I began the Road Warrior series in 2016, the first year that Noble Fur traveled west with me. Part 4 was posted more than two years ago, and y’all have been in the dark since then. Well, not exactly. I’ve been posting pictures all that time, but not necessarily in a coherent timeline.
The story was “temporarily suspended” somewhere east of Boise. It was Halloween, and we stayed in a motel near the town of Jerome, along Interstate 84. In Part 5, Noble Fur finally returns to Georgia.
After about 100 miles of driving on the first of November, I was ready to stretch my legs, and so was our favorite kitty. Near the state line of Idaho and Utah, I exited onto a little-used country road that served the ranches in that area. The only warning signs on the road were the reminders about it being open range for cattle. A couple farm trucks passed us during the stop, but otherwise it was quiet.
The Salt Lake metro area loomed ahead. We hit a few slow spots, but managed to get through the city unscathed. Going east and southeast from Salt Lake requires a climb, no matter which route you take. I chose State Highway 35, mainly because I had never been that way before. As we gained elevation, the skies got that “snowy” look. A few miles before the summit, we encountered snow in giant flakes. Now I was wondering how bad it might get, and whether it might have been a bad idea to go this way.
Before long, the summit was reached. Snow covered the countryside, but the road itself was merely wet. We stopped for some brisk mountain air.
This was kitty’s first experience with snow. At first she was not sure what to think of it. “I think I’ll go this way. No, too cold. I think I shall go that way.” Eventually she saw a bird, or some other critter, and her attention was drawn away from the white stuff under her feet.
The next day found us at lower elevations again. One stop was along US Highway 40. The rugged terrain in the distance was part of Dinosaur National Monument.
East of Steamboat Springs, the highway gained elevation again. I found a loop road that was quiet and safe.
Before long, we were at Rabbit Ears Pass.
We stopped for the night at the home of one of my relatives. Noble Fur had her own fan club there.
Every time that I travel eastward from the Rocky Mountains, I get this sense of finality. My journey is several days from being complete, but the mountains that were part of the scenery for the past few months will soon become memories. There is one last drive down a canyon road that leads into the High Plains. The walls of rock and forest give way to flat lands. Gradually there is less to see in the rear view mirrors, until the last glimpse of the mountains fades away.
When I was much younger, working full time in the South with limited funds and vacation time, leaving the mountains was even more difficult, because I didn’t know when I’d be able to return. These days I can mark my calendar for the following summer, knowing that I’ll keep going back as long as I’m healthy.
You know how this works, but as always, a gentle reminder:
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- When it comes to problems, we may just have someone with experience who can help.
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- There is no such thing as stealing a photo around here, but if you would like a pic from the comment threads, please ask the poster. He/she may have a copyright to those pics. Many thanks!
- It should not need to be said, but ANY/ALL photos that imply or encourage human violence against an animal will be considered verboten! Whether it is “comedic” or not, it will be frowned upon and considered out of bounds.
Other Road Warrior diaries:
Noble Fur, Road Warrior, Part 4
Noble Fur, Road Warrior, Part 3
Noble Fur, Road Warrior, Part 2
Noble Fur, Road Warrior, Part 1