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South out of Tetons, & Jackson Hole, back into a corner of Utah, 'the geologic history trail', and back into Colorado for our 2nd time this trip. We rolled south to Montrose, CO and cooped for a delightful 3 nights in a motel, as opposed to the near daily 'moving' from joint to joint. Montrose is a fine little town and close to the remarkable, but seldom visited Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. And, Montrose is a ~30 min drive to Ouray, and the famous Rt 550 from Ouray to Durango. Thus, we shacked up and enjoyed both for a couple days.
The Black Canyon Nat Park is a mini-Grand Canyon that allows for right to the edge hiking, pic shooting, and has a few dozen cars per day as opposed to the literal hundred thousand a day to the GC south rim. Different geology and not quite as 'big' or expansive, but same process, and beautiful in its own way; though, like the GC, it is very difficult to 'capture' the large scale.
As for the Ouray to Durango road, Route 550, I have driven it 5 times on m'cycle trips, but it was a hoot and less nerve wracking in the Vette with 4 wheels. V drove most of the way, each way, and while it was 'crowded' with July 4th weekend tourists, it was as fine a road as I remembered. We are closing in on 'leaving' the Mtn States at this point, and bracing for the long easterly run across the 'fly over' states, heading for Fam & friends in MI, YYZ, NY and NJ...
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