Gods Country… I’ll be back!
I had only been running for a little over an hour that morning when I ran into a small picturesque town called Rico. A Marshall’s car was parked at the entrance to the town, so I stopped to ask where I could get breakfast.
” You might try the Argentine Grill over there but I am not sure if they are opened for the season yet. ”
” Thanks! So what’s the difference between a marshall, a police officer and a sheriff? ” I asked.
” Well a marshall is for a small community of under 2,500 population, a police officer is for above that which is considered a city and a sheriff is for the county ”
” And am I right in saying that there is only one sheriff per county? ”
” Correct and though it says ‘ sheriff ‘ on their vehicle more than likely it will be a deputy driving it. ”
” And then there is the State Patrol which is self explanatory. ” I said and then added.
” So are you guys allowed to chase a suspect over a state line? ”
” Yes it’s called hot pursuit. ”
I went over to the Argentine Grill which looked like a nice homely lodge with a restaurant attached.
I went inside and called out loud in the reception area. No reply. Just as I was turning to go a man came out and told me they were not open for the season. So he followed me outside, saw the Irish flag on Nirvana and said.
” I was born in Co. Mayo but moved to Manchester with my family when was four. ”
He told me his name is Eamonn O’ Hara and he and his wife Lynda came over to the USA as an illegal resident about 25 years ago. They were both lucky to get an amnesty qualifying just a couple of months before the amnesty cut-off.
We stood on his door step talking for about ten minutes and then Eamonn said he would like to help me by giving me a room for the night. He offered to pick me up on the road later and commute me back the next morning.
I had a wonderful day and as I didn’t have to push Nirvana I managed to run 56km of mostly downhill running.
Later that evening Eamonn and Lynda cooked a delicious chicken pasta meal. Eamonn told me the marshall called over to take my photograph after I left this morning!
” Did you tell him to come over in the morning? “ I asked.
” We did. “ Said Lynda.
” But he only works here for two days a week and wont be back in the morning. ”
They told me they have a friend called Felix who after a car accident was confined to a wheelchair. I asked them to phone Felix and ask him to come over. Felix is an incredible positive person. Instead of sitting around feeling sorry for himself he embraced the outdoor life and learned to ski among other things.
Felix told me that this area of Colorado, the San Juan’s is the most mountainous area of Colorado with the highest average altitude.
” Tony you know in Colorado there are 54 peaks of over 14,000 feet… And how many do you think are over 13,000 feet? 650! ”
Eamonn makes a call to his vegetable supplier who lives near Cortez in the south-west corner of Colorado. I will be running through there tomorrow and soon it is arranged for Chuck to pick me up on route 160 west around 6pm.
So no surprises for guessing that Chuck and his wife Rose have prepared a massive organic salad for dinner.
Am getting close to the Arizona state line now. The climate is getting drier and drier by the day. It’s becoming more desert like.
I run another good day covering almost 55km/ 34 miles even though my legs still have the mountains in them.
” You might try the Argentine Grill over there but I am not sure if they are opened for the season yet. ”
” Thanks! So what’s the difference between a marshall, a police officer and a sheriff? ” I asked.
” Well a marshall is for a small community of under 2,500 population, a police officer is for above that which is considered a city and a sheriff is for the county ”
” And am I right in saying that there is only one sheriff per county? ”
” Correct and though it says ‘ sheriff ‘ on their vehicle more than likely it will be a deputy driving it. ”
” And then there is the State Patrol which is self explanatory. ” I said and then added.
” So are you guys allowed to chase a suspect over a state line? ”
” Yes it’s called hot pursuit. ”
I went over to the Argentine Grill which looked like a nice homely lodge with a restaurant attached.
I went inside and called out loud in the reception area. No reply. Just as I was turning to go a man came out and told me they were not open for the season. So he followed me outside, saw the Irish flag on Nirvana and said.
” I was born in Co. Mayo but moved to Manchester with my family when was four. ”
He told me his name is Eamonn O’ Hara and he and his wife Lynda came over to the USA as an illegal resident about 25 years ago. They were both lucky to get an amnesty qualifying just a couple of months before the amnesty cut-off.
We stood on his door step talking for about ten minutes and then Eamonn said he would like to help me by giving me a room for the night. He offered to pick me up on the road later and commute me back the next morning.
I had a wonderful day and as I didn’t have to push Nirvana I managed to run 56km of mostly downhill running.
Later that evening Eamonn and Lynda cooked a delicious chicken pasta meal. Eamonn told me the marshall called over to take my photograph after I left this morning!
” Did you tell him to come over in the morning? “ I asked.
” We did. “ Said Lynda.
” But he only works here for two days a week and wont be back in the morning. ”
They told me they have a friend called Felix who after a car accident was confined to a wheelchair. I asked them to phone Felix and ask him to come over. Felix is an incredible positive person. Instead of sitting around feeling sorry for himself he embraced the outdoor life and learned to ski among other things.
Felix told me that this area of Colorado, the San Juan’s is the most mountainous area of Colorado with the highest average altitude.
” Tony you know in Colorado there are 54 peaks of over 14,000 feet… And how many do you think are over 13,000 feet? 650! ”
Eamonn makes a call to his vegetable supplier who lives near Cortez in the south-west corner of Colorado. I will be running through there tomorrow and soon it is arranged for Chuck to pick me up on route 160 west around 6pm.
So no surprises for guessing that Chuck and his wife Rose have prepared a massive organic salad for dinner.
Am getting close to the Arizona state line now. The climate is getting drier and drier by the day. It’s becoming more desert like.
I run another good day covering almost 55km/ 34 miles even though my legs still have the mountains in them.
Services are fewer and fewer. I am stopped on the road by a man called Paul and his son Michael. They live in New Mexico and are returning home from a few days fishing.
Paul says. ” I heard a story about you in Nebraska! “
I am thinking ‘ Oh No! The ghost of Redneck from Rage County!’ (See that blog posting from a couple of months back.
It turns out his sister was the lady that bought me my breakfast in Down Home Cafe in a small town called Frankiln.
” And didn’t the dentist book you into the local motel there? “
” Sure did! Your sister and Bob the dentist were very kind. “
It turned out that Paul’s sister phoned her brother to say I was in his area and to watch out for me. The lads stocked me up with energy drinks, cheese, cookies and food.
That night I run to the state line and camp just before crossing for my last night in beautiful Colorado. It has been a great month here. I have discovered my previous home state like I never knew it before. It’s been a blast. Next time I return I will have run all the way around the world.
I will be back… That’s for sure. One day I will return to Gods Country.
I will be back… That’s for sure. One day I will return to Gods Country.
May 4th, 2011 at 11:20 am
Another great read Tony, you certainly got all you expected and more in Colorado. Glad the experience lived up to your hopes and dreams