Details: 9.75 hours travel time; 386 miles Total miles: 1990
Thanks to all of you who have sent your good wishes. We love hearing from you!
Although the Strasburg campground was nice, it was also extremely noisy, with I-70 just to the south of our site and the freight tracks to our north. Fred was able to sleep but I woke often worrying about the next leg of this undertaking.
Even though we set out during rush hour, I-70 traffic through Denver wasn't heavy and moved along without delays or bottlenecks. Immediately beyond the city limits, the highway begins the ascent of the western flank of the Rockies. Signs warning "Ice on Roadway," Watch for Wildlife on Road" and "Runaway Truck Ramp Ahead" were as unsettling as the deep snow covering the hillsides. We crossed three passes (10,000' to 11,000' elevation) each followed by a long, steep descent. The poor RV struggled in both directions--the engine labored uphill and the brakes strained on the downhill. Fred did an impressive job of getting us up and over. We decided that the Rocky Mountains are best appreciated from a distance--the narrow route is claustrophobic and the rocks and vegetation on the slopes aren't particularly attractive when seen up-close.
The AAA book warned that 'limited services' are available between Green River and Salina, Utah so we decided to buy groceries and gas in Grand Junction, Colorado. Thank heavens we did because we saw no stores and only one gas station (regular for $4.10/gallon) after crossing the state line. What we did find was wind. The gusts made the RV swerve from one lane to the other and Fred had to struggle continually to keep it on course.
Tonight we're encamped at the Green River KOA and still being battered by the wind--the RV is rocking back and forth like a ship! Hopefully the wind will subside after the sun sets. But when it does, the temperature will plummet toward the predicted low of 26*, setting the stage for tomorrow's snow showers. Weatherwise, late April has been a stressful time to travel this route.
Green River KOA
Saturday morning
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| Fred near the John Wesley Powell Museum Saturday morning |
