The Journey Begins

Today Gary moved the horses, we moved the car, which is loaded with most of our baggage.  We have been packing, repacking and weighing the bags and I think we are good to go.

The last 6 weeks have been more blizzard than good weather.  It is a lot like the winters here twenty years ago but with some modifications; twenty years ago the road wasn’t kept open so fewer people lived here and no one worked in Laramie.   Since then winters have been milder, more people have moved in and the ones who have lived here have… well gotten older.  Additionally since the road is plowed more winter tourists use the it without a second thought about getting stuck.  February… This is the month that tries one’s soul here.  Everything takes longer; the snow loses its beauty as you posthole through the crust and tweak ligaments and muscles.  Yesterday the road closed, the county won’t plow it until the wind stops.  We decided to try and get the car out by pulling it with the truck only to find a truck and trailer with snowmobiles jackknifed in a drift and abandoned.  The weather was dreadful and it looked like we would have to drive through the canyon to leave versus the mile and a half to our usual highway.  The wind-chill was below zero and we still had to move the horses, walking them as everyone’s horse trailers are buried.  It felt dismal.

But I have to reflect on how supportive friends have been; my last day at work the custodian stopped by with money ‘For Gary’ he said hurriedly before racing away, and a secretary dropped off more ‘for a great meal there’.  People at the shops downtown wished us well and I had to find a larger bag to carry all the school supplies donated.  The race has opened our eyes to how many caring people we know. And while Gary felt uncomfortable with people's interest initially, now he is grateful and amazed.  

Today two neighbors called, concerned about us getting the car out to go to Denver.  They offered to snowblow a corridor for us or to tow the car if that didn’t work.  Again, they wished us well and did the final check to make sure all the animals were cared for. 

Tonight the house is quiet; we are packed, we only need to drop the dog off tomorrow.  Tomorrow is Colorado then to the race.  Internet is sketchy in the canyon so I don’t know how much I can write there.  The race is March 2^nd and you can find info on the UltraCB.com page.  God willing we will be back with tales of our adventure and photos to share.  But thanks to all of you who have made Gary’s dream birthday happen.