Sunday, July 8
It feels like a long drive into Colorado. I think it is because we have been driving many country roads, with a lot thunderstorms. I spot a basketball court in the middle of a field on the side on I-70 in Watkins, Colorado. It is a part of the church, St. Isadore, The Farmer. The court has yellow corn fields as a backdrop. It is beautiful. No one was around, but soon after I finished shooting, people starting coming out of the church.
We are on the road much longer than anticipated at the beginning of our trip. I thought we would 2, maybe 3 weeks. And now we are moving into week 4. But I am so close to Boulder, Colorado, I must stop off and visit with my favorite artist, and AMAZING great friend, Linda Israel. It was a short visit, but a great visit. In the most beautiful spot in Grand Lakes, Colorado. Her friend came by with her bulldog, and we all rode to a nearby gallery that was caring Linda’s art!
Left Linda’s, heading towards Montana when we got lost out in a Wildlife Refuge. There is only the one clay road we ended up on following a caravan of folks, that seems like they all following GPS going crazy.
We keep driving and driving into the wilderness and she is getting worried she is going to get the van stuck in very slippery wet, clay. The smartphones don’t seem very smart out here in the wild. After almost getting stuck, Kim insists that I drive. We stop the van to change drivers. All hurried and frustrated from being lost. Then we just stand there and looked around in the silence and realize just how beautiful it is out here. We snapped some photos and took in the moment of majesty … then jump back into the van and try to find our way out of paradise. Things happen for a reason!
We finally get back on track on a “real” highway heading towards Casper, Wyoming and I spot this hoop in a parking lot.
Not too far down the road, we spot a PINK Town Car parked in front of hoop with metal grid. I yell to my driver, “Stop the car“. We meet Donna, who owned the hoop, she is originally from Everett, Washington (small world). She calls this place “God’s country”. Her husband built hoop for son in 1977 for their son. They owned the grocery next door, but sold it. The women show worked at the grocery store own the Pink Town Car. She is delightful and we have a long chat about life and “God’s country“.
A bit down this deserted highway, in Laramie, Wyoming, I spot another hoop attached to a red metal building. We stop and shoot that hoop, have a nice conversation with the owners.
A couple of miles from that, was a hoop attached to a telephone, with a swing set in the sunset. Well, yes, we have to stop for that one! Jim and his wife had a small farm there, raising all kinds of farm animals. They introduced us to all of them … and lots of baby animals. An amazing setting, with amazing folks.
We decide to try to make to to Casper. That was a long drive on a deserted highway with so many deer on the side of the road. Kim’s eyes are fried, but mine aren’t much better. I drive and she keeps an eye out for animals on the road. I think that was the longest drive we ever had at night. We finally made it without hurting any wild life, what a relief.
