As we leave Moab, we are following the Colorado River....leaving Moab on a different route than which we entered....still stunning!
As we cross the border in to Colorado, the change in scenery is almost immediate....as you will see from pictures below, we have switched from red rock to snow capped Rocky ranges
We are still paralleling the Colorado River most of the way.
We decided to approach Crested Butte from the north since we will be going south when we leave. On this map, we are entering the West Elk Loop on the far west side. We stopped at a Visitor Center to be sure that all the roads were passable (not really.....we had to go potty!)
Somerset is one of the first towns we pass on the Loop....
The Somerset Post Office
The Community Center and the Library share this small building
This is the center of town.....Library, Community Center and P.O. are all just to the left of this picture.
Faithful to its billing, Somerset is a coal mining town, first and foremost.....entirely! Just past Somerset, we saw a sign which indicated that the Kebler Pass was closed. We ignored it....it had all sorts of decals all over it, indicating that it had been there for some time....after all, we had stopped to double check about the roads. Cannot believe that we don't have pictures of this whole scenario....guess the panic, disappointment and frustration with the whole situation rendered a photo totally irrelevant!!!! Thank goodness, there was a truck stopped near us....the driver was depositing his clothes and lunch box behind a gated passage into which, we think, was his own car. I followed him to ask about the Pass.....a very kind gentleman, who confirmed: "The Kebler Pass is closed until June 1. If the sign says it is closed, it is closed." Sooooo, we will get to visit the coal country again, backtrack miles and start over!!!! So much for what was supposed to be our shortest drive...
Rerouting around the West Elk Loop took us to yet another small coal mining town, Crawford.
From there, the terrain became much more mountainous, winding, bending, slow....
The aspen trees were omnipresent....not yet in bloom
Remembering my "scotch" sedative across Takaka Hill in NZ, I was wishing for a refill.....no guardrails, dizzying......and HIGH altitude!
Took a picture and hopped back in the car for Tom to continue to drive....I cannot!
AHA!!! Gunnison is only 25 minutes from our destination....had we followed this route in the first place, we would be there1
Following our nose to Crested Butte.....is this really the Nirvana after all this up, down, round about?
Yes, here we are, at last, in our new nest for the next four days!
