Jaci Dawn

Cutting across the sagebrush flatlands out of Delta, Utah, we saw a couple strange contraptions. There was a solar panel and a long flat bed of what appeared to be rusty metal out in front of the solar panels. While we pondered what they might be, we began to realize there was a pattern to them. Not only a pattern, but a whole lot of solar panels and beds, neatly arranged in a grid across the desert and all aimed the same direction.

Terry suggested they might be searching for aliens.We had no idea how close to the truth he was: they are “Cosmic Ray Collectors” and they cost the taxpayer (that’s you and me) $17,000,000.00. Roughly speaking.

We should have stopped and taken pictures, but since we didn’t, you’ll have to follow a couple links Terry found when he tried to look the contraptions up. I especially encourage you to read The Desert Survivor’s blog on the Cosmic Ray Collectors. I think she’s a lot more lucid than the other link – and a whole lot funnier.

I wish we’d have taken photos.

We should have taken photos of Scipio. There are some pretty cool old buildings in Scipio.  To be fair, Terry offered to stop in Scipio, but I didn’t realize then how much I would regret not getting photos. And we had a long day’s drive ahead of us.

We didn’t stop to take photos until somewhere out beyond Green River, where the country changes abruptly to sandstone, sedimentary and metamorphic rock formations. Breath taking.

There are several scenic pull-outs along I-70 (still Route 50).

Photos can’t do the country justice. The grades were steep, the hill country layered in green-gray-white-pink with occasional strips of coal embedded in the rock. There were “Frequent Deer and Elk” crossings (no Major Deer, only Frequent ones) (we saw no Frequent deer and only one Frequent elk – and it was quite dead).

“HALP!”

Seriously, I can’t take him anywhere.

It was a long day of driving up-up-up and over mountain passes. We made Grand Junction, Colorado after dark. The weather was still holding for us despite some threatening clouds earlier in the day. My son wasn’t so fortunate in Colorado Springs: they had freezing rain and icy roads.  Which is why Terry and I decided to back-track a little on Monday morning, to allow Colorado Springs to thaw out.

Tomorrow: strange chicken tales.

Don’t worry, I’ll get to Bigfoot.

And dinosaurs.

And grandbabies.