Day 21 (July 19) – Natural Bridges to Durango, Colorado
We got on the road at 8:15 headed for Colorado. We start south toward Mexican Hat. We are unsure about the segment of the road called Moki Dugway. It is graded, not paved and it has many switchbacks as the road descends from the Colorado Plateau. As we reach the top, a sign points to the right saying :Muley Point.” I would not have thought anything about it, were it not for a comment made by David Farabee when he and his (grown) children stop at Natural Bridge to see me and the star program. He said the view from Muley Point is magnificent. So I turn off the paved road, onto a graded raod. Bonnie is very leery of graded roads. It is 3.5 miles to the point. No cars, zero. The view is breathtaking. You can see 50 miles away and it is a bit hazy. I get closer to the edge that Bonnie likes (There are no guard rails and it is sharp dropoff. My own vertigo prevents me from getting to close.
Approaching the edge of Muley Point.
At the edge.
Almost to Mexican Hat we make a quick detour to an amazing view point on the San Juan River called Gooseneck State Park. I manage a panorama shot. This is a meander’s meander!
We had back to the main road and it immediately becomes graded at the Moki Dugway. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah_State_Route_261 We are mentally comparing this to the switchbacks of Burr Trial (see day 16 of the blog) and half way down decide that the Dugway is not as scary as Burr Trail, primarily because, first, the Burr Trail there is 1 lane wide, so you must look over the edge. Moki Dugway is easy 2 lanes wide and if you stay to the hill side, you don’t see much over the edge. Second, Moki Dugway doesn’t actually have that many switchbacks. Burr Trail goes back and forth and back and forth. They are both great drives. You can drive a semi down Moki Dugway (if you have the proper license, that is.)
We drive through more rock country, enter Colorado. The sign announces “Colorful Colorado.” I’m sorry, but not so much here. We reach Cortez (it has a Walmart) and head for Durango. We do not have motel reservations and this is a tourist town at high season. We find a Super 8 with rooms, check in and drive around for bit, pick a Mexican restaurant for dinner (very good tamales) and drive into the surrounding countryside. Be-u-tee-ful. GREEN! Trees!
Back to the hotel for TV and sleep. Shopping at Walmart tomorrow!
Approaching the edge of Muley Point.
At the edge.
Almost to Mexican Hat we make a quick detour to an amazing view point on the San Juan River called Gooseneck State Park. I manage a panorama shot. This is a meander’s meander!
We had back to the main road and it immediately becomes graded at the Moki Dugway. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah_State_Route_261 We are mentally comparing this to the switchbacks of Burr Trial (see day 16 of the blog) and half way down decide that the Dugway is not as scary as Burr Trail, primarily because, first, the Burr Trail there is 1 lane wide, so you must look over the edge. Moki Dugway is easy 2 lanes wide and if you stay to the hill side, you don’t see much over the edge. Second, Moki Dugway doesn’t actually have that many switchbacks. Burr Trail goes back and forth and back and forth. They are both great drives. You can drive a semi down Moki Dugway (if you have the proper license, that is.)
We drive through more rock country, enter Colorado. The sign announces “Colorful Colorado.” I’m sorry, but not so much here. We reach Cortez (it has a Walmart) and head for Durango. We do not have motel reservations and this is a tourist town at high season. We find a Super 8 with rooms, check in and drive around for bit, pick a Mexican restaurant for dinner (very good tamales) and drive into the surrounding countryside. Be-u-tee-ful. GREEN! Trees!
Back to the hotel for TV and sleep. Shopping at Walmart tomorrow!
posted by Chap Percival at 12:43 AM
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