice picture for the blog, except my camera wouldn’t capture the image. Oh well! You’ll just have to believe me. I think it would be nice to spend a night in such a remote place, and to lay out and watch the night sky rotate above. To let the silence soak into your soul.
We continued on, and the sun came up. I did take a picture of the rising sun, however as soon as the sun crested the horizon, in typical desert fashion, it was already too bright to allow for further pictures. Because there is very little moisture in the atmosphere, there is very little distortion. The sun is very bright very fast! As we drove on, we saw the change out of the evening crew of animals for the daytime. All night there were an abundance of jackrabbits and cottontails on the side of the road. But with the morning light we saw mule deer, and pronghorn antelope. At one point, a bobcat raced across the road. We also stopped to nudge a very large (at least 5 feet) bull or king snake off the road. Without my guidebook I can’t be sure which. I just knew it wasn’t a rattlesnake. He was probably laying out to warm up in the morning light. But, we nudged him off the road before someone else came by and ran over him, for spite. Some people will do that simply because they hate snakes. Sad! He was very beautiful, and healthy looking.
There were ravens everywhere! And as it became warmer, the occasional hawk sitting out, sunning, warming up and watching for the first morning opportunity for breakfast. Such small scrawny Western red tailed hawks . . . when compared to our Eastern raptors. But in the heat of the desert, they don’t need quite as much body mass to conserve heat in the winter. At one of our stops I spied a Western scrub jay.
A nice morning for a drive. We are a couple hours out of our destination. Colorado Springs, and visiting tonight one of Shawn’s sisters. After that visit, we’ll return to Joan and Jerry’s for a couple days, to wind up our trip, and pick Neta up.
We’ve spent many nice hours in each other’s company. Talking, listening to music, making jokes. And we’ve seen some nice landscapes. We’ve visited family, and renewed ties. But, I’m ready to go home. A part of me would like to bypass Colorado all together, and simply head on north to Wisconsin. But, soon enough we’ll be back on the road home. To return to work (sigh), and the usual routine. To friends we’ve missed. And to our poor dogs . . . who I hear are really beginning to wonder where we went. They’ve not been acting normal, and are getting worse. One of them, Sam, ran away a couple days ago, and traced the path we normally take when we take the dogs out for a walk. Maybe he was going out, trying to see if we got lost or something. Well, we did go for a very long walk . . . far longer than Sam could follow. But soon, we’ll turn the car towards home.
Very soon!
* * *
We arrived at our destination earlier than expected at my husband's sister's house. So we took the opportunity to visit Manitou Springs, and do some shopping. Lots of very nice, quaint shops filled with expensive art, books, and junk. We did lay down some money for a few items. But mostly, a nice chance to get out and stretch our legs.
After 5:00 we came to our relatives home. And now I should go visit! I think a visit to the zoo is in order for tomorrow, and maybe a scenic waterfall. I'll take pictures, and upload any of interest as soon as I can!
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home