This is the only place apparently where four states meet at a single point - Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah! Just stepping into this circle, I can add two more states to my trip :)
This place is a tourist magnet! Lots of little shops and many people taking pictures. I had to wait a long time for my turn. There is a Italian family whom I give way to. The Italian gentleman, hardly speaking English, offers to take my picture, which I gladly accept. And he does a good job at it.
Just entering a couple of shops to get a feel for what they are selling - native american trinkets, t-shirts mostly. I buy two t-shirts one for me and another for Mo, and hop on the steed.
Up north on 160, the ride is on a straight road, not much to talk about. There are distant signs of extension of Monument valley kind of terrain. In other hour or so, I reach Cortez, Colorado. Navigating through the traffic signals and whole bunch of cars, I get to a gas station and ask for directions to Hwy 145.
Hwy 145
Its already 4:30, and I have just about a couple of more hours of sunshine. Understanding the urgency, I scoot down on 145. Slowly, but steadily the traffic thins down, and the elevation gains. I dance around on the curves, but could feel the fatigue catching up. I take a break not too far from where I started. I can hear another creek on the side of road, and so, I walk over to the place, and sit down by the stream for a few minutes. Soon realizing more I delay, its going to take as long to reach the destination. The urge to lay down on a bed is overpowering.
Again, I start my journey! The lofty mountains yonder give me company and the much needed enthusiasm.
This road is beautiful. Within a few miles of leaving Utah there is such a contrasting terrain. The hills are green, and the tempratures much easier to manage.At Placerville, a ski town, the traffic is heavy. I have no idea how I got this much patience (not that I had any choice), I roll behind a caravan of cars for more than an hour just to cross a few miles on the twisties. A while later I do come to the intersection of Hwy 62. Here I bear east. Nothing special about this road, but sure seems like a very nice road. The steed behaves as if the road was built just so that one fine day it will cruise along at high speeds on those long curvy roads. About an hour or so later, I do reach Hwy 550. I turn south on 550.
I eagerly look forward to riding the Million Dollar freeway. But its not to be. The Motel 8 at Gunnison would not cancel my reservation for the night. So, I am forced to turn back from Ouray to go back to Gunnison!
I promise to come back the next day! Up until Montrose, the road gets boring. It gets aggravated because of my fatigue and traffic. Finally I join Hwy 50. Gunnison is just over an hour from here. My energy gets a boost imagining some good food and a bed.
Hwy 50
So, off I go. Up on the twisties there is competition. This is from a young girl driving a honda civic or accord. She is good! She gives the steed run for its life! Man, she was so good that I could rarely see her touch her breaks on the curvy mountainous roads. She did not even slow down when she passed all the slow moving cars, and did so effortlessly and safely. And here is a car which I follow passionately. Enjoying her lead the way, I follow like a mindless lover! She certainly is a local, I say to myself! But I cannot do what she is doing - zipping through the beautiful country.
This Hwy 50 from Montrose to Gunnison is a beautiful road. Enough twisties, and good scenary makes it certainly one of the roads to remember. Soon, I give up on following and pull to the side of the road. The sun is certainly fading, painting the far skies with orange and purple.
Another lake nearby quietly reflects the mountains around on its placid waters.
By the time I roll into Gunnison, I note that the roads are quite wet. When I checked into Motel8, the girl behind the counter tells me that it poured through the noon, and the rains just stopped.
I quickly remove my bags and move into my room. Take a quick shower, and off to get some chinese food.
Being in Bay Area, we are clearly spoilt. Cannot just eat the same kind of food over and over. Need varieties. I order some KungPao chicken and a beer. I eat the food slowly. There is a man and a woman next table. Other than the three of us the restaurant is empty. They make no effort in having a quite conversation. It appears that she is a single mom, and heard her talk loads of praises about her kids. And the man, quite eager to please was playing along, and took every chance to woo her. Very interesting conversation, kept me company.
I am supposed to meet Mo and Dmitriy in Denver tomorrow. I make a quick call, and call it a day!
