The heat brought the snakes

and also Total Immersion Therapy.

We belatedly figured dinner in the repo to be cooler than on the porch despite evenings’ [blast furnace] breezes, but still not cool enough as the house continued hot well into the night despite so Tuesday I broke down and closed out the studio. It was nonetheless a major all day effort Wednesday to pack and load ahead of the massive storm which blew through at sunset,

passing us by but leaving the house too warm for comfortably sleeping.

Two days to Colorado began before six Thursday with a last walk, breakfast

and loading until after eight…nothing to be found in the Gerlach P.O. box,

dust all day across Nevada

with an obligatory pause for the delights of Austin and, soon after, Bob Scott for lunch.

Spates of rain failed to dissuade the near-constant dust until

well into Utah

when it finally abated after a particularly windy stop in Salina for gas [“You’re in the desert” the pimply c-store attendant quipped as dirt blew past the pumps; “SALINA’s the desert, dude?” I thought] and over the pass beyond to Temple Mount to let dogs run free

…then Green River, distanced dining at the Tamarisk and sheltering in the First Choice Inn

wherein the Salt Lake TV seemed stupid so tried to sleep, results again limited.

Friday up at six, away at seven, trying First Choice’s choice complimentary breakfasts

[of interest only to others, who got none] on the way Rabbit Valley so the others could have

something more appropriate and run a little.  We then entered the Recreation State in earnest

via Fruita to secure takeout from Camilla’s, the people safe and cautious but not hysterical.

L drove to the Texaco in Montrose where we’ve stopped for the last thirty years and was rudely informed by the new manage-bitch that now all restrooms are to be locked against suspicious mask-wearing non-patriotic scum. To gain entry you ask for a key attached to a slimy baton passed on from the previous pee-er.  OK……and enjoy a Great Pandemic, patriots!

We continued to Blue Mesa Reservoir, usual stop, the water unusually low but more people out on it than ever before, beautiful day…an hour later we were at the Safeway in Salida, one of

those towns that puts hospitality before stupidity and as a result masks do not constitute a Political Statement; everybody wearing them, being prudent, same in Westcliffe [near the puppies’ origin] where we checked the market as an alternative to Pueblo. We finished off Camilla’s omelette driving down 69 to Gardner’s still-in-a-trailer Post Office and then up the dusty hill to Libre, driest meadow in half a century. Tired but relieved we unloaded only the foods and what it would take to make it through one quiet [no birds, no frogs!] night…

In the morning, warm, dry…

Dry, warm, 8300′ waiting on the rainy season.

Waiting…

 

 

 

 

5 thoughts on “The heat brought the snakes

  1. Eva Bovenzi

    So you’re here! We have been hiding; not seeing anybody. I had a ghastly experience with one of those patriots in the cafe in Austin, Nevada. Did you stop there? She has a sign on the door telling people they have to lower their masks upon entry. I didn’t, and things got nasty. A shock after the Bay Area. Went to Ace Hardware in Westcliffe yesterday, and the staff were mostly wearing their masks below their noses. Same thing at Home Depot in Pueblo. Going out is not tempting, so say the least.
    Maybe when you guys have recovered, we could do a socially distanced, BYO outdoor meeting? Hello to Linda. XO

    Reply
    1. mikesmoore Post author

      We never [unless forced by roadwork] stop in Austin for anything anymore; in the [distant] past had nothing but bad experiences there whether it was gas stations, motels or either of the two seedy, rude restaurants. Wait for Eureka…much friendlier place. Can’t say what they’re doing with the current situation as we usually only stop heading west but always preferable.
      Yes, we’re here, waiting two weeks and then distanced visiting! People on this side of the valley are finding creative solutions…

      Love
      M

      Reply
  2. Kirk Moore

    Glad you made it without getting gunned down at the Montrose Texaco (holy shit!) or choking to death on endless dust (blown in from Africa?). What a world!
    I hope there’s rain soon (ditto for here) or 2020 fires will eclipse previous records.
    At least those maskless Patriots will get a spot on the coveted Darwin Awards list.

    Reply
    1. mikesmoore Post author

      Turns out there are no Covid Cases in the county where they keep Montrose…although that may be because they’re adhering to our Ostrich President’s counsel against testing for it…

      Reply
  3. Stephen R Stern

    “all restrooms are to be locked against suspicious mask-wearing non-patriotic scum”. How the hell did we get here? this polarized? How did wearing a mask to protect other people become a political statement?

    Reply

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