Boulder to Moab
390 miles

We met back up at 29th Street Mall at Panera for breakfast the next morning. At the team meeting, they offered a prize for the first person to present a box of tic-tac’s. I anxiously dug through my purse and alas, I won! I got a sweet magnet. After a quick MINI cheer and a group photo, we continued westward. I would be bypassing the group’s next 2 stops so I told my adopted parents I’d see them in LA.

My prize!

The strip of I-70 west through the Rockies has to be one of the most scenic strips of interstate in the US. I wanted to stop and get a stamp for my passport book at Rocky Mountain National Park, but I totally forgot about it. Oh well. As I neared Eisenhower Tunnel, signs were warning of a wreck and to seek alternatives. There aren’t a lot of alternatives for crossing over a mountain range hah. I was sad to miss the tunnel but I veered off on Loveland Pass and ended up on a beautifully scenic detour. The two-lane road was not meant to support this quantity of traffic and the hairpin turns were less than ideal for the number of semi-trailers, so I basically pulled off at every viewpoint, hoping the traffic would eventually dwindle down. There was a white Nissan ahead of me doing the same thing and after the third stop, the man & woman joked about us stalking each other.

Loveland Pass

Look down at I-70 and Eisenhower Tunnel from Loveland Pass

The views were amazing as I stood on the continental divide and with the elevation gain (11,990 ft), the temperature had dropped to an incredible 63-degrees. It felt so good to have a break from the 90-degree temps. I could just make out the entrance to Eisenhower Tunnel but didn’t see any signs of a traffic backup. As we looped around, I arrived in the adorable town of Dillon. The sky was so clear that you could see several mountain peaks surrounding Lake Dillon. I was thankful for this extra bit of scenery vs the dark tunnel.

Lake Dillon, Colorado

Once I got back to I-70, I pulled off at a “No Name Rest Area” which was right by the “No Name Creek” and “No Name Tunnel”. I cracked up. I’d already gotten a chuckle at “Blank Park Zoo” but this was just ridiculous. It looked like a pretty spot to take a hike, though, with big rolling green foothills.

No Name Rest Area

The lush colors of the mountains soon faded as I passed through canyon country near Glenwood Springs. This is actually one of my favorite places to drive. I love winding through with the canyon walls towering on each side and trains passing in and out of tunnels alongside creek beds. It sort of transports you to another time.

And soon the canyon walls tapered off to vast nothingness just outside Grand Junction. At this town, I was led on a wild goose chase for a Jimmy John’s. I never found it! Heartbroken and hungry, I settled for McDonald’s. It was, however, the most stylish McDonald’s I’ve ever experienced. It had a modern lounge vibe with a diffused lighting scheme. So random.

Moab

North of Arches National Park, Utah

I crossed into Utah not long after this stop and turned south on US 191 toward Moab. The sand-colored plains slowly warmed to a vivid red with big rock walls jetting up. A few miles further and I arrived at the entrance to Arches National Park. After catching a film at the visitor’s center, I set off on my tour.

Balanced Rock

Delicate Arch

It was just too hot to actually hike to see Delicate Arch up close. The short but steep hike to the viewpoint nearly killed me in the 102-degree heat.

The Windows

South Window and Turret Arch

Random man climbed up

Park Avenue

I stuck around hoping to capture a nice sunset but it wasn’t anything special. Moab was only a few miles away so I made my way to Bowen Motel. It was a mismatched but cozy room and the lady at the front desk was really helpful in helping me track down some dinner options. I wasn’t feeling social so I picked up a grilled ham & cheese from Moab Diner before calling it a night. There was much more desert exploration in the day to come.

Bowen Motel

North Platte to Boulder
289 miles

North Platte

Since the MINI group was nearly a whole state behind me, I had plenty of time to ease into my day. It was nice to sleep in. My hotel’s free breakfast was at the 24-hour Penny’s Diner next door. I got twice as much food, as I could handle as is the western way.

Penny’s Diner

I didn’t have interest in the Buffalo Bill Cody trading post around the corner or other such things so I drove across town to the Golden Spike Tower, which overlooks the world’s largest railroad (freight classification), Bailey Yard. It was an interesting stop, especially since I timed my arrival at the same time as an elderly group on a tour bus. The yard is 2,850 acres with 33 different tracks that train cars get sorted onto for distribution. Docents were around to add their own stories. One of the men used to work in the yard for 50 years. I wish I could remember more of his stories. There were flags for each state with Union Pacific tracks and placards explaining the history of the tracks there. It’s a worthwhile stop and great view if you’re passing by.

Bailey Railyard view from Golden Spike, North Platte, NE

Corn maze and train car

Colorado

It was a short trip from North Platte to the Colorado border. The last time I’d driven into Colorado from the east, the sun was already down. All I remembered was that I’d expected to see mountains right at the stateline, so I knew better this time. But still, I wasn’t prepared for Colorado to be flatter than Nebraska. I stopped off at the welcome center in Julesburg to take a look at the Pony Express trail marker and monument.

Pony Express monument, Julesburg, CO

I continued on down to Denver and hopped over to 36-W (the same road that goes through my hometown), heading for Boulder. With a quick stop at a scenic overlook of the approaching foothills of the Rockies, I was at my lodgings for the night (Days Inn) in no time.

Mountain marker near Boulder

Looking toward Boulder

Our evening MINI event was at 29th Street Mall, a few miles away. The outdoor strip was full of food vendors, booths, and live music. It was a great setup and although some storm clouds gathered, it never rained more than a few sprinkles. I met up with Brian & Linda. We sampled the food options and grabbed a table by the stage where the Jeff Brinkman Band was playing. They were sort of DMB-esque but really enjoyable. Sadly, soon after Brian & Linda left, their names were drawn for a free gas card! They just missed it. I met a few other people, also running into the lady I’d met in Nashville so I was finally able to meet her whole family. Boulder marked the first appearance of attractive men who my age. One of them was talking to the MINI guy I’d also met in Nashville, but as I was walking over to join their conversation, I was intersected by a dad and his son.

MTTS at 29th Street Mall, Boulder

They are another shining example of the conditioning life has given me not to be nice to strangers. They were from the area but hadn’t joined in the big drive, so I was telling them what the experience had been like so far. I soon realized that the father had ulterior motives and was trying to set me up with his son. His son was about a decade younger than me and I was not interested. So, it was a long and awkward conversation. By the time I broke free, the attractive man had vanished. I did speak more to the MINI guy so that was cool. I shook my fist at the fates and headed home for the night.