Wednesday

Dan: On Wednesday morning we headed west from Leadville, taking the Top of the Rockies Highway, which turned into the 10^th Mountain Division Highway, which became the Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway in Utah. We haven’t been below 5,000 feet elevation in days. We stopped briefly at the Museum of Western Colorado in Grand Junction but decided not to spend the $7 entry fee when the docent told us that the gun exhibit was closed because someone stole part of the display. A very short time later, however, we saw a road sign for Independence Monument National Park – and what a great, unexpected find. The views on this part of the trip have been spectacular. We finished the day in Delta Utah. There are only 20,000 people in the whole county – that’s the equivalent of a boro or township back in PA. If I read the brochure correctly, 80% of this county is public land: only 20% is privately owned! Just before arriving in Delta, we passed Salina Utah, which is where Alan spent time on an archeological dig in college. We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to visit the dig. We didn’t get all the way to the dig because Diablo balked at getting off paved roads, but it sure brought back great memories for Alan. On the way to the dig, we saw a pickup truck stopped on the shoulder and, because this is a really secluded area, we slowed down and asked if they needed help. The driver said, “No, we’re fine, we just captured ourselves a Christmas tree, thanks for asking though.” I guess Uncle Sam is making one family happy this season.  At the Days Inn in Delta OK, we used the laundry facilities and walked to the Mexican restaurant next door for take out. We studied our maps and tentatively decided to take a southern route through Nevada to avoid Reno and its snow storm altogether. The Loneliest Road in America will just have to wait for another time.