Bridgewater Vacation Pics: 2004

2004 was our second year motorcycling out west. We were much better prepared for the weather, although we had great weather even though it was May. We drove out through Kansas on US 50 and 54 into south central Colorado and made our first stop at the Great Sand Dune National Monument. From there went accross Wolf Creek Pass on highway 160 and on into Durango, Colorado.

The Great Sand Dune National Monument.
http://www.nps.gov/grsa/index.htm

We stayed in Durango a couple nights and made big loop on the motorcyles. West on 160 to Cortez, then North on 145 up to Telluride and on over to Highway 62 and into Ridgeway, then south on US 550 back to Durango.

This pass is between Cortez and Telluride.

Looking south on US 550 out of Ouray.

This is between Ouray and Silverton on Highway 550.

The next day we rode from Durango to Silverton on the narrow gauge train. We chose to sit in the caboose which just so happened to also have the bar. I love it when things work out. It also allowed us to stand on the back and get some really cool photos during the trip.

http://www.durangotrain.com/

The track follows the Anamis River. This picture
was taken as we were going over the "Backbone".

The Caboose. Cold liquid beverages were
available for an extra fee.

During our third day in Durango, we made it back over to Cortez and to Mesa Verde National Park. These teepee's and large arrows are at a road side shop near the entrance to the park. It was closed and when we went back by here in 2007, most of the fletchings were gone.

Tourist trap near the entrance to Mesa Verde.

Mesa Verde National Park
Near Cortez, Colorado.
http://www.nps.gov/meve/index.htm

Mesa Verde National Park.

The four corners.

We headed on west after the Four Corners and on into Monument Valley from the North. Monument Valley is on indian property and is not a US National Park. That meant there were no signs telling you what you could or couldn't do and no fences.

Highway heading south into Monument Valley.
http://www.navajonationparks.org/htm/monumentvalley.htm

The Mittens of Monument Valley.

Me and Dad standing on Fords Point.

Big rock at the face of a big cliff. Look for this rock
at the beginning of "Once Upon a Time in the West".

We headed on west after Monument Valley and crossed the Colorado River in Paige Arizona and went up to Bryce Canyon. From there we visited Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion Canyon National Park, and Kodachrome State Park.

Bryce Canyon National Park.
http://www.nps.gov/brca/index.htm

Bryce Canyon National Park.

Kodachrome Basin State Park
http://www.utah.com/stateparks/kodachrome.htm

We took a horse back ride through Red Canyon which is just north and west of Bryce Canyon.

After spending a few days at Bryce, we loaded up the Hummer and pulled on over to Moab, Utah. We stopped at Capital Reef National Park and drove through the area known as the Grand Staircase Escalante. Which I believe is now a National Monument.

We drove the Hummer down the Schafer Trail in Canyonlands National Park and drove the motorcycles all through Arches National Park and around Moab.