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<\/a><\/p>\nas we descended from Linda’s at Libre to<\/p>\n Gardner Butte and beyond<\/p>\n for gas in Westcliffe<\/a> where the ‘puppies’ leapt exuberantly out…otherwise not much went wrong, unlike the semi we passed on the downside of Monarch<\/a> as it eased, brakes burning,<\/p>\n onto the runaway truck ramp.\u00a0 We arrived early for our lunch at Blue Mesa Reservoir<\/p>\n and then ran nonstop up the Slope through Montrose and Delta.\u00a0 In Grand Junction<\/a> the hats and boots were still going out of business [“Cowboy Rides Away”] and a small gathering of large women waved flags and “Women For Trump” signs curbside downtown.\u00a0 After that it was on<\/p>\n to Rabbit Valley<\/a> to free the Inkies, then the Utah Desert as Repuppetlicans rallied around the Belligerent One asserting the only legitimate votes are theirs and any others are de facto fraudulent [How can that be? How do dey know? Who believes them?]. Nonetheless all 70.1 million<\/p>\n seem to believe that’s how it is, and who they are.\u00a0 It’s pretty scary [well not so pretty],<\/p>\n impressive, or depressive.\u00a0 Seems they and Mitch are out to wreck the place, no?\u00a0 No news there – sore winners are even sorer losers. We crossed the Eastern Desert<\/p>\n [Hanksville, Loa, Mussentuchit], got gas in Salina [NOT at Mom’s Cafe – been there, did that. Once was enough], let dogs out at dusk<\/a>, passed through Scipio, Delta and then the Western one, 88 miles to the Border Inn where snow was flurrying and the inhabitants were taking the Second Wave seriously.\u00a0 The steak was rubbery, the martini indecipherable and Fox News<\/p>\n no longer on the motel TV.\u00a0 Snow eased around midnight, returned at three but didn’t leave much; most likely too cold.\u00a0 Linda procured warm bevs and we left in early light, heading west.<\/p>\n Snake Range,<\/a> Spring Valley,<\/p>\n over the Schell Creek Range<\/a><\/p>\n into Ely for gas and<\/p>\n Eureka<\/a> where the sad news is that the Pony Express Deli will close just prior to Christmas. It was consequently our last breakfast there and last chance to procure medium chunky Mennonite Hot Sauce.\u00a0 We stopped for dog relief at a place where Strange Lichens [?] had colonized<\/p>\n the gravelly landscape and it was as cold as it looks. Damp twenties.<\/p>\n Through ever-hostile Austin without pause; Eureka may have more Trump signs but we’ve never, in over thirty-five years, experienced a hospitable moment in Austin.\u00a0 We never stop<\/p>\n there anymore and friends who have have fared worse.<\/p>\n Dry roads to Fallon<\/p>\n and fall colors after.\u00a0 We paused in Fernley for a week’s food and made it<\/p>\n to the Gerlach<\/a> P.O. a day too early for my Mysterious Package from Paul Fuge, were at<\/p>\n the Wall Spring<\/a> gate at 3:30…unloaded, tried the pump; still leaking.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n