Still the road keeps on telling me to go on. . .

Do you ever go on trips and pass miles of scenery and wonder if anything Is out there?

Well, on the road between where we currently live and the towns we used to live in, there is a portion of the drive that is practically nothing. We have driven this part several times, but never actually saw what was beyond those fences.

Until now. . .

Yesterday before we left for home, my editors parents took us out and we explored this 'barren wasteland' that was around us. I had always wondered what out there, which, besides cows, cow waste, rocks, sand, mud, more rocks, the rare fossil, and sometimes petrified wood, there wasn't much. 

Every now and then a lizard would scurry across our path, and at one point we even saw a snake, with a full belly, swimming in one of the few pons scattered across the land. 

There was another large collection of water from one of the many thunderstorms which blessed us with its presence, which was rather peculiar. 

In the far corners of the pond, was a cow who had died, and had been there for quite some time. Besides the nauseating scent of death, the sight of her was. . . interesting. I couldn't really put the feeling I had into words, but it didn't set well in my stomach. It didn't help that I already had a stomach ache.

We walked up from the lake to a point where rainwater would flow off the above Mesa and merge down with the pond. Right around the area were thousands of pieces of quartz sandstone. I may or may have not stuffed mine and my editor's pockets with those sparkly rocks to take home. 

Once we returned to the vehicle, we drove up to the top of the mesa. Along the way, it was one hell off view. 

You can see the pond where the dead cow is. . . 

You can see the road we have to take home. . . 

A storm developing. You'll see it later.

Right around where we stopped for lunch

On the way down, we stopped and saw these tracks. At first, we all thought I had walked by since I wore those fancy toe shoes, but those are actually bear tracks.

Remember the storm I mentioned?

Around our second site, the ground was much softer. And redder.

Ok, so I have no idea what this is, but these little red bugs were everywhere. What are they?

We wandered around this second area for a long time, collecting any pieces of petrified wood that we could find. Once again, my pockets were getting full and the storm above us was starting to make me feel uneasy. It wasn't until we were almost back to our vehicle when we noticed a few owl nests.

The one I saw looked like it should be a super villain lair or the cave of a horrifying and deadly beast. But as soon as I saw this trail of tiny rodent bones I immediately perked up. Without thinking I, being the squeamish little person I am, started picking up these little bones and placing them in my bear hands. 

Next thing I knew I had a hand overflowing with little bones. A carefully as I could, I placed the collection in my right pocket. The left had a word down cow bone occupying it. My editor's mother called me over to another nest which had a lot more skulls. I was a little hesitant, but I still collected a few and placed them in my pocket.

I decided that these bones would be best if given to my sister who loves things like this. As of now, they are sitting in a jar on her bookshelf.

We left the site and returned to my editor's parents house so we could pack up and drive home. As we drove back through that area we were in that morning, I watched another thunderstorm that was far off to the east. We may not have seen a lot of fireworks, but the lightning show was a great send off none the less.

It's good to be home.