Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014 - We're Home

Mary Here
We left our motel at 6:30am and arrived home at 4:00pm.  Oh, how good it is to be home. Of the 42 days we were on the road we stayed with family and friends thirteen days and we were in 'motels' for twenty eight days as we traveled thru 14 states.
Our total mileage was 8,203 miles, we averaged 34.9 mpg and used approx. 237 gallons of fuel.  We ate out more than you can imagine and certainly more than I liked.
We visited nine national parks, Temple Square, 2 Waterfalls, 1 Beautiful Skyway, 1 Ski Resort, 2 State Parks, 1 Bridge, 1 Penitentiary, 3 Lakes, attended one musical, attended a dinner/theater, Hiked one Canyon, attended one Fair, visited a Mansion and rode that 'wonderful' train.  Actually everything we did was beyond belief and we certainly are so very fortunate to have been able to see and do all we did.


The real highlight of our trip was spending time with our sons and their families, as well as spending time with extended family and good friends. 
We are very content now to just spend time at home until we leave for the winter.
  Mike and Judy will be on their way home starting tomorrow.  They have been at Judy's sisters home while Judy dealt with some health issues.  They are fine and ready to be home also. 
Thanks for traveling with us.
God Bless

Friday, Sept. 25, 2014 - Garden of the Gods (Manitou Springs, CO)

Mary Here
We left Durango early this morning (6:45am) and traveled on highway 160 for approx. 200 miles then hoped onto I-25 and traveled another 100 miles arriving in Manitou Springs around 12:45pm.  Manitou Springs is right next to Colorado Springs and is a small quaint town.  After we checked into our motel we headed out to Garden of the Gods.  .

The praying hands is on the right

Named - Siamese Twins

Balance Rock

We were there many years ago and have found that it has changed quite a bit.  By that I mean what used to be two way traffic is now all one way traffic.  The trees have grown a lot and almost spoil the view of the beautiful sandstone formations.  But being the resourceful self I am, I did manage to snap a few pics of my favorite places and things. 

Mary the Climber

These all have names but I lost my visitor paper telling what everything was.

Jim taking it all in

This always looked like praying hands to me

I am beginning to think that once you have been to a place that just touched your heart it might be a good idea to not revisit it as it changes or maybe we change.  But the feeling is never quite the same

We went to the Iron Spring Chateau for a dinner/theater experience.  Dinner was excellent and really the show was too.

It was a slap stick kind of show but totally enjoyable.  It was one of those 'boo' for the villain 'yea' for the hero kind of thing.  We had gone many years ago and enjoyed it so wanted to try it again.  Got back late for us 10:00pm.
Sept. 26, Saturday-
Today we made the decision to head home.  We had planned to stop at the Rocky Mountain National Park but felt we were totally national parked out.  Another time for RMNP.  We drove approx. 675 miles today and have another 550 miles to travel to get home tomorrow.  I did not take one pic because if you have ever been in Nebraska or Iowa on Interstate 80 you know that there isn't anything to take a pic of.  There were lots of harvested fields but that was about it. 
I will do one more post after we arrive home.

Thur. Sept. 25 - Out of Five I Would Give it a Two

Mary Here
Today we were up before the birds as we had to be at the Durango train station by 7:30am.  We also had to be up early to bid our traveling partners a sad farewell.  Mike and Judy left today to head east.  Judy has had another bout with kidney stones.   She has been very uncomfortable and it was decided that they should go home before things got even worst.  We feel like our right arm is missing now that they left. We have been in touch with them and they are almost to Judy's sisters in Nebraska where they will stop.


We had purchased tickets for the Durango-Silverton train ride which took us from Durango to Silverton, CO.  It was a 3.5 hour trip each way and I don't know what I was expecting, but it never happened.  The train was a steam powered thing that ran on coal and water.   We were in an open car and were totally covered with gritty black soot.  It was just ugly and colder than cold this morning as it was under 50 degrees when we pulled out.  I tried, I mean I really tried to take pics and I do have a few but most of the time all we saw were rocks or trees....  I mean they were almost scraping the cars they were so close.  I am sure if I put my arm out it would have touched the trees and rocks.  Think of yourself in a forest and that's where we were a lot of the time.  And to make matters worse all day long we were jerked from side to side and thrown back and forth.  I thought for sure I would be black and blue. 
We did stop in Silverton for a couple of hours and everywhere one looked was a tourist trap.  We had lunch and that was all.....and then we had to get back on that @%$&*# train and ride it back to Durango.  It has been a really long dirty day.  So here are a few pics. 

Train going around a mountain.  That track is 'really' close to the drop off.

This thing is the water tank for dumping water into the train

See that black soot it made a beeline for our car all day long

Once in a while the scenery was nice

Have clouds what could be better - don't ask.

This is really up high like 11,000 feet

The town of Silverton.  They only have one paved road all the other roads are dirt.  But on the up side there isn't any soot.

The town really was quaint and well cared for.  We were told once the train pulled out all the shops close down until the next train arrives. 

Yes on the train again back to rocks and trees

I thought 5:15pm would never get here but finally the train pulled into the station.  Jim and I were almost the first off and for sure the first out of the parking lot.  Yup it gets a 2 from me. 

Sept. 24, 2014 - San Juan Skyway

Mike Here
After a slow morning and a good breakfast at our motel in Montrose, we met up with Jim and Mary and headed for Durango. We took the San Juan Skyway through the mountains and it is one of the three best drives I have ever taken! The drive climbed slowly from Ridgway until we got to Ouray. From there it climbed very steeply, gaining 4,000 feet to the top of Red Mountain pass at 11,018 feet. Extremely sharp switchbacks and huge drop-offs with NO guardrails! As we got higher the aspen trees were a carpet of yellow. .

At every turn the views got better

Makes you want to plant a field of aspen trees

Red Mountain Pass

They seemed to be on fire. Just magnificent!

The entire trip was one of 'oh wow'

Old couple enjoying the view

Road had so many switchbacks it was hard to take in all the beauty.....well at least for the guys driving.

Then down about 3,000 feet into Silverton and then back up over two passes just under 11,000 feet. Then down and down to Durango at about 6,500 feet. I pictured Durango as a small western town but it is actually quite large with a lot of traffic. Tomorrow we catch the Durango to Silverton narrow gauge RR for an all day trip back up to Silverton. This train has been running since I was a kid. Can't wait

Sept. 23, 2014 - Blk Gunnison and Visit with Julia

Mike Here
Left Fruita early and did some shopping in Grand Junction. Then on to our motel in Montrose Colorado. Stashed our stuff and went to a Chinese Restaurant that Jim found on his GPS. It was fabulous! We are going to eat the second half of it on our way down to Durango.
Drove up to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Very steep drive to the top of the canyon. Unlike Utah, these walls were dark grey to black. This canyon is very narrow, steep, and 2700 feet deep in places. As a result, the sun does not reach the bottom very often. Several short walks to overlooks took us to the edge where you had to lean over to see the bottom. Very intimidating!

 After doing some laundry, we drove over to visit Julia S, Wanda S's daughter. Those of you from Gulf View should remember Wanda as she was in the park for a year and a half in Cathy N's park model. A great, fun lady. So is her daughter. We spent a delightful few hours, enjoying dinner, conversation and a great view from their ranch above Montrose.

Name of Julia's Ranch is 'Winter Saga Ranch'

This is not only the ranch but closer to the mountain range is Julia's home.  It is just beautiful and looking out the back of her home you are looking at mountains.

I personally would never move from there.

Julia has what is called a 'Horse Hotel' and what that means is that people can drop their horse off for a day or two while they do their own thing.  Pretty neat.  This particular horse is owned by Meg Whitman (CEO of Hewlett-Packard) and Julia gets to ride her whenever she wants.

While sitting on Julia's deck we had a wonderful meal and great conversation then watched the sun set over the San Juan Mountains.  Perfect ending to a perfect day.

Monday Sept. 22 - Arches National Park

Mary Here  
We woke up this morning after a night of thundershowers and lightening and found that it was still raining.  I thought for sure Arches would have to be scratched.  We were about 50 miles from there and a miracle happened, when we arrived it was as nice as could be and there was even clouds.  They did have a lot of rain and in fact the dirt road to Delicate Arch was closed because of the water.  So we did not get to see that but we did see lots of arches and lots of 'rocks.'
The Arches park lies on top of an underground salt bed that is responsible for the arches, spires, balanced rocks, sandstone fins, and eroded monoliths. The trip from the Visitors Center is rather tricky because it is all winding roads that go up about 5,000 feet high.  Once on the top it is just beyond words.  You will just have to go and see for yourself.
We did all the stops and ran into way to many people and no parking to speak of.  Most of the time we had to wait for a spot but in the end it was worth it.  We did have to eat lunch in the car because there were no tables to be had.  Place was like a zoo.  Can't tell you how many tour buses and RV's were there. 

Landmarks on the Landscape

From this vantage point you can see most things that are within the boundaries of the Arches

The Three Gossips - Did you notice they all look like men

Sand Dune Arch - Trail was only .3 miles round trip

Broken Arch - Trail was l.3 miles round trip

Skyline Arch - Trail is .4 mile round trip

Jim said these look like faces

Fiery Furnace is a maze-like labyrinth of narrow sandstone canyons.

Balance Rock - Trail is .3 mile round trip to get to the base of this picturesque rock formation

North Window - In addition to the North Window there is a South Window and a Turret Arch.  Amazing!

Double Arch is a .5 mile round trip that leads to the base of two giant arch spans which are joined at one end.

One of many rock formations.

Lizard - Snake - I told you we were in 'rock' overload.

Once we left Arches we saw this as we traveled on highway 128 east.  It took us along the Colorado River which was beautiful with all the mountains and 'rocks.'

We are now in Fruita, CO which is about 35 miles east of Utah.  We celebrated by having dinner at Rib City last night.  It was excellent.

NOTE:  We talked to many people who were from the same states at you and not one of them knew any of you.  I mean they were even from the same town.