This will be my final trip blog, which I am sure will elicit relief and cheers from the masses. I was too tied last night so this will cover both days, which is sensible since both days were spent in the Rockies.

Sunday I started out headed for the National Park itself. This took me through Estes Park. This is a usually very active town, especially during the summer as it has many unique stores and caters to a younger crowd. Since I arrived there well before 9 AM, that was too early for the "younger crowd" so most shops were closed and no one was on the sidewalks. After a slight driving error, I turned around and got back on the road that leads to the Park entrance. There are two roads to the visitor center at the top of the park and both were open. However I did not want to take the unpaved one which would be full of ruts and not very comfortable. The main road, Trail Loop Road is well paved and smooth, although it is continuous hairpin turns and vast stretches where there are no guardrails and it is a long way down to the bottom. The words white knuckles comes to mind. This is the type of driving I like.

Being this was September, it was not exactly warm up at the top, nor on the way up for that matter. The majority of the peaks were snow covered and there was snow at the visitor center although it was mostly melted. The temp was about 36 degrees. But when you got to go, ya got to go. And I did have the 20 oz cup of hot tea on the drive here. So it was a cold run to the bathroom through the gusts of 45 -50 miles an hour. I took a quick run through the gift shop and was back on my way. I took the Western side of the park loop road. It was also full of switchbacks and steep descents. The sites are impressive but there are more trees so the sight lines are not as generous. Still, you get the definitive impression that you are very small in relation to nature.

Once I left the park, i had golf on my mind, so I drive to Granby and found a nice links course running along the base of the mountains and gave it a whirl. Well, actually it crewed me up and spit me out, but what else is new. The fairways are generous but they are lined with high grass that you will not get out of, and most likely you will lose your ball. Since I lost 6 balls, I know what I am talking about. Of course, if you don't keep it in play you do not score well. Funny how that works. My score was a 98. Hardly ready to hit the tour, but maybe i am in tiger's league now.

On Monday, I decided to continue my trek around and through the Rockies. There are a number of peaks in the Rockies that rise over 14K ft so I wanted to get a look. I also noticed many small towns along the circular route I was taking so they were my targets when I updated my GPS. The first town was Leadville. This was a gold mining boom town that died out in the late 1800's only to have someone discover that in the soil of the area was another precious metal known as silver. This brought back riches to the town until that basically ran out in the 60's. The town looks much like it did during the golden days. The buildings have been restored and are very colorful. They are full of businesses, coffee shops and other touristy stuff. As it was this became the theme of the day. All the towns I ran through had the same approach. They were very interesting to walk or drive through and each had a visitors center to get background. Towns such as Central City, Wall, Idahoe Springs, Fairway and Grand Lake to name a few.

The drive itself was a continuation of the day before. the only way up the mountains and through the passes was through the curves and switchbacks. These provided breath taking views and the driving challenge of staying in your lane as you looked over the edge.

The highlight of this day was the trip up Mt Evans. Mt Evans is approx 14,200 ft high. The road goes to the top which makes it the highest paved road in the world. As of Sept 6, they close off the very top section, so I was able to drive to about 11,500 feet. This section is closed as the weather become unpredictable and it could snow up to foot at any moment. They will close this second section in a few more weeks. I have some intriguing pictures of this drive as you see.

Well, that about covers things. I head back tomorrow. You will not have to put up with this any more and your nights will be peaceful and calm like before. But just in case, i hope you got some enjoyment out of it. And besides, I am already planning my next trip.

Once again, Big Cashew into the breach

Per my warning in the previous blog, you know, the one that even I have trouble reading, I was headed for Mt Rushmore for my next adventure. As you can see, I made it

The monument is truly awe inspiring. To know that this was carved out of the mountainside and that it took 14 years to complete is just beyond comprehension. The sculptor was truly a genius. To have the vision and then make that a reality, is beyond my understanding, especially when I have trouble just cutting in a straight line.

As you drive up the highway to the park, you are climbing through a forest. In the distance, you can see an occasional mountain peak, but just for a second. You have no glimpse of the faces for most of the way up. Then as you round a bend in the road about 1/4 mile from the entrance, the forest parts and you see Mt Rushmore for the first time. There is a little room to stop and pull over to take a picture, but it is usually filled with people doing just that. Once you enter the park and walk from the garage, you can see the faces. The entrance is built like a boulevard, and it is lined with some buildings and then the row of States. This is made up of 7 square columns on each side of the walkway, with 4 flags from each of the States and the Territories that make up the United States. Beyond that is the amphitheater, stage and main viewing area of Mt Rushmore. The area is wide enough to accommodate many people, but the crowd was small at this time of the year. There is a walkway that you can take to go to the base of the mountain, but that was not open today. Still, there are many spots for picture taking and they are all great.

The sculpture seems to change color as the lighting changes. When there are no clouds, it looks as white as snow. But as clouds pass overhead, the colors become gray to light beige and shadows become more pronounced.

There is also a lighting ceremony every evening that is very interesting to watch. The faces are in darkness as the lights come on, and very slowly, the light intensifies until they are are bathed in brightness. It is so bright, that the monument can be seen from miles away if you had an unobstructed view. I was able to glimpse back on the run down the hill as I left the park, and it was a great site to see.

I also took a drive on the Norbec hiway. This is a combination of three scenic hiways that circle Custer State Park. Since this is the Black Hills, the drives go up and down the mountains, using switchbacks and pigtail bridges throughout the drive. Pigtail bridges are the name for the hairpin circular turns where a small bridge carries you as you turn a complete 360 degrees and over the part of the road you just traveled on. There were about 6 of these style bridges. In addition to that, there are three tunnels that were cut out of the rocks. The amazing thing about the tunnels, other then the fact that they are extremely narrow and built for just one car to pass thru at a time, is that each one was built facing Mt Rushmore, and you can see the faces through each tunnel. It is something to see. Overall, the drive was very pleasant and the views were outstanding. The park has wildlife, and I was finally able to see Buffalo. At one point, a head of more than 100 were in fields on both sides of the road, while some were on the road or the shoulder. I got some great close ups. So close, one of two could have put their head through the car window. They are an impressive animal to see.

I think this will do it for tonight. Enjoy the pictures. I hope to have more tomorrow.

The Continuing Saga of Big Cashew

Sept 16

Well, its time for another adventure in dull and so boring, root canal without anesthetic would be preferably. Yes, it another entry into the Travails of the Big Cashew.

As I noted at the end of yesterday's tomb, I was headed to the Badlands, and that is what we have today. So here we go.

The day starts with a late sleep in, not waking up until 5:23 in the morning. These late morning are so enjoyable. Well, I manage not to get back to sleep, so its out of bed, shower and dress and get breakfast, the wonderful Comfort Inn way. Powdered eggs and self made waffles. The waffles are really not that bad. So I finish my meal and head out.

First, to properly start the day, I am obliged to have my cup of tea. It must be hot, strong, sweet and a slight taste of French Vanilla. Unfortunately, when I left Wawa behind, I believe I left civilization. Finding a place that has boxes of tea to go along with the 57 varieties of coffee flavors the boast about, make looking for a needle in a haystack look easy. Then once you find a place that has tea boxes, it is just as difficult to find a box that actually has tea bags in it. After my third stop, the miracle I never thought would come, materialized. I had my tea and headed

East to the land that no one wanted.

The badlands are an anomaly. (Note the pictures). You have all this rather flat land, with the moguls I mentioned yesterday, as far as the eye can see, and then out of no where, you enter this National Park. The badlands are mountains and open prairies with a jigsaw puzzle between them. You enter the park and immediately notice a difference. The land starts to rise up and drop off. It looks like thousands of small canyons between the uprising earth. Very gray, and seemly a mixture of stone and mud. I an not really sure what is holding it together. But it is impressive none the less. I took a number of trails which give you differing perspectives. Most seem to go only up. One was like start up. It was only a quarter mile, but you climbed up the front of this escarpment. One problem was that it was very moist and muddy. You could not keep your footing as the mud caked up on your shoes. But since you were on a narrow shelf and it was straight down if you slipped too much, it was just so much fun. Somehow I was able to reach the top and then managed to get back down with minimal bodily injury.

As the day progressed, the weather slowly went from totally overcast to sunny. The temperature also changed, form mid 40's to upper 60's. But no matter where you were, the wind is constant and has always been that way. These changed allowed one to behold the natural coloring of the rocks and its many layers. The hills and the peaks became more prominent and the pictures will not due them justice, but you are left awestruck by seeing them in person. This really made the day worthwhile. But that was not the end of the trip. Midway through the drive, you encounter the first Prairie dog town. They are just yards off the road and they were in the hundreds. They pop up and out of their burrows, race around and then dive back in if you begin to move to the side of the road. But if you are slow and patient, they eventually peak out and raise up so that you have the perfect picture. They put on quite a show.

Well, we have reached the end of the road. Well, actually, it is the end of the day. I am exhausted and ready for a good rest. I know you who were reading this are already asleep so I am glad to have helped you send the day off properly. Tomorrow its Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse, some scenic drives and a walk in a cave. I will try to live down to the standard I set with this one.

Travails of The Big Cashew

For those of you who were familiar with my annual Christmas letter, this Blog idea of mine will make those monuments to boredom seem like Pulitzer prize material. As you continue to read, you will experience a numbness that few humans have and still survived. Such is this Blog which will chronicle my trip to Mt Rushmore, the Badlands and the Rocky Mts.

On Wednesday I flew out to Denver. Of course, we had to leave Philly first but they did not want us to go, placing a hold on your plane while some mysterious storms blocked our route. After an hour wait, we finally slipped the shackles of PA. The flight was unremarkable, much like these writings of mine, but we did land in a torrential rainstorm. Since I had a 100 mile drive to get to the hotel in Cheyenne, this was to be a fun ride. Picking up the car at Hertz, I was processed quickly and sent out to load the baggage and go. Well, I loaded the baggage, but I was not going anywhere. The car had no key! There was a push button where the key should go, so I pushed it. Nothing happened. I did this a couple of times, just to be sure, and the engine stayed dead as a doornail. I finally had to skulk back to the counter and state that I was technically challenged and needed someone to show me how to start the friggin car.

Once I received the highly intricate directions (Step on the brake as you push in the button) i was on my way. With the rain, fog and the fact that I was dog tired, it was an accomplishment that I cut off only a couple of other drivers as i meandered between lanes while fighting with the radio. But I got the Cheyenne and was able to log about 5 hours of sleep.

Now it is Thursday. I have 300 miles to go to Rapid City. And the rain is still falling. I have a tee time at 1:30 and the rain, fog and wind is making Mt Washington in New Hampshire look tropical. It rained basically the entire way. So much for my plans of channeling Nicklaus, Hogan and Snead. Time to rework the itinerary. So it is off to Deadwood.

One or a couple comments on Wyoming. It is green/brown, brown brown and at time black. It is all prairie lands, wide open spaces and a good number of moguls everywhere. It was not boring to drive through, but it was so different than back east. Also, you do not measure the population by the number of people per square mile. You need to determine the number of square miles per person. There is no one anywhere along the road. Just an occasionally ranch that is like a mile of more from the highway. Where do these people go to school or shop for food? They must be self sufficient and loners.

Deadwood is famous, so to speak for being the town where Wild Bill Hickok was shot and killed in a poker game. He is also buried there, along with Calamity Jane. They are buried in Boot Hill. So now you know everything about Deadwood. This pictures are of the town, my bud Bill and CJ! I am still trying to figure things out with this blog so they should not be in the beginning of my diatribe, but that's me. Mail street is less than a mile long, but just about every building has a casino in it. More slots then anything, but they must do a good business, as there were people in all of them. I spent about 45 minutes and was on my way.

Tomorrow is the Badlands. I know you are just holding your breath with what i have to say on that topic.

.