Day 8 - Moab, UT to Durango, CO

SOUTHWEST ADVENTURE - Day 8
Starting Point: Moab, UT
Destination: Durango, CO
Day 8 mileage: 405.1
Cumulative mileage (GPS): 4153.3
Cumulative mileage (Odometer): 4232.6

The ride on Day 8 was altered pretty significantly from the original ride plan. At the end of our day on Tuesday, we were just worn out from the hiking into the parks to see sights of significance. We headed for dinner and hotel before seeing the iconic Delicate Arch in Arches National Park. We just couldn't miss this, so we cut a ride into the LaSal Mountains in order to go back to Arches NP. We rode straight to Delicate Arch and chose to do a short hike (about 20 minutes each way) to see the arch, rather than hike the 1.5 hours each way to get all the way to the landmark. Even so, our abbreviated hike (uphill both way, it seemed) took a lot out of us. Following this adventure, we rode a quick in-and-out rode along the Colorado River, then set our sights on Colorado.

We enjoyed a wonderful ride along US190 to US145, where we connected with the San Juan Scenic Skyway. This ride was absolutely beautiful... challenging, but not overly so. We were able to cruise on long sweepers while occasionally encountering switchbacks as we climbed to 10,000+ feet on three different occasions. We stopped for lunch in Telluride, Colorado, a quaint little skiing town. While there, a restaurant proprietor told us how we could ride just north of town to see Bridal Veil Falls before continuing our ride to Durango.

In our planning, we added an optional visit to Four Corners Monument. This was significant to Randall and me - as well as to Elizabeth and Annette - as we were supposed to see this monument in 2012. Our plans in '12 were altered by a terrible sandstorm that had us riding this same area without seeing a thing. That remains the scariest riding day ever for me. Here is a quick 20-second video of what we experienced in 2012:

While the monument itself was a disappointment in several respects, it was nice to make it to this location several years later - and it gave rise in me a desire to explore the history of Native Americans who manage this site.

After leaving Four Corners, we headed to our hotel in Durango, shared a quick bite of barbecue with the gang - and now we're calling it a night.

Day 9 takes us to Vail, Colorado, where Annette and I honeymooned nearly 31 years ago. I know this will be a special time for the two of us!

Peace!

Delicate Arch