Day 18.  24° to 72°.  266 Miles.  Rode 550 north out of Durango, went west on 62 to 145 to 141 past Gateway, turned south on 50 to our destination for the night in Delta.

Once again traffic was light to nonexistent.  Did have a red light controlling traffic on 550.  This time I waited for the green before proceeding. 

Made a few stops.  First at Bear Falls on 550.  Second at the hanging flume lookout on 141.  You can throw a rock from the view point into the river.  Mostly a ride and snap some pictures.  The colors on the mountains were great.  Hope some of the pictures capture it as well as my eye did.

Leaving Durango

US 550

Overlook just before Silverton on 550

Silverton

Bear Falls

Ouray

CO 145

What look like sticks on the wall are the supports for the flume

The next 2 were at the bottom. Right of the light colored sand bar 2 pictures up

After Gateway on CO 141

 

Day 17.  315 miles as we pushed on to Durango as we had plenty on riding time left.  37° to 73°.  Perfect riding weather to cross the 4 corners area of our country.

First stop was the Butler Wash Ruins.  An Anasazi Indian cliff dwelling.  A half mile walk among brush and then a walk across slickrock marked with cairns.  At the observation fence the ruins were easy to see across the canyon.

We then continued on to UT 261 and Moki Dugway.  Before getting there we went out to Muley Point on a 5 mile hard pack road.  Had it been damp, no way on two wheels.  Moderate challenge.  Oh what a view.  Worth the ride if you are up to it.

Both of the above stops were recommended by my nephew – Blake Elliott.  So glad he did tell me about them.

The rest of the day was just riding and looking at the views.  We were going to stay in Cortez, but we had time to kill, and pushed on to Durango.  This gives us time tomorrow to stop and see the many sights from here to Delta, via Gateway.

Butler Wash Ruins and trail

Cairns or route marking stones

UT 261

Muley Point - WOW

Moki Dugway turn out.