Day Four - Grand Junction to Ridgway

This was a fantastic day! By the way, have we discussed weather yet? No? Well, it's been outstanding, although pretty hot! - particularly in the west and as we work south. 

On leaving the hotel this morning we enquired about the Colorado National Monument which we had read about. 'A must' said the check out clerk and with that we were off to see it. And it was a must! A 26 mile drive along the canyon rim with views of spectacular rock formations and down into Grand Junction. 

 

  

 

 

It took a while but after completing the rim drive we set off down the road on our day's route. 

As soon as we turned onto Hwy 141 it was a great run through the valley floor of increasingly higher and higher canyon walls. 

It was super hot and after about 60 plus miles we came to the town of Gateway which has special significance for one of our group. 

 

We gassed up there and learned there was a resort with a restauarant just down the road. Incredible! this turned out to be in the top ten of resorts in America. Gateway Canyon Resort. Lunch was terrific and after we ate we went to see the auto museum there. It is the personal collection of the man who founded the Discovery Channel - a collection valued at around $60 million!

 

    

The cars and memorabilia were terrific. 

LZB's Honda  even discovered one of its children. It wants to be a Goldwing like its Dad when it grows up!

 

More canyons followed and we ended up finally emerging into the high country at our hotel in Ridgway.

We had pizza for supper but Don went his own way for wine!

 

Tomorrow we retrace our steps slightly and ride down to Telluride for a coffee and a look around. Then on to Durango for the night. 

Sounds exciting but beating today's ride may be difficult!