Santa Fe, NM
It was snowing when I woke up in Basalt, CO. I had breakfast and packed up and the snow had stopped by 9:30am – I headed out.
The Hoffmann is one of Hilton’s Tapestry Collection. It’s a bit fancier than the Hampton Inn and Tru properties – real glasses instead of paper cups in the room for example. The fireplace is interesting, and I like the earthy colors of the furniture and the pottery plates and mugs in the restaurant. BUT, the artificial flowers have to go! Not a fan. Come on, Hilton – you’ve taken such care to make this a beautiful spot with nice views of the water; why the fake flowers and plants? The coffee table in front of the fireplace is a piece of petrified wood, and on top is an artificial orchid. It looks so out of place in this hotel that is close to skiing, rafting, and other outdoorsy things.
I drove out of Basalt along I-70, but knowing I would get off this road well before Denver. The beautiful Eagle River runs next to the highway and I can see how it makes a good spot for rafting. I drove through a long tunnel right through the mountain (how did they build that??) right into sleet. I left I-70 and got on a 2-lane road up towards Leadville, and the sleet turned to snow. It was thick and slushy. The temperature was 23o.
Thank you, Amazon Prime truck, for leading me through this snow today. At one point, the road had not been plowed yet and I just followed in the truck’s tracks. I’ll be honest, this was pretty scary. The wipers basically just move the snow around on the windshield.
John and I lived in Bristol, TN for about 18 months in the late 70s. It snowed there, and I remember being advised to use the gas and brake pedals like I’m stepping on egg shells and trying not to break them. So that’s how I drove through this snow.
I pulled over in Leadville, and the snow let up. I was able to easily drive towards New Mexico with a few more miles of sleet along the way. I turned the music way down as I drove, and just as I crossed the continental divide, my favorite Dolly Parton song came on: “There Was Jesus.” Please give it a listen.
This drive was really frightening, and of course I should have waited a day or two to leave Basalt. The snow is going to freeze tonight, so I know that would have been even riskier.
As I drove down out of the Rocky Mountains, the temperature rose to 40o. I had a phone call from Richie and from Benjamin, who was alarmed I had driven through that weather (“Mom, you have summer tires!”). My car is a mess from slush and salt. Time for another wash tomorrow; I sure don’t want my car to get what John called “yankee cancer” (rust).
A favorite new song: “Rocky Mountain Low” by Corey Kent and Koe Wetzel.
Also, I’m so enjoying this re-read of Jane Eyre on audio. I love Brontë’s description of Blanche Ingram, who Jane thought would marry Mr. Rochester: “Never offered, nor had, an opinion of her own” and had a “barren heart and mind, where nothing bloomed spontaneously.” That description reminds me of people who are not curious about anything (Carolyn and I have talked about this) – we all probably know someone like that – present company excepted!
Today was my longest drive time on my return trip (I hope) – 7 hours. I got to Santa Fe around 5:30, settled in my room in this new Hampton Inn, and had a delicious supper at Tortilla Flats just down the road. On to Amarillo, TX tomorrow.
Snowy book recommendation: One by One by Ruth Ware.
Kelly's SC to CA Road Trip and Reflections 