Close Call

Last night after going to bed, I heard a loud crash outside my bedroom but it was dark and I was too lazy to get out of bed to see what had happened. This morning this is what I discovered laying on my neighbor's truck...

That's my bedroom behind the tree

Heat Wave

I left Moab a couple of weeks ago thinking I would be heading into cooler weather in Colorado. Much to my surprise and discomfort, the temperature here in Grand Junction has been 100+ degrees with no end in sight. The good news is I do not have to cook dinner in the RV; I just leave it in the jeep...

Grand Mesa

Is the largest flat-topped mountain in the world with an area of about 500 square miles. From Grand Junction I headed east on I-70 to Highway 65 where you climb from ~6,000 feet to over 10,000 feet in elevation. After spending the winter in Arizona and the spring in Moab where the primary color is tan, it was a pleasant change of scenery to see so much green...

At the top of the mountain I headed over to the Lands End Observatory where you get a panoramic view of the valley below. There were dozens of chipmunks around the stone walls and they are so use to people that they will literally eat out of your hand...

From the Observatory I took a very crooked dirt road down the mountain to Highway 50...

And along the way went through some beautiful aspen forests...

As most of you know, landscape photos taken from the tops of mountains never capture the true feeling of what the eye is able to take-in so this is one of those drives that you have to take to fully appreciate.

Colorado National Monument

Years ago when I first drove past Grand Junction via I-70, I was impressed by the huge mesas and mountains surrounding the town. Today, I took the first of what I hope will be a number trips this summer to explore the "high country" of Colorado.

Colorado National Monument rises over 2,000 feet above the Grand Valley of the Colorado River just west of Grand Junction. The Rim Rock Drive is a 23 mile paved road that twists its way along the rim of this plateau-and-canyon country offering spectacular views and great photo opportunities...

Click on photos to enlarge

Note climbers on Independence Monument

It's a good thing they invented digital photography as I do not think I could afford the film needed to capture the beauty of the western states. If you ever get out this way, be sure to bring plenty of memory cards as it is a postcard factory.

Visitors

My favorite nomads, Terry and Gail, stopped by for a brief visit this morning on their way to parts unknown and we were able to get caught up on each other's lives over breakfast. Once again, it's just another reason I enjoy the RV lifestyle.

Klondike Bluffs

In Arches National Park, there is a high clearance, four wheel drive road that takes you out to Klondike Bluffs and the Tower Arch. In as much as I just happen to have a high clearance, four wheel drive vehicle, that's where I went today.

It should be noted that most of this route is deep sand which would make it impassible when wet so be sure to check the weather before attempting...

Tower Arch

Eye of the Whale Arch

It is illegal to drive an ATV/UTV in the national parks here (even if it is street legal) so the jeep has allowed me to see sights/sites that I would not normally be able to get to... and have fun doing it!