On The Road Again

We write a bit about the journey being more important than the destination here at 3MPH.ORG. Slowing down and delighting in the environment our journey takes us through. Honestly though when we hit the road in an automobile, the delighting part doesn’t always work out. We usually travel with 2 dogs. Every time I barely touch the brakes, both dogs snap to attention. If we stop, they are ready to bolt. They want to get outside and cock a leg on every fence post and rock or roll about in any odd smelling bit of earth. Even better, they reckon if there is a dead animal near by. So we don’t stop as often as we would like.

The plan was to drive to Texas last week to retrieve the RV but the Great Polar Vortex of 2021 destroyed that idea.  We were seeing all the stories of Texas losing control of their power grid and folks living with no electricity or heat. Burning their furniture to stay warm. Grocery store inventories wiped out along with gasoline storage, so we stayed home. It hit 20 below zero, 40 below with the wind chill, (that’s 60 degrees colder than it was in Houston) as the vortex swept across the High Planes. It was cold, I had to don my expedition gear to walk to work. Lucky for us the power stayed on, the wind turbines kept spinning and the gas continued to flow.

A Break in the Weather

Once things improved and it looked like everyone below the Mason-Dixon Line was back in shorts and flip-flops and the store shelves were restocked, it was time to get on the road. Mrs. 3MPH however had scheduling conflicts, so the plan changed and it was decided that I would venture to Texas solo to get the bus. Here was a chance to practice what I preach. Journey a little slower, perhaps checking under a few rocks and sniffing out the odd bit of earth myself. So I packed up the kit, changed the oil in the ultimate, go slow, vehicle – the Wrangler. Aimed her south and departed Emerald City at high noon.

Down 385 to Sheridan Lake and then east to Kansas on CO 96. I like this road, it’s one of the transcontinental bicycle routes, so there is always a chance to see touring cyclists. The perfect vehicle to completely immerse and delight yourself on a road journey. No bikers today, they’re all probably down on the southern tier route.

American Dream

Towner, Tribune, Leoti and Scott City were the main towns I visited on 96 before turning south on 83. Towner is not even really a town and the other three aren’t much bigger. I worked this region 40 years ago on the grand seismic adventure tour. That was the first time I experienced the High Planes. I didn’t have the same appreciation for the region back in my youth. This is definitely a place for mellower pursuits than I was chasing back then. The towns are all smaller now as the farmer’s kids all leave for the big city to chase the American Dream. I’d like to tell them all they are going the wrong way but I know they wouldn’t understand.

Highway 83, the route for the next 300 miles. Garden City, Sublette, Liberal, Perryton, Canadian, Wheeler, Shamrock and Childress. The towns are bigger than the previous hamlets, some of them actually growing populations a little. Garden City is one of the growing ones. I was surprised by the Flat Mountain Brewhouse and since I’ve never met a brewhouse I didn’t like, I stopped in to test the fried pickles and a few pints. The Blueberry Brown was a little too acidic but the Irish Red was sweet and malty. A perfect companion to the deep fried pickle spears. It was late afternoon and the place was dead. Covid is destroying small business faster than government taxes and corporate greed combined. I hope they make it, it was a nice place.

I don’t know how many times that I have made the trip between Colorado and Texas. Closer to a hundred than zero I know. I have tried every possible route and 83 rates near the top, running along the eastern boundary of the High Planes.

Pandemic Panic

This year has not been the best year for travel with the Pandemic Panic ratcheting up the fear index across the country and everyone covering their smiles with masks and social distancing. It seemed better just to stay home in our little cottage cocoon. It felt good to actually be out there; On The Road Again. It was about 10:30 PM when I arrived in Childress and I got some sack time there in the back parking lot of the truck stop among a hundred or so over the road truckers. Just like the old days. I brought the 0 degree bag but didn’t really need it, the temperature stayed in the high 30’s all night.

I was back on the road at 3:30 AM and headed for the warm environs of the third coast on the high speed, limited access route; Highway 287 and Interstate 45. No stopping, no meandering or lollygagging, the white zone is for loading and unloading only. I forgot how much I hate I-45. In fact, the whole of the Interstate highway system. It has a way of stealing my joy. Fast though, and I was into the Houston Mega-metroplex by 10:30 and to the bus shortly after.

Time to slow down and experience my environment a little. What better way to immerse yourself into the environment than a bit of bass fishing.

Come back next week for the return trip. 3MPH.ORG

Here is a link to all off the images for the southbound trip.