Horse sculpture at Little Bighorn Battlefield, honoring Native Americans
Horse sculpture at Little Bighorn Battlefield, honoring Native
Americans
This year the trip was once again planned around a race - Celeste's first attempt at 50 miles. We left Memorial Day Weekend to drive up to Colorado. The first night we stayed in Trinidad - a small Victorian town that is in the midst of a revitalization. The only restaurant in town that was open was called Gino's, and it turned out to be a nice find - great food, singing waiters (good ones!), nice decor, very friendly. It pays to experiment!
The next day we drove to Breckenridge, Colorado. We go here a lot. Enough in fact that we finally bought a lot! Eventually we will build a home here, but for now at least we have the land. During this week, Celeste did some training runs, and Doug mostly worked, but with a great view out the window it wasn't bad duty. Sunday Doug flew home, and Celeste spend the next week running, dealing with real estate stuff and enjoy the area. Pictures from the trail runs will follow shortly.
The following Monday I (Celeste) drove into Denver to meet with Uncle Bat and his wife Joy. We had a very nice lunch and a great visit. They are very well traveled and very well read, so we never lacked for anything to talk about. The visit lasted until 4:00 or so, and then I drove to Estes Park to spend the night.
The following day was spent driving over the roof of the Rockies through Rocky Mountain National Park, looking for wildlife and taking in the scenery. The wildflowers were just starting to emerge, and there were lots of elk and marmots about. After taking a short hike to a waterfall, she continued her drive to Steamboat Springs. After lunch there and a short run, the drive continued up to Rawlins, WY. There isn't much here - the city is basically a way-station on the interstate. (Official RMNP site: http://www.nps.gov/romo/ )
Leaving Rawlins, I took the back roads (you know, the road less traveled...) through Lander, Thermopolis, Worland and Ten Sleep, and then over the Cloud Pass Skyway into Sheridan. The race would be here in a few days. After settling in, I got in touch with my friend Lynn Ballard and his wife. Lynn is also from the Dallas area and was in town for the race. We hooked up on Thursday and reconnoitered part of the trail. It was a beautiful day for a run, and we stopped often for pictures and to look at animal tracks - including a bobcat track. That afternoon I picked up Doug, and after taking care of logistics we had a great steak dinner with Lynn and Ava at Buffalo Bill's old place, and then off to the airport to pick up Ken and Betty Lou.
Friday morning the four of us headed out in the jeep to find the aid stations. After miles of dirt roads, cattle guards, rocks, creeks and ponds, we reached Footbridge aid station - this would be the first place that they could see me during the race. It was a really pretty spot and I was relieved to see the Port-a-potty being towed in; although I have no idea how they maneuvered that thing on the road we had to travel!
Afterwards, we headed north to Montana to the site of Custer's Last Stand, now known as the Little Bighorn National Battlefield. It is a very moving place. Shortly after the battle, markers were placed were the soldiers fell, so you can almost see the battle unfold in front of you. There is also the mass grave for the cavalry and a wonderful memorial to the tribe members who lost their lives there. There were Native Americans fighting for both sides, and there are plaques listing each tribes' dead as well as a wonderful wrought iron horse sculpture. Official site: http://www.nps.gov/libi/ )
Packet pickup was Friday evening, and after we got all the details worked out, we went out for pizza and pasta with Ken and Betty-Lou. I had an early morning the next day - race day, so we turned in.
The day after the race we drove to Mt Rushmore. This had been a place that Ken and especially Betty-Lou had wanted to see, so we took some bloody marys, some snacks and headed off to South Dakota. Mt Rushnore was amazing as it was last time, K and B-L were awed, and we got to sit out a hail storm - not something that happens to often in L.A. After a stop for a late lunch outside of the monument (wonderful BBQ) we trekked back to Sheridan. The drive took longer than we thought, we ordered pizza, watched A&E and enjoyed each others company. (Official website: http://www.nps.gov/moru/ )
Monday everyone flew home but me. I spent the day getting the oil changed, washing the car, and packing. There was a lot of packing. Tuesday I started the drive back and by Wednesday evening I was home. Always sad to leave the mountains, but always nice to get home to my husband and my cat. Another great outing!!