This was really the official start of my ...
Trip Start
Nov 09, 1998
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Trip End
Nov 24, 1998
Green River,
Utah,
United States
Wednesday, November 11, 1998
graves were marked with simple boards with names and dates scratched in them. It was a very eerie but also very pretty.
I was soon back out on the road though. The plains of Nebraska soon gave way to the rolling hills of Colorado. It was a perfect morning as there was barely a cloud in the sky. As you travel across Nebraska (along the Platte river) you don't notice the very slow climb. Once you hit Colorado there is a big difference as you find yourself travelling up hills that are several miles in length. Then about 60 miles out of Denver you get your first glimpse of the majestic Rocky Mountains. It was an incredible sight on such a clear day. Once you leave Denver the road steepens once more. You immediately climb close to the top of Lookout Mtn. I got off the Interstate here in order to see the view of Denver from the private nature reserve at the top of the mountain. Except for the trees there is nothing to impede your view eastward from the top of the mountain. You are literally gazing across hundreds and hundreds of miles of land. The crazy thing is that there is a huge mansion on top of the mountain and many other large houses along the side. I can't imagine the costs of getting materials to this place.
About five minutes from the top of Lookout is the grave of Buffalo Bill Cody. Even 70 years after his death he is still quite the showman. The view from his gravesite is astounding. After leaving there I took the wrong turn and came down the wrong side of the mountain. This excursion was worth it was I ended up taking a small two lane switchback road all the way down into Golden, CO near the headquarters of Coors Brewing. I guessed my way back to the Interstate without incident. Soon I came to Loveland pass which is located almost 12,000 feet above sea level. The whole of Interstate 70 is a tremendous feat of engineering.
I decided to have lunch at Good Times Burgers in Silverthorne. I'd suggest the Double Cheeseburger - greasy as the day is long. Soon I came to Glenwood Canyon which is probably the most scenic 14 mile stretch of highway anywhere. The road follows the Colorado river and sometimes the canyon is so narrow that the westbound lanes are located directly above the eastbound ones. It's an exciting drive with many twists and turns but unfortunately snow flurries had started and they had dumped a lot of sand on the road so visibility was poor. I stopped at two rest stops to take many pictures that'll probably show up on the website sometime soon. Once you leave Glenwood the mountains give way to large scenic mesas.
Soon you find yourself in Grand Junction, CO where the lush mountain forests start turning into the scrub vegetation of the Utah ranch land. I spent the night in Green River, UT and had dinner at Twisters which has been previously reviewed in COL. It's just as good a year later but the prices have gone up slightly. My meal of a Beef Burrito, nachos, and a banana shake came to $6.30. It's still worth it though. This year I found out that Green River considers itself the Melon Capital of the World and holds an annual Melon festival each June. Somehow I don't think it's as good as I picture it.
Drive time stats...
Daily KM: 925 Hours: 10.5
