Day 118 - Riding Rim Rocker and Black Canyon of Gunnison

Hey folks! If you've never been to Gateway Colorado, you've missed one of the most gorgeous spots on the planet. Gateway is located at almost precisely 9:00 if Colorado was a clock. A drop dead gorgeous road, Highway 141 leads you there from Grand Junction. It also leads you out and south towards Naturita and generally in the direction of Telluride. It almost don't get any better...but wait!...it does...

Now that we have Jeep fever (it may be terminal) we've been searching (and finding) all kinds of ways to escape the madding crowds and head for higher ground. The discovery of Rim Rocker Trail is, to date, our boldest adventure via 4wd. Rim Rocker is a predominantly dirt, gravel, mud and rock passage from Moab Utah to Montrose Colorado. That's about 160 miles of dirt if you're counting. No! We didn't do the entire trail. We jumped on just south of Gateway on CR-Q12.

So here's the deal. Imagine you're in the most beautiful red rock canyon on earth and just driving along soaking in the gorgeous peaks. Well...how's about climbing to the top of those peaks and looking down into the canyons below. It's kinda like this...

Gotta click the pics for bigger more breathtaking vistas!!

This spot was by no means technical. We didn't stop for photos during the hairy stuff.

Pretty nice view from the top...huh?

If you've ever traveled Hwy 141...I promise this is even better!

Thar she is, folks...Hwy 141 north to Gateway.

Pretty rugged terrain. Not the place for a flat tire or getting stuck in the mud.

We climbed down from the top of the red rocks in Nucla (near Naturita). Neither offer much to tourists.

When in Nucla...do as the Nuclasites do. Not many other choices.

Now the Rim Rocker Trail from Moab Utah to Montrose is about 160 miles. We only rode 80 of it. Next time we gotta ride it all. Lizzy got over her squirming about 10 miles into the ride when things started leveling out up top. Hwy 141 is about 4400' above sea level. The top of the canyon red rock plateau in that area is closer to 6000'+/-.

In Nucla we got a fresh made deli sandwich and climbed back into Jethro the Jeep to head for Montrose. While still officially on the Rim Rocker Trail, the technicality and the terrain were vastly different. That by no means diminished the value of the scenery. Wow! We just traded red rock canyons for green meadows and Aspen covered mountain tops. The average altitude for the next 53 miles was over 9000'.

Lotsa nice vistas. Pictures do them no justice. That's the road we traveled in the background.

We're actually above these Aspens

It's Spring in August at 9000 feet.

Kinda easy on the eyes!

Lizzy and I are always on the lookout for the perfect setting where the sunlight is pouring through the Aspens. We haven't found it yet, but we're still persistent. Here's a few good candidates for a spot on our wall at home.

BTW...I almost forgot. As we were riding along Hwy 141 just about sunup, we happened upon the group of critters pictured below. The large dude in the upper right is Elmer Elk. He's paying a social call on the ladies. You can see how interested they all are; they are all facing away from him. He's in hopes they will view him as a far more fatherly figure in a couple of months when nature turns the gals bit more amourous.

Poor Elmer. Can't get a smile from a single lady. Hang in there dude!

After reaching Montrose, it was time to hit the pavement once again. But...the party never ends. Why not spend the night in Paonia Colorado and wander through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison on the way there? And so they did!

Panorama allows you to see 180 degrees without turning your head.

Lotsa color

Black Canyon of the Gunnison - roadside!

Looking down the canyon.

For all you motorcycle and sport car buffs, the road around the canyon it first class. It's always a treat! Today we poked around and snapped some photos - equally as exhilirating.

Well, we've retired for the evening here in Paonia. Tomorrow bright and early we'll rise and shine and tackle the gravel road that runs from Paonia to Crested Butte. Then it's a mad dash for the "Boat" and rest  up before heading to  Highland Kansas to view the eclipse, dontchasee?

So...stay tuned!