2017 CROSS-COUNTRY ROAD TRIP - 5-6-17 - ST GEORGE, UTAH TO PARACHUTE, COLORADO

Saturday, May 6th, 2017

We are leaving our hotel in St. George, Utah at 8.42 a.m. and the odometer reading is 53942.  We have traveled 5,767 miles now.

The speed limit is 80 mph.  That amazes me!  Truthfully, I don't think I like that very much.  Speed limits do adjust according to the lay of the land.

We have just passed a car with a license plate from the Province of Saskatchewan, Canada.  Happy travels friend!

9.30 a.m. we stopped for breakfast at McDonalds in Cedar City. I had oatmeal and Gregg had an egg and cheese biscuit.  

We noticed some young people talking very nicely to an 80+ year old, asking him all kinds of questions.  He was a widow, worked for Boeing he was telling them.  Gregg and I both people watch.  So nice to see this generational gap getting along, in a genuinely friendly discussion. Good to see and a great attitude of concern and friendship from these young people towards this gentleman, who at the same time was imparting good wisdom in his advice. These are the things we noticed while traveling.  

A group of young men came in from a local school. All had track uniforms on. Another nice group of young people, all very polite, a nice smile and a thank you from one young man in particular.  I kept the door open for him as I was leaving and he was quick-walking across the parking lot.  He was a latecomer and joined his school mates.  

10.23 a.m.  The elevation is 6,500, over a mile up.

11.10 a.m. we left I-15 for I-70 East. 

Saw these beauties parked near a rest stop.

I wish they were coming home with us.

11.55 a.m. We are now going down from over 7000 plus feet. 

Gregg reminded me I had family who settled around here on my mother's side. Wouldn't she be surprised?  We had several family members going back who emigrated to America, Australia and New Zealand.

11.59 a.m.  Passed a summit sign: 7,886 feet

12:45 p.m. We stopped at a scenic overlook off  I-70. Lovely views!  We were taking pictures when we met a very nice lady and gentleman,  daughter and father, who were returning to the Los Angeles area from Purdue University in Indiana.  

She was a very proud mummy, telling me that her son had just graduated with a degree in chemical engineering.  We chatted for ten minutes or so and her mother had been patiently waiting in their car. 

2.56 p.m and we are leaving the town of Green River....

after having lunch at West Winds.  

There was a wagon advertising the restaurant on the roof next door at the gas station.

Gregg had a regular cheeseburger.....

and I had a Western Burger, and just like the one in the diner at Yosemite, it was very good. This time, mine came with sweet potato fries.  

But I am reaching my limit on burgers.  Yes I know, I have said that before. There were other things than burgers on the menu but from looking at people's portions around us, they were way too much.  No doubt they would get what was left over boxed to take home, but as we weren't sure how long it would be before we got to the hotel, and we had no ice box in the car, we didn't want to take any chances.  

There were a couple of those humorous books on the table again, "Stay humble when you are smarter than everyone else" and "Geezerhood: what to expect from life now you are older than dirt."  They were on sale at the cash desk but no, I didn't buy these either.

I liked the neon lighted truck above, and this old gas pump near the cash register.  Where are The Pickers when you need them?  I enjoy tuning in when I know they are on.

We will be driving another 200 miles before we stop for the night. 

3:48 p.m. and we are seeing our first rain in the distance.  There is a huge, dark cloud above, and below dust rising from the earth in a pattern I have never seen before. Very interesting phenomenon.  Our road is heading in another direction so maybe we will miss this also

3.51 p.m. Just went over the Colorado River. 

4.47 p.m. We decided to stop earlier today and are at our hotel in Parachute, Colorado. We noticed what we thought was a drug store within walking distance of the hotel. It is called the Tumbleweed Dispensary, and seeing the sign I was thinking maybe I could get some muscle relaxers for a very sore neck.  I have had problems with it before, particularly when I have been driving.  I helped out again today and was probably sitting very rigidly while in heavy traffic. When we reached our room I started browsing through the pamphlets showing the area, and saw the dispensary advertised.  After checking it out it didn't look like any drug store I had ever been in.... 

and they had an interesting leaf design on their logo!

It looked familiar somehow.  I felt I had seen it on line somewhere.  Pretty leaf, thought I would have to store that away and look in my plant book at home, if I couldn't ID it before.  I was tired okay and I didn't have my glasses on? I turned the page and then I saw another store advertised.  Have to say my eyes got a little larger as I had one of those "aha" moments.  

Yes, this recreational product is legal in Colorado.  Who knew?  Certainly not me.  Needless to say I didn't go to the store to try and find some pain relief for my sore neck.  A good night's sleep helped a lot!