2022 September - Colorado Springs Trip, The Rest

Day four began in Grand Junction, Colorado, with the Rocky Mountains ahead. First up was Glenwood Canyon. Sadly, the best rest stop I've ever been to in many years of traveling the Western US ("Grizzly Creek" on the eastern edge of Glenwood Canyon) was closed, and I was sorry to miss that. I remember when that rest stop and kayak/boat launching area was built back in the 80s, and many of the locals were appalled that Colorado would spent millions of dollars on a rest stop. But it is spectacular. Here are some pictures of the drive through Glenwood Canyon—and the remarkable engineering feat that Interstate 70 is.

 As I drove east into and over the mountains, it rained pretty steadily. This means that the driving was a little tense and challenging—lots of trucks throwing up lots of water—and the views were hazy, difficult or non-existent. I was sorry to miss seeing the mountains, but I drove through them without problems or incident. Got over "the hill" and came down into West Denver, then turned south toward Colorado Springs. Got to Kyle's house about 3 p.m., in time to go to swimming lessons with Hume and Sol.

Had a very nice three-plus days with Kyle and family. Had some great Indian food, visited Garden of the Gods, hiked around the 40-acres-with-house they've recently bought, had another great walk through a state park canyon ("Castlewood") just south of Denver. Family is well and healthy, everybody seems good. Here are some pictures from Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs:

I got up Sunday morning and had breakfast with Kyle and family, then hit the road about 10 a.m.headed for Moab. Took the long and beautiful route from Colorado Springs to Cañon City, Gunnison, Montrose, and Naturita. Got near Telluride, close enough to see the spectacular mountains from the backside, and had a really great drive the whole way. Went a little slower that I perhaps should have, because I missed the last 20 minutes into Moab because of darkness. But the 20 or so minutes of Utah before that was pretty great; 191 north from La Sal Junction. Huge red cliffs all around.

Kyle found me a $40 motel room that was $200 because it's high season in Moab. Lots of traffic both vehicle and foot, lots of "no vacancy" signs. But the room was fine; had internet and a bed. 

 

Here are some pictures of the Montrose/Ouray area. Sadly, and for the first time ever that I've seen, there was no snow on any of the mountains, some of which are 14,000 feet. Not that anybody needs more depressing evidence of how our climate is changing, but no snow on Colorado's mountains is quite a damning indicator. Of course, they're still spectacular even without the snow.

 

 

Got up this morning planning to spend a few hours in Arches National Park. Took the turn off—and was immediately confronted with a big flashing "by reservation only" sign. So no Arches. It's a single road out-and-back in the park, I wonder if they've considered a shuttle service like Zion. I could see the entrance station off in the distance and even with the reservation system there were perhaps 50 cars in line. I briefly saw something about "timed entry," so they're at least trying to manage the number of cars in the park at any one time. But pretty crappy that I couldn't get in.

Drove the rest of the way north to Interstate 70, then turned west for one of my favorite drives: east/west across central Utah. It's some very empty ("next services 100 miles") but fabulously beautiful country for most of those 100 miles and then some. My favorite part is driving through the "reef," that wall of tilted-on-edge rock that extends for 200 miles north to south. There are only two passages through in all that distance, and I went through them both: Capitol Reef National Park on the way east, then I70 going west. I don't think you and I have been on that road, and I don't remember doing it when you were a kid, but I've done it several times over the years. The best was in 1990 or so, when Jack and I did it in the Vanagon when driving to a computer conference in Denver. There was snow everywhere. Jack was driving, I had been sleeping in the back, and I woke up to look out the back window and marvel at the fabulous formations, all covered with snow in early-morning light. But driving that route any time of day or year is great, except perhaps mid-summer when it's hotter than hell out by Green River. 

 

Here are a few pictures of the "reef" area on I70:

 

 

The speed limit out there is 80 mph, so I was moving pretty fast. Got to north-south Interstate 15 (Salt Lake City to San Diego), then headed south towards St George still at 80 mph. The country there on the west side of the mountains is not quite as spectacular as I70, but it ain't bad. Stopped in St. George at a Starbucks for coffee, then kept on heading southwest towards Las Vegas. At 80 mph. Through Vegas and onto Barstow, called Kyle to ask him to find me a motel in Tehachapi. Drove straight west into the blinding sun for an hour or so, but it finally went behind a cloud and was blocked by the mountains. Beautiful sunset. Made it to Tehachapi about 7.

I don't plan for driving days of more than 400 miles or so these days, but rather unexpectedly did 760 today. Had originally planned to stay near Las Vegas, but got there early and the miles just rolling by. They do that at 80 mph. So aside from doing nothing but sit on my butt and drive for 11 hours, it was a productive day. Will probably make it back to SLO by noon or so tomorrow (Tuesday).

Now in a nice hotel room in Tehachapi, and you're up to the minute! 

 

Later: Got up Tuesday morning in Tehachapi, found some Starbucks coffee and got on the road. Uneventful drive home, took the Hwy 58 scenic route—of course, why stop now?—into Santa Margarita, got home about 11 a.m.

 

Fabulous trip. Here's the route: