We decided not to stay in Ouray and to drive on to the west and then north on back road 141. We stopped in the darling town of Ridgeway, my favorite so far as it is a true western town with history and so quaint with it's side roads of gravel, plenty of room, and great views. And, by accident turning around on one of those gravel roads, we found the Kate's Place restaurant for some breakfast of delicious, gourmet lemon ricotta pancakes. It was just what we needed to perk us up.
We met a guy there who was traveling on a motorcycle from Durango who was originally from Maumee, Ohio. I told him that that was where our transmission was from and he was puzzled how I could know that. He told us we should have kept going in Telluride as on through town there would have been a big parking lot for us and we could have ridden the gondola down into town. Darn! But then, that might have been hard for Ben. Next time, we'll know.
We headed west on 145 to meet up with 141 through the San Miguel Valley, following a clear sparkly river with occasional Fly Fishermen. The road was very narrow and curvy with high rock formations sticking right into the road. The road was posted to fish using catch and release only and no camping or fires. It was an awesomely beautiful area as we ewed and ahhed at every turn.
We climbed higher with very steep drops off the side and no guard rails. Then we saw bikers flying down the road banking curves at who knows what speed. Crazy!
Then at the top, the land tuned flat and grassy with grazing cows and horses. You'd never know you were up that high. We went through rustic little scrub towns and wondered what the people did that lived there. We saw lots of rusty old equipment and junk in yards around mobile homes, but then we'd see cute little clean ranches. It was a real mix, but we loved being off the highway really seeing the land. There were loads of Elk horns over doors, so they must be out here.
We went into Naturita and got on 141 heading northwest to Gateway. There were cattle crossing signs and warnings that it was open range. We saw a lot of cattle off in the brush, but luckily not in the road. It again looked like land out of a Cowboy movie.
We stopped in a little park by the river with grills and picnic tables and had it all to ourselves. The quiet and soft breeze was sweet. We had some lunch and let Ben cool off in the river and pushed on.
After the little town of Gateway the land turned back to lots of green high timber with some Yellow Aspen. I could just picture Elk or Grizzlies coming down out of the mountains. The valleys were scattered with beautiful ranches and log homes. We stopped to take a picture of an old ruin.
As we came down one steep mountain side, there was a mountain goat at the side of the road so close it surprised us both or I would have tried for a picture.
We came out just south of Grand Junction and back to civilization. We got on highway 70 east along the Colorado River and planned to get a few miles in before getting back off the highway up to Steamboat Springs. The countryside was very nice, but we were now spoiled and feeling crowded.
We went through some tall timber again, through some tunnels through the mountains and then back to cowboy looking hills. The land changes back and forth so quickly. The Eagle River was now beside us with some white water and some calm places with Fly Fishermen.
Just outside of Gypsum, we found a perfect campground for the night.
We picked up some groceries, had dinner, and then took an evening walk along the river. It was very dark with the shadow of the mountains in the distance,sparkling stars and a sliver of a very bright moon.
No comments:
Post a Comment