WESTERN MOUNTAINS JUNE-JULY 2020

WESTERN MOUNTAINS JUNE-JULY 2020

This will be a different kind of blog…"Blogging in the time of CoronaVirus".  It is written not as we travel, but as we return from this 3 week trip.  Because of the virus we thought long about taking off in our Trek, but finally decided to do it, going mainly to isolated areas and adding disinfectant, hand sanitizer and masks to our pre-trip packing list.  Our Trek is our home, so we will basically self-quarantine on the road.

 One of our favorite spots to access wifi and use the computer is local libraries, which unfortunately, are now closed.  Most wifi at places like McDonalds or Starbucks is fine for emails or research, but not strong enough for uploading pictures etc. from our Mac.  Greg will take his usual notes along the way and we hope that those + pictures + our not exactly “steel trap” memories will be sufficient when writing later!

Wednesday, June 24

It was 71 degrees and a bit rainy when we left Spring at 7:30AM.  Anticipating the heat across the state, we’ve decided to spend the 1^st night at a hotel in Amarillo (a mere 583 miles) rather than mess with hookups to use the AC.

As we headed north, we left the rain and clouds behind and this field of sunflowers near Ennis was a positive portent for the trip! 

 We pass the now familiar mix of ranches, oil pump jacks, wind turbines, small towns  and those flowers tough enough to withstand Texas heat. 

 Only Fort Worth and its mash up of highways breaks the mold.

 Our first gas stop had some folks in masks, but most not.  On to Amarillo, where the folks at the Radisson were welcoming and we THINK smiling behind their masks.  Jimmy Johns’ sandwiches made an easy dinner.  Tomorrow we will finally get out of Texas!

Thursday, June 25

Our free breakfast consisted of “grab ‘n’ go” items, so we grabbed some fruit, muffins and granola bars and were off for another hour and a half of the Texas panhandle.  Home to cattle and sorghum fields which fade into sagebrush and sparse grassland when the irrigation ends.

Trains frequently follow the same routes as the highways here.  We stopped and got a shot of this train as the engineers tooted their horn and waved.

More masks here, including this guy, which Greg thought was an ant, while I thought he was a black snowman!

We spot our first pronghorn antelopes which seem to thrive in this harsh land; 

 

go by Capulin Volcano - a landmark of the area -

and soon cross into New Mexico and head for the high pass at Raton that will welcome us into mountains, Mountain Time Zone, and Colorado.  (7,746’)

Not far into Colorado we leave the highway and wind into the mountains where we have reservations at Pergatoire Campground, in the San Isabel National Forest.

A nice scenic road as the Trek gasps a little on the steep inclines.

A few rugged ranches along the way.

National Forest campgrounds in general are older, a bit roomier, but primitive = no electric, water and sewer here.  Sometimes a water pump,  maybe a fire ring and sometimes a picnic table.  Pit toilets.  But no giant motor homes and more tents.  Just fine with us!

Pergatoire (there is a river nearby of the same name) is back the first of many dirt roads we’ll traverse this trip!  Nice breeze and we find a little shade in a clump of aspen trees.  The air is clear and crisp and there is a pleasant pine scent.  If only we could bottle this air!  We walk a bit and can feel the altitude.  Early to bed as we open windows and throw on an extra blanket.