SEE THE USA IN YOUR CHEVROLET

Coast to Coast and Border to Border

April 30 to June 9, 2004

Colorado May 5 - May 7, 2004

May 6 was a GORGEous Day!

--Grand Junction, Colorado, USA

Two convenient places to stay in Grand Junction: Days Inn, 733 Horizon Dr., 81506, 970-245-7200, which has wireless internet in the lobby; and, Holiday Inn Grand Junction, CO, 970-254-3132.

The Days Inn night clerk was Lori, who helped me get online. At the same property is a Good Pastures restaurant with very cheerful morning waitress, Donna. They have very good breakfasts for reasonable prices. For instance, I had diced hame and eggs, hash browns, toast and coffee for only $3.99. Check the specials board before you are seated.

--Clifton, Colorado, USA

	My first goal in Colorado was to go to Clifton to visit Flora and Leon Loucheur, Flora is a former colleague of mine in Cypress, California. They have a retirement home on the banks of the Colorado and the view above is from their back property line!
Chrome buffalo art in downtown Clifton.	East of Clifton we rise into the Rockies and Monarch Pass at 11,312 ft., our highest point on the trip. Continental Divide is here as well. AAA says, US50 affords a trip of great beauty through deep valleys and over Monarch Pass. Sharp grade and fair alignment.

--Delta, Colorado, USA

"The City of Murals"

--Olathe, Colorado, USA

Famous for Olathe peaches

--Montrose, Colorado, USA

--Gunnison, Colorado, USA

An old crossroads cattle town, Gunnison is now home of Western State College with Internet Cafes and coffee houses on redbrick street Hwy 135. Leon says Gunnison has the worst weather in Colorado.

--Monarch Pass, Colorado, USA

Steep climb past Gunnison to 11,312 foot Monarch Pass. Highest point on US 50, straddeling the Continental Divide. Thirty feet of snow fall annually on the east side of the pass.

--Poncha Springs, Colorado, USA

--Salida, Colorado, USA

--Cañon City, Colorado, USA

Royal Gorge with incline railway, aerial tram, and a walk across the wooden plank bridge. Denver and Rio Grande Railroad line passes through the gorge below.

	This is an historic photo...Paul, afraid of heights, driving his car across the Royal Gorge. He said he never allowed his eyes to drift from my back window. When I got out to take this photo on the bridge, I asked if he was OK, he said, "Make this dang fast!"
From the approach to the bridge, it doesn't look high.	But when you look from the eastern viewpoint, you see the river faaarrrrr below!

A beautifully restored steam engine sits on the rim of the canyon.	This fellow seemed to crop up often on our trip, scoping us out I presume. He was going to the Indy 500 also!.
	I'd like to return for the Royal Gorge Route train trip. Their coaches are many and varied and the depot is a classic.

--Pueblo, Colorado, USA

--Rocky Ford, Colorado, USA

--La Junta, Colorado, USA

Santa Fe Trail splits here at "the junction," La Junta.

--Las Amimas, Colorado, USA

Kit Carson died here on May 23, 1868.

--Lamar, Colorado, USA