Weather Extremes and Pain in the Ass

I feel like I am experiencing Chicago March weather. One minute it snows, then it rains and then the sun is shining. That has pretty much been my experience in Colorado too. The sun is shining on the mountains, next I am driving through a snow storm and then wet snow is falling and the roads are slick. Today I even wondered if I was going into a tornado, the sky was so black ahead, sunshine behind and there was this wide open space. I began to wonder if should be listening to the radio instead of a book on tape called "The Five Secrets You Must Discover Before You Die" by John Izzo, Phd. (and no, I don't think he is related to Tom. At least non of his stories were sports related)

I went through another treacherous drive. At least that was how I thought of it. There was a 7degree grade and lots of signs for runaway trucks to stay to the right, the roads were covered with snow but there was sand down on the middle lane and it was so curvy that I was getting nervous. I kept touching the guardian angel that is on my sun visor and knew that I would make it okay. I only hoped I wasn't going to undo all of the good work Monte did on my neck and shoulders yesterday. But at the end, I arrived in Steamboat Springs, which lived up to all of my preconceptions of what a ski town would be like. Lots of aspen looking hotels and lodges, all the buildings blended with the environment and ski and outdoor wear shops.

One of my highlights of Steamboat (since I've been there for at least 30 minutes, I can call it that) was Roberto at the Kum and Go gas station. I wondered if he was trying to flirt with me at first, but that was prior to him telling me he has had a couple of wives and has 17 children. I asked how he was paying for them, and that sort of ended his banter back and forth.

From Steamboat I headed to Craig, Colorado and knew that it would not be long before I would be back in Wyoming. I got to tell you, the central part is very different than the eastern part. In fact, for awhile I was thinking "I'm not impressed". I remember when I was a teenager and would tell people I was from Wyoming and they would say 'the state' and I would say no wistfully. On the first part of my re-entry I was thinking, thank goodness. I think it will get better as I go. In fact, I heard that in Jackson I will see the best part of the Rockies.

What I saw for the most part was this land of brush and vast fields with what I think are oil wells and sometimes cattle too. Not that impressive. After awhile I started seeing some rocks peaking through, and of course that got my attention. I did see a herd of deer in a field, but then I saw lots of them dead alongside the road too. I saw some cattle with baby calves, and that was nice. Eventually I saw a ranch that was raising sheep and they all had a bright blue B on their back. (hopefully that comes out before they sell the wool)

Eventually I had to get on Interstate 80 and was hoping that I could get down the road a bit so I could get closer to Jackson, WY which is where I am hoping to be tomorrow. But, and that is a literal BUTT, I started hurting and decided that enough was enough and I had better get out of the car.

I got off the interstate at Rock Springs and though NO - go to the next town and get a room there. However, I was thinking, what difference does another hour make? Since my ASS was hurting, I stopped at Walmart, thought I'd grab a bottle of wine and then get a room and just crash.

Go figure that the one store I stopped at was "an Alcohol Free Walmart'. I took that as an omen but stopped anyway. Called around and got one of the cheapest hotels listed in the Wyoming State Brochure.

Keeping with the darn theme (I think two days of anything is overkill) of restorative and healthy, I ended up going to the fitness area and used the eliptical. I tried for the treadmill, but it wasn't working. So much for cheap hotels. Sine the eliptical was kicking my already sore butt, I quit after 15 minutes and then went for a half hour walk outside. That seemed to go a lot better. In fact, it was so windy I was beginning to think I was back in Chicago. I wonder if even thinking that means something. Who knows - all I know is tomorrow's another day.