Day 28: Road to Salida

Last night we didn’t have our evening meal because we arrived too late and all the restaurants were closed.  We dined on our emergency snacks.

When I awoke the next morning, Mick was gone.  He indicated he may run to McDonald’s in the morning to get some food and not to worry if he was gone.

He actually rode back to our last pit stop the night before and retrieved my Air Hawk.  41 miles each way. 

Just about the time your ready to ring his neck, he goes and does something really sweet!!  What a guy!!

Mick saved my butt again, literally!

The road to Salida, CO started out pretty much the way yesterday ended.

We saw a few dust devils . . .

. . . some cross winds . . .

. . . and a cute tool truck . . .

. . . some neat road signs . . .

. . . a navy corsair on a stick. . .

. . . and a suicide runaway truck ramp. 

Notice the end of the ramp is a stone wall!

We rode through a number of cool rock formations, mostly before reaching Grand Junction.

More rock formations

Mick’s monoliths.

Mc’s monolith.

Mick’s shadow.

Mc’s shadow.

Mick’s pyramid . . .

                 

. . . I don’t have a pyramid . . .

. . . but I have a new angle!

Scenic view from one of our rest stops

Mick taking pictures of weeds at the scenic view rest stop.

Record high temperature registered at 5:10 pm Mountain time:  103 F.

As was yesterday, finding a rest area in the shade was of paramount importance, and sometimes you must take desperate measures.

Our last rest stop of the day, just 50 miles from Salida, CO.  

What we didn’t realize at the time, Monarch Pass lay in those 50 miles.

Monarch Pass, Rocky Mountains, after sunset.

And at the end of the day . . .

             

. . . Riding out of the sunset.

Today’s Stats:

Arrival Time in Salida, CO:  9:41 pm, local time

Riding Time:  8 Hrs.  22 Mins.

Today’s Miles:  466.2

Total Miles:  10,436

Today’s MPG:  52.6

Today’s MPH:  56.9

 

Tomorrow’s Destination:  Pratt, Kansas

444 Miles

Mc