It was hot today. We fooled around for a good portion of the morning and, once air conditioning became mandatory inside the trailer, we buggered off for another visit to Colorado National Monument. This time we went in the Fruita entrance and Peggy got to drive. Peggy has little faith in vehicles operating along the top edge of dizzying bluffs and going in the Fruita entrance keeps most of the terrifying cliffs on the oncoming traffic side. She did very well.
The Monument offered the same superb scenery we ogled yesterday. This place has sandstone formations that look a lot like they were shaped by artistic humans although none of them were. Just geology and erosion doing their things are responsible and the effects are wonderful.
About 1000 feet in altitude from the summit of the loop road, we encountered some healthy, insane types riding their bicycles up the grueling slope. We offered a nice, tired-looking lady from Salt Lake City a lift to the top of the hill, throwing her bicycle into the bed and popping her into the back seat of Charlotte. We felt pretty good about giving the nice lady an air conditioned ride and re-stocking her ice and water supply before being overtaken by her obviously buffed husband zapping by on his skinny bike.
We ended up today’s drive by taking a spin through downtown Grand Junction for some drive-by culture and a trip to the Conoco station to top off Charlotte’s tanks for tomorrow’s travel day. Although we will be happy to get some relief from the shriveling heat, we will regret the departure from this area’s fantastic scenery.
We got a few pix along today’s route and you can see them if you click here