I got away with it! Frank let me publish my blog last night without censoring! The trick is to do it in bed when he’s half asleep, then hand over the computer and say, “Hurry! Get this posted in the next three minutes before midnight!”
We’re in the Best Western breakfast room and it’s 7:15 AM. The room is full of big guys in cowboy hats and suspenders holding up some serious dungarees.
I just showed Frank the blog from last night, and he let out a loud, falsetto laugh breaking the low-key reverence of these truckers with their morning coffee. Heads turned. Yikes! We’ll be stranded on the Monarch Pass and we won’t stand a chance if they recognize us!
We just pulled out of Delta, and while looking for a much-needed car wash, Frank swerved into a pawnshop. A big, tough guy was standing outside smoking a cigarette. The sign said, ”Tools, Guns, and More.” Frank is hoping to find that dream 1958 Fender Jazz bass for a song, and then turn it around for a tidy profit. I’m glad he just came out alive.
We’re traveling on the route 50, a two-lane road that winds through the mountains. It’s windy, and –4 degrees. It’s overcast and snow blows in swilling motions over the road. Bluegrass music serenades us and it just fits. I can’t say I’m totally relaxed, there are almost no cars out here, and our only chance for gas is coming up soon, I hope.
We hit Cimarron, one gas station here. Shoot! A CLOSED sign! Then I saw a guy standing there. They turned the sign around to OPEN. Phew!
As we were filling up, Frank went in to use the facilities this time. Ice chunks in the toilet!
We’re driving again, and the roads are windy, snow-covered, and steep. No wonder Allied Concert Services had us go a different route. We’re taking this one on the suggestion of everyone in Delta. It’s much more direct. Boy, it’s hard to type with white knuckles! Lucky I’m only using two fingers.
A Musac van just passed us! How about that? I’m relaxed now.
Uh oh, I see buzzards in the road. Great. It’s snowing hard now. Frank just chimed in: Virgin snow is great on the ski slope, but not on Route 50!
We made it to Gunnison. Thank God. There we were walking around in a Safeway. It was weird. The big thing is getting over the Monarch pass. It’s open. Here we go!
We’re approaching it now and it’s snowing again with white roads. It’s 45 more miles to the next civilization. Wow! We just saw a herd of deer cross the road if front of us! Sadly, there’s one lying on the shoulder.
We just made it over the summit. It’s a blizzard now! I’ve got a lump in my throat, and Frank thinks all this is cool! He’s happy as a clam. We’re inching down a very steep grade behind the red flashing lights of a big truck. We’re totally out of cell phone range.
Thanks to our Safeway stop, we have provisions, and I have this computer to fret on. I also have all of you readers to keep me company, even if you read this after the fact.
It’s a miracle! We’re back in sun and dry roads! There’s scenery again! Yahoo! You Colorado people must think I’m a wimp. I am. It’s gloriously beautiful now. We’re driving to Salida and with every turn of the road the scenery becomes more and more breathtaking.
Salida was very artsy with interesting and unusual galleries. Frank treated himself to some new shoes as a reward for getting us safely over that pass. We ate at a homespun café with good food served by what Frank calls “Earth Mothers.”
The drive from there to Canyon City was unbelievable! The sun highlighted snow sprinkled cliffs, amazing rock formations, and the bright blue Arkansas River.
We took one important detour to The Royal George. Wow! The biggest suspension bridge in the world, and we had it all to ourselves! As we walked across and back, we had to hold onto each other not to be blown off. It was over 1,000+ foot drop through the narrow canyon to the river below. Cool!
Enough adventure for one day. We’re now in our hotel room in Canyon City and pretty wiped. Sometimes these days off can be more strenuous than concert days. Nice
Comfortable bed. Ahhhhhh…
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
0 comments:
Post a Comment