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Tue, 8/11/09

Slick Rock CG, Moab, UT, to West Fork NF CG, Pagosa Springs, CO: Left Moab this morning at 10:00. I decided to drive first. Headed south on Rt. 191 through Moab and figured we’d be driving through more flat terrain. But we drove through more sandstone monoliths, canyons, gorges, and washes. Passed another huge and really stunning arch right on the side of the road. Kept climbing until we were on top of a large plateau with higher bluffs, mesas and mountains around us. At Monticello we headed southwest on Rt. 491. The road was all torn up in Monticello—main road and side roads. It was a mess and we got mud all over the fifth wheel and the just-washed truck. Rt. 491 is a pretty decent road, albeit only two lanes, and we’re starting to see large farms—no more desert. We crossed over into Colorado a few miles from Monticello. We were going to stop, eat, and switch drivers in Cortez, but going through the little town of Dove Creek I noticed the little Blue Mountain Café. So we pulled in there and had breakfast. A cute little place with a large parking lot and good food. After eating Mike took over driving and we continued on through Cortez (a cute little town), Durango (getting way too big), and finally Pagosa Springs which is pretty much the same except for the western outskirts which has been built up quite a bit. We’re about 30 miles east of Pagosa Springs in the West Fork National Forest campground in the middle of the San Juan National Forest on the west fork of the San Juan River. A beautiful place. After getting set up we sat outside for a while enjoying the peace and quiet. The only sounds were the chattering of the birds and the susurration of the wind through the trees. Nice. It was in the low 80s when we pulled in here. Perfect!