Off to Mesa Verde

Monday morning, before hitting the road again, we walked right next to our camp to the historic site of Fort Bluff.  The original Bluff Fort has been rebuilt and lovingly restored. A “mission call” (from the Mormon Elders) went out in December 1878 and was answered by numerous southern Utah families, many of whom gave up fine homes to move with all their possessions to the remote San Juan area.  Seventy families consisting of around 250 men, women and children, left Escalante in South Central Utah in October 1879 intending to establish the mission at Montezuma on the San Juan River. Using a route advised by a previous scouting party known as the “Escalante short cut”, the pioneers expected the 125 mile trek would take 6 weeks.  Instead, the journey extended 260 miles over 6 months via the Hole-in-the-Rock-Trail in arduous, winter conditions.  They blasted and chiseled on an existing crevice through the rocks to make it wide enough for a wagon to go through.  Talk about determination!!!

Hole in the wall

If you ever are in Bluff, make sure to visit the "Fort Bluff"

As we left Bluff, after this fantastic trip to the Fort, it started snowing, again. It was then that we noticed we did not have any headlights. Great. Even though it was day…it was pretty dark outside. We took the risk and went along. And soon the sky cleared up. On our way to Mesa Verde we had to make a stop at the four corners.

Who said "time travel" is not possible. Rupert is in 6 places at the same time-4 States & 2 Indian Nations

Once we set up camp (just 1 mile from Mesa Verde NP) we drove into Cortez. Luckily we could buy a switch for the headlight and treated our trusty truck to another oil change. On Tuesday we decided to do the San Juan Skyway (thanks Tom & Pam) before Mesa Verde NP because of the weather. 

We started from Cortez going clockwise

As we climbed higher & higher we saw a winter wonder-land

my cousin :-) 

We drove through "Americas Switzerland" were people were swimming in an outdoor heated pool. And it really looked like in Switzerland. Funny to see this. Some of the "towns" (Dolores, Rico, Telluride) still had some dirt roads. And some of the store fronts can be seen in a movie. Some locals claim Telluride is a contraction of " To hell you ride", a reference to the town rowdy's past. 

We climbed higher and higher, went over Lizard Head Pass, the Dallas Divide with sight of Mt. Sneffels with its highest peak at 14,150 feet. On our way to the Million Dollar Highway we had to cross the Red Mountain Pass. In Ouray we saw some signs with "no rock work",  "rough road" and this sign....

.......we were wondering why

one lane road - no guard rail

The mountain is coming down. They have setup some scaffolding to prevent rocks from falling on the road.  With the snow melt in full blast as it was our turn to drive past, guess what. Rocks were coming down in front of us. Rupert cried out: "quick, some pictures". Can you believe it? I was so dumb- funded I did make some pics. It sounded like the sky is falling on our head. I (thought) I heard a bang on the roof of our car, but apparently there is no damage. Well, on the roof, but we did get hit.

Rupert calls it a "trophy" -Busted wind-shield

here one can see the remains of the mining business in Silverton

gorgeous !!

One of THE best tours we did on our trip. 230 miles round trip. Glorious day.

Ta-ta