From: casarollnotes.blogspot.com
Tim and Linda Bunyan
We have come to "the city' of Grand Junction staying at James Robb State Park.
5 nights for a total of $150.00 Electric and Water.
Tim lead 'the wagons' (Mike&Sherry, Kevin&Gordon, and Ron&Fran) on Hwy 128 along the Colorado toward Grand Junction. Our final view of the "Rock Stars" with its own beauty along the Hwy.
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From the Utah Rocks to the mesa on our way to Colorado.
Not much else on this old Hwy 6, filled with road patch, yet the train does come through.
Off to Colorado
Here is a pic of the Colorful Colorado State Line. It appears quite the gathering for those who traveled with carving their place of this goal in mind! Many vehicles and people stopping to take a monumental 'moment' photo.
Kevin and Sherry walking along with the view.
Tim, Gordon, and Mike taking the path with the Fruita Canyon view at this
level of Colorado National Monument.
Early resident John Otto's vision of a road (Rim Rock Drive) that would give visitors a sense of being in a place 'where only birds could fly" was made real by
ordinary men placed in extraordinary jobs.
The road project began in 1931 when National Park Service engineers designated a scenic drive to showcase features of the park, most of the actual road building was done by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) crews between 1933 and 1942.
Gordon shared with us, his dad worked the CCC in those years.
In recognition of its cultural significance, the entire road has been designated a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places.
We are proud to have traveled this road and here at the Visitors Center where U.S. Park Ranger is here to advise of alternate 4-wheel drive trails and have maps.
This is one of over 20 turnouts, on this scenic drive, Independence Monument.
"Otto's Route" is considered a classic tower climb and is still followed every year by hundreds of recreational climbers. After ascending most of the route on Wingate Sandstone the final push to the top includes a precarious backward-leaning climb out from under the caprock of Kayenta Formation to the top of the monolith. Initiated by John Otto, the tradition of raising the American flag atop Independence Monument on July 4th continues today.
Kevin and Gordon so proud and happy to be on a drive in their Jeep Rubicon
Kevin and Gordon have the sunroof removed and stored in the back. They are taking in all the outdoors in this part of the country!
Mike G looking at the new wheels Gordon just had installed.
After dinner nightcap at Kevin and Gordons "After Hours" !
We have come to "the city' of Grand Junction staying at James Robb State Park.
5 nights for a total of $150.00 Electric and Water.
Tim lead 'the wagons' (Mike&Sherry, Kevin&Gordon, and Ron&Fran) on Hwy 128 along the Colorado toward Grand Junction. Our final view of the "Rock Stars" with its own beauty along the Hwy.
Tim and I make a stop along the way at the Red Cliffs Lodge. An idyllic lodge setting for those to come to the Red Rock of Moab country to experience the natural environment with maid service.
From the Utah Rocks to the mesa on our way to Colorado.
This Highway 128 turns to the famous Hwy 6 which was one of the early roads established across the nation. Now, this near abandon area raised the ire of our fellow Travel Tour rigs as they certainly entertained the idea that had made the wrong turn. Determination and belief they continued to find the intersection of the familiar Interstate 70, along with all others who dare not,
on their way to Grand Junction.
There is a General Store here (a bit scary) in Cisco (officially a ghost town).
This side trip is one of the reasons we travel at our own pace and schedule.
To allow the exploration of the unexplored.
Not much else on this old Hwy 6, filled with road patch, yet the train does come through.
Off to Colorado
Here is a pic of the Colorful Colorado State Line. It appears quite the gathering for those who traveled with carving their place of this goal in mind! Many vehicles and people stopping to take a monumental 'moment' photo.
OK, we did the 'drive-by' pic.
We come to a green, fertile valley so inviting
Of course, 'the city' has a Starbucks as proud as the rocks behind it!
We arrive at James M. Robb Colorado River State Park (Fruita Section).
The road into our campground is a welcomed, tree-lined road with a green look of luxury. There is a clean bathhouse with showers and a laundry room. This beats driving into Moab for a laundry day.
Tim is reading the rules of the Riverfront Trail - Monument View Summit in Mesa County.
Of course, 'the city' has a Starbucks as proud as the rocks behind it!
We arrive at James M. Robb Colorado River State Park (Fruita Section).
The road into our campground is a welcomed, tree-lined road with a green look of luxury. There is a clean bathhouse with showers and a laundry room. This beats driving into Moab for a laundry day.
The first day in we are on the bike path that runs along the Colorado River.
Tim is reading the rules of the Riverfront Trail - Monument View Summit in Mesa County.
It is 1/2 mile from our Campground.
About 6 miles in, Mike and Sherry, Tim and I stop for a rest and view of the Colorado River.
It is a beautiful bike ride.
There is a parking lot for boaters with an assorted size of inflatable canoes. This is a stop we make on our return and wade into the river to cool down.
Here is a bronze sculpture of geese flying with Mike and Sherry biking up the path.
We are determined to bike ride all the way into downtown Grand Junction; however, We've biked 20 miles, Mike has discovered this Kannon Creek brewery on his bike GPS
It is a beautiful bike ride.
Here is a bronze sculpture of geese flying with Mike and Sherry biking up the path.
so we go inside for refreshment.
Kevin has the same style table and bench seat covers as Linda and Skip. Kevin's parents gave them to use with their rig.
Kevin from her rig in the background walking to Mike and Sherry's rig. This sunset is radiant!
Gordon's happy to be here and finally relax!
We begin the road up and begin to see unique rock formations.
We are riding in Mike and Sherry's new Chevrolet, Highcountry. Going thru this tunnel shows the large screen GPS and his instruments that nearly self-drive the truck.
Up the trail in summer and down in fall, as a rancher herding cattle
from the valley to mesa top and back,
Notice the fertile Fruita and Grand Junction valley of Mesa County. Our camp, James Ross State Park is located on the left side of the photo. We rode our bikes all along the River from the left side to the right side of this photo (24 miles of bike ride trail).
After 26 miles of the bike ride, we are happy campers to be at Kevin and Gordon's rig in the shade with comfy chairs.
We end the evening at Mike and Sherry's rig just across the driveway.
Mike G. and Sherry with their Montana 5th Wheel.
Kevin from her rig in the background walking to Mike and Sherry's rig. This sunset is radiant!
Gordon's happy to be here and finally relax!
Ron and Fran, with their Ram dessert truck, deliver assorted flavors of milkshakes for the entire group! A perfect way to end the day.
Mike and Sherry are set in their space and have some welcome shade!
Ron and Frannie ensure we set off with a splendid breakfast display with assorted fruits,
eggs, and bacon. We are fueled and we'll earn it as our bike ride for the day was a total of 24 miles!!!
Gordon and Kevin, Mike G. and Sherry, Tim and Linda are excited to
drive the Colorado National Monument.
We begin the road up and begin to see unique rock formations.
We are riding in Mike and Sherry's new Chevrolet, Highcountry. Going thru this tunnel shows the large screen GPS and his instruments that nearly self-drive the truck.
from the valley to mesa top and back,
Notice the fertile Fruita and Grand Junction valley of Mesa County. Our camp, James Ross State Park is located on the left side of the photo. We rode our bikes all along the River from the left side to the right side of this photo (24 miles of bike ride trail).
Tim, Gordon, and Mike taking the path with the Fruita Canyon view at this
level of Colorado National Monument.
There is our campsite down in the valley..... on the left!
ordinary men placed in extraordinary jobs.
The road project began in 1931 when National Park Service engineers designated a scenic drive to showcase features of the park, most of the actual road building was done by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) crews between 1933 and 1942.
Gordon shared with us, his dad worked the CCC in those years.
In recognition of its cultural significance, the entire road has been designated a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places.
We are proud to have traveled this road and here at the Visitors Center where U.S. Park Ranger is here to advise of alternate 4-wheel drive trails and have maps.
The Visitor Center entrance
This is one of over 20 turnouts, on this scenic drive, Independence Monument.
"Otto's Route" is considered a classic tower climb and is still followed every year by hundreds of recreational climbers. After ascending most of the route on Wingate Sandstone the final push to the top includes a precarious backward-leaning climb out from under the caprock of Kayenta Formation to the top of the monolith. Initiated by John Otto, the tradition of raising the American flag atop Independence Monument on July 4th continues today.
Otto's goal was fulfilled when U.S. President Wilson H. Taft established the Colorado National Monument. To celebrate, Otto climbed Independence Monument.
Mike G looking at the new wheels Gordon just had installed.
And the new wheels even have trail dust on them from Kevin and Gordon's 4-wheel drive on the famous Shaffer Trail in Moab Country!
We worked up the appetite so we head over to the Grand Junction Elks Lodge and dinner at the Strayhorn Grill...........found some...."strays" !!!
Us girls shopped the afternoon and the boys paid a visit to Cabellas, 
we all met up at the
Grand Junction Elks Lodge for cocktail hour.
We have come to the Colorado National Monument here in Fruita at Grand Junction, Colorado. We've some city life here at this major commercial and transportation hub within the Green River and the Continental Divide. with a Grand Junction population of 146,800.
We continue as far east as this 2020 Travel Tour takes us. Deeper into the San Juan Mountain Range of the Southwest Rockies to Glenwood Springs where we plan to visit Aspen for a day.
