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- Drive from S. Colorado Springs to Mesa Verde. This drive was pretty uneventful. US Hwy 160 is a very good road. We saw the Spanish Peaks from the turnoff from I-25 to US 160. Those are some BIG mountains and they just stand by themselves. We did have to drive through one mountain pass. The grade was 7% and it took me about half a mile before I thought to shift to 2nd gear on the way down. There was an overlook with a very sweet view into the valley were Pagosa Springs is.
- Mesa Verde. We arrived there about 2:30 pm. The drive to the visitor center from the entrance was 15 miles of winding climbing scary switchbacking mountain road. (Okay it wasn't THAT scary!). Once we arrived at the visitors center we obtained tickets for the 5:30 guided tour of Cliff Palace which you can only visit with a ranger. While we waited for that tour we drove around on the Mesa top (nice flat roads!). We visited Spruce Tree House and got to climb down into a Kiva. It was an amazing place.
We took our guided tour of the Cliff Palace Dwelling. This was very cool. Our ranger said they usually call the 5:30 tour the "shake and bake" tour but we were very lucky to have some cloud cover. It was very comfortable, although I did have a blister on my foot at the very end.
We left at about 7:00 pm. Got back on the highway and finally got to talk to John. There was absolutely no signal in the park! - Drove the last 8 miles to our KOA campground in Cortez. Upgraded to a Camping Cabin which was very lucky. We originally just did it because Mesa Verde really tired us out, but then thunder and lightening moved in for a short bit, with just a few raindrops, so we were glad for the solid log walls. we started to watch a movie, but Steve and I couldn't stay awake, so we decided to call it a night.
Today we are headed to Jacob Lake Arizona, about 40 miles north of the Grand Canyon Lodge where we will stay tomorrow night. We just stopped at the visitor center, and came to this little coffee / plant / nature store to use the computer.
I don't know if we will have computer for the next couple of days but am hopeful. I am using this as my trip journal and don't want to forget things!
2 comments:
I got your postcard today, and I am so so so jealous. I know you guys are having an awesome time - I can't WAIT for these pictures!
Annette, guess you don't have a computer with you since you haven't posted for a few days. I'm enjoying reading your vacation blog. Glad you are having so much fun and can't wait to see your beautiful pictures.
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