Day 6: Over the Rockies

Waking up in the Mile High City slightly ‘high’ on the thin air, I began the day with what has now almost become a custom; in search of a hearty breakfast of rich soft-poached eggs, sitting on a slice of Canadian bacon feathered by an English muffin tucked up in a fluffy duvet of hollandaise sauce; eggs benedict. I’ve been addicted to these since I first tasted them at Brandy’s restaurant in a sleepy strip mall on the outskirts of Flagstaff, Arizona, in 2008. Ever since I can’t seem to survive without them. This morning I headed back to the restaurant I found the previous evening – The Delectable Egg. Though I thought the place was closed (for some odd reason the hostess seated everyone away from the window so from outside it looked empty – kinda the reverse of what you should do really!), nevertheless I pushed in the door and got seated to peruse the menu (as if there was a choice!). Delicious as always, I was set up for the day.

This day would be another tough slog on the road. I love driving the Fusion – American cars are such fun to drive because they usually have massive engines that are throaty and inefficient but comfortable to drive and a nice place to be in – but this was a long day ahead; about 8 hours of driving. My destination was Moab, Utah. I’d been here before to visit the Arches National Park and fell in love with the heat and the desert. This time I wanted to see more of the rich natural heritage outside this rather ugly town.

But before I left Denver, I headed north to Boulder, Colorado. I was told that this would be a spectacular place. Skeptical as always, I held my breath (of ridiculously thin air) and went about the journey. Arriving in the city it was like coming into a crisper and cooler version of Sedona, Arizona. This is a really pretty city which truly is “high in the Rockies”. Feeling my way thorough, I went up to Flagstaff Mountain. I’m constantly amazed how Americans are willing to build some of the finest roads in the world up into natural monuments, affording everyone equal access to is amazing wonders. You don’t get this in Ireland – there, national parks are sealed off and tailored for bus tours. Here, everyone’s welcome. Zig-zagging up the switchback curves, I came upon a phenomenal vista, right over the city. It was breathtaking (again with the air references!). After soaking up the view, I went back down to begin my mammoth journey westward.

As I began the trek over the Rocky Mountains, I passed the wealthy ski resorts which are waiting with a collective sense of eagerness for the snows of winter to arrive, along with the green of the tourist season – money. These places were remarkably pretty and surprisingly European. Obviously many planning consultations involved trips to Switzerland and Austria! On to the highways and through the awesome tunnels, the day warmed and cooled as I ascended and descended. My driving plan is to just hit the road and don’t stop. When I do want to stop however, it’s usually a no-nonsense pit stop – usually for coffee, not because I need a pick me up, I just like the taste of it. This time I pulled in to find the Starbucks advertised on the services sign on the highway. What I found was probably the prettiest and most picturesque shopping centre in the US – Glenwood Springs. After my Américano coffee was brewed though, I hit the trail again.

Long day over, and long story short, I finally made it to Moab. I checked into the cheapest motel I could find (one I’d actually sleep in I mean), had a shower, went for a slap up meal (though I tried sautéed spinach in a wry attempt at healthy eating) and went back to the room to watch, laugh and be enthused by Bill Clinton’s speech at the DNC in Charlotte. Then I hatched a plan…