Saturday, June 12, 2010
Day Two
Serendipity
(Mark writing) It was a day of contrasts and surprises. We started out in the flat lands of Kansas in a mild thunderstorm and ended up in a high semi-arid valley between branches of the Rocky Mountains. In-between we saw wetlands, plains, a wild turkey, lots of birds, high desert, cinder cones, and drove through a high mountain pass of 9,000 feet in the fog. It was a very fun drive, with constantly changing terrain.
Perhaps the highlight of the days drive was finding a Wetlands visitor center not too far off the interstate in Kansas. Our Driving route was largely off the interstate today. With a need for a restroom, we pulled into a roadside spot which turned out to be the Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands Preserve. What a treat! The staff were very friendly and the newly opened visitor’s center had a beautiful view of a wetlands teeming with birds. I stepped outside on a walkway and was treated to a symphony of crickets, birds, and a prairie breeze. It was such a sweet moment.
Further down the road, we ate lunch in Dodge City, skirting the second largest meat packing plant in the country (it smelled terrible) and a tourist trap trading on Dodge City’s wild west reputation. We settled for Taco Bell and a quick “Get outta Dodge.”
Our Drive meandered through Southwestern Kansas and finally crossed into Colorado. The terrain was continuously changing from flat prairie, to high plains and sage brush. Perhaps the best part of the drive for me was on State Highway 10; a little-traveled straight road through country gradually leading up to the Rockies. It was varied and the geography was fascinating. We were basically following along the Santa Fe trail for most of the day.
(Mark writing) It was a day of contrasts and surprises. We started out in the flat lands of Kansas in a mild thunderstorm and ended up in a high semi-arid valley between branches of the Rocky Mountains. In-between we saw wetlands, plains, a wild turkey, lots of birds, high desert, cinder cones, and drove through a high mountain pass of 9,000 feet in the fog. It was a very fun drive, with constantly changing terrain.
Perhaps the highlight of the days drive was finding a Wetlands visitor center not too far off the interstate in Kansas. Our Driving route was largely off the interstate today. With a need for a restroom, we pulled into a roadside spot which turned out to be the Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands Preserve. What a treat! The staff were very friendly and the newly opened visitor’s center had a beautiful view of a wetlands teeming with birds. I stepped outside on a walkway and was treated to a symphony of crickets, birds, and a prairie breeze. It was such a sweet moment.
Further down the road, we ate lunch in Dodge City, skirting the second largest meat packing plant in the country (it smelled terrible) and a tourist trap trading on Dodge City’s wild west reputation. We settled for Taco Bell and a quick “Get outta Dodge.”
Our Drive meandered through Southwestern Kansas and finally crossed into Colorado. The terrain was continuously changing from flat prairie, to high plains and sage brush. Perhaps the best part of the drive for me was on State Highway 10; a little-traveled straight road through country gradually leading up to the Rockies. It was varied and the geography was fascinating. We were basically following along the Santa Fe trail for most of the day.
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