Day 31--Alamosa to Dodge City

Southeast Colorado

Today was a travel day. We left Alamosa this morning after breakfast and headed out Highway 160 toward Kansas. We made good time--perhaps it was because of the huge thunderhead behind us almost all the way! To say the least, each time we looked over our shoulders and saw it looming there looking rather ominous, we hurried a little more!

I'm in love with western highways. Those of you who know me well probably remember that I stay away from interstate highways every chance I get because I really don't like all that traffic. Out west, it has been like a breath of fresh air not to have so many cars on the road. Granted drivers get out of patience with slow pokes, but with so little traffic, it is pretty simple for them to just pass on by!

Windmill in field, southeast Colorado

Highway 160 today was quiet and peaceful. We took the "southern" route to Dodge City, rather than the one our GPS preferred. We went to Walsenburg and then down I-25 to Trinidad, where 160 headed east again. We stopped outside the small community of Kim for lunch. We ate in the car parked in an unused side road. While we sat there, at least four cars passed by! After lunch we went near Springfield, Colorado, and shortly afterwards crossed the border into Kansas. Continuing to follow 160, we drove through Ulysses until 160 turned south. We continued east on Highway 144 until it intersected with Highway 56, which took us into Dodge City.

Abandoned buildings, Comanche National Grasslands

We started out the day in San Luis Valley at around 6000+ feet, traveled over a mountain range and down into the valley, and finally ended up in the great plains. Mountains to foothills to plains--it was a dramatic change of scenery and environment in one day. Each was beautiful in its own way, even the areas around the Comanche National Grasslands, where we saw many abandoned buildings and very few signs of active life. Once in Kansas, the fields began to look rich and lush, the farms more prosperous.

Verbena growing by road

We arrived in Dodge City at our B&B, Boot Hill Bed and Breakfast, and were greeted by owner Kurt (his wife Enid was busy cooking). We have already enjoyed Enid's cookies, and we're looking forward to breakfast tomorrow! The home is on Boot Hill, right in the historic district. 

We had dinner tonight at Bella Italia. It was eccezionale! 

Smoky had been looking for this photograph for a while. Today was his lucky day!

Rural mail delivery

Tomorrow exploring the area is on the agenda.

--Shann