Absolutely positively the trip that wasn’t...

The plan was to be writing this in the ninety-plus degree heat of Palm Springs, CA but COVID put a nix on that. We had reservations at the Palm Springs KOA but the message from them was that while most everything was open (pool, amenities, etc.) mask-wearing was 50-50 at best and they told us that we’d be coming “at your own risk.” Digging a little deeper on the internet showed that the positivity rate for the Palm Springs area is running anywhere from two to three times the rate of metro Denver which, if you have been paying attention, you know is increasing to levels not seen since early summer. 

So we decided that the prudent thing at this point was to stay put. I hate being prudent. 

Like most of you I’m getting really, really tired of COVID yet there doesn’t appear to be any end in sight. I feel for whoever happens to be President in 2021 because it appears that no one on this blue ball called Earth truly has the answer to our pandemic woes, least of all whichever candidate you cast your ballot for. I perhaps feel most for Mr. Biden who at least seems willing to pay some heed to the medical community but then I wonder why, for goodness sake, he even wants the job given the seemingly insurmountable issues we will face in the next 12-18 months. 

So instead of heading west towards California I was able to talk my better half into taking a day jaunt to the Pawnee National Grasslands to see the Pawnee Buttes. Palm Springs it is not, but this quiet expanse of prairie located about two hours northeast of Denver does offer majestic views and some great hiking. We were there on a weekday and had it almost to ourselves with just a handful of cars in the parking lot and not a single soul on the trails we took. The drive to get there is somewhat convoluted but we were determined. I had not been to the Grasslands before even though I’ve lived in Colorado since 1971 so shame on me. My only excuse is that like many of you when I head out of Denver I usually head uphill instead of out onto the open plains east of town. Anyway, we were happy we made the effort to get to this remote part of Colorado. Here’s a sample of what there is to see if you ever decide to do the prudent (there’s that word again) thing and venture somewhere less traveled....