Wild West Tour: Issue 5

Day #4: Salida CO to Blanding UT.

Day 4 brought us thru Monarch Pass where the summit was 11,311 feet. This was the first time we got into the real mountains. We stopped for a photo shot and noticed that the air was a bit thinner. There was a group of Cobras at the top.

Shortly after going through the pass we came across the place in the road where the mud slide really was. It was pretty much cleaned up but for a bit of dust on the road.

The mountains are so massive and beautiful at this point. We continued to head toward Montrose where we would head south down Highway 550(The Million Dollar Highway).This takes us through Ouray and Silverton. Ouray is a great little town in the middle of two massive mountains. The road is full of curves and is narrower than before. The turns become interesting when you look off the side of the road and see a giant cliff. I was most suprised by the big-rigs that were also traveling the road. Some of those turns would be pretty difficult for them.

We headed next through Durango, Mesa Verde, then past Ute Mountain, in the direction of "4 Corners". 4Corners is a place that you can stand ing 4 states; Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona.

At 4 Corners we ran into a couple from California on an FJR. Their story included getting stuck 4 DAYS in Blanding UT, which was our next stop. The things they said about it made us a little interested about the town.

There was a little town in the middle of nowhere in New Mexico. It was no more than 1/2 mile in total size and was 100% surrounded by fencing. I believe it was called "Red Mesa", but it came and went pretty quickly. This area was HOT.

Onward to Blanding, and first we came through the town of Bluff, a tiny town set inside a canyon on the river. We left Bluff on a road that went up out of the canyon, the walls on both sides were huge and impressive.

Blanding is a small town that stayed in that night. The restaraunt that we ate at was nice, Mike had to buy 2 Iced Teas so that he could get more than the "One Refill" per purchase. We also noted that one of the Gas stations, also had "Edited Movies". To be honest, the town was a little strange. The campsite was great, and we met a few people there, one who was a logger working in the area.

Well that was it for now, look for the next update.

-matt-

More to come soon~!