3-26-2016 RIFLE, CO

The morning greeted us with three inches of snow piled up on the truck, roofs and ground!  And it was still coming down!  With more than 350 miles to drive this day, it seemed important to get packed up, loaded, grab a quick breakfast provided by the innkeepers and head for the highway.  I thought maybe we could outrun the unexpected snowy monster.  This was not to be!  When we left the hotel, it was 28F.  The intensity of the blizzard increased, the temp dropped to 24F, we climbed and my passenger gripped the “Help me handle” while I drove.  There were about three passes to navigate through the mountains of Fishlake National Forest, the blizzard reduced visibility to near zero and the only pavement to be seen were the two paths that tires make, at times.  It was safest to put the BFT’s tires in the tracks of a semi ahead and stay put, steady as she goes. 

About two hours into our trip patches of blue sky began to peek through the snow clouds and we knew we were through the worst of it.  Eventually, the skies were blue with white fluffy clouds here and there as we traveled through canyons flanked on either side by tall, red, stunning, rugged towers of rock. 

Each time we rounded a bend, another incredible vista caused a gasp, “Oh My God!”  And just when I thought that was the most beautiful I had seen, we’d round another bend and gasp even louder, “Oh My Holy Buckets God!”

The shocking in-your-face red canyons and towers of Utah gave way to wide open spaces and rolling hills where elk, range cattle, deer and the canteloupe play.  On the horizon to the south, more bright red canyons and sharp escarpments.  On the horizon ahead, snowcaps.  I believe we are facing the Rockies.  Oh mercy Percy.

From the hotel room where we are now established, the BFT sits in the parking lot looking very, very dirty!  Nothing like a dirty truck to mark time, date and experiences.  Rifle, Colorado is the current stop.  Everybody has a bucket list, right?  On mine (seriously) is, “Eat at Shooter’s Grill in Rifle, Colorado.”  One time while channel surfing we tuned into a show called, “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.”  The show featured Shooter’s Grill.  The theme at this diner centers around the Second Amendment:  We The People’s right to keep and bear arms. 

Lauren

The staff and waiters wear holstered and loaded pistols.  On the walls, a variety of rifles and pistols can be seen on display as well as a lot of funny posters.  Our waitress, Lauren, was sporting a 9mm. 

I decided on a green chili burger and Rob thought that sounded so good he seconded that motion.

The board says, "PLEASE No Smoking
within a 15 ft. radius of all business
entryways, thank you kindly.
("a 15 ft. radius..." Really?)

  No alcoholic adult beverages are served at this establishment, understandably.  So after having a lot of fun eating delicious food and socializing with the armed natives, we crossed an item off of my bucket list and stepped outside where the old brick buildings bathed in the red and orange of the setting sun frame the narrow streets.  We found a saloon, “The Big Kids Corner Bar.”  In the Kraus family, the sibs were divided into “the big kids” and “the three little kids (Lin, Marlene and Larry).”  Turns out The Big Kids Corner Bar in Rifle, CO is OK with the oldest of the Three Little Kids stopping in for a quick brew, putting the wraps on an exciting day.