San Juan Skyway (6/2/14)

Today, we drove over some of the most outrageous terrain ever! We left the Black Canyon of the Gunnison around 7:30. Just getting down to Montrose from there is an adventure – you keep the car in 1^st gear the whole way. After that, we started heading South on 550. We went as far as Ouray and then had to turn west as they have been clearing up a rock slide for the last few months. We went up, and then up some more. We eventually came out of the highest elevation and then down into Telluride. That was kind of a neat old town. Barbara picked up a wind chime for the trailer and a couple tee shirts for the boys. After a light lunch in our trailer (great place to find a bathroom and restaurant when you’re traveling!), we headed on to Mesa Verde – Colorado NP. That part of the drive was even more exciting. We hit 10,000 feet and saw mountains all around us that were 14,000 feet high and covered in snow. We followed rivers that were swollen with snow melt. Eventually we got to the park and checked in. We were amazed to find that the campground has Wi-Fi! I believe that other than the one commercial campground that we stayed at in California, this is the first. We signed up for a couple tours of different cliff dwellings tomorrow. Barbara and I had to separate from each other on the first as it includes multiple ladders and she doesn’t do ladders! Tonight, we will head over to a ranger program and then be up early for a full day tomorrow.