Road Trip 2021 - Moab to Denver

With US 50 closed in Utah due to flooding, we had to backtrack to I-15 south to I-70 east.  Our ultimate destination was Devil’s Garden in Arches National Park, where we had reservations for two nights. 

But, we like to detour through Green River for watermelon. They grow some of the best.  With the melons safely stowed in the shower we were again looking forward to Arches.

I’d like to share the pictures from our stay, but alas my fat fingers hit something they should not have and those two days are now just fond memories.

We did do all the ‘roadside’ sights and short hikes between being hammered by yet another thunderstorm of Biblical proportions.

Down in Moab we picked up some grocery items at City Market, did laundry and washed the RV.  The photos begin at the RV wash, everything prior are just memories.

With everything cleaned and tucked away, an overnight in Palisade awaited.

Palisade has the absolute best peaches.  Valley Fruit is on the way into town, convenient and a good selection.

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We were the only shoppers there, when a load of fresh fruit arrived from the orchard.  Easy choice!

With peaches and other fruit we stopped for lunch at Riverbend Park, which has a FREE Disc Golf course.  

I had made reservations months earlier at Palisade Base Camp, just a few days before the T@B Teardrop folks booked the entire park for their Tab Rally.

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We definitely felt like an SOB (Some Other Brand) there.

The view out of our dinette window.

The reason to spend Saturday night, or arrive early on Sunday, to Palisade is their top of the line Farmer’s Market.

Yes we bought more peaches, didn’t I say they are the best?  And we also picked up Olathe Sweet Corn.

It was here we learned of that I-70 was completely closed … indefinitely!  Another Biblical thunderstorm sent 240 tons of water, rocks and debris onto the freeway.

The official detour is north and around via Steamboat Springs.  Visit www.cotrip.org for current conditions and detours.

There is major road work on Monarch Pass weekdays, but it is open on weekends.  We decided to give that a try ... and drove right thru Olathe!, but already had our corn.

Little did we know following the Gunnison River was a white knuckle experience not for the passenger but especially the driver!  But WOW what views.  Sorry no pictures, it takes both hands to hang on.

Reaching Leadville we could finally say “Whew! What a ride!”

We spent a very peaceful night with temps in the 60s in Heaton Bay Campground.  A perfect stop after a long and a bit of a scary driving day.

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The Olathe corn and (San Felipe) shrimp salad tostada were all we wanted for dinner.  Yummy!

We had reservations at Chatfield State Park near Denver.

A gettogether with niece Laura, husband Andrew was arranged so we could meet their daughter Lucca.

Ain't she a cutie?

We are now heading to Dayton OH, at our best possible speed.  Not as much fun, but work needs to be done on the house there and we need to be there.