This was a non-riding day; I spent the day visiting relatives. Two cousins were visiting from Washington State who I had not seen for about 40 years. It was fun to catch up a little. If I can swing it, I will stop and see them on my trip after Alaska.
Friday night was a treat. I attended a musical, “Urinetown.” I know the name is a turnoff, but the show is dynamite. My daughter had planned to be in the show, had a part, but had to drop out for medical reasons. Nonetheless, it may be one of PHAMALy’s best ever, though it would be hard to top last years, “The Wiz,” or, “Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat.” PHAMALy is a company of actors who all have one or more disabilities. For the first few minutes of the show you see leg braces and other orthopedic appliances, physical deformities, wheel chairs, blind canes, and other manifestations. After another few minutes all those become props, costumes, and part of the stage business. All you see are the characters; emoting, performing, dancing, singing, and evoking a tremendous rapport with a riveted audience that is ready to explode into applause given the slightest cue. To learn more about this remarkable company of actors, directors, musicians, and technicians, click on http://www.phamaly.org.

Sorry, no pictures today, which brings up my philosophy of pictures of scenery. Unless there is something remarkable about some particular scenery, like the fourteeners I showed recently, or something unique, or it relates to a story I want to tell, I include limited photos of scenery. Occasionally, I will insert an, “ain’t that purdy,” but not often. I almost forced a photo op at the fuel stop here in Dubois, Wyoming. There was a giant jackalope with a saddle on it that you could sit on and take a photo for a buck. I was tempted, but my sense of decorum overruled. Be assured, I could have taken dozens of photos today as the scenery was spectacular. I cruised through the high plains of Wyoming some one to three thousand feet above the mile high city. The skies and wide open spaces were limitless. I hope to have some photos tomorrow as I am riding through Yellowstone National Park.
I am having trouble connecting to the Internet to add to the blog. Sometimes I connect without a hiccup. Other times, like Saturday night, I get a strong signal from the wireless service, but can’t acquire a network address. If I see a computer shop Monday, I will stop in and see if they can fix it.
Otherwise, for those interested; gas prices in Phoenix when I left were about $2.75. In Chama, New Mexico, I paid $3.38. Denver was $2.93, and in the remote outpost of Muddy Gap, WY $3.35.
Under the heading of missed photo ops:
…a hawk that flew across my path at eye level so close I could see its white neck, speckled breast, and brilliant, beady right eye.
…high plains, rolling hills calico’d with cloud shadows.