"If you don't like the weather in Colorado...wait 5 minutes!"

...Toto I don't think we are in Kansas anymore...

Today was a long day on the road...as many of you witnessed as I was sending constant text/picture messages to you. With the time change in the Great Plains region we actually woke up at 6:30 eastern time which was 5:30 their time. We wanted to get on the road fairly early because we were unsure of the weather in the Rockie's. So at 7am we departed from the lovely town of Abilene and once again began our trek on I70 to the great state of Colorado. It was almost 300 miles to the border of Colorado from where we started and most of it was exactly what we had been looking at the previous day. I would be lying if I said it wasn't a tad bit monotonous...of course that was punctuated with funny moments i.e. today my mother was concerned that people would be "packing" in restaurants and tourist places. My father and I had to laugh because if it isn't bears and snakes its now going to be guns that people may or may not be wearing on their belts! Only mom (right K and M?)! Also she hates to see prisons...and lets face it there are a ton out here. Between the state prison in Leavenworth Kansas and another one we passed in Colorado and the signs that stated "Local Prison please don't pick up hitchhikers" I was sure glad she was sound asleep...poor woman wouldn't be able to rest if she knew what was just off the highway!
We made great time leaving Kansas...I drove to the border of Colorado and then my father took over...and I did about 85 the whole way! It felt so strange to be able to fly that fast but the speed limit was between 70 and 75 the whole way. Besides I have my built in (ex) police officer in my car...complete with badge. (Hopefully my bad luck from Maine doesn't catch up with me and I don't have to stop for a blue light special!) Coming into Colorado you couldn't really tell where Kansas ended and it began but as we started climbing in elevation and made our way through Denver and in view of the Rockie's, the scenary was, to quote Rollie, "unique and spectacular." I have never seen anything like this in my life. You just drive for miles through canyon after canyon and see these houses, mansions really, built up on the mountain and not much else. (Kerry I thought of you as we kept seeing signs for Elk and Big Horn Sheep...didn't spot any but we did see some Hawks and a Bald Eagle!) We drove through Vail and a few other ski towns that were beautiful and finally came upon the mighty Colorado River! If you have never seen the Rockie's I suggest you make it a point too...the way the Colorado cuts through the moutains is so amazing. There is literally nothing around you but mountain and river...and maybe a few cars in the next lane (most of the interstates and highways are 2 lane unless its going through a big city like Denver and then its about 8 lanes!) After we took about a gazillion pictures of the mountains we decided we should bunk in a little city 100 miles from the Utah border that I had read up on. We pulled into Glenwood Springs around 4 pm (about 9 hours of driving with a few stops for gas and to stretch) and quickly booked a room. We then headed out to look around this neat little city (after my father met someone at the hotel who used to be a Brookline police officer and just happened to be friends with one of his good friends...only Rollie!) We had dinner at a little brewery, it reminded me of Beer Works, and then headed over to the local attraction...the HOT SPRINGS!
Apparently there are a few places in Colorado who are home to natural hot springs. This particular bath house had these 2 huge outdoor pools that you could wade in...about 4 ft deep and 104 degrees F...which was perfect after our long day. We met 2 nice grad students who actually spoke the heading for this entry...apparently Colorado has snow one minute and sunshine the next! It was so pretty to just float there, look up at the sky and the moutains and realize that I am one lucky lady! That was until I got out and realized my jewlery is all tarnished...I think it will clean up with jewelry cleaner (it better...even my ring from Hawaii!) so I'll let you know. After about a half hour we decided to come back and crash and hence here I am...writing from my hotel room. Tomorrow its on to Bryce Canyon Utah and then Vegas. Don't worry...Vegas is a 2 day thing (Thank the Lord!). Thats it for now. Catch you all on the flip side!

Mary's Record Keeping:

miles traveled: 2201 (WHOA!)

number of times I saw tumbleweed on I70: once...stuck to the boot of a biker!

number of states crossed: 9...with the 10th being tomorrow after leaving Colorado (not bad for 4 days!)

number of text/picture messages I sent or received: no idea

number of cowboys seen: still just the 1 (and hoping for more!)

Miss you all and hope the weather back in Boston is cooperating!

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