Da coat da soothe in South Dakota

US 17: South Dakota

Crossing into South Dakota I made good progress across the Badlands, which were nice and flat.

Then I made my way up into the Black Hills for lunch at Hot Springs. It was nice to relax after a long morning's running, and good to put my paws up for a while.

I passed Mt. Rushmore, and it was good to see all those president dudes from time gone by; maybe the greenygrey will be immortalised in such a way one day...only time will tell!

Then I passed through Deadwood, Sturgis and Spearfish on my way down to the prairie.

As I passed Buffalo and Bison I got into a tangle with some buffalo and bison, but my greenygrey coat kept me out of harm's way, and soothed any knocks.

I made it up to McIntosh by sundown, and camped on the border with North Dakota for the night.

Nay bras here in Nebraska

US 16: Nebraska

Crossing into Nebraska I preferred to stay to the west of the state, preferring the dry arid conditions to the more humid ones I felt coming from the east.

Like Kansas, Nebraska is in tornado alley so I kept an eye out for them again; didn't see any, so thankful for that.

After taking lunch on the North Platte river I headed into the Wildcat Hills, but didn't see any wildcats about; saw some hills though!

I kept travelling through the Great Plains all afternoon, and camped on the border with South Dakota.

There had been no great events in Nebraska, and maybe that's the way it is there; just quiet living, and good travelling.

Can suss in Kansas

US 15: Kansas

Crossing into Kansas I became apprehensive; having seen the Wizard of Oz several times I knew there was danger in this state.

After crossing the Red Hills I dodged Dodge City, as I've also seen Tombstone; I know Wyatt Earp's supposed to have cleaned it up, but you never know!

I reached the Smoky River for lunch, and had some delicious smoked red hot chili peppers under the bridge; I'd earlier picked them in the Red Hills.

I made my way into the Smoky Hills afterwards, and was going to head west, but after seeing a twister approaching in the distance I sussed out that I should head east.

So I changed direction, and an hour later I saw the tornado pass to the east.

The hills were beautiful, and I slept well knowing I'd escaped danger and been able to see some beautiful scenery.

Ok la homa in Oklahoma

U.S.A 14: Oklahoma

Crossing into Oklahoma via the Wichita Mountains I made good progress during the morning, and got up to the Canadian River for what I think is commonly termed a brunch.

Being near the Canadian River brought back memories of the early stages of my epic journey, and I revelled in my nostalgia for an hour or two.

I got so into my Canadian memories that I jumped in the river after lunch, and swam northwards for as long as possible.

After getting back on land I ran up to Buffalo. I was trying to avoid people if possible, but this friendly person who seemed a little insecure shouted out to me 'Whaddaya you think of mi homa?'

I don't know why they asked, as their home seemed fine, so I answered 'Ok la homa'.

They seemed really pleased at this, and bade me farewell after wishing me a safe journey.

I continued up to the Kansas border, and had a great sleep knowing I'd done a good deed for the day.

Tech us in Texas

US 13: Texas

To get to Texas from Colorado I first had to travel through New Mexico again, which was quite enjoyable anyway.

I reached Texas in time for a bit of brekkie, and then started making my way eastwards across the plains and prairies.

I was just getting into my stride the other side of Amarillo when I saw a big cattle drive ahead. I knew I was in trouble, as it stretched across the horizon, and there didn't seem any way around it even for a mythical legend like me.

So, I just kept going until reaching the outer edge of the drive. A cowboy called me over and said 'Are you the ones who've been interfering with our communications?'

I think he must have been seeing double or something, or maybe it was my greenygrey coat that confused him, but I just ignored that and said 'Tech us; I think you've got the wrong werewolves, we didn't even know you cowboys had gone hi-tech!'

He seemed happy with that and waved us, I mean me, on.

There were no more interruptions, and we, I mean I, made it over to the Red River just above Wichita by nightfall.

Yes, it'd been an eventful day in the big country, but I was looking forward to a calmer passage through Oklahoma the next day.

Colour radio in Colorado

U.S.A 12: Colorado

I crossed into Colorado but stayed in the Sangre de Cristo mountains, enjoying the sunshine that fell abundantly down on my greenygrey coat.

Climbing higher and higher I made my way along the eastern ridges of the Rocky Mountains and up to Mount Elbert, the highest point in the Rockies. I was so enraptured with the view that I wrote a poem about my ascent over lunch. It is included at the bottom of this post.

After lunch I made my way to the Colorado River, and followed it towards Denver. I popped into Denver for a bit of window shopping, and saw a lovely radio; maybe it was its greenygrey colour, but I just took an instant liking to it.

I left there in the late afternoon and made the short journey to Greeley, which I think is a very nice name, being quite close to Greeny. Needless to say, I didn't want to leave there quickly, and ended up staying there the night: Greeny in Greeley, ha!

Mountain Mirror: Ascent and Descent

Terra firma, gazing to the skies.
Before us,
a mountain of majesty, standing so proud.
Ascending, the narrow path leaves little room.
Onwards and upwards, we see the valley disappear below,
lime and tan replaced by ebony and ivory.
Through clouds, ice and snow we climb.
As it steepens, sheer cliffs we navigate;
the peak is within a stone's throw.

On the summit; freezing but ecstatic, on top of the world.

We leave the peak with reluctant hearts;
with careful steps, sheer cliffs we navigate.
Through clouds, ice and snow we climb;
ebony and ivory replaced by lime and tan.
Onwards and downwards, we see the summit disappear above,
Descending, the narrow path leaves little room.
Behind us,
a mountain of majesty, standing so proud.
Terra firma, gazing to the skies.

New mixing in New Mexico

U.S.A 11: New Mexico

I stored up on water before crossing into New Mexico, as it is a notoriously dry state.

In the morning I made good progress across ochre deserts, heading east below the Zuni mountains. There was a fierce sun high in the cloudless sky, so the water I'd stored came in handy and I paced my intake to last until late morning; I mixed it up with some cactus juice, a mix I hadn't tried before.

An hour later I reached the Rio Grande, and ate lunch by the riverside. After a post-lunch sunbathe and swim I left just before some cattle ranchers arrived on a drive; I'd seen a cloud of dust in the distance, and guessed what was causing it.

I reached the Sangre de Cristo Mountains by late afternoon, and enjoyed running along the snowy peaks after spending the morning in high temperatures. I was well cooled-off, and felt a lot better for it.

I reached the Navajo Reservoir by nightfall and spent a relaxing night there.

Colorado was just over the border; the only Four Corner state I had yet to visit.

I hoped to put that right the next day.