2008 Summer Journey

[Lost Rider]

Wonderful travelogue and photo's, I look forward to the rest.... sorry I haven't had time to follow along lately.
Congrats on your new GS, could be a good compromise for you.

Too bad we kept missing each other this summer, ride safe!

[Airman]

What's happened to Gypsy ? I thought there was a little more ride left here. Roaring through dry gulches on the GS, throwing gravel and dirt in the air, crossing raging rivers at the deepest spot, and other ADV stuff.

[Dr. Strangelove]

She's doing fine, but has been in the real boonies with no internet.

expect some pictures soon

John

[GypsyRR]

Sorry about the long absence. I've been on the road and spending more and more time in wilderness areas without wifi, or cell service. Silence has become a way of life lately. Except for buzzing flies that just about drove me crazy on the Gros Ventre River the last few days. I finally had enough of them. Even got angry about it. Anger is not a common emotion in me, so that was disconcerting! The flies won. I left this a.m. and have traveled on. Tonight and tomorrow, I'm staying in a motel with comfortable beds, an area for washing, wifi, refrig, microwave, coffee pot and people. But it's pretty cool, because it's out in the country and right outside my door there are longhorns grazing with the mountains in the background.

But I have much catching up to do - so several reports coming now!

First - catching up after arriving in Cortez, Colorado back in mid July.

After watching the sun rise over Cortez, I drove on into town. Nothing was open yet. However, there was a McDonalds, so I pulled in there and sat and ate a biscuit, drank some coffee and tried to figure out what to do about the lights. I got the manual out, pulled some fuses, they looked fine. I messed with the connection for the trailer - it all looked fine. Cleaned it out as well. and still no lights. So while I was eating I looked out the window and I was right next door to a Goodyear Shop. I know, I know - normally you would think they would only deal with tires (or I would, anyway). But I figured they would at least know where I could take the trailer. So I walked over and noticed right away on their sign behind the register, that they did electrical work. So, I told them the problem, and they took me in instantly and got me back on the road. The connections were fried during the hail storm I was stuck in on Camp Verde pass.

This is the place - right behind the McDonalds!





Dennis helped me the most. I asked about campgrounds in the area and I asked about a place to park my truck/trailer so I could take a bike into Mesa Verde before heading further east. He recommended a place right across the highway from Mesa Verde. He said they would probably let me buy a shower there and find a place to nap since I had not slept.

And he was right. But what is really nice is that not only did she not charge me to park the truck/trailer there, she let me have the shower for free. After paying for showers at every State Park in Colorado, that was a real plus. Visit there with your kids. They have miniture golf, swimming, cabins, laundry, cleanest showers I've ever seen at a campground! Here's the office and you can kind of see the cabins and the pool and little farm. There is tent camping as well as RV camping too.





She had me park down by these miniture horses. I think they are horses. But one looks like a miniture mule!




Wait - before we get to Mesa Verde - I gotta show you this one miniture horse? mule? It was so fat in the little miniture barn, that he had to roll one way to get a head start on rolling the opposite way just to get up. Look at this sequence of him.

Okay - here he is 'stuck'. hahahaha



He throws his legs to the side and rolls up and comes toward me. Ugh.





I didn't want to touch him!!!!

Isn't he odd looking? His eyes are like a donkey's eyes, I think.



There were two others which looked more like miniture horses. This one is odd too. He is sniffing the manure! Ugh.



And then there was this white one.


That's it, just three of them. Okay - I'll post this and then on to Mesa Verde next.

[GypsyRR]

Mesa Verde: It's Spanish for 'green table' - because of the junipers and pines and such that cover the high plateaus. You can see how the green really does reach up the plateaus! This is the first thing you see when you pull into the park. Then, of course, you see the rangers! Motorcycles get a break on the cost of entrance. Woo hooo!



Then it is view after view after view. Twisty road, sweepers, steep drop offs, beautiful scenery and all overlooking the valley below. Here are some road shots climbing up till I get to the cliff dwellings. Beautiful. And this time of year was great up there. Everything was green and flowers were blooming everywhere!

Here, enjoy the ride through Mesa Verde:




























One thing evident in Mesa Verde, was the damage the fires of 2002 caused in the National Park. The skeletal trees scorched by raging wildfires were still standing witnesses to the ravages carelessness or nature itself can have upon forested areas. It was sad in one aspect, but for me on this day, all I could see was the beautiful contrast of the charred remains against the green and variant colors of new growth. The black of the burning only served as a border, or an outline, or an exclamation point on another beautiful scenery erupting among them. Black in the landscape, whether here in a burned forest, or in a canyon such as the Black Canyon of the Gunnison seems to accentuate the beauty wherein it stands. It was no different here.

And seeing it, I remembered again, that burns and scars in life can either be the focus or they can be that which accentuates the beauty that remains, or help define and exclaim the greatness and victory that has risen from the ashes of pain and/or grief. It's perspective again. Photography has taught me a lot about perspective lately!!















On the way out of the park, I could see a storm brewing right where my truck was parked, so I was hurrying to get down and get the gear off and leave before the rain started. Made it!!!

Here's the valley below, shrouded in 'weather'!!!!










There's more, but I'll post this one as it is now, and then carry on to the next aspect of Mesa Verde.......

[GypsyRR]

Here are some of the flowers and other things, people don't normally go to Mesa Verde to see. They certainly caught my eye. This scorched skeletal trees caught my camera lens probably 30 times because of the background as well as the flowers in the foreground. And the burned tree had a beauty all it's own that could not come any other way, but by fire!














And some of the July flowers! I can't name them though, and I KNOW a lot of them are WEEDS!!!












Next - the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde (just a few - I was too tired to take the tour!!!)

[GypsyRR]

Here are some of the ruins of the Pueblo lived in these from around 300 A.D. to 1200 A.D. (I think. I'm very tired). I didn't go on the tour. I saw it from atop the observation and waiting platform while others were sweating it out down there. There is a ladder they had to climb to get out of the cliff dwelling. First, some other buildings from the ancient Pueblo people who lived there.















And the Cliff Dwellings still protected.









Here's the ladder they had to climb out on. I zoomed in real far to get that.



And some more of the canyon through there.







And that pretty much sums up my time at Mesa Verde before heading to Ridgway, Colorado and Ouray and Silverton. Coming next.

[GypsyRR]

I left Cortez intending to head toward Ouray. Since the weather looked unpredictable, and because I was pulling a trailer with 3 bikes to the area, I decided to take the route to Ouray up through Dolores and Telluride. NOT a bad choice at all. I'm so glad I did that. I found a new favorite area of Colorado that day. Of course, my favorite areas change with each place I travel, but the area around Rico following the Dolores River was really a beautiful ride. It's not so congested out that way either. Even on the weekend, it was less than other places. This is the route I took:



The thing about Colorado that is often overlooked unless you travel much of it in one adventure, is the different geological formations from one mile to the other. It's amazing how the terrain and rock formations will change so rapidly. I never noticed that until I started roaming about the state.

The ride from Cortez to Ridgway is a good example. Watch how things change within the 100 miles I traveled. This is a beautiful ride and should be added to a 'must see' list if you plan on riding some pavement in Colorado. But then, almost every road in Colorado could carry the same distinction.

These photos are in order - just so you can see how the terrain changes from one moment to the next.





The Dolores River:












I gotta keep them order - so this one next. I can just imagine the conversation in the car leading up to this photo. I mean, look how the SUV is pulled off sort of haphazardly like it was an emergency, and the door is left open - and well, it WAS a long way to the next town (but not a long way to get behind a tree, kid!)








continuing, next post.

[GypsyRR]

Continuing up 145 - more road shots.



This was the town of Rico, I believe. I really liked that area.







http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p319 ... -04311.jpg




You can see there are plenty of nice twisties on 145 too. Not a lot of switchbacks, until you get near Telluride, though. The whole road from 145 to 62 was great!






I stopped along the road at this point to take photos of the Dolores River. It looked like a great trout fishing river, but I did not have a chance to try it.




I think it was before hitting Lizard Head Pass, that this valley opened up before me. I saw this old aspen grove in perfect lighting.



And the mountain in the background - -- - I can only guess that it is Copper Mountain. It looks like the same mountain I saw on my way from Ouray to Silverton anyway. Anybody know?




here is when the 70-200mm lens comes in handy - a close up of the mountaintop




then over the pass and on the way to Telluride. I think that is the Mattahorn in the background.








continuing next post:

[GypsyRR]

Heading into Telluride area:








Coming out of Telluride, I turned toward Placerville and everything changed again. The canyon I was in was such a deep
rust color it is hard to describe. I'm glad I have the photos. On my monitor, it shows pretty accurately the color of these canyon walls...... a deep dark rust/red color. So vibrant they look alive!








A few miles of red canyon like that, and then it opens again to Alpine area and then a broad valley heading into Ridgway.











continuing - on to my crappy camping spot in Ridgway

[GypsyRR]

Everybody in the universe was having a meeting/gathering in the Ouray area that weekend. Consequently - there was no place for me to camp. Well, I tried a few and then gave up. The Orvis (or was it Cabela?) camping area just before Ouray had one spot left. They showed it to me. The tent area reminded me of a refugee camp area. There was a fenced in area about 50'x50' with tent 'pads' lining the fenced area. I would not be able to park my truck/trailer anywhere near the 'yard', so I moved on. And because it started getting dark, I headed toward Ridgway in case I had to sleep in a parking lot again. I figured I would be less noticed there than in a small town like Ouray. Ridgway State Park is not far from Ouray, so I turned in the entrance.

I was not impressed. But it was still better than camping in a refugee area!

AND - they charge $24 a night to camp. Then $6.00 per vehicle. So the day I went in - it was $30. BUT - if I took any bike off the trailer, I had to pay for it too. I had a problem with that. Even if I did not ride the bike, they said if it came off the trailer, I had to pay $6.00 for it. I told them I would only take one off at a time. Ooooops, I lied. I took all three off the trailer, but only rode one at a time and paid the $6.00 a day for the one I was riding that day. I stayed there 3 nights. There was good riding in the area, but the place I camped was not so great. it got better once most of the people left. This is what it looked like the first night.



ugh. Big ol' campers everywhere. Not even a tent pad where I was camped. They did have nice bathrooms though. But $1.00 for a four minute shower again. And again I say - no woman takes a four minute shower!!! I felt like I was in a car wash depositing quarters before my time ran out!!


Here's the bikes off. Actually, the rangers that came around never had a problem with it. They would visit every a.m. and p.m. when making the rounds. They always had nice things to say about the bikes - especially the GS. It's the people doing the money changing at the entrance that are sticklers for the rules.



Once I could see past the huge RV to the south of me, this was the scene to which I awakened and fell asleep each evening.







And every now and then, something this frightening would come along. Fortunately, he seemed to like the truck tires the most.




Not the best work station I've had on this trip, but early morning and late evening, the temperatures would drop to a bearable degree and I could download some photos. I had electricity, but no water at this spot.




Thanks to a tip about the Starbucks French Press mug, coffee is tasting better each morning. It works better than the REI Infusion mug I was using. Still not like brewed though.






The bracelet - a sort of talisman for me when I start doubting or questioning what in the world I'm doing. It reminds me of traits needed in order to live life without regret. When you travel alone this long, as a lot of you know, you start doubting yourself. And you start talking to yourself....... a lot. But then you reach a point where you adjust to the serenity and the silence and you are satisfied. I'm there now. I think I got there somewhere in Arizona while crossing the Navajo Reservation in the middle of the night.



So I spent my first night in Ridgway at this crappy camping spot. A lot of the people left the next day, so I had more space to see things around me. Waking in my tent, I got a kick out of the shadows on east side of my tent. Little things - they make me smile out loud some times. This was one of them. And then a shot of the world, looking out from inside my tent. Even the crappiest of camping spots have some bright surprises if you just open your eyes, I guess.






After breakfast, I decided to take the GS for a ride. I had not ridden it since getting it to Colorado. I certainly didn't want to cut my teeth on the technical roads on this beast, but I figured a ride through the park and then on to Ridgway and maybe into Ouray would be fine to start with.

It's HUGE! I need to take my time getting use to it. The whole thing of the instrument panel not moving when I turn the handlebars throws me every time. And the windshield doesn't turn either. That takes some getting use to the first 5 minutes or so. And it's HUGE (did I say that already?)



I took it down to the lake first just to see how it handles. It's HUGE.






Aw!!! Nice photo op for the bike.




once I mastered that much, I decided to ride in to Ridgway, and then on to Ouray. I just wasn't ready to do much technical riding with it though. I wanted to ride the twisties fast, and my RR is my bike for that right now. But on the way to Ouray - we did great together.

Not far past Ridgway, there was this nice pull out for pictures of the river. What a beautiful place this is.







I rolled into Ouray and took a photo of town and decided I would bring the RR back the next day and go to Durango. So I just turned around in Ouray. Trying to shoot pictures on the Beast is harder since the windshield sticks up and in my way. I may have to make mods.






On the way back to camp, I saw a nice farm and remembered the name of this road as being the one the Orvis crappy camping site was located. I figured it would connect up again with the pavement, so I turned down and found some pastoral scenes along the way.













I spent some time in Ridgway that afternoon and then headed back to camp. So far - the GS is still too new for me to give a fair assessment. It's intimidating and since I'm selecting technical roads for riding and areas for fishing - I don't always select it first for riding. I take it out every couple of days on a short non technical ride just to get use to it's handling and those ABS brakes, and the size. But I'm not ready to give my RR yet - especially since I outran a 4 wheeler on a mountain dirt road this past weekend on it!!



Next - (when I get time) - riding to Ouray and then on to Silverton, and then a ride up through Montrose and Delta, Crawford and back to Ridgway. And then the great Naturita 141 ride.

[GypsyRR]

Trying to catch up with reports again. Back around mid July, I was in the Ridgway/Ouray area of Colorado. I had heard that the ride to Silverton from Ouray was a must see, but I also wanted to add Durango and Creede and Lake City to the ride and make a big loop. Weather cut me short, but it was still a great ride. Once I made it to Silverton, the canyon on the way to Durango was looking pretty dark and it looked like the thunderstorms had just settled in that area - so I turned back.

So - once again, enjoy the ride:

The route:



Leaving Ouray - what a setting for a town!!! Crowded though, so I just kept on going.



And of course, I get stuck behind the tourist 'trolley' as soon as I hit the fun part.



But a lane opened up for me to pass, and I was on my way!!

These pictures are probably all out of order. I used 3 cameras on this ride and once I load them to Photobucket, they get all out of order and it's been 2 weeks since I was there! So - just enjoy the views along 550 between Ouray and Silverton, Colorado.

First, however, why does Colorado NOT have GUARD RAILS??? I don't particularly like them when they block views, but c'mon!!! it's thousands of feet over the cliff if you miss a turn here! Just kidding, it is beautiful and very scenic not having big ol' ugly metal rails lining roads like 550 - but it is also a little frightening - especially when trying to take hand held photos while you ride a motorcycle over these roads. And they were doing road work on them as well - like this:



Here are some scenes MINUS GUARD RAILS!!



















more scenes from 550 in next post.

[GypsyRR]

Continuing - Ouray to Silverton and back.

A couple of tunnels along 550!





And now just some nice shots of the road and scenery between Ouray and Silverton. It was a Sunday, so a lot of traffic, but I imagine 550 is a lot of fun to ride when there are not cars or bad weather to hold you up.


























I guess this is why they call it Red Mountain Pass?













There were a few of these tight turns too.







Then finally arriving at Silverton. The weather looked really bad continuing to Durango, but I almost decided to go anyway. I ended up at this overlook on my way, and decided I better turn around.





I usually live by the rule that you should 'never come home the same way you went", meaning - choose a different route for your return trip. But since roamin' the Rockies, I've discovered that a mountain road can look and feel completely different traveling it in different directions. So even though I had to turn back and was not able to finish the loop I had planned, the ride back from Silverton to Ouray yielded as many surprises, thrills, and smiles as the the reverse had done. CO 550 - a "must ride" road, if you are ever in the area.

[toolinalong]

HeeHee. So glad to see you found the 145 road thru Rico et al. My long time Colorado "favorite", ever since I took my first ever motorcycle road trip and discovered it as a little used alternate to the very popular 550 route to get to SW Colorado. Now the 141 road has taken it's place, though it might be more of a 1.0 and a 1.5 type situation. Course, then there is the 133 road south out of Carbondale, and the....oh. forget it.

The mountain in that photo that you ask about is not THE Copper Mountain; that is the name of a mountain near the famous ski area of the same name over on interstate 70 between Frisco and Vail. I looked on my topo of the area and think it might be named Flattop Mountain. That is prominent feature visible just a bit north and east of Rico, and kind of fits the look of the mountain in your (gorgeous) photo.

Here is a photo I took just a few weeks ago as I did the 145 again, on my way to the Pacific Northwest via Monument Valley. This is at the top, looking south into the Lizard Head Wilderness Area, just a few miles past the Telluride turn off, heading south.

Can't wait to hear your review of 141.

[GypsyRR]

I can't wait to post about 141 too. I've not even looked at the photos yet, so I'm anxious to get to that. I think that is next. Staying in Naturita was probably the most hesitant I've been about a situation, but all turned out okay.

You are the 3rd or 4th person to mention 133 to me, so I plan to hit that on my way back next week. I can't believe I'll be started to head back next week. That makes me sad. I'd like to stay on the road at least another couple of months. Someone asked me if I miss anything yet, and sadly, I don't. I guess if I were to sit and think about how nice a comfy bed would feel or to drive my own car again, or to have a clean bike again, or taste some good restaurant food, then maybe I would start missing it, but I stay too busy and am too happy traveling to miss anything.

I was fishing today in a mountain lake in Wyoming. I caught a bunch of rainbow trout, but could not find my stringer, so didn't keep any. Tomorrow, before heading to another mountain lake, I will buy a stringer!!!

I also saw and photographed (very briefly) some cowboys running horses into a mountain meadow. I did not have my best camera with me since I was on the water, but man, I wish I had. It was a beautiful sight to see those horses come racing down a hill, jumping over a small stream and then eventually spreading out into a high mountain meadow. Beautiful.

Thanks for that photograph. That is a beautiful part of 145, and policed pretty hard from what I could tell on my one drive through there! You have a beautiful place to live. Please offer more advice on roads if you have some. I'll be coming back from NW Wy starting Saturday, and I have to go through Colorado Springs to pick up some of my daughter's things that she could not take on the plane - so anything between NW WY, and CO Springs is open for my roaming. Thanks in advance.



Continuing the trip report (and then next is Naturita)

Crawford Ride



The last time I had been through this area around Montrose back in June, I had wanted to ride 92. In fact, I even had a camping spot reserved outside of Crawford for a couple of nights, but decided to stay in Montrose and Gunnison instead. Better choice in more ways than one, but especially when I drove by and saw the camp ground! Pretty barren. At least it looked that way from the road. Still, 92 was on my list of roads that looked pretty good.

This is the loop that I would ride this day.



But this is the section I was most curious about and wanted to ride. It was a fun as it looks too. The added bonus was that it took me on the back side of the Black Canyon and I would see it again.



One of the most beautiful things I saw just 10 minutes into the ride, took place over a planted field just 15 miles north of Ridgway. Two Red Tail Hawks were soaring and chasing high above the field to the east of me. I was able to watch them for a while because I was stuck in a slow moving traffic jam. I have just enough Native American Indian blood in me to keep me intrigued in the teachings of the tribe. The Red Tail Hawk is a special bird with much meaning, and so this was the perfect way to start the ride for me. I chose not to photograph them, though. Some things, some times, some moments, should not be photographed for various reasons. This was one of them. But I'll never forget the sight and the personal insight I gained from that moment.

Then I rolled into Montrose, a town much larger than I had supposed.



I stopped for gas and a guy on a BMW RT did as well. This was the first motorcyclist on my journey who has spoken to me. He asked me if I knew where the library was. I couldn't help him. And then he was on his way.

Leaving Montrose and heading north, there is not much to see or photograph. But it's the direction I was taking to get to 92, so on I went.

Finally, in Delta, I turned on to 92, and things still did not look too promising. Nothing like the road I had envisioned from the maps anyway.







I was sort of hoping a train would be coming around the bend on these tracks. THAT would have made a photograph!!



I followed this kind of scenery for several miles and finally hit Crawford. Things didn't change right away, but within 15 miles or so, things got interesting. I started seeing pullouts and overlooks, so I stopped to take a look. The Black Canyon again!





I didn't take as many photos on this ride, because I wanted to really ride! There was not much traffic on this road at all so I was able to ride my 1150 the way I wanted to ride it ever since getting to Colorado. What a blast. Flying through aged Aspen groves, over mountains, past canyons, along ridges, through tight turns, and descending into valleys - it was all good riding on 92! Here are some shots from the road.



















Further on, another view of the canyon, but this time with the Gunnison running through it, caused me to pull over for a moment.









After dropping down to Blue Mesa Reservoir, I could tell the weather was turning bad again, so I was in a race with a storm to get back to my campsite without getting rained on.





And I made it! A nice part of the ride is also along 50 from the intersection where 92 hits it, back towards Montrose - until about 10 miles out of Montrose. It was along here, back in June, that I lost one of my point and shoot cameras. I looked for it as I was racing the thunderstorm - but no luck!!!




The next morning, I went into Ridgway to work a bit, and then I was on my way to Naturita and 141!!!! But - I had to spend the night in Naturita before I could ride 141. Those of you who have been there must know that a solo woman rider would feel a little uncomfortable about that situation!!! Story - in the next post. Maybe tomorrow after fly fishing.

[toolinalong]

Well, you know I do. I got a route for you that includes some options on places to camp with some fishing opportunities , in what might be good areas for a several days stay. I'll put some info together for you tomorrow and send it along.

[1MPH]

What a ride Kristi and you're building beautiful and unforgetable memories. You are one lucky gypsyRR.
I for one really enjoy the photos and narrative..Thanks!

[Boxer]

Kristi,
Too bad I didn't know you were going to be in Ouray trying to camp. My nephew and his wife own and operate the "Billy Goat Gruff" which is a sandwich/bar type place right on the main street in Ouray. There's an ice cream/coffe shop on their site as well which his wife's family own. My nephew is a former CHP bike cop and is a sport bike fanatic. He would have known about a camping place close by if there was one.
The shots are fantastic as usual. It was nice to see those places again.

[DJ Downunder]

Beautiful pictures Kristi...Thanks for posting them for us..

DJ

[GypsyRR]

When I packed up my tent and loaded up my bikes early in the morning at Ridgway State Park, there was a great sunrise for a 'send off.'



But I didn't get away from Ridgway very soon. I had some work I needed to do and some bills to pay (online), so I went into town and found this coffee shop that had wifi.



The lady running the place that morning was very kind to me. I explained that I needed to work for 4-5 hours and asked if I could just sit at a back table and do so. She didn't mind at all. I ordered some coffee and a muffin and settled in at a table next to Lula, the cat.



I recommend the place to you, mostly because they were kind to me and the coffee is good. They are pretty much into organic foods, and not into President Bush! You can see all kinds of things letting you know that in her shop and in the book store. In fact, that pretty much sums up my take on the philosophy of the place. Oh - and they do support local artists by allowing their work and posters of concerts in the area to be placed in the shop. It was a comfortable and quiet place to work and had many patrons in the 4 hours I was there! Lula and I just hung out in the back room and worked (she slept cuz she's an old cat at 12 years!)





I had parked across the street in the shade by the city park. Walking back to the truck, the cottonwood trees were really shedding a lot of seeds? and it almost looked like it was snowing. In the bookstore, they had to constantly sweep up the cottonwood seeds which would blow in when the doors would open and then find their way to corners, much like 'dust bunnies.' Sitting in the truck later, on my way to Naturita, I noticed some on my black capris. I took a picture of what was constantly floating in the air for .those of you who are not familiar with cottonwood trees. I still don't think this is as bad as pine pollen season, which those of us in the south suffer through.



I shut down my computer, then had a couple of other errands around town to tend to. Once that was all done, I was on my way to Naturita.

Originally, I had planned to stay somewhere before Naturita, because it was getting late in the day and I was tired and unsure of camping in Naturita. My camping Colorado book did not mention any campsites in that area. But once I got going, I did not see anything close to Naturita where I could camp or would want to camp. I was hoping I would not have to sleep in the truck again!!

I finally got to Naturita and honestly, the town was not the type of town I would have picked to stay in as a solo female traveler. I drove through twice thinking I was missing part of the town and the lodging. I only saw one motel. The Ray Motel. And the only camping spot was a RV type lot in a residential area, which didn't look very safe at all. HOWEVER, there was a plethora of liquor stores and bars, it seemed. Maybe that was just what caught my eye because of the lit up signs.

After driving through twice and then driving past town to see if there was maybe some private camping area, I realized that The Ray Motel was probably going to be my only option for the night. So I checked in. I did ask about the safety of the bikes on the trailer and asked if they got many women traveling alone who stayed there. She said they have no crime there. ??? And 'no, we don't see many women traveling alone through these parts, staying here." And then she added, as she followed me out to the truck to point me to my room, "You're an adventurous thing, aren't you? I mean, traveling alone out here all by yourself." Well, that didn't make me feel any safer.

I started unloading my stuff and putting it in my room. While i was doing so, the manager came to me and told me the lady who checked me in had said I was a little worried about my safety. She assured me I would be safe there, but just to be sure, "why don't we move you to this room over here."

"Over where?"

"Over there! See that little building attached at the back that looks sort of like a house? We can move you there and you can put the truck and bikes right in front."

"Okay, sounds good."

So, I went "over there". These pictures were taken with my iPhone, so they aren't the best, but it gives you an idea of where I stayed that night. Except, I can't find the picture of the hole in the ceiling!





I'm not really picky about rooms, as long as the sheets are clean and the bathroom has been cleaned. So the decor doesn't matter to me really much at all. But - I already felt like I may be in an unsafe area, so when she told me that this part of the "house" was connected to another house they rent out to larger groups (up to 10), I started to wonder. I asked if someone was staying in the other part of the house??? She said, "No, we haven't rented it today."

But this is the way the door from my room to the house was blocked.
Seriously, this is what i saw when I walked in.



I did check, and the door was locked, but........

and later in the night, I did hear people over there. Or perhaps the noise was coming from somewhere else, but needless to say - I did not sleep well.

This was the lock on my door to the outside - it's like a bedroom door lock. No bolt or anything.



By now, you guys are probably saying I am being too picky and too suspicious. But c'mon!!! Would you want your wife or daughter staying alone in a place with this kind of security, where the majority of the establishments in town are liquor stores and bars? (sorry, I may be wrong on that assessment of the town, but that is what it looked like when I rolled in that evening). Traveling alone, as a woman, calls for extra caution that you guys never even have to think about, I bet.

All that to say, I was a little uneasy about sleeping that night. And the hole in the ceiling was unnerving as well. But, I did get to keep my truck/trailer/bikes right outside my window (which had curtains that did not close all the way), so that was a bonus.





Once in my room, I stayed there, and by about 3:00 am, I finally fell asleep. I woke about 8:30 and everything was perfectly fine. I was probably too paranoid, but it was the first time since mid May when I started traveling that I felt fear.

After waking, I hurried to get things together for my ride up 141 to Gateway and then down the John Brown Canyon.

The way my route for the day ended up going (minus the John Brown Canyon part)



And a close up satellite view of the fun part of 141



Photographs of 141 coming tomorrow. But here are a couple for now.

along John Brown Canyon




and along 141 to Gateway, Colorado from Naturita, Colorado






More of Naturita and on to Moab (NOT), tomorrow after I go fishing.