I’ve done a fair bit of traveling throughout the U.S., but I’ve largely stuck to the coasts and avoided the middle. Today I went to one state so far out that such little attention was paid during its inception and it was sketched as a square: Colorado. It brings my number of states visited to 33 (plus Washington D.C.).

A group of eight of us touched down in Denver this morning, which was much sandier, flat and barren than I’d expected. I thought the view would be more like the one as I landed in Washington state in January – but I think these snow-topped mountains (the Rockies) were just hidden a little further north.

And that’s where we headed. We drove for a couple of hours to Estes Park (stopping for a Sonic along the way – another new experience). At the end of windy roads was our ridiculous cabin, bathed in sunlight but surrounded by snow.

We headed out for a walk, where we oohed and aahed at the mountains and lakes, and commented on how big the sky is here compared to New York. We also agreed it is ridiculous how we’re all crammed on top of each other in the city; people out here must laugh at us.

And we saw a beaver! I think I’m going to like it here.