15 @ Durango to Moab....nope, Gunnison

Sorry with the heading, there was a wife innovention. That was my plan, leaving open the opportunity to go to Yellowstone NP required to hoof it a bit and get to Moab today and on to Yellowstone the day after, but, how can I say, weather or wives things change. So we jumped on the million dollar highway and though I didn't pay for it, it's worth every cent! One of the greatest rides in the country, that might have been said before! It offered everything, views, passes, sweepers all with great weather.
With a few stops for ohhs and ahhhs and the necessary pix we got too Silver-ton. Coffee time. To explain that further, coffee is not as it sounds in this country it's rather like instant but dripped! But we came across a potential shop and as always put the challenge out? Firstly we don't want a minimum 8 oz mug, let's try 5, and give us a double shot in that. Coffee is extracted separately in a shot glass and milk is muddled and both are poured into a mug. That said it remains our best coffee!

So Lenore wanted a shot of a RV park which was noticed on the way in. Through a town with such a name the side streets were gravel, we turned down the few streets and behind the main there as great activity! A large number of old vehicles were preparing for some sort of parade. We wanted to view this, pulled over and got into the action taking lots of pix of a variety of old vehicles ranging from trucks, cars and other stuff! Yehaa a red neck vehicle convention. Bit of fun.

That side trip soaked up time as did the superb ride to Ouray, the stops and pix taking. Gunnison got close as the heavens opened up? It rained heavily on us so in a scuttle for refuge we got into a store called Murdocks, kinda like a Big W for farmers. This execution lost us a good hour and some cash. Lenore didn't stray too far from the horse stuff and the bike saddle bags filled up even more. Even the dogs at home got presses!
The rain passed and on the Gunnison NP. The black canyon! Was amazing, rode to the river, back up and began stopping at the most amazing view points. Black because of steepness of sides and lack of light penetrating its depths. Anyway lots of views all cut short by rain, fog and incovience. With the thought of Yellowstone fading we retreated to the junction some 30 miles back, yep still in the rain and found refuge in Ridgeway. Pizza and beers, a dry bed and sleep knowing that another plastic breakfast awaits!