Saturday, July 11, 2009

Driving Through Clouds


On Thursday, July 2, we are driving through clouds at over 10,000 feet above sea level. At Glenwood Canyon, we are, surrounded by beautiful striated red rock mountains. The road leads us through tunnels, right into the mountains. America is one gigantic amusement park, a big thrill ride through and over and into the landscape.

Driving alongside the mountain rivers, we are watching the white water of the Colorado River foam and bubble and race to beat us to our destination. Elk herds leisurely cross the highway, the way the geese do back home – heedless of the schedules that the human drivers on the roads need to keep. Fortunately, we have no schedule to keep today, and can take our time taking in the sights.

We come upon a joyful scene of children playing in the snow. In their shirtsleeves. In July. The climate has made a dramatic change from 82 degrees in the foothills to 40 degrees in the high elevations.

The canyons on Interstate 70 on the western slope are spectacular – and assuredly, underrated. We marvel at the engineering of the roads and railroad tracks through this beautiful but difficult landscape.

Now, we are passing the Union Pacific train, south of Granby. Why, it’s the very same train that we had watched pull out of Cheyenne a few days ago! We recognize it by both its official markings and the unofficial – graffiti embellishing the boxcars. Today, the train is moving in the opposite direction from us – no doubt, returning from the end of its multi-state run.

Awhile later, we are riding along from the town of Silt to the town of Rifle, in White River National Forest. One day, I will chronicle all of the descriptive town names that we have been traveling through. No, Toto, we are not in Kansas anymore – and we are definitely not in Fairfax County.

My camera isn’t quick enough to capture the buffalo roaming as we whiz along the interstate. Too bad. I have been yearning to see the buffalo and the antelope, and surprisingly today is the first day that I have had a glimpse of this characteristic western scene.

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