Thanks to recurrent clusters of thunderstorms and flooding rains from the Southwest Monsoon, the High Plains east of Denver are now relatively lush. Herds of cattle and pronghorn appeared to be pleased with the development and, no doubt, so are the farmers and ranchers.
Compared with the dry terrain that greeted us two weeks ago, it looked like spring. Adding to that impression, we traveled through relatively mild air, not the stifling heat of our westward journey.
Farther east, the High Plains of Kansas had not yet benefitted from a significant influx of rain. Indeed, the grasslands retained the parched, yellowed appearance that bordered the highway in early August. By the time we reached Hays, the temperature was in the mid nineties F, exacerbated by a steady south wind.
