Slowing Down to the Quiet Life

Days 31 & 32 Photo Album

October 3, 2009

Another day in the former lake. Cuba is in the bed of what was formerly a lake. Yesterday we were on the western mesa, Cuba Mesa. Today we went to the eastern mesa, Eureka Mesa.

The ground is interesting to me. In the forests we’ve been in, the earth is sandy. And sparkling, just like the ocean. Blondish colored most of the time. There are some areas of red earth, but it is mostly white sand.

It is wonderful to be here in this quiet town, just hanging around with my brother, doing the simple things in life.

As I travel around I am acutely aware of the essentials of what we need and how to satisfy those needs as simply as possible.

October 4, 2009

The day began a bit foggy and overcast. Wind is picking up. I’m slowing down. Just gathering some strength and not thinking about anything in particular.

I enjoy our trips out to the surrounding areas. Today we set out for Bluebird Mesa, just east of town.

The views from the top are spectacular. You can see all the way to Taylor Mountain which is more than 100 miles away. Beyond the valley where Cuba huddles are mesas as far as you can see. It is the way of the land in this part of the world: canyons forming, mesas like stepping stones across vast deserts, valleys holding small communities, and a lonely road stretching out into Indian reservations that few travel.

This edge of the world backs up against the beginning of (or end of) mountains to the north. It is at an elevation of over 6,000 feet with the mesas climbing up to over 9,000 feet. Somehow the idea that deserts are at high elevations seems contrary to preconceived notions. Many of the deserts I’ve been through are over 5,000 feet.

The aspen trees are always singing and dancing a song I love so much. Though not all trees are vibrant this year, enough are sparkling to create that golden aura of fall I remember from growing up in Leadville.