The Long Way Home.

[Edward Dean]

The long ride across Kansas, with its rolling flat-lands and mottled brown fields made Nanc and me feel we might never see another loaf of bread again but as the Colorado boarder loomed up on the horizon nature suddenly found the green again on her palette.

Pushing on to higher elevations the next day through Breckenridge and Copper Mountain, the spruce and maples showed no signs of distress and an array of blue mountain streams bolted rapidly down from the peaks; all’s well with the world we thought as the car climbed even higher through the rugged mountain passes of Estes.

Crossing into Wyoming our hopes were once again dashed when the scorched browns loomed across an unending skyline while herds of animals hid in the shade of gray and red granite cliffs.

The ‘big sky’ country of Montana where our necks labored vigorously from side to side, bravely fought back and the rich colored hues of North Dakota soon dispelled any sense of a looming disaster.

Minnesota and Wisconsin grew wild with shades of glinting green and gold that easily drank up the summer sun and the devils heat unceremoniously folded as we plied the vast shoreline across the Michigan Upper Peninsula with thick dark green fields and forests turning to an almost black.

To see firsthand the vast and varied amount of micro climates this country possesses is to understand and appreciate our anthem line, “from sea to shinning sea”.   

[Jeanette Cheezum]

Lovely 6.

[Jadie Jones]

I love this sentence: The ‘big sky’ country of Montana where our necks labored vigorously from side to side, bravely fought back and the rich colored hues of North Dakota soon dispelled any sense of a looming disaster. Very vivid six. Just a side note (and a personal taste thing) be careful not to overuse a word in a six. I saw "again" multiple times. It's just a personal thing, so take it or leave it. I catch myself using go-to words and am working to break myself of the habit.

[Kristine_ES]

this was beautiful, Ed, especially for someone who has never seen those micro climates and possibly never will. 

especially liked "the devils heat unceremoniously folded"

[Sandra Davies]

Long way indeed, especially compared to what we eventually achieved - just back home now sans a night's sleep and most of our well-laid plans distorted or substituted for a variety of good reasons.   Few photos but lots of good memories, as I'm sure you both have Ed.

[Mike Handley]

A dream vacation, as long as the AC's working and there's plenty of room on the camera's memory card. Color me envious.

[Gita]

yes beautiful I especially liked herds of animals hid in the shade of gray and red granite cliffs.

And yes, photos please!

[Teresa]

Beautiful imagery.  I'm still waiting to see pictures or better yet, video!!