Roadtrip Story (SC to ID, for fire season 2022)

[Bo Zarts]

A story from my drive out here (Idaho) from South Carolina that had almost slipped my mind. It was an incident on the longest, most grueling day of the 2700 mile trip .. the Grand Junction, Colorado, to Pocatello, Idaho, leg.

So this would have been Tuesday, June 14 .. the same day as my "Flag Day" photo from southwest Wyoming (see it in the Photography Forum). I had departed Grand Junction early on I-70W, and almost immediately headed up 139 (2-lane) to Rangely, Colorado.

I crossed the Douglas Pass (8268'), and started down the winding road. Very light traffic, and beautiful vistas. As the terrain leveled, and the road entered agricultural land, I got behind an 18-wheel, non-hazmat tanker truck.

I drive the speed limit, or slower. The 18-wheeler was running at a comfy speed for me, and there were no vehicles behind me. So I dropped back so that the tanker truck driver would not feel pressure to let me pass.

After a little dip and rise on a slight curve, I caught sight of a couple of on-coming cars .. at least a half mile away. The straight-away that I was entering, behind the tanker, was a bit cramped by sage and banks up to the range. I was not too close to the tanker, but it did obstruct my view of what was ahead of us on the roadway.

The tanker was gradually slowing, I realized .. no brake lights yet. Then brake lights, and I could see that the two on-coming cars were stopped. There was something in the roadway ahead that I could not see.

The two on-coming cars finally moved forward, slowly .. passed us .. then accelerated. The tanker then moved over into the oncoming lane, which allowed me a view of what was obstructing the highway.

Two big bulls fighting. In the northbound lane of CO-139. Horns to horns. Huffing and puffing. Hoof-pawing the asphalt. Blood and hair everywhere. Damndest thing I saw on this trip (but I've seen weirder things on other road trips).

BTW: How did I know they were bulls? Well let me describe in detail their ...

[Enter stage left]

1. looking forward to more photos...

good to hear from you!

[Bo Zarts]

2. Coming soon ..

[Ocelot II]

3. Were you able to photograph the event?

And were these bulls of the cow ilk, Bos taurus, or bison?

[Bo Zarts]

4. Sorry .. no photos. Should have used my iPhone.*

Bos taurus, I assume .. not bison.

*I'm in a beta program - SafePilot (ironically) - that gives me up to a 30% savings on my car insurance (USAA). That is based on, mainly, phone use (handling and hands-free calling) while driving .. and harsh braking (go figure). But I don't touch my phone unless the truck is stopped, brake set, and - usually - engine off. That cramps the quick-shoot photos. But I am sitting at a 99% driving score and a full 30% discount on my upcoming auto insurance bill!

[2naSalit]

5. I know that route!

Took it about eight years ago. I can imagine the sight, it's open range out there.

I hope you are in your summer digs or nearly there. If you were in Pocatello a week ago, you should be up in the wild country by now.

I hope you have a great summer and wonderful views!