Extreme West: Journey to Pueblo

These landscapes were just.... huge.

Arkansas was a bit more familiar; generally flat, very green, lots of trees and rivers. There was a dramatic thunderstorm, but nothing out of the ordinary for summer. But when we hit Oklahoma, things started to look a bit more... unfamiliar.

Oklahoma

God's country. See God's laser eyes?

Loved seeing this rainbow in Oklahoma the day after the Orlando attack.

Love wins. Or it will, eventually.

Caught a glimpse of Oklahoma City.

The wildflowers were my favorite thing about Oklahoma, but my second was this sunset. 

We slept in Elk City, Oklahoma that night, in a pet-friendly Clarion Inn. By the way, the cats would like to put in that they are really glad we're no longer traveling.

I was all curiosity for Texas, which I've never seen before (if you don't count the inside of the Houston airport, once).

It did not disappoint!

We listened to Bey's Daddy Lessons while driving through Texas, which seemed appropriate. Give it a listen if you haven't heard it (and if you haven't watched Lemonade yet, I mean... why?? Get going!!).

Just when we were getting tired of the endless plains, suddenly...

Slowly we began to climb. At one point in New Mexico, our elevation was over 7000 feet. The land began to sprout mesas and scrubby cacti. Astonishing, for an east coaster like me.

At the end of our time in New Mexico, we hit a tornado warning and a really vicious storm. There was no where, nothing, in which we could take shelter. We just prayed, and kept driving. And at the other end of the lightening and hail and wind and rain and green light, we suddenly were plunged back into sunshine.. and we saw the Rockies for the first time.  

We saw some majestic (and greener) landscapes as we descended to the mere 4,692 feet above sea level of Pueblo.

As we approached Pueblo, Miles had a moment to recognize we were almost at journey's end. 

And seemingly the moment after we entered Pueblo..

We were home.

Corey and Tim helped us empty the truck and get ourselves started, before they headed off on their own vacation. And then, it was time to make ourselves at home.

I can tell you at nearly a week in, we're off to a good start in that department.