Happy news! Stella’s malady was a $160 problem that was fixed within a couple of hours so it wasn’t long before Colorado was history and Utah became a reality.
When we first bought Stella she did not have the capacity to stay cool under heated conditions, so we made reparations. Jaunting along at 75 miles an hour in 100 degree weather Stella refreshes us and runs along like a fine tuned Swiss watch. I can see why VW Eurovans invite such a loyal following.
Little did we know that Salt Lake City, which boasts a 50% Mormon population, was in the throes of Pioneer Days. The celebrations, which include fireworks, music, markets and a parade, commemorate pioneering history here in Utah. A local TV station broadcasted the colourful life of Brigham Young in an hour long special and so we have learned a few things since our arrival. The parade ran from 9-12 noon but we only stayed for 90 minute
s as my shoes were beginning to melt to the pavement. The floats reminded me of my childhood parade-watching days in Kelowna and the Americans certainly know how to do marching bands.
Then off we headed for Boise, Idaho, a 6 hour drive northwest. The terrain would have looked lunar at any time of the year. As a matter of fact, a State park just northeast of one of our junctions is appropriately called Craters of the Moon. We visited there when our kids were young so didn’t see a reason to return.
Gord spotted a pillar of cloud on the horizon as we approached a knoll, which we concluded was a brush fire. Fire risk is high around these parts right now and we will be glad to rest our eyes on the lushness of the coast. We can almost smell the salt air.
