Day 13

We drove back to Denver on two lane roads through the mountains of Colorado. We made a stop at Mesa Verde National Park. We didn’t take any pictures today, but returned the rental car with 3,059 miles used on our trip. Tomorrow we have our flights home via Chicago at 8:20 am. 

This was a trip of a lifetime, dreamed long ago. I really learned a lot about the geography and people of our western states, and yet, I learned more about myself. I doubt I would make this voyage again by car. Perhaps my next trip will be through New England. That’s a lot shorter! One thing I know for sure, there’s no place like home. 

Day 12 - Grand Canyon

Today’s adventure will bring us first to the Grand Canyon and then we will travel toward the four corners monument which shares borders with Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona. This will take us to Cortez, Colorado where we will spend the night and continue with our trip to Denver international airport tomorrow.

I believe this will be one of the most beautiful trips we have taken on our 14 day adventure.

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/QevmQoSNUKq

Made it to four corners monument and then to Cortez. Today was our most scenic drive. 

Day 11 - Hoover Dam

I must admit, that I am getting a little tired of going from one hotel to another. But, it has been a wonderful trip, one that I always had dreamed. Everyplace we have stopped has been a favorite place where I would return. The next two nights are rather unknowns at this point. We have two days to return to Denver before our flights home. I am undecided about traveling across New Mexico, or on a diagonal up through Colorado. I happened to know that New Mexico contains the geological formations that Heber would really like to see. So, that is probably the way we will go.

Today, we are about 60 miles from the Grand Canyon which is where we will spend much of our day tomorrow. I was there once before in the month of March probably 15 years ago. After that, we will see what we can find through the rest of Arizona and part of New Mexico.

Day 10 - Chillin in Las Vegas

Decided it was best to visit Hoover Dam on the way to Flagstaff Arizona tomorrow. So today it’s just about seeing the sights. 

Looking forward to the peace and quiet of being back in the mountains. 

Day 9 - Las Vegas

We had an eight hour to Las Vegas from San Francisco.  Another long day; and yet, traveling and seeing the different geoscapes of our nation was part of the plan.  We stopped in San Jose to visit the Apple Visitor's Center.  It was a very nice place full of lots of toys and to explore their home base. 

Tons of wind turbines in the dessert. 

After that we arrived to Las Vegas, got lost trying to find New York New York (my GPS steered us wrong in the worse traffic congestion), and once settled in, went down to gamble.  Of course, I lost $20 in minutes.  Heber did much better and at least lasted much longer on $20.



I've only been here once before in my lifetime.  I'm not a person who necessarily likes to gamble, but it's interesting to be here, eat the great food, and just explore the town.  I'm more excited about visiting Hoover Dam tomorrow.  That fascinates me.

Day 8 - Pier 39

Learning how to navigate San Francisco trolleys and visiting pier 39 for dinner with my nephew Drew. 

SF Ferry Port. 

Pier 39. 

Day 7 - San Francisco

Walked the bridge today. 

Day 6 - Pacific West Coast

It’s a beautiful morning to begin our last trip west starting from Nevada. Blue skies and wide valleys. 

Rest area near California border at 7,700 ft. 

We arrived at 3:00 pm. Although I worried about driving in the city, I-80 took us right in close to the hotel. After a rest, we took an Uber into the city and had dinner on Pier 39 and watched a sword swallower show. 

It was another beautiful ride over the Sierra Cascade mountains. 

Day 5 - Heading West to the unknown

With an early start, we will be taking US 40 West toward Salt Lake City.  At Salt Lake, we will join I-80.  Not sure how far we will get, probably someplace between Salt Lake and Reno.

8:30 am. We’ve stopped for breakfast. This route has been beautiful; many ranches with large parcels of land. Route 40 is definitely the way to see Colorado in all of its glory.

Coming out of the Colorado mountains was as spectacular as when we came, but the valleys were longer and it was easy to maintain 65 mph on US 40 most of the way.  Entering Utah was just as beautiful with a different landscape.  There were still mountains, some without vegetation, and some with many trees.

We had to stop here because Utah has a very interesting sign.  I never knew that in this area were found the remains of dinosaurs.  We past by the Dinosaur National Park in Colorado, because we knew we had a long drive.  If I ever come back through here again, I will visit the many museums that were everywhere.

Some more Utah landscape.  Coming into Salt Lake City was some high climbs over mountains.  After passing the Great Salt Lake, there was nothing but salt for 80 miles until we hit the Nevada state line.  It's called the Salt Desert.  Evidently, Salt Lake was once much larger.  Events that made it smaller left vast deposits of salt behind.

I really learned many new things today, because I took this trip.  I knew nothing about the dinosaurs.  Northern Utah doesn't have all of those chimney mountains.  There are salt deserts.  And, Nevada is not flat and boring.  It is one mountain after another mountain of beautiful driving.  In fact, there was nothing boring on this trip.  Although we were 13 hours on the road, every turn offered another beautiful scene I had not seen before.


We are just shy of Reno for the night.  Tomorrow should be a 6 hour drive to San Francisco.

Day 4 - Graduation at CSU and Hot Sulfur Springs

We stayed over night west of Denver close to the CSU graduation ceremony.  The day started early.  There was so much energy in the arena from the families of the graduates; and as the graduates walked in, I could really feel so much excitement and hope. 

Following the ceremony, it was time to point the compass west and travel back into the Rocky Mountains.  We ended up on US Route 40 which took us up and over an elevation of 10,500 feet with many switch backs.  It was a little scary because of the deep canyons around every curve.

Finally, we arrived to Hot Sulphur Springs, which is on the other side of the Rocky Mountain National Park.  The main attraction are hot springs which are located at a resort in town with 22 pools.  It's a really quaint town with dirt roads and a restaurant off the beaten path that had fantastic food.  If I ever come through here again, I will stop for a visit.

Day 3 - Rocky Mountain National Park

Good morning from Estes Park. Blue skies, about 65° F. First things first; coffee.

Once we started on our way, we stopped at a cable tram that lifted us about 1200 feet up onto one of the surrounding peaks.  It was a fast ride and we were able to explore around the top and view all of the great views.  There was also a coffee shop with pastries.  Needless to say, we had some nice eats and drinks before returning back to Estes Park.

This was the view from where we had lunch, at a canyon restaurant we stopped at yesterday.  The food was so good, we decided to stop for another delicious meal.  We are outside and I just couldn't keep my eyes off the rock that reminded me so much of Philmont Treks.

We entered the park once again on a different route and traveled to Bear Lake.  The lake wasn't that big, but it was definitely worth seeing because it is 9,500 feet, and had a beautiful walking trail around it with spectacular views.  Lots of pictures were taken here.  And, the smell of pine was so good.  It brought back so many wonderful memories of other times I was exploring the west.





Although I would love to return here someday, I realize that any future trips west will be at different places.  There are too many places to explore.

Day 2 - Rocky Mountain National Park

After a brief drive around the CSU campus, it was time to make the drive up over the Rockies to Discovery Lodge in Estes Park, a town just outside of RMNP. Just found out there is a tram that takes us up and over to one of the peaks. Hope to be on that today or tomorrow.

That’s our car on the way up the mountains. 

Estes Park is at the entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park.  We stopped at a visitor's center and thought the view was already spectacular.  This was at 7,500 feet.



On the climb up, there were plenty of opportunities to pull off for what appeared to be great pictures.  Every time we stopped, it was better than the last stop.



We finally made it to the top at 12,500 feet.  We both had some trouble breathing and feeling light headed.  The drive up was a little scary too.  No guard rails; there was no room for swinging out of the lane on to a shoulder.  There was no shoulder.

This visit was breath taking.  Imagine standing in snow in June.  I've only been to one other park, Glacier National Park in 1989.  This was just as spectacular.



We stopped for our dinner back at the visitor's center and the dinner was fantastic.  Unfortunately, to get to the restaurant it involves going through a gift shop packed with everything you would like to bring home.  I've already started my Christmas shopping!

On the way down, we caught sight of many deer, I think they are deer.  This one was rather large.  We couldn't get it to look at us for a picture.

We finally settled into our room at Estes Park.  Our hotel certainly fits the flavor of the area.  Our room has two entrances with a balcony and it's big.  Lots of space. 



This is a place I will definitely revisit.  In two days, we will be staying on the other side of the National Park in Hot Sulphur Springs.  When we revisit, we'll drive the van here so there's lots of room to bring things home.  This morning, while still in Ft. Collins, we stopped at Walmart and purchased a huge orange suitcase to pack all of those extra things for the trip home.

Day 1 - Denver and CSU at Ft. Collins, CO

And so begins our trip west.


Arrived Chicago to a nice breakfast. Now waiting in United Club lounge for Denver flight. 

Once we arrived to Colorado, the biggest challenge was figuring out the controls on a smart car rental. Xfinity. Still haven’t figured out the cruise control. 

  First night will be to Colorado State University main campus to visit their bookstore for clothing and keepsakes.

Best Wesrern Inn. Great place next to campus.