Roadtrip 5 the West
Day 1
Denver, Colorado - Hot Springs, South Dakota
We started out from Denver today.
Rented a Toyota Corolla, our new Silver Ghost, and it turned out to be a very capable mountain climber. Despite what the rental agent advised. We drove the back roads to Hot Springs in SD. Experienced the grass lands of Colorado and Nebraska. Very flat, endless horizons, and very, very flat.
Then a rodeo appeared out of nowhere and we joined in around the corral.
Day 2
Hot Springs, SD - Rapid City, SD
We went north to Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore. The Crazy Horse memorial is impressive and still under construction. After a few hours there we pulled out towards Mt Rushmore. When we got there, we realized we had just as good a view from outside the area, and to get in was like $20, so we stayed outside. We drove around the bend and saw four Presidents nice and clear, and different from the normal angle. Cool.
We couldn't help noticing the many casinos. They were everywhere, in every little town, and at every gas station! Off to the side, into the dark, and there they were, the one-armed bandits, picking your pockets, one quarter at a time. And every little casino we saw had people in it, mostly old folks, whiling away their afternoons and their pensions. Seemed a bit sad to see.
Day 3 Rapid City, SD - Deadwood, SD
Badlands was on the menu today. We also wanted to be bad asses on bikes, we wanted to rent a couple of Harleys to roar around the area. But no, turned out we needed a valid motorcycle license.
On the way east to Badlands we stopped at Ellsworth AFB. Some very cool ones on display.
Driving along on the prairie we kept seeing signs for Wall Drugs, at random spots out in the fields. Gigantic signs for coffee, breakfast, water, t-shirts, everything at Wall Drug, which now is a sprawling enterprise, in the town of Wall.
Badlands is surreal. Amazing what Mother Nature can create. We drove around for a few hours and decided to go to Custer's State Park, a park with lots of buffalos. They carry a lot of respect and a lot of tonnage around, so we stayed in the car.
After Custer's Park we headed back towards the hotel in Rapid City via Needles Highway, thru the Black Hills.
Black Hills are considered, by the native Americans, to be the birth place of all animals. And we understood why.
On the way east to Badlands we stopped at Ellsworth AFB. Some very cool ones on display.
Driving along on the prairie we kept seeing signs for Wall Drugs, at random spots out in the fields. Gigantic signs for coffee, breakfast, water, t-shirts, everything at Wall Drug, which now is a sprawling enterprise, in the town of Wall.
Badlands is surreal. Amazing what Mother Nature can create. We drove around for a few hours and decided to go to Custer's State Park, a park with lots of buffalos. They carry a lot of respect and a lot of tonnage around, so we stayed in the car.
After Custer's Park we headed back towards the hotel in Rapid City via Needles Highway, thru the Black Hills.
Black Hills are considered, by the native Americans, to be the birth place of all animals. And we understood why.
Day 4
Deadwood, SD - Devils Tower, WY - Bowman, ND - Miles City, Montana
We took a scenic drive thru Spearfish Canyon. Saw a spot where a scene from 'Dancing with Wolves' was filmed.
Then we aimed at Devil's Tower, a sacred Indian landmark.
Lenny felt the spiritual vibrations as we approached the tower, something Per didn't. Could have been the heavy coat he was wearing.
After having spent an hour or so at the site we pulled away towards ND. When we came to Alzada, MT, we had to make a decision, going the shortest way towards Bowman, ND, which meant hours on unpaved roads, or take the faster one via Belle Fourth?
We chose the latter.
We drove thru Belle Fourche, a town which claimed to be the middle of the US, which we had a hard time to believe. As we googled it afterwards, we found out that it is the middle, if you include Hawaii and Alaska.
Heading towards Bowman, North Dakota, we saw on our GPS that the next bend in the road would be in 95 miles. Crazy.
We searched for a place to stay over night coming to Bowman. Nothing anywhere, absolutely nothing. It turned out to be because of the oil boom in ND, and oil workers were everywhere. We had no choice but to pull out of the area. The closest suitable place was Miles City, MT. A three hour drive in the middle of the night. Among deer, elk, and God knows what. People we met warned us about this and along the road were many white crosses indicating fatal accidents between machine and animals. Lenny navigated our vehicle safely to Miles City, where we found an expensive Motel 6.
Then we aimed at Devil's Tower, a sacred Indian landmark.
Lenny felt the spiritual vibrations as we approached the tower, something Per didn't. Could have been the heavy coat he was wearing.
After having spent an hour or so at the site we pulled away towards ND. When we came to Alzada, MT, we had to make a decision, going the shortest way towards Bowman, ND, which meant hours on unpaved roads, or take the faster one via Belle Fourth?
We chose the latter.
We drove thru Belle Fourche, a town which claimed to be the middle of the US, which we had a hard time to believe. As we googled it afterwards, we found out that it is the middle, if you include Hawaii and Alaska.
Heading towards Bowman, North Dakota, we saw on our GPS that the next bend in the road would be in 95 miles. Crazy.
We searched for a place to stay over night coming to Bowman. Nothing anywhere, absolutely nothing. It turned out to be because of the oil boom in ND, and oil workers were everywhere. We had no choice but to pull out of the area. The closest suitable place was Miles City, MT. A three hour drive in the middle of the night. Among deer, elk, and God knows what. People we met warned us about this and along the road were many white crosses indicating fatal accidents between machine and animals. Lenny navigated our vehicle safely to Miles City, where we found an expensive Motel 6.
Day 5
Miles City, MT - Cody, Wyoming
The Motel 6 was OK, but overpriced. After breakfast at McDonald's we headed southwest towards the Yellowstone area.
The Little Big Horn battle field was along the route, but we had been told not to bother about the place. They said it was too boring, nothing to see. But since we passed by, we couldn't resist. And lucky us. It was real interesting to see Custer's Last Stand. A good visitor's center explained and showed the whole Battle of Little Big Horn and the history around it in a very clear way.
Lesson learned: Do not attack 7000 Indians with a troop of 225!
We continued through a country side with an endless horizon, Montana-Wyoming flat grass lands. Soon we drove up thru the Bighorn Mountains with majestic vistas of the prairies below. On the west side we slid down to Shell and we landed at Dirty Annie's, a fine grocery store and grill. They cooked a couple of fine hamburgers covered in crispy pickles. Yum. There was a choice to enter for a dollar and win two fine rifles, lovingly displayed over the kitchen.
We headed west on Hwy 14 towards Cody, WY
Lenny had read about the wild mustangs, and wanted to see them on the way west. We found the grasslands where they were rumored to be. We tracked them for miles, which was easy since there was only one road our Silver Ghost could go on. Thru the sagebrush up n down the hills and valleys, but they had run away that day. With Per only moderately amused and with dark clouds appearing in the west, we decided to seek shelter.
Rooms were scarce in Cody, but eventually we found us a log cabin. They told us Bill Cody supposedly stayed here a long time ago, and that is a good tale to tell.
The Little Big Horn battle field was along the route, but we had been told not to bother about the place. They said it was too boring, nothing to see. But since we passed by, we couldn't resist. And lucky us. It was real interesting to see Custer's Last Stand. A good visitor's center explained and showed the whole Battle of Little Big Horn and the history around it in a very clear way.
Lesson learned: Do not attack 7000 Indians with a troop of 225!
We continued through a country side with an endless horizon, Montana-Wyoming flat grass lands. Soon we drove up thru the Bighorn Mountains with majestic vistas of the prairies below. On the west side we slid down to Shell and we landed at Dirty Annie's, a fine grocery store and grill. They cooked a couple of fine hamburgers covered in crispy pickles. Yum. There was a choice to enter for a dollar and win two fine rifles, lovingly displayed over the kitchen.
We headed west on Hwy 14 towards Cody, WY
Lenny had read about the wild mustangs, and wanted to see them on the way west. We found the grasslands where they were rumored to be. We tracked them for miles, which was easy since there was only one road our Silver Ghost could go on. Thru the sagebrush up n down the hills and valleys, but they had run away that day. With Per only moderately amused and with dark clouds appearing in the west, we decided to seek shelter.
Rooms were scarce in Cody, but eventually we found us a log cabin. They told us Bill Cody supposedly stayed here a long time ago, and that is a good tale to tell.
Day 6
Cody, WY - Yellowstone National Park - Gardiner, MT
It was a cloudy day with occasional showers. So Yellowstone wasn't at its best. But we saw buffalo, elk, deer, ravens, and above all, a lot of Chinese people. All over the place. They were very happy when we greeted them with a big Yeehaao.
Mammoth Hot Springs is an amazing oozing corner of the park. Full of tourists and deer strolling thru the little town. The deer were in frisky form and took over Main Street for a while until the park rangers restored order.
We stayed over night in Gardiner, MT. At night we took a walk across the bridge over Yellowstone River for supplies at the local grocery store. Then we got lucky. On the way back across the bridge our bellies started squealing, and right there, by the bridge, we stepped into the best plates of beef brisket found anywhere, at Cowboy's Lodge and Grille.
After dinner we got the lowdown from a bunch of bikers from Alberta, Canada. 'The Chinese are everywhere!' Every motel and hotel down south is full. They had slept in a Walmart parking lot a few nights earlier, and they scared us good.
That's about when we realized that certain road trips can benefit from a guaranteed hotel booking in advance.
One of our most enjoyable pastimes, the art of bargaining for the best room rates, now had to be suspended on account of the Chinese popularity of our national landmarks. Sheeeet.
Mammoth Hot Springs is an amazing oozing corner of the park. Full of tourists and deer strolling thru the little town. The deer were in frisky form and took over Main Street for a while until the park rangers restored order.
We stayed over night in Gardiner, MT. At night we took a walk across the bridge over Yellowstone River for supplies at the local grocery store. Then we got lucky. On the way back across the bridge our bellies started squealing, and right there, by the bridge, we stepped into the best plates of beef brisket found anywhere, at Cowboy's Lodge and Grille.
After dinner we got the lowdown from a bunch of bikers from Alberta, Canada. 'The Chinese are everywhere!' Every motel and hotel down south is full. They had slept in a Walmart parking lot a few nights earlier, and they scared us good.
That's about when we realized that certain road trips can benefit from a guaranteed hotel booking in advance.
One of our most enjoyable pastimes, the art of bargaining for the best room rates, now had to be suspended on account of the Chinese popularity of our national landmarks. Sheeeet.
Day 7
Gardiner, MT - Yellowstone National Park - West Yellowstone, Idaho
We went back Mammoth Hot Springs in the morning. Saw some buffalos trekking across the rocky lava fields in the mist, as if in a movie.
The colors are vivid, and oozing minerals create new wonders all the time.
This was the day of Old Faithful, the largest geyser in the world. The amount of water coming out is more impressive then the hight. And the surrounding area, with all the colorful pools and small geysers bubbling and smoking, is otherwordly
.
At night we had to drive back north a bit, then west to West Yellowstone, in Idaho. To our pre booked hotel. In town we got properly equipped with cowboy hats, and even saw a whole table full of Indians. They were from Bombay and very happy.
The colors are vivid, and oozing minerals create new wonders all the time.
This was the day of Old Faithful, the largest geyser in the world. The amount of water coming out is more impressive then the hight. And the surrounding area, with all the colorful pools and small geysers bubbling and smoking, is otherwordly
.
At night we had to drive back north a bit, then west to West Yellowstone, in Idaho. To our pre booked hotel. In town we got properly equipped with cowboy hats, and even saw a whole table full of Indians. They were from Bombay and very happy.
Day 8
West Yellowstone, ID - Salt Lake City, Utah
As we left West Yellowstone in the morning we started seeing runners, a few here and there. Running south. Then we saw some more, and before we knew it we must have passed hundreds of runners stretched out over miles.
The Chinese were all over the place, found them at every rest stop. They're mostly cute, and we taught them to say Yee-hao instead of their usual Ni-hao, much to our own amusement.
Idaho was nice and flat, and seemed somehow very cultivated compared to our previous states. Soon we started seeing signs for The World's Largest Potato Museum, and the Oldest Potato Museum, and it felt good. It was good to be home with the potatoes, the farmers, with a few hunters thrown in for good measure.
Salt Lake City seemed close for a long while, but we were fooled time and time again by yet another suburb. But after a few hours we were circling the Temple and the Latter Day Saints, mormons everywhere. They make up half of Salt Lake City. They seem to be very tidy, and they smile a lot.
Marriott came to the rescue, and as luck would have it, next door to our hotel was R&R BBQ, another great beef brisket place!
We took a stroll thru Salt Lake City after dinner, and really stretched out our legs. Luckily we found our way back.
The Chinese were all over the place, found them at every rest stop. They're mostly cute, and we taught them to say Yee-hao instead of their usual Ni-hao, much to our own amusement.
Idaho was nice and flat, and seemed somehow very cultivated compared to our previous states. Soon we started seeing signs for The World's Largest Potato Museum, and the Oldest Potato Museum, and it felt good. It was good to be home with the potatoes, the farmers, with a few hunters thrown in for good measure.
Salt Lake City seemed close for a long while, but we were fooled time and time again by yet another suburb. But after a few hours we were circling the Temple and the Latter Day Saints, mormons everywhere. They make up half of Salt Lake City. They seem to be very tidy, and they smile a lot.
Marriott came to the rescue, and as luck would have it, next door to our hotel was R&R BBQ, another great beef brisket place!
We took a stroll thru Salt Lake City after dinner, and really stretched out our legs. Luckily we found our way back.
Day 9
Salt Lake City, UT - Park City - SLC
The Winter Olympics took place in the small town of Park City, about an hour away from downtown. And up we went! Into the mountains, and into the Olympic training facilities for ski jumping, bob sledding and such. We spoke to the mother of Harrison Smith, who's been in training every summer since he was 12, we'll watch for him in S Korea 2018
After a while the Olympic spirit moved us too. Yeehao!
After a few training runs the rain came, and we had to use an improvised Swampronker umbrella, the Park City News.
For even more of a spiritual lift we went to the Temple and met the trance continental LDS ladies from around the world, each spending 18 months in training here. They all seemed properly spiritualized and couldn't stop smiling at us. Every question was met with a smile, and if they hesitated in replying, the smile came, and all was well. We each got a gift of the Book of Mormons, and we quickly changed the title to the Book of Hormones, and again were very amused by our own wit.
After a while the Olympic spirit moved us too. Yeehao!
After a few training runs the rain came, and we had to use an improvised Swampronker umbrella, the Park City News.
For even more of a spiritual lift we went to the Temple and met the trance continental LDS ladies from around the world, each spending 18 months in training here. They all seemed properly spiritualized and couldn't stop smiling at us. Every question was met with a smile, and if they hesitated in replying, the smile came, and all was well. We each got a gift of the Book of Mormons, and we quickly changed the title to the Book of Hormones, and again were very amused by our own wit.
Day 10
Salt Lake City, UT - Ely, Nevada
Silver Ghost headed west this morning.We drove along Hwy 80 along the Great Salt Lake. Not much going on here, just salt. After a couple of hours we reached the world famous Bonneville Salt Flats. This is where you go to set land speed records. The current one is around 686mph, which is about the same speed with which Per spit out his taste of the water. Very salty!
We came to West Wendover, Nevada, and went to the Tourist Info place, The nice lady recommended we go to a spooky place, so we headed south towards a ghost town called Cherry Creek, just off Hwy 93.
It's a deserted mining town. As we rolled up to the falling down barns and houses, a guy in front of us gets into an ATV with two rifles, and strongly suggest we don't touch anything, don't enter any property, and don't take any photos of him. We couldn't really argue.
Of the 20 or so houses, three remained occupied.
We at last found a nice lady working in her fenced in greenhouse. Fenced on account of the free ranging cattle around the land. She liked it there, no neighbors to cramp you in. She kept busy, with her greenhouse, and the grave for her son. He had died of swine flu last year and she was still putting the finishing touches on his grave nearby. She told us where to find it at the cemetery.
Hwy 93 then took us south to Ely, NV. We stopped at the Railway museum, and found out that some tracks actually went to Cherry Creek, that we had just visited. But they were last used in 1946. No wonder the tracks were so overgrown.
Our pre-booking this time gave us Jailhouse Hotel as the best deal. We had a stroll thru town, we were right across from Hotel Nevada, a legendary casino and hotel. Back at our hotel, we had dinner in a jail cell. By the way, Ely is pronounced 'eelee'. Now we know.
We came to West Wendover, Nevada, and went to the Tourist Info place, The nice lady recommended we go to a spooky place, so we headed south towards a ghost town called Cherry Creek, just off Hwy 93.
It's a deserted mining town. As we rolled up to the falling down barns and houses, a guy in front of us gets into an ATV with two rifles, and strongly suggest we don't touch anything, don't enter any property, and don't take any photos of him. We couldn't really argue.
Of the 20 or so houses, three remained occupied.
We at last found a nice lady working in her fenced in greenhouse. Fenced on account of the free ranging cattle around the land. She liked it there, no neighbors to cramp you in. She kept busy, with her greenhouse, and the grave for her son. He had died of swine flu last year and she was still putting the finishing touches on his grave nearby. She told us where to find it at the cemetery.
Hwy 93 then took us south to Ely, NV. We stopped at the Railway museum, and found out that some tracks actually went to Cherry Creek, that we had just visited. But they were last used in 1946. No wonder the tracks were so overgrown.
Our pre-booking this time gave us Jailhouse Hotel as the best deal. We had a stroll thru town, we were right across from Hotel Nevada, a legendary casino and hotel. Back at our hotel, we had dinner in a jail cell. By the way, Ely is pronounced 'eelee'. Now we know.
Day 11
Ely, NV - Cedar City, UT
Half an hour south of Ely were the Ward Charcoal Ovens. Magnificent beehive like structures used to make charcoal in the olden days. Nearby was a trading post. They seemed to enjoy storing old 50s and 60s cars and farming equipment of all kinds. The owner said she gets some tourists stopping by. Mostly Germans and Dutch people, some Scandinavians.
Then we came thru Great Basin Natl Park. The guides told us about the thousands of year old bristle cone pines in the area.
Here was another reason for prebooking. All visitors had to be on a guided tour, and they were all full. Oh well, it's just brysselkål pines and some caves. We carried on.
Highway 50 in Nevada is said to be the loneliest highway in the US. But the locals claim that Hwy 21 is even lonelier. We chose Hwy 21 today and it was as the locals claimed. All we met along the road was a 69 year old sole wanderer who was out for a stroll between Delaware and California. He estimated 6 months to fulfill the task. A bit later we passed a runner with a big US flag heading the other way. Soon a double leg amputee was seen pushing the wheels on his wheelchair up a hill.
We felt blessed to be Swampronkers, in our Silver Ghost.
Then we came thru Great Basin Natl Park. The guides told us about the thousands of year old bristle cone pines in the area.
Here was another reason for prebooking. All visitors had to be on a guided tour, and they were all full. Oh well, it's just brysselkål pines and some caves. We carried on.
Highway 50 in Nevada is said to be the loneliest highway in the US. But the locals claim that Hwy 21 is even lonelier. We chose Hwy 21 today and it was as the locals claimed. All we met along the road was a 69 year old sole wanderer who was out for a stroll between Delaware and California. He estimated 6 months to fulfill the task. A bit later we passed a runner with a big US flag heading the other way. Soon a double leg amputee was seen pushing the wheels on his wheelchair up a hill.
We felt blessed to be Swampronkers, in our Silver Ghost.
Day 12
Cedar City - Bryce Canyon - Cedar City, UT
Bryce Canyon was next on the menu. A ride thru the Dixie Forest and Hwy 143 took us up to Cedar Breaks and a hint of canyons in the early morn. Another couple of hours and we were at Bryce.
Big, beautiful and burning red! Awesome to lie at the edge of the abyss. Free of guard rails. There are lots of towers and some arches, and we drove from one outlook to the next. Climbed a bit here n there, but mostly kept on snapping photos.
Then we took Hwy 12 South. 5 miles later we saw a trail, and parked and walked a bit. Gorgeous area, with a small stream cutting thru the rocks.
Big, beautiful and burning red! Awesome to lie at the edge of the abyss. Free of guard rails. There are lots of towers and some arches, and we drove from one outlook to the next. Climbed a bit here n there, but mostly kept on snapping photos.
Then we took Hwy 12 South. 5 miles later we saw a trail, and parked and walked a bit. Gorgeous area, with a small stream cutting thru the rocks.
Day 13
Cedar City, UT - Zion - Page, AZ
We left Cedar City on Hwy 15 South and headed for Zion National Park. In the olden days used as a safe haven for mormons, today it's full of tourists, just like us, with cars. So many cars that they now offer the obligatory bus service to many stops in the park. We went to the heart of the canyon, called the Narrows. To go further you had to have more serious equipment, go upstreams in the river, and generally suffer. We took the bus back to our car, and continued thru the long tunnel to another world of rocks. Now looking like pancake batter spilled out.
After a while we continued to Page, Arizona. Where another pre-booked Marriott Hotel awaited us on the grassy slopes overlooking the Colorado River ravine.
After a while we continued to Page, Arizona. Where another pre-booked Marriott Hotel awaited us on the grassy slopes overlooking the Colorado River ravine.
Day 14
Page, AZ - Blanding, UT
We started the day by trying to get admission to Antelope Canyon. It's on land owned by the Navajo Nation, and they only show the canyon to people who use a Navajo guide. We got lucky and got on Laurie's tour at 10:30am. Paid double the price for that time slot, but the sun beams came down just right thru the narrow openings and lit up the canyon like a cathedral. It was the most mesmerizing two hours of my life. Laurie helped to point out the good angles and explained and pointed out all the features and formations. She didn't know anything about the First Nation people however, and that surprised us. But she told us many good stories, and we called her a Navajo Spinner, she spins the yarns real good.
In the afternoon we headed up north into Utah again, passed the town of Mexican Hat, and on to Blanding. Nice hotel, full of little Indian girl. There was a volleyball tournament in town, and they were there for the weekend. For dinner we had Mexican food, a bunch of tacos and burritos next door.
In the afternoon we headed up north into Utah again, passed the town of Mexican Hat, and on to Blanding. Nice hotel, full of little Indian girl. There was a volleyball tournament in town, and they were there for the weekend. For dinner we had Mexican food, a bunch of tacos and burritos next door.
Day 15
Blanding, UT - Moab, UT
Sunrise greeted us in the morning followed by a rainbow over town. We headed for Arches National Park. Another amazing area to visit. Full of arches, towers and balancing rocks.
Seeing all these things required a good amount of hiking on trails to get somewhere. Good stamina is helpful. Per was able to bounce up and down the hills like a mountain goat, while Lenny concentrated more on taking photos along the way.
Day 16
Moab, UT - Ouray, CO
Red Stone Inn was in the middle of town and fairly cheap. Also had a good history, with film crews and movie stars staying here months at a time. Stars from John Wayne to Johnny Depp.
We had a wet evening, and night, and the storm was talked about a lot on tv. But we got lucky, it cleared up and we went to the Canyonlands National Park, two hours north.
This is where Dead Horse State Park is, and where Thelma & Louise had their final act, in the car, over the cliff.
It's another strange land. Lots of rocks and canyons and ravines, and with Colorado River snaking its way thru like a serpentine. We found our little Chinese girl, she did the V sign, and smiled.
We headed southeast into Colorado, past Bedrock, to Ouray in the mountains.
We had a wet evening, and night, and the storm was talked about a lot on tv. But we got lucky, it cleared up and we went to the Canyonlands National Park, two hours north.
This is where Dead Horse State Park is, and where Thelma & Louise had their final act, in the car, over the cliff.
It's another strange land. Lots of rocks and canyons and ravines, and with Colorado River snaking its way thru like a serpentine. We found our little Chinese girl, she did the V sign, and smiled.
We headed southeast into Colorado, past Bedrock, to Ouray in the mountains.
Day 17
Ouray, CO - Pagosa Springs, CO
The road south from Ouray is called 'the Million Dollar Highway' and we definitely got some great views. Mesa Verde and its cliff dwellings was next, it was a long winding road up the mesa. On the cliff sides were a few old dwellings carved out. The Park Ranger told us they think they were built around year 500, abandoned around year 1500, rediscovered in 1886, and look to be in good shape. They even came with basements. A ladder went down to the 'kiva' where they stayed warm during the winter months.
At night in Pagosa Springs, we went to Coyote Moon Bar & Grill for a burger and a beer, and then suddenly Per turned out to be the Minnesota Fats of Munka, a pool hustler! Kicked my butt! Also kicked my balls on the table, but that's another story.
At night in Pagosa Springs, we went to Coyote Moon Bar & Grill for a burger and a beer, and then suddenly Per turned out to be the Minnesota Fats of Munka, a pool hustler! Kicked my butt! Also kicked my balls on the table, but that's another story.
Day 18
Pagosa Springs, CO - Salida, CO
Weird morning weather with clouds at or even below street level, if that's possible. Our Silver Ghost showed low tire pressure, but after a refill, we finally realized it was because of the cold, and after a few miles the tires warmed up and pressure came back. But it was still cold, and we were driving in fresh snow. Luckily we were heading down to the Great Sand Dunes National Park, and soon we got to a warmer climate on the prairie.
The Sand Dune is an odd thing in the middle of nowhere, next to a mountain. As if somebody had unwrapped a huge roll of fabric and draped it across the landscape.
The road to Salida was called the Cosmic Highway, and I think I know why. Majestic mountains along the road reach up to scratch the clouds above. Pretty.
Next to our pre booked hotel we found a nice Mexican place. When we got our beers, they surprised us by putting two shrimps in each bottle. Very good actually. They also had a different way of serving coffee, with the spoon draped across the top of the cup. Different.
The Sand Dune is an odd thing in the middle of nowhere, next to a mountain. As if somebody had unwrapped a huge roll of fabric and draped it across the landscape.
The road to Salida was called the Cosmic Highway, and I think I know why. Majestic mountains along the road reach up to scratch the clouds above. Pretty.
Next to our pre booked hotel we found a nice Mexican place. When we got our beers, they surprised us by putting two shrimps in each bottle. Very good actually. They also had a different way of serving coffee, with the spoon draped across the top of the cup. Different.
Day 19
Salida, CO - Fairplay, CO
At our breakfast in Salida, we heard about a ghost town called St Elmo, and we couldn't pass it up. We took the backroads and headed north. The last miners left about 50 years ago. |
Day 20
Fairplay, CO - Denver, CO (Westminster)
Day 21
Denver, CO (Westminster) - Denver, CO (Airport)
Day 21-22-23
Denver - Home
We took a ride to the Red Rock Amphitheater, very cool, great acoustics. A band was warming up the instruments for tonite's headliner, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Tried to get in, but all Sold out. So we drove on up the Rockies to the final resting place for Buffalo Bill. And we rested up in the fine mountain air and sucked in the beautiful scenery in front of us..
The last day is always bitter sweet. One thing is sure, we had a great roadtrip!
Perhaps the most scenic one of all, with many many photos of a great many natural wonders.
Lenny left early in the morning on Delta Airlines to JFK.
Per had to wait til the evening for his Icelandic Air flight to Reykjavik, and onto Copenhagen.
Our substitute Silver Ghost left some 4600 miles of asphalt and dirt behind. Well done.
Thanks to all who supported us, helped us with park passes and Marriott hotel rooms, or just put up with us.
Lenny aka Wild Bill Andersson
Per aka Buffalo Bengtsson, Uncas Ekelund, Kofösarn från Munka
The last day is always bitter sweet. One thing is sure, we had a great roadtrip!
Perhaps the most scenic one of all, with many many photos of a great many natural wonders.
Lenny left early in the morning on Delta Airlines to JFK.
Per had to wait til the evening for his Icelandic Air flight to Reykjavik, and onto Copenhagen.
Our substitute Silver Ghost left some 4600 miles of asphalt and dirt behind. Well done.
Thanks to all who supported us, helped us with park passes and Marriott hotel rooms, or just put up with us.
Lenny aka Wild Bill Andersson
Per aka Buffalo Bengtsson, Uncas Ekelund, Kofösarn från Munka