Thursday, July 1, 2010

It Smells Like Chistmas

After a way-too-late arrival in Stuart, Iowa, we departed the following morning for the trek across Nebraska on I-80.  We got distracted outside of Omaha with a Wildlife Safari, which included an elk standing in the middle of the road.


There were bears, coyotes, owls, cranes, and bison.  Have you ever seen a white bison?  We have.


Jeff contends that it was nothing like Tanzania, but then again I wouldn't know.  Opposite the wildlife safari was this place:


We didn't go in, but did take our pictures with missiles (sorry - they're on Jeff's camera).

We made another unscheduled stop an an original Pony Express Station in Gothenburg, Nebraska.  See how spontaneous I am when traveling?


Nebraska seems to contain a plethora of exciting roadside attractions, such as this "Buffalo Bill" fort.


Look closely:


If he didn't perish by arrow-to-the-buttocks, they he likely impaled himself on the trading post.  This gem was in North Platte.  In Colorado, we saw our first glimpses of the Rocky Mountains.


After an overnight in Estes Park, we ventured out early the next morning to explore Rocky Mountain National Park. 


This is the tundra on some of the highest peaks.  About this time, we realized how hard it was to breathe, even just taking a few steps across the rocks. 

 

Cheesy sign pictures:



C - I believe this trumps the picture of us at the 45th parallel.  And Dutch Village, but I'll let you decide that one.  After leaving the park, we drove to Steamboat Springs (which we really enjoyed), and then went on to Vernal, Utah, where we spent the night in a cricket-infested Econo Lodge.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

White buffalo are sacred to the Plains Indians--related to cattle in India of course. Your pictures in the Rockies are postcard worthy but I still like certain ones best. As a closing thought--Econo says it all and there are worse things than crickets except for the noise. Love, Mom

The Classic Harpist said...

TM - time to lower your dose of narcotics. Or you could just write a Didion-esque novel and make millions. Millions!

Anonymous said...

Either suggestion is impossible. I still have to get a bend of 120 degrees and I haven't read any Didion-as you must be aware. mom again

Camber Carpenter said...

Yeah, TM, just type your stream of consciousness (preferrably while doped) and you'll create a masterpiece of post-modern literature.

D, I'll take the 45th Parallel over the Continental Divide any day of the week.
When you said you had a hard time breathing after taking a few steps on the rocks, it reminded me of the time I made Mason climb the Campanile. He was worn out before we even entered the door.
And we were basically at sea level.

Camber Carpenter said...

oh, Econo-better than AmericInn, the place that wasn't even good enough for T,D.

Camber Carpenter said...

I forgot to ask, as we are all interested in discussing titles, about this blog's.

I thought surely it smelled like Christmas because you drove through Sioux Ciy, Iowa.

The Classic Harpist said...

Every time we drive past the AmericInn, we have a good laugh at the expense of T,D and his "high" standards. If it were not for his darling children, he probably would have stayed there anyway.

The title refers not to the smell of stockyards, but to the smell of pine trees. You thought I was being more symbolic. That's what Didion wants us to think, but sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.