10.01.24: Archaeological Expedition – Wyoming to Colorado

Tuesday, October 1, 2024:
Rock Springs, Wyoming – Saratoga Springs, Wyoming – Denver / Colorado Springs, Colorado

Some days begin quietly yet still manage to make a difference on a road trip. October 1, 2024, was one of those days, a simple travel day that set the stage for a series of archaeological surveys in Colorado. I started in Rock Springs, Wyoming, cut across the high plains, paused for a restorative soak in Saratoga, then crossed into Colorado and settled into Colorado Springs to prepare for the work ahead. Along the way, I checked in with old friends, took the standard border sign photo, and kept the focus on rest, readiness, and the road.

Morning Start in Rock Springs, Wyoming

I was up by 8 a.m. at the Super 8 in Rock Springs and shuffled down for breakfast with modest expectations. The offerings were sparse, and the quality was bad in that familiar interstate-motel way. I kept it simple.

• Raisin Bran bowl
• Yogurt
• Little else in offerings

After a quick checkout, I walked next door to Starbucks. That was the proper start. A pumpkin cream cheese muffin and a venti mocha cookie crumble frappuccino hit that sweet spot between fuel and comfort. I needed calories for the drive and some small ritual to mark the beginning of this leg of the expedition. The muffin was warm, the frappuccino cold and rich, and both did the job.

Hitting the Road on I‑80

I pointed the car east by southeast along I‑80 and lined up the day around one key stop. The route would swing past Saratoga for a soak, then press on toward Colorado and, eventually, Colorado Springs. The sky was clear, the traffic light, and the mood was steady. This was the first field push of early autumn, a measured day in service of the work to follow. The hours on the highway gave me time to plan, to review survey notes in my head, and to check gear lists at fuel stops.

Saratoga’s Hobo Hot Springs

I stopped in Saratoga for a soak at the city’s free, 24‑hour hot springs, a community resource built up with care and pride. Locals call them Hobo Hot Springs, also known as Saratoga Hot Springs. It is not clothing optional; it is public and straightforward, and it is one of my favorite places for a reset. The pools step down in a series, channeling the mineral water through different temperatures and depths. The river runs nearby. The effect is simple and restorative.

I slipped into the water, found my breath again, and let my shoulders drop. A few locals were in for midday soaks, and we chatted about road conditions, fall weather, and the best times to avoid crowds. It was a short stop, but it did everything I hoped. I relaxed, rehydrated, and shifted into survey mode with a clearer head.

Why is it a favorite? …

It is a bit off the interstate, but the pools run day and night, and the city keeps them clean and welcoming. The place is unpretentious and practical, and the water works.

For anyone planning a visit, here is a simple flow:

1. Pull off I‑80 near Saratoga and follow the signs into town.
2. Use the free access, open around the clock.
3. Soak, stretch, and unwind, then hydrate before returning to the road.

That stop set the tone for the day. It felt like the first careful step into the 2024 autumn season’s fieldwork, the way a long inhale steadies you before a task that needs your full attention.

Crossing into Colorado and the Denver Drive‑By

From Saratoga, I continued south through rolling prairie and long, open basins before reaching the border. I pulled over for the usual photos by the Welcome to Colorado sign. That ritual marks a shift in focus for me. Wyoming’s miles recede in the rearview, and the Front Range pulls nearer, with its mix of memory and work.

I aimed for Denver with a plan to visit my friend Alison, but traffic and timing didn’t work out. This is the reality of a road day. You make the call that keeps the rest of the schedule intact. Instead of a stop in the city, I kept moving along the corridor and turned south toward Colorado Springs. The light started to soften, and the pace of the day settled into its last act.

Arrival in Colorado Springs and Field Prep

Colorado Springs is an old home base for me, and that familiarity helps before a survey. I checked into the La Quinta Inn and Suites on North Academy in the heart of the city, a spot with quick access to food, supplies, and the arterial roads I would use for the project. With the car parked and the bags upstairs, I shifted into prep mode.

A short list of what worked about the hotel:

• Central location in my old stomping grounds
• Quiet room, easy parking, fast check‑in
• Comfortable enough for real rest before field days

This trip brings several archaeological surveys into focus, each with short windows for weather, access, and coordination.

Later, I caught up with a couple of friends. We swapped quick stories and compared calendars, then I turned in early. Fieldwork needs early sleep, and good decisions tomorrow depend on it. This is the start of a new run of site visits, surveys, and notes, and the work benefits from a calm first night.

Food, Rest, and Small Routines

Travel days benefit from small routines. I keep an eye on hydration and sodium, since hot springs and high altitude can be draining. I favor steady snacks over one large meal while driving, so the muffin and frappuccino balanced well with water, fruit, and nuts in the car. I also plan legs with stretch stops every couple of hours. It helps circulation and focus, and it keeps me present, which matters for safety on the road.

In the evening, I aim for a calm reset, charge everything, and prep clothing for a quick morning start. It is not complicated, but it shortens the gap between waking up and getting to work. These little habits reduce friction when we enter survey sites where timing, weather, and light can shift quickly.

The Value of a Mid‑Route Hot Spring

A soak like the one in Saratoga is more than a pause. It is a functional reset that supports field performance. The mineral water and heat reduce muscle tension and mental noise. The brief social contact with locals also keeps perspective grounded. Fieldwork can be solitary, especially on long runs across the plains, and human contact matters. It is a reminder that these landscapes are lived in and cared for, not just observed or sampled.

When we plan survey days that involve long drives, we should consider allowed pauses that maintain the body and mind. Whether it is a spring, a park bench, or a quiet cafe, that break is not lost time. It is part of the work.

Denver Corridor Notes

The Front Range corridor demands timing. Denver traffic can compress a day if you enter at the wrong hour. I made the call to keep rolling to Colorado Springs so the evening would belong to preparation, not congestion. Sometimes it is better to move the social visit to the return leg. It keeps the professional part intact, and it improves the chance that the survey starts clean.

We all weigh these choices. When the objective is clear, the path is clearer. I keep a flexible window for friend visits, but I do not compromise sleep or the first morning’s start.

The Plan for the Days Ahead

With the first night in Colorado Springs set, the next steps are simple. Early start, light breakfast, and a prompt arrival at the first survey area. I will record context data for each location, confirm grid references, and document visible features or disturbances. I keep a conservative approach to access and minimize impact. Notes and imagery get tagged in the field and reviewed at day’s end, then backed up.

I expect to work through several sites over the coming days, moving between open spaces and managed lands. The goals are consistent, accuracy, clarity, and respect for place. We work with the landscape, not against it.

Behind the Scenes: Video and Music Credits

The video for this day, titled “10.01.24: Expedition Wyoming to Colorado,” tracks the route from Rock Springs to Colorado Springs with a pause in Saratoga. It frames the work as a travel day that supports the larger project and gives a glimpse of the rhythm behind the field notes.

Key beats from the video’s overview:

• A relaxing soak at Hobo Hot Springs in Saratoga
• The border stop and a straight drive through Denver
• Arrival in Colorado Springs to prepare for archaeological surveys and reconnect with friends

The soundtrack features “Ashes & Echoes,” a gothic travel piece by Rowan, Serentha, Thomas Baurley, Techno Tink Media, and SunoAI. The edit was created with Magisto, which suits short, narrative travel cuts. If you want a feel for the atmosphere that shaped the day, you can listen here: “Ashes & Echoes” gothic travel song and video cut.

Practical Tips for This Route

• Fuel early in Rock Springs or Rawlins to keep options open.
• If you plan to soak in Saratoga, bring water, a towel, and sandals.
• Check the weather on both sides of the border, since wind and temperature can shift quickly.
• Keep daytime stops short to preserve an early evening arrival for rest and prep.
• In the Front Range corridor, plan to pass Denver outside peak hours.

These small choices keep the day smooth and leave you in good shape for work the next morning.

Conclusion

This day moved me from the edge of Wyoming into a familiar base in Colorado with a clear head, a steady plan, and a body that felt ready for fieldwork. The soak in Saratoga provided balance. The drive through Denver was a reminder to guard the schedule. The quiet evening in Colorado Springs anchored the start of a new round of archaeological surveys. If you are traveling a similar route for work or research, consider a simple structure like this one, a calm morning, a meaningful stop, and a focused arrival. If you are interested in collaborating on survey projects in the region, reach out and let us compare notes. Here is to clear roads, good data, and steady progress.

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Roads of Ashes and Echoes – Road trip theme song, Gothic by Rowan | Serentha | SunoAI | Thomas Baurley | Techno Tink Media, 2025.

[Verse 1]
The sky bleeds gray and amber streaks
The road unwinds like ancient creeks
Wyoming whispers through the pines
Lost in time lost in lines
Dust and shadows trail my name
Every mile feels the same
Denver’s glow on the horizon’s throat
A city rising like a ghost

[Prechorus]
Saratoga calls me back
Healing waters trace the cracks

[Chorus]
Roads of ash and echoes sing
I drive through the night with a broken wing
Memories rise like a phantom tide
Leaf on a journey where the spirits guide

[Verse 2]
Hot springs steam like the breath of earth
Healing hands for all they’re worth
Soothe my skin my soul my scars
Beneath the weight of endless stars
Fieldwork maps where stories lie
Ancient bones beneath the sky
Archaeologies of fleeting days
Marking time in fractured ways

~ “Roads of Ash and Echoes” by Tom Baurley | Techno Tink Media | SunoAi | Rowan & Serentha, October 4, 2025.

Roads of Ashes and Echoes, version 2 – Road trip theme song, Gothic by Rowan | Serentha | SunoAI | Thomas Baurley | Techno Tink Media, 2025.

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