July 5, 2013

Happy July 4^th, 2013

We got a late start out of the FMCA  Motor Home Rally in Gillette, Wo due to scheduling a weighing for our coach.  All four wheels weighed separately to determine an accurate load distribution.  All turned out good and on the road around 2pm to Shari’s cousin Tom & Char Sholes in Larkspur, Co.  Overnighted at a KOA in Fort Collins to make our arrival more timely on Mon 6/24.

Coach in Tom / Char Drive

Shari's Cousin Tom / Char Sholes

Spent four days with Tom & Char and enjoyed getting caught up on family memories and a wonderful dinner with grand-kids.   Their place is nestled in a beautiful valley overlooking a country club golf course and with a red rock backdrop.  A view to die for.   Enjoyed some hiking and side trips to Garden of the Gods, Manitou Springs and dinner in Monument.  We parked our coach in their drive and were guests in their home.  Some interesting maneuvering getting in and out, lots of trees, but all worked out.  Tom was kind enough to cut some branches.

Monarch Pass Continental Divide

 We left Sholes on 6/28 heading for Gunnison, Co. , crossing the continental divide at Monarch Pass, 11,312 ft.  Tom spent some valuable time with us planning a very scenic route, with our ultimate destination being Moab, Utah,  followed by the Zion and Bryce Canyon area.  Spent two days in Gunnison at a very nice RV park called the Tall Texan.  This is a huge rafting and biking area.  Spent a day in Crested Butte, a very big tourist area and ski resort.  Could easily spend a week here.  On the way to Moab, stopped at a famous “John Wayne” café in Ridgeway called “ True Grit”.  Fun and good food!

Arches Nat'l Park

Dead Horse State Park

Canyonlands

We arrived in Moab, Utah on Sun 6/30.  Wow, what beautiful country.  Magnificent scenery.  We booked thru July 4^th out of concern for conflicting with July 4^th Holiday outings.  Our five day stay was filled with mostly road tours because daytime highs were 105 degrees.  A near record for the number of days over 100 in a row. This left hiking and biking out for the “old farts”. 

 We enjoyed  the Arches Nat' Park, Dead Horse State Park, Canyonlands Nat'l Park, and the Needles.

  More pictures than we know what to do with.

Needles

Stopped at a very interesting unique tourist home, 5,000 square feet carved out of the rock by a married couple, now a museum.   World famous “Hole N The Rock”.   Twelve years to build and excavated some 50,000 cu ft of sandstone.

Closed our tour stuff with a music / light boat show on the Colorado river after a Dutch Oven dinner buffet. Beautiful lights shining the canyon walls to music and narrated history / legend,  finishing at 10:30pm.  Very Nice.

 July 4^th spent the day in Moab, morning parade, park activities followed by fireworks display in the evening.  Great family / kids day in Moab.

July 5^th we will be heading towards Zion and Bryce Canyon.