July 17, 2019 Colorado back to Texas

Wednesday, July 17

This morning is cool and clear - 52 degrees.  149S is called the Silver Thread Scenic Byway, and Scenic it is.

The river we camped by is the headwaters of the Rio Grande.

We stop to read about another mine - Clay Mine, which mined something called bentonite used in refining oil and in ammunition during WWII.

Unfortunately, the road also passed miles of dead spruce and pine trees, devastated by the pine bark beetle.  The pines and beetles always had a relationship but the beetles have flourished (some think because winter temperatures are becoming milder and not killing them).  The trees can handle some, but not recent numbers. Non-evergreen trees aren't affected and so aspen are taking over some areas.
We have seen this problem from Texas to Canada.

We've been looking for Forest Road 510 to a waterfalls, but when we get to Creede we find out that we missed it 25 miles ago.  We stop at a place called MJ's for a hearty breakfast - popular spot and good food. Consider hunting for some amethyst in the area, but a book says it is pretty much all picked over, so we pass.  Besides,  home is calling to Greg...

A few more passes and we are in New Mexico again and by 7:30 we reach Texas and the Central Time Zone.  We continue on to Amarillo where we stay at a Days Inn which is comfortable.  Too tired for dinner, we shower and hit the hay.

Thursday, July 18

Today is a long travel day back to home.  Too hot to make stops at Palo Duro Canyon and other interesting spots in the area.  Beth does some computer work and then snoozes while Greg soldiers on...  West Texas has A LOT of wind turbines and we notice a few signs here and there protesting them.  We google it and as best we can tell the anti-wind people don't like the visual obstructions.  Sometimes birds get whacked.  But most of the objections seem to be from the supporters of fossil fuels.... hmmm.  I'd rather see a wind turbine farm that coal plants belching pollutants!

A sure sign we're near home...

Home again home again and we nearly dance a jigged jig.

We lower the thermostat and once the house cools down it is good to be home.  3,050 miles.  Wishing there was a cooler place closer to home!  Wishing Scotty could "beam us up" to Colorado again!