February 17
The road was dark at 6:00 A.M in Cedar City, Utah, as I drove toward St. George, an hour away. Luckily, traffic was light, and the weather was clear. When we reached the Cracker Barrel, we found organized chaos. One waiter was trying to manage the dining room, which was filling quickly. Saturday mornings are a popular time for local men to eat breakfast and chat in St. George. When these men have settled in and had their coffee, there is a consistent rhythm to their conversations from week to week, year to year.
As we were eating, a fire alarm kept ringing. The one waiter, doing an excellent job, assured everyone that it was due to smoke in the kitchen and not to worry. Then, the firemen showed up. They stayed around long, but I didn’t know what they were doing. On the way out, I passed two firemen, and I mentioned that they might as well stay for breakfast now that they were here. They didn’t seem amused and grunted a yeah.
And then it was onto Vegas, where more drama awaited us. Las Vegas is a busy place internally but is also the only viable throughway for travelers driving east to west and vice versa. How about closing a section of Highway 15 for road work on a holiday weekend? The plus side was that we drove along the strip and got an upfront and personal view of this adult Disneyland.
Was the drama over? Not really. The ride from Vegas was uneventful for many miles. We made it by Baker and Barstow without breaking down as we did a few years ago. We felt good until Cajon Pass, with cars and trucks catapulting downhill at 75-80 miles an hour. Then, there was heavy traffic to Escondido with its 7-mile construction zone.
We were tired when we made it to Del Mar and home. Pizza and beer brought relaxation, as did finding our house intact and falling into old routines that were familiar and comforting.
And so, another ski trip was over. Will there be another? I hope so, and we have put our reservation in for 2025. Until then, I will remember the magic of snow, cold temperatures, fast turns, and the fellowship of stout-hearted men and women.
Coming soon will be a new Hans Luden Adventure.
Welcome home! It always feels good (at least to me) to return home. By the way, a couple of months ago, on our way back from Colorado, we drove through St. George and Las Vegas and then on to Escondido and San Diego. It was the same horrible congestion due to construction. It took us FOREVER to get through those spots! Maddening! I'm looking forward to more Stories from the Road!! :) :)
Welcome home! Seems to have been a great trip.