When you first cross from Utah into Colorado, you don’t notice much difference but after criss-crossing the Colorado River several times, the countryside becomes greener. As you get futher into the state, it becomes positively lush and the mountains are covered in greenery. The properous town of Aspen, its airport lined with private jets, is about as lush as it gets. From there we drove up a narrow, somewhat hair-raising, pass right through the spectacular Rocky Mountains.

 

We stopped in the town of Leadville, where we had flat whites approximating what we’re used to in New Zealand, and then made our slow way into Denver in heavy traffic which was wending its way into the city after the Independence Day weekend. We stayed with good friends and it was a delight to catch up with them in their lovely Littleton house and garden. We didn’t venture downtown because of the heat. Instead we walked some of the tracks in a state park in the foothills of the Rockies, where the temperature was pleasant and the views majestic. We loved seeing the deer, squirrels and marmots feeding, seemingly unperturbed by our presence.

The driving part of our US leg was over and we returned the Jeep at the Denver airport. Jim managed driving on the right very well but we are headed for New York City where driving, at least for these Kiwis, is out of the question!