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June 8th---Thornton to Cedar City

 


Here it was Sunday, and I’d lost track of the days. Remembering the dates, but the actual days—days of driving and entering other time zones. Running twice a day for the past three of the four days on the road. One would think it might be helpful in clearing my mind. However, the distraction of the world and our country’s events weighed heavy. Again, the uncertainty of it all now sat beside me. The ungrateful have arrived into the ruling fray of some form of freedom I had known. The freedom of less oppression aimed at minorities and women is still the fight and it’s battle lines have increased. We’re being sent back to the plow.

As I awoke, I knew I wanted to get a solid set of running mileage in before driving nearly 600 miles to Cedar City. With stops it’d be about nine hours on the road. Soon enough, I’d arrived at the light just 250 meters away from the hotel, I waited for the ‘okay’ signal to cross. I knew I wanted to explore more of the park, the bike path on the outskirts of the park was a gentle roll—it was more familiar from the year before. I realized I’d have to cut the run a bit short, because who knew what lie ahead.

The construction that had dotted the drive could follow me across the country, I figured. I decided to have another double run day, so I ran a bit over five miles. After cleaning up, checking out, I had to get gas and more ice. I got on the road just before eight that morning.

The drive through the remainder of Colorado was picturesque. Driving through to cool mountain ski valleys—for a moment or two was a tranquil distraction. That cool green forest of evergreens waved me inward.  It was those ‘oooh’ and ‘ahhhh’ moments every few seconds. Glancing to the left, there still appeared the availability of snow enough for one last downhill run or a day of downhill skiing. The snow would be that mashed potato soft stuff you may have to work through. However, you could venture to wear shorts and a T-shirt while downhill skiing in fifty-four or even sixty-two-degree weather. Trust me, your skin will have the ability to turn red or get a tan, depending on who you were.

The tempting feeling of stopping in the small downtown areas surrounding Vail, Colorado were felt. However, I knew what time I wanted to arrive in Utah. I’d take extra time there, instead of perhaps getting lost in Vail. Anticipation of staying in Utah a couple of extra days and exploring Cedar City via foot was my built in intention. Driving an extra 50 miles in Colorado was not in the plan, I’d carefully constructed for this trip.

Before I knew it, I was in Utah and the speed limit increased to 80 mph. As I drove near or at the speed limit in the far-right hand lane, vehicles of all sorts whizzed past as if I were standing still. The cool sixty-degree Colorado mountain temperatures fell by the wayside; the arid climate of Utah made 80 degrees feel like 67 degrees. I was a tad chilled in the Colorado mountain area with the driver’s side window rolled down, yet the cool thin air was a welcome.

As I reached Cedar City, it was still afternoon. I’d made good timing, and felt ready to settle in, then take another run. The back door of the hotel faced east towards Iron Mountain, and Hurricane Cliffs areas. The front of the hotel faced The Black Mountain Range. On both sides of the hotel east and west, new dwellings have been built. Some duplex and then single-family homes and a handful of private drives where near mansions have been built in the past few years. They meld into the landscape. On the west side looking out towards the Black Mountain Range there’d been new construction beginning 2023-2024 when I was there in June of 2024, much of its foundation for new housing was just arriving. Tomorrow, I’d go for a longer run than I would’ve this night and check out the construction across Old 91, passed the shopping areas and up the hilly terrain that beckoned one’s view to desire to hike the far off mountains in the distance.---Jody-Lynn Reicher

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