September 28-October 1, 2010
Our trip from Alaska to Denver was uneventful and to our surprise Alaska Airlines arrived on time. We were happy to see Dan and Gail’s smiling faces at DIA. Thursday was a busy day unpacking, preparing the 5th wheel, and grocery shopping. We were pleased to see that Bob and Sue Hicks from Longmont were coming with us. When they came to Alaska a few years ago, we enjoyed spending time with them . At 9 am on Friday morning, we pulled out of Dan and Gail’s driveway excited to be on our way to our next adventure.
The drive, winding through Glenwood Canyon following the river, was stunning. We stopped in Eagle for a picnic lunch before continuing on to Grand Junction and the west Fruita entrance to the Colorado National Monument.
We climbed to the plateau on Rim Rock Drive overlooking the grand valley of the the Colorado River.
After getting settled in Saddleback campground (campsite 10 in Loop A), we relaxed before the six of us enjoyed “michigans” for dinner followed by a lovely sunset.
Colorado National Monument is getting ready to celebrate its Centennial in January thanks to John Otto’s tireless efforts to conserve these majestic red rock canyons, towering monoliths, so beautifully sculpted by water, wind and erosion over millions of years. On Friday, after breakfast and before it got too hot, we all went on a 6 mile hike on the Monument Canyon Trail. We passed the Cook Ovens, colorful sculpted domes,
Kissing Couple and Independence Monument, the largest free-standing rock formation in the park. It gave me shivers imagining my brother-in-law Danny climbing this 450 foot monolith.
There is not enough money to entice me to go up and down that rock. That evening, we had another wonderful potluck: pulled pork and coleslaw!
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