CHEYENNE, Wyoming August 9, 2010 -- Watched a dramatic sunset over the Rocky Mountains from the Springhill Suites parking lot in this capital city of Wyoming. We closed out Nebraska as unending fields of corn give way to acres upon acres of sunflowers. Sunflowers as far as the eye could see, and that was a long way. We lost the heat somewhere west of North Platte, Neb., cruised through the Badlands and actually had to wear sweatshirts to dinner. Got to Cheyennemid-afternoon and found it kind of seedy, kind of dirty, populated by ne'er-do-wells and even though small in population, everything is packed tightly together. Reminds me of Lansing about 15 years ago. Downtown on the verge of renewal, the new fighting to poke through the seamly old.
Today's highlights: mini golf while Air Force pilots practiced takes-offs and landings of big ol' bombers right over our heads. Half-time diversion after 18 of 36 holes was playing with five-week-old chocolate Cocker Spaniel puppies outside the Putt Hutt. We followed that up with a dip in the hot tub and dinner at Shadows Micro Brewery in downtown Cheyenne, in a converted railroad depot. Think Clara's meets North Peak Brewing Company. Great beer, good pizza and a good time. Nightcap: The Spy Next Door in the room.
Not much of a day, perhaps, but all done under the western sky in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. There's just something different about the sky out here: more colorful, more clear, more dramatic. Look to the east, it's raining under a leaden sky; then to the west, the sun shines brilliantly. Contrasted with a typical Lansing grey, it's quite the sight.
Tomorrow the sightseeing begins again at Steamboat Springs.
No comments:
Post a Comment