Friday,  July 10, 2015

Amarillo to Colorado

 Had a wicked thunderstorm with winds that shook the van during the night, but skies were clearing and it was a delightful 64 degrees at 7:00AM in Amarillo.

We found a local McDonald’s for a quick breakfast sandwich and coffee

and continued north on 287 through the high plains of the Texas Panhandle. Still standing water, but less as we travel northward.

Very green but not as much standing water as before. Beginning to see antelope, like this big fella.
Blue skies, 70's.

Going through Dumas to Dalhart we discover the “sorghum belt”.   Had to google it to find out what it looks like and what it is good for.  The plants resemble corn, but get a head on them that produces the grain.  The grain is used for flour and other edibles, and the stalks are dried and bundled for cattle food.  At least we think this is what we learned.  There are hundreds of storage silos dotting the plains.

Dalhart’s other claim to fame is cattle.  A large billboard as you enter town says “Dalhart:  It’s like England, where money is measured in pounds” with a picture of a hefty steer.

We reach the New Mexico border about 10:15 -  746 miles and we are finally out of Texas.  We also make the change to Mountain Time.

We are just going through the northeast corner of NM, and at first it looks pretty much like the high plains of Texas.  But then we begin to see more geological formations and hills.  We pass an extinct volcanoe at Capulin,  Folsom Prison (Johnny Cash),  and various highschools with mascots like: The Fighting Cyclones, The Yellowjackets (feel the sting!),  and Golden Wolves.

We hit I-25 and not long afterwards we enter Colorado over the Raton Pass.  After we get over the pass, The Rockies are to our left, the prairies to the right.  We continue on to the Welcome Center at Trinidad.  Pleasant, helpful folks there!  We pick up a road map and some literature on national parks, etc.  and make a few inquiry calls to the BLM/Forest Service.  We decide to head to the San Isabel National Forest and find a boondock spot there.

We wind into the mountains and are pointed to the Beulah Cut-Off dirt road, where we find a pullout that looks good. 

 We park and do some hiking on old (closed) service roads. Lots of aspen, evergreens and wildflowers, (as well as an area that was once a makeshift shooting range).

  As we walk along, kicking pinecones,  we can hear a jet (probably heading to Denver) overhead and I can’t help thinking of the book I just finished in which a young refugee is walking through the jungle of Cambodia, listening to bombers overhead, and accidentally kicks a grenade.

We gather rocks to make a fire-ring for later tonight and Greg scavenges for some wood.  At 5:00, the temperature is around 70, sunny and bright – perfect!  No cell coverage.  Another car arrives, with three young men (21-ish) from Fort Worth, TX.  They are moving to Colorado and have job interviews on Monday.  They are cordial and polite and introduce themselves with a handshake.  They go off to set up a tent. We find out they have never camped before, so Greg helps them get a fire going so they can roast hot dogs! They are out of sight and we don’t hear a peep.  We feast on pulled pork sandwiches, carrots and a cupcake.

I download pictures and blog while Greg reads – his current book is The Wright Brothers.  I forgot to pack my ipad, but fortunately have a couple of books with me,  and am currently reading John Vernon’s  The Last Canyon about the first exploration of the Grand Canyon area.

I wake sometime during the night and take a look at the sky.  It is gorgeous!  Filled with sparkling stars.  I don’t want to wake Greg so I try a few hand held shots, with marginal success.  Tomorrow I will have the tripod and things handy when we go to bed and try again if the sky is clear!