Jim & Lyndi ZR-1 Road Trip to Death Valley and The Grand Canyon

[QB93Z]

Day 5: Drive to Salina, Utah
On Sunday evening we had our "on the road again" celebretory pint in the lounge of the Marriot Hotel in Golden, Colorado. We have been surprised with the lack of travelers on the roads and in the hotels.





We got an early start on Monday morning. Temperature 30 degrees. Todays travels took us accross the Continental Divide at the Rocky Mountains. Once again we drove all day on I-70. This route is one of my favorite routes in the US. It was special this time because there was still a lot of snow on the mountains.














to be continued.......

[QB93Z]

On the western side of the mountain pass is Glenwood Canyon, a very special area of the pass. A major reconstruction of the I-70 roadway using some remarkable engineering to protect the river and surrounding forests was completed in 1992. The Eisenhower Tunnel is the highest portion of the pass, at 11,158 feet, the highest altitude tunnel in the US.






To make the day even better, we sighted a mixed-freight Train headed East in the pass:




We continued West on I-70 to Grand Junction, Colorado and took a bypass to visit Colorado National Monument:




The Colorado National Monument is a small but very informative area that has a single park road that pass through some very stunning landscapes that explain the results of 200 million years of geological mountain building by colliding plates of the Earth's crust and the effects erosion.







Jim

[tccrab]

Years ago I remember entering the Eisenhower Tunnel on a slightly cloudy day and exiting into a full blown snowstorm.
Having driven every major freeway from coast to coast including a few secondary routes, I70 is my favorite by far.
Drive safe and enjoy the trip.

Crabs

P.s., There is a place in Grand Junction that makes the very best Toffee on the planet:
https://www.enstrom.com/
Stop by if you are still in town.

[QB93Z]

Day 6 - Drive to Death Valley National Park

We have arrived at Death Valley NP, at the lodge in Stovepipe Wells. The connectivity to WiFi is weak so we haven't been able to post pictures yet.

I will keep trying.

Jim

[We Gone]

Love going on these trips with y'all.

Be safe.

[QB93Z]

I am doing my posting at 4 AM to get sufficient bandwidth'

Day 6... continued:

We left Salina, UT early, in a drizzly rain. There was new snow on the surrounding hills but the roads were wet and clear. Temperature was about 36 degrees. On I-70, from Salina to I-15 South is about 59 miles.


The conditions on westbound I-70:




South on I-15, looking east:




In St George, UT. When we bought the 1995 Purple ZR-1 we picked it up in St George. We spent some time looking around and found this interesting license plate pole:




We visited a small recreation center called Pioneer Park. There is a Slot Canyon and a small arch. There are several hiking trails:




Back on I-15 south:




You never know what you will find on the Road. As we passed this truck, we paused for a moment of silence:




to be continued.......

[QB93Z]

The open road:





The closest "town" to Death Valley NP is Beatty, NV. It used to be a thriving tourist town, but today, not so much:









Arrived!!!!!!!!

[QB93Z]

Day 7 at Death Valley:

We are staying at Stovepipe Wells Village on the western side of the park.

When they began to build a road to the mine at Skidoo in 1906, they made a settlement in Stovepipe Wells. At that time, it was the only known source of water and the location of the water was marked with a stovepipe. The hotel and village were started in 1925 and it is now a registered historic site.


Nearby are the Great Sand Dunes. The winds move the sand around and change the shapes, but they there are in the same place as they were when I visited Death Valley in 1975.

[dandt67]

Jim & Lyndi
Fantastic photos and narratives as usual. Safe travels.
Take care.

[Matt B]

Really nice pictures! And may I say that I LOVE your Z's color!