Then headed south with a destination of Dinosaur National Monument. I am trying to avoid freeways as much as possible, so I headed down Hwy 191 south into the corner of Utah, past Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area. It was a great drive, with little traffic, just the way I like it. I spent 1 night at Dinosaur NM, went on a 3 mile hike that turned into a 5 mile hike because I missed the junction where the trail looped back and didn't realize it for about a mile. Nice hike though.
The Green River
The campground is in those trees
The next day I headed south on Hwy 139 from Rangley to Grand Junction. What a beautiful road! Again, not a lot of traffic.
From Grande Junction I took Hwy 50 to Montrose and to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. I'd heard about this park, but never been there. I decided to spend 2 nights and I'm glad I did. The campground was small and the sites close together, but I didn't spend a lot of time there. The weather was a bit overcast, and there was a DOWNPOUR the second day I was there.
And there were lots of wildflowers.
There is a 'rim road' and a lot of short hikes off that road to overlook the canyon. I hiked most of those trails and I struggled to capture the canyon with my camera. It is a very deep, very narrow gorge, through which the Gunnison River runs. Very interesting history of people trying to survey the river; it is a wild one. It was finally accomplished on air mattresses! There was a tunnel dug through 6 miles of solid rock to divert water to the Uncompahgre Valley that is an amazing story in itself. Here are a few of the photos I took:
I left the park early this morning heading for Colorado Springs. The drive was again wonderful. Colorado is a spectacular state. I crossed the Continental Divide at Monarch Pass,
I am staying at a motel for a couple nights in Colorado Springs because the only campground near town is a State Park that was booked solid until Sunday. So I'm feeling like I'm abandoning Waddles, but she's safely parked outside my room. There was a huge thunderstorm and downpour for a couple hours after I arrived so I guess I'm glad to be in a Motel!
The reason I'm in Colorado Springs is because I lived here when I was in the 5th and 6th grades (back in the dark ages) and my best friend and I have kept in touch over the past oh, 50+ years. She now lives in Chile and I usually hear that she's been in the US after the fact, so when I was planning this trip I asked her if there was any chance she'd be in the country. Turns out she was planning a surprise 70th Wedding Anniversary party for her parents who still live in Colorado Springs. The party is June 3, and I was invited! The last time I saw her was in the 1970's. The last time I saw any of the rest of her family was in 1965, when I spent a month backpacking, with her family, her aunt, uncle and cousins and 10 burros, in the Sierra. All her siblings are going to be here, her two daughters, their husbands, and their 2 new babies, none of whom I've ever met. This was reason enough for me to divert from a direct route to Illinois!!! I'm very excited to see them all.
Colorado Springs has grown a great deal since I was here last, but I managed to find the two houses we lived it. They were both rentals when we lived in them, and both look like they have been well cared for. My elementary school building is no longer there, but new building/school has been built in it's place. I guess that is called progress.
My sister and I shared a bedroom, window to the left of the front door. My sister and I took accordion lessons when we lived in this house. I've always wondered why my folks thought that was a good idea!
My bedroom was the window above the porch. My best friend and I used to dumpster dive behind the local flower store and rescue geraniums. My bedroom was full of them.
Lots of memories are flooding back to me! The next few days are going to be fun. And then I'll be back on the road.
omigosh!! you traveled through the Green River and upper Colorado River country I read about after getting back from the Grand Canyon last fall and told myself I had to see one day - Flaming Gorge, Dinosaur NM, Black Canyon, etc. Great that you're traveling on local roads. Makes me think of the time Ron and I visited in La Grande and you took us on back roads here and there. Monarch Pass at 11,312' elevation - 100' higher than Mt Hood! omigosh #2 - that you're seeing your Colorado Springs friend and ALL her family after so many years. Was the last time you saw her when she stayed at the house in Portland? Have a great reunion!
ReplyDeleteYes, Tyler, the last time I saw Helen was when she was in Portland and stayed with you. Had a wonderful day today with her parents, all 4 of their kids, 8 grandkids and 4 great grandkids, plus aunts, cousins and more. Colorado Springs is so much bigger than when I lived here, but it is still a lovely place.
ReplyDeleteThe music school! Wow. Cahokia mound looks a lot different than in 1966, when I was there. Bet the visitor's center has a lot more information, though. Glad you got through all your mechanical troubles without blowing yourself up! Safe travels homeward.
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