2006 Utah & Colorado

We've been on the road since May 1 and have seen some of nature’s best offerings in the Utah National Parks of Zion, Bryce, Cedar Breaks, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands and Arches. We enjoyed our hikes on the rim of canyons, up canyon walls and down to the bottom where the temperature is cool and refreshing; there is endless beauty all around you from massive monoliths to the sparkling waters of a canyon stream; all trails are people friendly and we didn’t encounter any hairy situations that called for any drastic action (mainly bears, falling rocks, humans and the like).

Our tow car is our trusty Honda Element which has four wheel drive on demand when the situation requires it, therefore, what better place to put it through the test than this unforgiving terrain in which even a lizard would have dry mouth. We drove to Tropic, Utah to the Escalante –Grand Staircase to "off road" 42 miles of dirt road, loose rocks, a small stream bed, slippery sands and tons of dust, we finished under 4 hours less enthused than when we started, other than rattling our kidneys and sore butts, we were happy to hit the hard asphalt of HWY 89 and back to our base camp of Bauer Ranch RV Park in Glendale, Utah and a hot shower.

From the canyon bottoms of Utah, we made our way up the Rockies through Vail Pass to Breckenridge, Colorado (9600 ft elevation). Breckenridge was our home base and we drove over Independence Pass (12095 ft elevation) for lunch in Aspen. Aspen is one of the most famous destinations of the world’s famous for fun & sun in the summer and world class skiing in the winter. Breckenridge is smaller than Aspen with quaint restaurants, shopping and can be easily walked from one end to the other. Skiing is foremost and transforms this place into a bustling bee hive of activity in the winter. We met Cheryl (a friendly local) in Vail’s Lionshead Village who spent time explaining what to see, where to walk and where to eat. On her recommendation, we followed the river to Vail Village where we shopped for Tommy Bahama shirts at half price ($55.00) for me and a delicious lunch at the Up the Creek Restaurant next to the river.

By the way, We enjoyed our stay in the mountains, the air is rarefied, clear and sweet and as John Denver would sing…”you’re on a Rocky Mountain high”.

Tomorrow, we head back down the mountain to Grand Junction, Colorado, Moab, Utah, Cortez-Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado and to Santa Fe, NM to see the works of our favorite American artists, Georgia O’Keefe, at her museum. Her pieces are an explosion of color in a very dramatic format. We were lucky enough to be at her museum when it opened several years ago with 109 of her original pieces that were loaned back to the museum from private collectors for this unforgettable occasion. On our way in to Santa Fe, we will pass her home in Abiquiu Pueblo where most of her landscapes were painted. Additionally, we will surely indulge in some sopapillas and New Mexican enchiladas with an egg on top….yummy

We’re filling our eyes…
Allen & Donna