We left Kayenta this morning at 9:30, and “Running Down a Dream” happened to be on the radio as we pulled out. I couldn’t think of a better song for our next road trip. The morning’s drive was uneventful, except we saw some wild horses up on an outcropping of rock.

We arrived in Cortez, CO in time for lunch, which we ate at Burger Boy Drive-in. We had a simple burger and tots (fries for Jeff) and a chocolate milkshake. The whole experience had a vintage vibe. From there, we drove to Mesa Verde National Park, where Jeff was hoping to see some cliff dwellings again. Unfortunately, all the cliff tours were booked, so we had to be contented with driving around the park and pulling off at various overlooks. Fall is in full force here, and the colors on the trees are spectacular. We went up to Park Point, the highest point on Mesa Verde, where there is a fire lookout. I thought it ought to be manned considering there is a Red Flag Warning in effect, meaning conditions are ripe for a wildfire to break out. But apparently that is not an unusual occurrence here, because everyone is going about their lives normally.

 

We drove a little further to where we could see the Cliff Palace from an overlook. While we were there taking pictures, an older couple asked if we would like their tickets to the tour since they had decided not to use them. I declined because I am certainly not in health to be climbing up and down cliffs, but told them Jeff would love to do it. So Jeff hurried to get to the rendezvous point for the tour, and I went back to the car to work on this blog entry and worry about him not having had time to put on sunscreen or take water with him.

The tour seemed to take a little over an hour, so I read a book for school while I waited. When Jeff got back, he seemed really excited about the experience. He told me some of what he’d learned and that he’d recorded the ranger’s whole presentation so I could see it.

The park roads close at 5:00, so we started back down the mountain so we could adhere as close as we could to the rules. Jeff got GoPro footage of the drive. It freaked me out a little because so much of the road was right on a precipice. The trip down the mountain was longer than the distance between the park entrance and the town of Cortez.

We headed for our hotel, the Retro Inn, where each room is decorated for a different year. Our room is 1959, and has black and white checked floors, pink tile in the bathroom, and pictures of I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners, and Leave It to Beaver on the walls. After we checked in and unloaded the car, we went to an Italian place, Lotsa Pasta and Thatza Pizza, where I had the lasagna, and Jeff got a small pizza. In looking at the weather forecast, we discovered that they are expecting temperatures to plummet in the next couple of days, even to the point of snow in Denver, so we stopped by Walmart to get me a jacket, since I packed for 50s, not 30s. Of course, it’s purple.

Tomorrow, we head to Moab, UT, where we will tour Canyonlands National Park.