As normal, I woke early and had my coffee. Preparing for the day ahead I would have liked to get going early, but Liz woke a little later. While she was getting ready, I ran into town for an errand to make Pearl ready for travel towards Denver. With everything taken care of, we packed up and hit the road. There wasn’t much traffic on the secondary roads which was a good change, but the views were breathtaking. Reaching the border of Utah and Colorado, we climbed down a fairly steep canyon and stopped for a photo op at the “Welcome to Colorful Colorado” sign.

Moving on, we drove through a few small towns, stopping once for a break In Norwood, Colorado. Reaching the San Miguel River, we followed along side it the rest of the way to Telluride. The entrance to The Lost Dollar Highway, sits at the summit of a peak looking into the valley above Telluride. It is a great view of the glacial remnants. Able to check in to the Camels Garden Hotel early, we managed to find parking just down the street, where Pearl could rest for the weekend. For lunch today, we visited the Smugglers Union and enjoyed a flight of beer before walking down Main Street, stopping in a few different shops including the local fly shop. One of the greatest things about staying in Telluride is the free gondola up and over the mountain to Mountain Village. We hopped on and had a good conversation about what to do with a local, familiar with spending time in both Telluride and Mountain Village. On her recommendation, we grabbed a ginger sloshie at the Telluride Distillery and walked around to familiarize ourselves with the town. Ready for a snack, we settled into the bar at Madeline’s for cocktails and elk tartare. Having gained our bearings of the small town, we hopped back on the gondola to ride back down to Telluride for a rest before dinner. Brown Dog Pizza and beers at Lost Dollar Saloon finished off quite a day. Getting a good nights sleep would be well received, so it was off to bed early with plans of at least one hike in the morning.

Its July 4th. Happy Independence Day to The United States of America! 245 years ago, we made a strong stance against tyranny; and to celebrate the forethought of our founding fathers, the democracy, and the sacrifice that was given then to be free today, we are thankful to call America home.

Getting the day started, we fueled up with breakfast at the hotel and then headed up to St Sophia Station on the gondola. Here during the ski season, one could head down to Mountain Village or to Telluride from St Sophia, but now during the summer season hikers, trail runners and mountain bikers flock to the ski runs. We hiked up to the See Forever Trailhead for some pictures, before hiking down the Telluride Trail (ski run) to town. Making it back to town from our hike around lunch, we dropped a few things off and nabbed a quick bite at Baked In Telluride; I had pizza and a beer. Later after a short respite, we hiked through town along the river to a vantage point near the base of the mountain to see Bridal Veil Falls. There is rich history in these hills as the town has been a base for mining long before a ski haven. It was a pleasant hike, gradually increasing to the where you can see the falls and power station sitting atop the cliffs, perched like owl overlooking a meadow. Making it back to town, we both decided that shaved ice sounded great, and why not enjoy the 4th of July with a refreshing Tigers Blood Snocone. This evening we had reservations at 221 South Oak, but first stopped into the New Sheridan for a drink on the roof top during sunset. Dinner was fabulous and I would highly recommend anyone visiting Telluride to support this restaurant. With a final ride up to Mountain Village, we were able to see Telluride in another light, literally lit up as it had already gotten dark. Tipping the proverbial cap to yet another Independence Day Celebration, we enjoyed one last beer from Poachers Pub. We settled in for the night, getting ready for the trek to Durango, Colorado the next day.

Today, I had a rough start, not only because we left one of the most beautiful (although bougie) places I have stayed, but before we even reached the edge of town for gas, my coffee had leaked through the cup. Sustainably sourced materials are great, but decomposable cups may not be the best resource to put very hot liquid in. Heading out of town it didn’t get much better. Driving a carbeurated right hand vehicle does have its limitations, like not being able to see around large vehicles when passing; not having the necessary power at elevation to even climb major grades makes it even harder to pass a small rv. Communication is key when traveling with others, and it is important to have an understanding of what phrases mean what. While nothing bad happened, it was a tense moment just getting out of town and on the road to Durango. Stopping for a quick pic at Trout Lake, Pearl was not liking the altitude today; but she pushed on.

Our major stop for the day would be Mesa Verde National Park. Much is still closed, including being able to visit the dwellings, but we were able to drive through the park and see all the ancient history of the people who once lived there. It is really quite amazing that people had the ingenious nohow to build into the cliffs and under the rim, protecting the villages from threats. Leaving the park, we made our way to the fire watch station at the peak of the park; 360 degree views allowed us to see all the way to four corners where Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona meet.

Leaving Mesa Verde, we passed by the town of Mancos before hitting standstill traffic. Before turning around, I noticed a life flight helicopter lift out of the canyon like it was shot from a canon and head west by northwest. We never figured out what happened, but hopefully no one was seriously injured. We waited out the traffic back in town, enjoying a couple of frozen drinks and a sandwich. Ready to make it to Durango, we got back on track and cruised the rest of the way, passing some fantastic scenery, including Chimney Rock National Monument. Hitting town, we encountered the second rainstorm since leaving Salt Lake City, and the heaviest since I was in Arkansas. Lucky us, we do have wipers, until they get stuck on the windshield seal; thankfully I could still see. We made it, and checked in to the hotel and decided to visit a food truck stand that is parked in an old texaco fuel and service station that is converted into a bar. We had our fill of authentic African cuisine and a twist on the All American Burger; and then walked down Main Street on our way back to our hotel.

Today started a bit better than yesterday, but something has distracted me from concentrating on the task at hand; driving to our next location, which would have been The Great Sand Dunes National Park. When we couldn’t find a board rental place closer to the park, we decided to just make our way to Gunnison and finally Elk Park Campground at Blue Mesa, to not back track later.

Making our first stop of the day, we picked up coffee in Pagosa Springs, Colorado at Root House. It must have been the place to go as it was very busy and had a long line. But, it was well worth the wait to enjoy a delicious americano. Keeping the day moving, we made our way through many small towns, including South Fork, where I spotted another Scout in the wild; and this one was actually moving. Continuing north, we stopped for lunch in Gunnison at the Ol’ Miner Steakhouse, where I couldn’t resist ordering Rocky Mountain Oysters and a good cold beer. Needing a Colorado fishing license, we found a fly shop, but had to head to Walmart to get our licenses. Planning to grill dinner tonight, we grabbed groceries and refueled for the trip out of town tomorrow. Headed for our campsite and the Blue Mesa Adventure Pods, the first thing we did upon arriving was take out the paddle boards to enjoy some of the lake; which we both fell in. The lake is deep in cool and while chilly, it was revitalizing on a hot summer day.

After carrying the boards 1/2 mile to the lake, we had to make the same trek back to camp; which after playing around for an hour was a bit challenging, as the board occasionally wanted to sail with a gust of wind. Dinner tonight would be the first time I have cooked using my Primus 2 burner stove, but everything was a success. NY York Strips rubbed with my proprietary coffee rub and mushrooms, mashed potatoes with Herbs de Provence, and asparagus made a delectable meal.

What can I say, today started off on the right foot, as they say; but man did it go south quick. Liz and I had our breakfast and coffee, and set off to fish the Gunnison River. We waded into the river at Wilsons Landing, casting and mending the line as it drifted down river. No fish were harmed today as we got skunked and lost a few flies, not abnormal for any day on the water. Deciding we should get back on the road, we packed all the gear away and started our trek out of town. Making a quick stop at the Whitewater Park, we got some snacks and were back on the road. Here is where the day goes south rapidly. Thinking everything was good, we’re cruising with a full tank of gas, but on the way out of town a fellow passenger passes us and points up. Most passers by just give a thumbs up, but thinking this was different, I pulled over and inspected everything on the roof rack. When I reached the rear of the vehicle, my heart sank. The gate to my rod locker was wide open and no rods were to be found. What could have happened? We turned around and back tracked every rotation of the tires, all the way back to the river landing. Nothing was seen, not even a broken rod strewn across the road. Deciding that was it, we headed on our way, but I continued to search the roadside for any sign of my fly rods. Again nothing. Hopefully, someone picked them up and will put them to good use catching some fish.

Moving on, we continued east to tackle Monarch Pass. At over 11,000 feet, this would be Pearls highest summit to date. It was a struggle for sure; but thankfully, road construction kept the speed limit manageable to stay with most of the traffic. I dropped her into second gear and we just cruised to the top. Taking a break at the summit, Liz and I stretched our legs, and I gave Pearl the chance to catch her breath and cool down.

Now everything was downhill. What a relief to not only myself but Pearl to get some cool mountain air through her. We made our way quickly to The Royal Gorge Bridge Park to check it out. A $30 entrance fee was a little steep and not worth it in my opinion, but we ventured across and enjoyed a cold drink watching as brave souls were launched above the canyon on a “roller coaster”. We found our campsite and settled in before making our last camp meal of Liz’s trip. Prepping everything, I had suffered my first injury of the trip; spilling boiling water on my hand missing the dehydrated meal altogether. Luckily I didn’t suffer to much, but it could have certainly been worse. Watching the sunset, we ate dinner and made plans for the following day. Early in the morning around 1:30, I got up to enjoy the night sky and try my hand with some astro photography. The morning air was brisk, but not cold and you could see the Milky Way and numerous constellations.

Today we are headed to Denver to meet our Dad and stepmom Heidi for the weekend. We had plans from last summer to see The Avett Brothers at Red Rocks Amphitheater, but had to wait a whole year for an amazing concert. As usual, I was up and packed early, just waiting to get on the road. Starting the day, we stopped in Canon City for coffee and a burrito at the Bean Pedaler. With much still closed due to Covid, we had decided to head for Garden of the Gods and take the time to stroll through the park, taking in all the majestic formations and even watching a few climbers summit different rocks. With one errand left, we would be headed for Denver. D and C Extreme Industries is well known in the vintage truck industry, at least in the west. I wanted to chat with them about re-gearing Pearl as she really needs an upgrade to better make it up the mountain passes. Eric, who I talked with, was very impressed in the condition of Pearl and is eager to help us out. I would head back on Monday for a more formal inspection. Finally heading for Denver, we headed north on I-25 and Pearl was able to cool down, until we hit traffic in downtown Denver. Later that night, we would meet Ivey (son of a Heidi’s and Dad’s friends Amy and Clint) and his girlfriend Lauren for drinks at Avanti. Afterwards, we had dinner at root around the corner and then fell right to sleep (as normal) when we made it back to the hotel.

Week 7 Mileage – 893