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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