Before having breakfast I called the body shop in Grand Junction. It seems the problem with getting the car to Grand Junction is going to be the road. Known as the Million Dollar Highway, Highway 550 is a narrow, winding, mountainous road as it travels from Durango, Colorado north toward Grand Junction. Difficult to drive in summer, it can be a real challenge in winter and winter is now here. Coal Bank Pass (10,640 feet), Molas Pass (10,790 feet) and Red Mountain Pass (11,018 feet) are but a few of the obstacles the highway offers up. Barb and I have been over these and other passes in the area during our stay in Colorado. Rumor has it that fill dirt used in building the road contains over a million dollars in gold.
Next was a call to the rental car company, and I was told there might or might not be a car available. I suggested he find one. He called back a short time later with two cars. The first one was a Mustang convertible. His boss wanted it moved out of winter weather. Perhaps he doesn’t know where Oregon is. The other was a Chevy HHR. Kinda looks like a small SUV, with lots of room. I took it. A little research on the internet told me HHR stands for Heritage High Roof. Really? That’s good to know.
We finally drove away in the car about 12:30. Apparently he is a one man operation, which means he cleans them, rents them and delivers them. And after he had just washed the car we drove away from the rental office on a half mile muddy road.
About forty minutes later we split a Subway sandwich in the small town of Bayfield and then on to Durango. By then the rain had stopped and the sun was starting to come out. Not much going on the next 137 miles, except for passing the entrance to Mesa Verde National Park and crossing into Utah. We visited Mesa Verde during our Colorado time and it’s another one of those must see places. I’d like to think we added another state today, but Utah was number three way back on day two.
Around Looking Glass Road the real scenery of Southern Utah begins, with some to the most beautiful red rock formations and mountains you will ever see. Yesterday was the day we were to explore Canyonlands National Park, but our four-legged friend has put a hold on that one. By stopping for the night in Moab we are back on schedule and will have a chance to spend some time in Arches National Park.
Dinner tonight was at the Moab Brewery, which has easily won the best Burger of the Trip award. And their beer is pretty darn good too.
Tomorrow after Arches we head to West Wendover, Nevada via Salt Lake City. I’ve been saving my pennies since day one and intend to gamble the whole $2.57 away, even if it takes till midnight. 220 miles today.
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