Day 16: Get to Denver

248 miles

I drove the Colorado National Monument yesterday. At the gas station, the attendant asked if I was going to some rally. After I told him, he said "oh" in this unimpressed way."Is it nice?" I asked. "Sure. If you like mountains."

I stopped at a town with a few thrift stores, that also happened to contain the grave memorial of Doc Holliday. He was probably buried in the Potter's feld, a term for the area where the poor, prostitutes, and minorities were buried. But they put his marker in with the regular folk. I guess legend can elevate the status of the dead.

I had called a campground outside Denver for my destination. It's supposed to be hot in Denver, just like everywhere, so I need cat AC and a shower. They had one left. When I got there, though, I realized it was not as close to the city as I thought. And for being in the woods, it was crowded. I was claustrophobic just looking at it.

I went to a campground in town. By then it was after 8, so I couldn't get anyone on the phone. There was a small, frustrating sign put front, announcing Full. Truck stop and truck stop shower it was.

Day 15. Don't be so task and goal oriented

316 miles today; 312 yesterday. Fewer ahead of me than behind. I am both sad it's going and ready to be done. But those feelings are a waste. I've pulled into a truck stop for the night for a new perspective in the morning. The last several places have had temperatures in the 100s; I think Colorado is cooler. That should help. I was sad to lose public radio the second I crossed the border.

I'm writing from the phone (which means the picture uploads weird- sorry), but I've wanted to sum up Vegas when I have time at a real keyboard. I guess I can't, and in the nature of blogs, it's quickly becoming old news.  I can sum up that it was a good time, that I got pictures I couldn't have otherwise, that I made some great memories with my family, though have few pictures (of us) to proove it. There, I said a little.

Anyone every heard of Colorado National Monument? Heading  there tomorrow to check it out.