On The Road Again - Part 5

Day 16 - A traveling day from Moab, UT to Golden, CO. Left Moab at 8:10 a.m. The sun was shining, the sky was blue and the temps were in the high 60's. Nice traveling weather.

Crossed the last 70 miles of Utah and crossed over into CO at Fruita. At Fruita we picked up the Colorado River and went through a tremendous gorge on the way to Grand Junction. The sides were so steep we lost the satellite signal for the XM radio. Passed by Grand Junction and then Glenwood Springs and into Glenwood Canyon. I wish there had been stopping places to take a picture of how they've carved I-70 into the canyon alongside the river and the UP railroad. It's awesom.

Then the long pull up the hill to the top of Vail Pass (10,000'+). The Cummins is a champ. Only had to drop down to 5th gear to hold 50 mph at 2,500rpm. Did the engine good. Blew out all the carbon.

But, about hallway up we ran into snow showers, and then a full blown squall. Haven't seen that since last winter in NH. We ran out of the squall about half way down the other side, and then ran into it again just before the Johnson Tunnel (eastbound side of the Eisenhower Tunnel Complex) at 11,000'+. I'm glad we have the JakeBrake for the downhill sides of these mountains. Only had to use the TV/Trailer brakes a few times.

We're in Golden now, getting ready to go up to Boulder to Celestial Seasonings to take their factory tour and buy some tea from the factory store. The DW loves her tea. Tomorrow we're headed to the Colorado Railroad Museum and then up into the mountains again.

Gotta go, the DW calls .......