BRP-OE -- Here I come!!

[PrairieSpyder]

then Black Canyon of the Gunnison,

Are you doing the north rim of the black?

No I'm doing the south rim only. I'm in Montrose now and will go to the canyon in the morning and then head southwest. I have a hotel reservation in Cortez.

Then I'll continue to Monument Valley for 2 nights, Mesa Verde NP, then a day or so of free time before the OE.

And, yes, I'm having a great time!!

 

[usn97ret]

Other places to visit

If it's not on your bucket list....Moab, Arches National Park and Canyonlands are all just up the road (114 miles) from Cortez. You can spend a day or two just riding around there.

Rocky Mountain National Park / Estes Park are another nice ride to think about for the ride on the way home from Durango.

I'm glad you are enjoying your Colorado adventure.

 

[PrairieSpyder]

If it's not on your bucket list....Moab, Arches National Park and Canyonlands are all just up the road (114 miles) from Cortez. You can spend a day or two just riding around there.

Rocky Mountain National Park / Estes Park are another nice ride to think about for the ride on the way home from Durango.

I'm glad you are enjoying your Colorado adventure.

Arches NP and the others in Utah are on my bucket list. But this trip I'm going through southern Colo and Monument Valley. I'll have to see the others on another trip. I reduced this one to 2 weeks so I can go to SpyderQuest in Sept.

I'm having such a good time on the Spyder I may come back here next summer.

 

[PrairieSpyder]

Today I went to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.



One of the roads was a 16% grade to the bottom of the canyon. Even in 1st gear, I was having to ride the brake. Coming down Pike's Peak wasn't that bad.

Then I went south to Cortez, via the western part of the San Juan Skyway. That took me over Lizard Head Pass at 10,222 feet. I couldn't get a good picture because someone parked their motorhome right in front of the sign. But here is what I got:

 

[PrairieSpyder]

I had a really easy day today. I slept in, washed my Spyder, then headed southwest. First stop - Four Corners Monument, where I stood in four states at once:



Now I'm at Monument Valley. The view from my balcony:

 

[PrairieSpyder]

Did the full-day tour of Mystery Valley and Monument Valley today. Mystery Valley is an area of Anasazi ruins and rock art.



The dirt roads are often drifted over with sand and we were riding in a 1-ton dually. It was frequently like sliding around in deep snow. The tour company provided a nice barbecue hamburger lunch, and then we were off to see the Monument Valley. Of course we got stuck again. The guide tried to dig it out, but eventually the truck was deep in the sand, up to the frame. Another tour came behind us and everyone tried to help. Eventually a rescue truck from our tour company came with a chain and pulled us out of the sand. So we were about 2 hours late getting to the Monument Valley part of the tour. Happily we didn't miss anything, but we did it all rather quickly.

 

[Paula(Butch2025)]

Love all the updates and photos. It sure is a beautiful world Weive in isn't it. We are a few days behind you but I hope we get a chance to meet up in Durango.

 

[PW2013STL]

Thanks for the pictures! Looks like a great adventure you are on :clap:
We are spending the day prepairing and packing. Leaving at 6:00am tomorrow and look forward to seeing you at the event :thumbup:

 

[PrairieSpyder]

No pics today. I just took a leisurely ryde north from Monument Valley to Monticello, UT, then turned southwest on US-491 to Cortez, CO. US-491 is also marked with two other names on the Apple map app - Trail of the Ancients and US-666! I stopped for a water break in a little mining town just inside Colorado and asked about the highway number. The lady said it used to be US-666, but it was changed and she didn't know why. I thought it's a good thing I'm not superstitious. Then I turned on my radio and they were playing Kasem's Coast-to-Coast Top 40 Countdown!! :yikes:Weird!

I'm at the Far View Lodge in Mesa Verde NP. I got a 15% discount for early booking and the room is OK - fridge, coffee maker, clean. But no AC!! :dontknow: Luckily it high up on a mountain and the breeze is sufficient.

Durango tomorrow!

 

[cyclelover63]

Did the full-day tour of Mystery Valley and Monument Valley today. Mystery Valley is an area of Anasazi ruins and rock art.

View attachment 90416

The dirt roads are often drifted over with sand and we were riding in a 1-ton dually. It was frequently like sliding around in deep snow. The tour company provided a nice barbecue hamburger lunch, and then we were off to see the Monument Valley. Of course we got stuck again. The guide tried to dig it out, but eventually the truck was deep in the sand, up to the frame. Another tour came behind us and everyone tried to help. Eventually a rescue truck from our tour company came with a chain and pulled us out of the sand. So we were about 2 hours late getting to the Monument Valley part of the tour. Happily we didn't miss anything, but we did it all rather quickly.

View attachment 90418

I think that's JOHN WAYNE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[PrairieSpyder]

I stayed at Mesa Verde NP night before last and then toured the park. I have been taking pics with my iPhone and my camera. I use the iPhone pics to post here since they are easier to upload. Unfortunately, most of the ruins were in shadow and across a canyon, so they are hard to see. When I get home and upload from my camera to my PC, I may have more.


I had thought I'd do a ranger-guided tour of the Cliff Palace, but the altitude was biting my a$$ just from walking out to the overlooks, so I decided to just look at it from afar. The tour requires walking down stairs about 100 feet then walking through the ruins and climbing 3 or 4 ladders to get back out. Maybe later this week. My park pass is good for 7 days.

At one of the stops in the park I saw this:



I know these have been discussed here before, but this is the first one I've actually seen in real life. Frankly, I'm not impressed. It's parked beside a 2-wheeler and I later saw them going through by as I was walking to the museum. The driver (not rider) was a lady, and I just thought you might as well just get a Miata or some small convertible. Oh no, am I becoming a Spyder-snob?? pps: