Trip West and More

Yes, I know that it has been a long time since my trip west, so I have finally picked selected pictures.

Taking Route 70 West, aka "The Northern Route" was quite a trip. Never again. After these wonderful vistas in Colorado, it was a very mountainous route. The verticals and downhills were breathtaking, sometimes posted at 70 mph. It was a little freaky seeing the almost vertical truck runaway lanes. And hearing the semi tractor trailers downshifting to break was a bit unnerving. Luckily, there were no snow nor ice on the road, but there was some snow on the sidesof the road and the higher peaks nearby. I was getting tired but I thought I'd get past Winter Park and Aspen and pull into a motel. Wrong! The downhill trip seemed to be neverending. 

I ended up crossing into Utah and since the first two exits said "No Services," I got off at a town called Cisco. Bad move. It turns out there is no town -- and my gps went nuts and sent me into a circle. So I backtracked and found a motel. The next morning at breakfast, I struck up a conversation with a trucker that knew of Cisco -- and his gps and his phone wouldn't work there either. (He hauls crude oil to users.) He said he had to be on the highway and take a screen shot of the map to be able to get where he was going in Cisco.

When I got to Las Vegas, I was in a giant traffic jam at about 4:30 p.m. I didn't want to stop there and soon I was in California. I decided to stop and all I found was full hotels and motels. So I gave up and kept driving. Consequently, I ended up driving over 700 miles on each of the last two days. It wasn't my intention, but it just worked out that way.

 November 1  Colorado

Octonber 31 Lincoln, Nebraska

October 30 Chesterton, Indiana

Rest Stop with a Beautiful Tree

Saturday, October 29 

Bad me -- I'm too lazy to dig out my trip notes so I can't tell you where this is. Taking this picture, I was standing in a glassed in "bridge" over 4 lanes of highway, plus a median. It was a fairly long walk from the parking lot to the rest rooms and food court.

Friday, October 28

This was at a rest stop at almost the end of my first day on the road. I had left Amherst fairly late (as in 11 a.m.) so I didn't get very far. 

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Sunday, November 5 in Palm Springs. Sunset

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November 10  LaQuinta Art Show

This was one of the first pieces we saw. Carole was busy getting us mimosas, and I walked over to see this piece up close. It's glass!! Below is a close up. I got to talk to the artist who was eager to explain his process which has many steps to mold and weave the glass strips. It's amazing work.

I have many more pictures of the art there, but it's late and I think I'll close soon. 

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We have been really busy. I did go to another outdoor art show in Indian Wells with Elaine. Mom and I have kept busy lately dog sitting Carlo. He will go home on Tuesday. We have had him since the Monday before Thanksgiving.

No, Carlo is not in jail. We were waiting for Mom to get her hair done at the salon inside of the super Walmart (with lots of groceries). I had walked back and forth the length of the building many times, so it was time for a rest.

We didn't want to leave him home alone, worried that he would feel totally abandoned. Today we took him to downtown Palm Springs with us for shopping and then lunch. There were many people and many dogs. He seemed to enjoy himself with all of the new sights and sounds and smells. 

May you all be as happy as 16 year old Carlo who enjoys leaping like a gazelle onto the bed or couch! Cheers!