Rippled Black Glass

"The true education of a probing mind occurs unexpectedly and in surroundings that could have been neither anticipated nor provided" - The Drifters

I'm sitting in library in Stirling, CO - Northeast corner of the state - I've been on a whirlwind of driving and camping...

Minnesota - I rented a kayak and canoed around in the boundary waters of northern Minnesota. I'm an ocean guy at heart but being in those boundary waters - floating in probably the cleanest water in the world stirs up euphoria unmatched to other experiences I've had. Not necessarily better then say being on top of a mountain...but on a different sort of standard. I want to explore so much more of this place. I'll come back with my own canoe and take two weeks to paddle and portage all the way up to Canada.

North Dakota - I burst into Fargo, ND in triumph as a entered my 47th state (for my life time). Oklahoma, Alaska, and Hawaii and the remaining states to take down. I see no reason to ever go back to North Dakota. Theodore Roosevelt national park was pretty much the same as Badlands NP of S. Dakota. It was HOT, dry, and miserable actually. I camped out in the flatlands amidst the sand towers and grass mesas that make up the badlands of the Dakotas. I was told I needed to pack out my poop and toilet paper despite the fact that buffalo get to crap all over the trail. Should I eat that mushroom neatly poking up from the buffalo stool? At all times I was at high alert for rattle snakes, black widow spiders, and prickly pear cactus. Upon seeing my first rattle snake on the 4 mile hike to my 'out of sight from the trail' campsite I jumped 3 feet in the air and high stepped speedily away. I needed to get out of North Dakota and quick.

South Dakota - I needed to get on top of a mountain. So I opted for the highest point east of the Rockies and West of the Pyrenees of Europe - Harney Peak in Custer State Park - 7,242 feet high. Custer State park is a gem - as far as rock formations go it should be a National Park. Its far better then the scorching badlands if you ask me. Purposefully I avoided Rushmore and Crazy Horse and hiked my first state high peak of the trip - though high points are always a zoo in their own way too - everyone wants to be up at the highest point.

Nebraska - "the good life..." Just drove through - too damn hot

Colorado - OFF to Rocky Mountain National Park!!