Colorado

We have finally gotten our first glimpse of the American Great Plains. Taking interstate 70 clear across Kansas we were both amazed at the views allotted when there are no trees to get in the way. You can literally see for miles while driving along the long, straight highway. The state is certainly beautiful, but I can imagine living there would not always be the most exciting. We had originally planned to camp somewhere along the road, but cruising at 75 MPH, we were across the state in no time.

Guided by the most spectacular lightning storms I have ever seen we crossed into Colorado by 11 CT and we were both beat. Unencumbered by trees, we were able to see the storm from many miles off, and again, it was just spectacular. We stopped in a small town alongside the highway called Vale, Colorado and were able to find an unpaved road to camp alongside.

We woke with the sunrise at about 5:30, and I decided to take a quick walk along the border of the empty field near Sven. On this walk I saw a young buck that seemed just as interested in me as I was in him, and after giving me a great walking companion for about 100 feet he pranced off into the sunrise.

Feeling euphoric about the experience we decided it was time to hit the road, but Sven had other plans. When I tried to turn the key nothing happened, so after attempts to jump start the old Ford van I decided to ride my bike down the muddy, unpaved road into town for further assistance. I must say that after this experience if anyone needs to breakdown in Colorado, the town of Vale is not a bad place. I met a very nice middle-aged woman who sent her father and his 4-wheel drive truck to our aid, and after about an hour we were on the road again.

Today we are heading for Colorado Springs and hope to hike the 14,000 ft Pike’s Peak, and with some great suggestions from our friends in Vale we have a whole agenda to attend to while we experience the state.