Rawlins

August 18th

Rawlins is the kind of town where if you asked a resident how they came to live there, you would not be surprised if they answered “My car broke down here, I couldn’t afford repairs, so I stayed.”

My view was slanted a bit because I was in a wedge of town that was placed next to a rail line and between two interstates.   In this oasis were only chain motels, chain restaurants, and, providing critcal mass to these orbiting sites, a Walmart.  As such, my food choices were typical of anywhere, not the unique “taste of Rawlins” I hoped for.  Of all the fast food concepts out there, my favorite is the combination KFC and Taco Bell.  I did not go there, but coming off the trail after dehydrated quinoa and lentils to see that, in one place, I can order a chalupa plus a bucket of extra crispy is startling.

Rawlins is definitely pickup truck country.  A plurality of vehicles were pickups, most with complicated aftermarket additions.  Judging by the signage, oil & gas is a dominant industry out here.  One gets the impression that a career as a CPA or dentist is likely to get you beat up.

All in all, Rawlins rested my body but did not steal my heart.