LA to Badlands SD and return.

[keithg]

We left Kanab and headed for Bryce Canyon. On the outskirts of Bryce we pulled into this little place and had a coffee and a mixed berry pie. Well, I had a pie. We had had a good run across but there were plenty of dead deer on the side of road. Pretty sad really.


We passed in through the gates of Bryce with our National Pass. Nearly paid for itself already. We drove right to the end like it has been advised on this site. That way we had all the pull outs on our side of the road heading back. Very busy again already.





We love going to Bryce Canyon. Each time you go, you see changes in the landscape. What may have been a small hole in a Hoodoo last time is now a fair bit bigger. Apparently when the hole gets iced up in winter, the ice expands making the hole bigger. Then melts and runs out when its warmer.



Originally this big hole would have been tiny. Now the weather has made it that big, haha.







We had been hoping to have got to Inspiration Point and Sunset and Sunrise Points but the Park Rangers came out and closed the roads that went to them. Apparently it was full. No more room in there.

We headed out from Bryce and we thought we would head up through Capital Reef National Park. Not far out of Bryce is a cross road where we should have turned right. I was confused by the way the sign read and went straight across. I guess I get confused easy hehe.



That was a big disappointment but we had got out a few miles and thought, not turning back now. Road was really great and had been resealed. There were huge Ranch's all along the way but not once did we see any life. Spooky. When we came out the other end, we wern't far out of Salina so we booked in there at a motel. Had a good nights sleep and had breakfast before hitting the road again along I 70



All these google vehicles parked out side the motel. Updating all the google maps. The cars were guarded all night while the drivers slept.

I want to make the missus a cup of T so be back later on for the next stage heading across I 70 to Moab.

Keithg

[keithg]

Day 11 now and we headed across I 70 from Salina to Moab. Where possible, we stay off the interstates as you get to see more on the other roads and meet some great people in the small places you pass through. But I 70 is an exception. Beautiful drive across to Moab. Rugged mountains, canyons and rocks. Few miles west of Moab, we turned off and went into Canyonlands National Park. Very busy there but found parking ok at most spots.



Would loved to have gone for a drive down that road but wouldn't in a rental car.

Our favourite spot at Canyonlands would be Mesa Arch. Couple of walks to get out to it. One short one and other one longer. We took the shorter one this time. Lots of people and everyone was having a great time and helping each other in taking photo's there with the arch in the background.







We left Canyonlands and headed for Moab to book in somewhere for the night. Afterwards we wished we had gone to the State Park, Dead Horse Point. We had been there a few years ago and after thinking about it, we thought that apart from Mesa Point, Dead Horse Point is the better of the two. That's just our opinion.

We booked into a Super 8 and then had dinner at the Denny's next door. Next morning we were at breakfast at 7-30 and then headed out to Arches at 8am. Line up of cars waiting to get in. Really spectacular place Arches National Park. We love it there. Great names also for some of the attractions like Park Ave. Balanced Rock. The Three Gossips. The Courthouse and Windows. Just a few.



Park Avenue. There is a walking track down through there if you wish to take a hike.



The Tree Gossips.



Balanced Rock.



Windows. (One of them)





Can get some idea of the size of these holes by the people down the bottom.



On the trail out to one of the Arches. Might look spooky but safe and plenty of people. No mountain Lion's jumped out at us or anything like that.



Coey had a lot of fun and people just loved him. Even asked him if he would be in there pictures. Of course he said yes.



One of the Park Rangers that was out and about. Encouraging people to fill there water bottles before hitting the trails. Water fountains were supplied there. Passed this young lady on a couple of the trails as well so they keep and eye things. They do a great job. Plus no problem at all to pose for a pic.


We had had a big day so decided we would head back to town. Stopped at a couple of places on the way back out to admire the view. Such an awesome park. Drove into Moab for a look around the shops and then back to Motel for the night. Tomorrow we leave for Colorado and the Million Dollar Hwy.


Keithg

[Mark Sedenquist]

Enjoying the report, sense of humor, and the photos.


Mark

[keithg]

We are back in action thanks to Mark. We fell out of bed at 6-30am and had breakfast at our Super 8 Motel Moab. After breakfast we chatted for a while with some awesome people from Lakeville, Minnesota. They had been in Colorado and gave us some great pointers. We got to Monticello and gassed up and bought a couple of dinky style toys for Grandson Coen. No, not the monkey. That is Coey.



Interesting vehicle at motel in Moab.

We stopped here and there to look at scenery and then arrived at Mesa Verde. Lucky the car was full of gas. Its a long drive in this park. About an hour and a half. We did ask at the gate if we would be able to see the Cliff Dwellings without climbing down the ladders and they said yes, you can. Probably why they didn't tell us it will cost us $5 to climb down the ladders. We found that out where the dwellings were. You have to pay at the gate. Thats ok. We didn't want to do it anyway. It was pretty interesting but it has got me beat why anyone would have lived there. Ok to live up the top of a hill but then to kill a beast for dinner and have to drag it all the way up the ladder seems crazy. Must have been hard to grow your greens as well.







Cliff Dwellings



Margaret had a look at Balcony House and the Mueseum saying they were really interesting. I was puffed and rested in car. Wasn't my day.
After leaving Mesa Verde, we headed for Durango and the start of the Million Dollar Hwy. Stayed the night there at the Quality Inn and saw this cool sign next door at the Vets.



Some body was very clever.

Had trouble leaving the motel as so many great friendly people to talk to. Saw a photo taken outside the motel a couple of years before of a bear than wandered into town. Apparently deer and Elk come in a fair bit as well but we didnt see any. Beautiful drive heading out on the hwy. Wasnt as windy as i thought it would be. Semi's were using it. Stopped a few places to stare at the scenery. Beautiful.





Coey and i enjoying the view.

We then started to drop down into the Historic town of Silverton.



Silverton. We loved it there. Really old buildings and the street that runs parallel with the main street is still dirt. Loved to have spent more time there.



Main st and to us looked like a industrial bin filled with a garden of flowers marking the centre of street. Pretty cool i thought.



The Shady Lady Saloon used to be a Bordow or spelt something like that hehe. Can still buy tokens there for the services. :) I wandered over and had a talk to the lovely lady sitting outside in a rocking chair listening to Hank Williams on a old record. Was really interesting and i would loved to have got back for another chat.







We had some lunch at a cafe and there was a world map where you could get a pin and stick it in the country you come from. Was surprising to see a few pins from Australia and New Zealand from the last 12 months. We got plenty of interesting photo's here but I better leave room for others. We sadly left Silverton and headed for Quray. Another beautiful town. Lots to look at. Arts, crafts, glass making and weaving. We had a bite to eat. Coey enjoyed a hotdog.









Town Markets. I was talking to a muso there entertaining and said i was from Australia and he said Slim Dusty. He said his young son loved listening to Slim. Slim was a pioneer of country music in Australia. Was a surprise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=et6wYjECxUA&t=110s



Oh look. There is an ice cream shop. The question is, did i have one? hehe.

Cant remember exactly where this next shot was. If it was before Quray or after but i bet it could tell some interesting stories.





They yellows and reds were starting to come out.

We moved on to Montrose for the night and stayed at the Super 8. Good price. $78.
I am going to hit the sack now and get a bit of shut eye. Be back in a few hours.

Keith

[keithg]

We had breakfast and had some great conversations with other guests. Heard some great advice. Coey was with us for breakfast of course and he was eyeing up all bad food. Doughnuts, cakes and waffles. We told him he had to have yogurt,fruit and boiled eggs.



We got away at about 9am and headed out to a small place called Gunnison. Many beautiful green farms with cows up to there necks in feed. Before we got to Gunnison we came to a extremely beautiful lake called Fork Lake. Was stunning.





Had a number of small parking bays where you could park your RV or caravan. Looking out over the lake and each one had a outdoor table and seats and a fire place. Coey wanted to play in the yellow flowers.

At Gunnison we gassed the car up. Was very busy town. Went on to Salida where we booked in for the night. After booking in, we went down town and had a look at the Historic area. Few shifty looking people down there so we went back to Macca's for a burger. Cheap. 4 for $4. Meat and cheese and a bit of lettuce. Far cry from the beautiful steak we had in Vegas, Mark and Megan hehe. On the way back to motel we saw deer grazing on the lawns outside house's.
Next morning we up and out of there and headed for Vail to have a look. Wow. For the rich that place. Didnt get to see anything. Costs $25 just to park there. We left there and headed for Laramie in Wyoming. Booked into a Super 8 there and then went to dinner at the Iron Skillet at a truck stop. Big feed. Margaret had grilled chook and salad. Cant remember what i had. Lucky we do a fair bit of walking. I see a note here in Margaret's records that she keeps that best part of day was Leadville Colorado. My brain is fading and the only record i can find is this picture. Sorry about that.




Another photo from Leadville...

Break time now. Back later with the next stage.

Keith

[Southwest Dave]

Enjoying the report Keith and it's bringing back some great memories. I liked the old historic town of Leadville which comes with a lot of history starting with the mining days and has links to Harry Houdini and Buffalo Bill at the Tabor opera house, and Doc Holiday who shot his last victim on the street there. (Must of lost his touch as he didn't kill him !) It's also the highest incorporated city in the US Situated at an elevation of 10,152 feet. It's also very cold in winter, it was minus 15c when we stayed there in an RV, that was a pretty chilly night !!

Looking forward to more.

[keithg]

Thanks Dave. I think i am going to be in trouble now when Margaret reads what you just told me. She loves all that history. I am having trouble remembering it. Must have been the high't. That was it. I was affected by the altitude and lost my memory. Some pretty high mountains around there. We thought of going across to Pikes Peak but changed our minds. I guess we will have to go back. We have a Steak appointment in Las Vegas. I can remember that. Yes, definitely the heights. hehehe.

Keith

[Southwest Dave]

Possibly a shortage of ice cream too. It can cause confusion and memory lapse ! Haha

[keithg]

Your right Dave. That's what it was. I must need some now as i have made some mistakes. The pic of the Police car in Quray was the only pic taken there that i have shown. The others including Coey eating a hotdog and the markets and myself outside ice cream shop are all in Leadville. I just knew i should have gone in and bought one. :) We have a pic of the opera house but i cant get it to upload. Same trouble as before. When you click upload, its not bringing up the thumbnail like it should. Just says it has up loaded.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Oh, that's terrible news. The program is not working on Dave's machine either.

My browser is still working ok.

Any changes in your browser since earlier?

We are designing a replacement system so that this is no longer an issue.

Mark