Au Revoir

Tomorrow by this time, Robear the teenager and I plan to be just over the border of the great state of Colorado.  Durango is our first fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants destination but our plans are not carved in marble.  One of the great things about leisurely journeys is thus far Bush has not appointed a road trip czar.  A gentleman (I’d say or gentlewoman but we’ve seen those women in green uniforms and they scare us) might ask me if I am carrying fruit as the addictive powers of fructose are well-documented.  He might glance around my by-then filthy truck and inquire as to the presence of illegal aliens under the Wendy’s bags and empty Mountain Dew bottles.  He might even pull me into secondary to inspect the bed of the pickup and, who knows, he might want a lesson in spinning yarn and that’s okay.  Despite and because of these prospective delays, we can stop when and if we take a liking to our surroundings.

Beginning with a route familiar to us, we’ll travel the I-17 to Flagstaff but then deviate from the norm by heading into the Navajo Nation and on to Monument Valley.  We’ll pass Tuba City where I am secretly hoping to see puffed cheeks on shiny brass.  Next, we’ll cruise through Kayenta, the only incorporated municipality in the Navajo Nation.  We won’t stop there; we’re avoiding rules as much as possible.  Once in the land of rocks and spires, the teenager and I will reminisce/learn about John Ford and John Wayne and “Stagecoach.”  We might discuss “The Eiger Sanction” and lament that since it’s filming, no one has been allowed to climb the Totem Pole.   We might even listen to “Atlas Shrugged” on the iPod when the conversation slows and just drink in the scenery and listen to the cadence of Ayn Rand’s masterpiece.   

We might be feeling fatigued by the time we reach the one and only “Four Corners.” I understand they charge you $5 to see it and nothing but a small plaque marks its location.  We’ll play its visit by ear.  I’ve never been one for 90 degree angles anyway. 

Finally, and thankfully, we’ll cross the Colorado border.  The weather calls for storms.  Some might be disappointed by this but, coming from the land of nauseating sunshine, I relish dark clouds and unsettled weather, loud thunder and blinding lightning.  I might reminisce about summers in Nags Head, NC when the other kids hid inside when the squalls blew up but my mother and I stayed on the porch overlooking the ocean, feeling the electricity in the air, and lusting for the salty storm winds blowing through our needy souls.

This is but the first leg of our journey and I look forward to each and every limb.  I will keep you posted when possible but have the rustic accoutrements of pen and paper when devoid of power and internet access. 

 Here’s writing to you, kid.

Comments

[Sue G.]

Lauren, are you headed to Estes Park?! Or is the fiber festival you refer to elsewhere? I ask, because I'm leaving the wilds of the Huckleberry Mountains next Friday bound for a day at Estes Park. Talk to me!

[Beth in WI]

"Never been one for 90 degree angles anyway." Thanks for making me laugh today, have a good trip!

[Karalyn]

Lauren: I've been out of the loop for while (some call it an "extended vacation" but I call it working 24/7) and am currently in AZ while Julie & Tom are treading water in Bloomington, IN. Will soon be headed for Missouri, Michigan to pick up my RV, then back to Springfield, MO. Will be reading your travels with interest. I lived in CO for 15 years and loved it --- except in the winter. Wishing you a safe and fun trip. Sounds like my kind of travel. Keep us posted when you can.