When we left Richfield, Utah, we headed toward the small town of Silt, Colorado. We have stayed at the RV park there on numerous occasions because it is the closest RV park to Glenwood Springs that can accommodate an RV our size.
The drive across Utah is beautiful and there's not much to do along the drive except stop at each rest area and marvel at the changes in scenery from one rest stop to the next.
The terrain changes constantly, and each time we would stop the view was amazing. There's not really much to say except enjoy the pictures.
After leaving Utah, we crossed into Colorado and drove through Grand Junction. Leaving Grand Junction we followed the Colorado river as it winds through canyons after exiting the Rocky Mountains.
Even though it was the end of April, the weather still thought it was winter.
We got set up in our RV park in Silt and had a nice evening with intermittent rain showers.
The next day, we drove to Glenwood Springs Colorado, where we enjoyed the Yampa Spa.
When I was flying as an Air Attack, fighting forest fires, I spent quite a few summers flying out of Grand Junction. On my very first summer there, after working 12 days in a row, I was required to take two days off. I had made many friends with the tanker base staff, and several of them told me that I had to go to Glenwood Springs to the Yampa spa to relax after 12 busy days of flying. I went there and had a very enjoyable afternoon, and ever since then, every time we were near Glenwood Springs, we would go to the spa.
The spa complex is built around a cave that goes down into the mountain. Down at the bottom of the cave are small rooms that are heated by steaming water that emerges from the cracks in the rock. This steaming hot water heats all of the rooms that are carved out of the mountain. Each of the rooms has large, smooth marble like slabs that form benches and tables that you can lie on. The benches are all heated to the same temperature as the rest of the room and as you lie on them, the heat just soaks up into your body while the steamy atmosphere warms the rest of your body. The effect is amazing.
We did not want to take our phones down into the steamy mist, and so I have gotten some photos from the Internet that show what it is that you experience. The cave is actually much darker than these photos.
Even though it was quite chilly on the day that we were there on this trip, you are so hot and sweaty from the cave, that it felt great to just sit outside and cool off a little bit. When we have gone in the past, it has even been snowing, and the little snow flakes striking your skin was amazing. On this trip, there was no rain or snow while we were on the patio. After a few minutes on the patio benches, we would go back down into the cave for another round. We made three trips down into the cave, and after that, you take a shower and then put on the robe that they supply, and then go to the solarium to continue the relaxation process.
The big white thing in the middle of the room was a giant crystal that they claim helps center your energy. I'm not sure if that works but sitting in the solarium was very relaxing after visiting the cave and this is where we waited until the appointed time, when our masseuses came and took us for our massage. After the massage, we were barely able to walk out to the car for the short, drive back to our motorhome.
The next day, we continued our trip north out of Colorado, and into Wyoming. The drive through northern Colorado and southern Wyoming was spectacular. The terrain varies but the overall big picture is of a huge, wide open space with stark contrast between lush greenery and dry high desert.
It was a long, lonely highway traveling through Wyoming.
Speaking of winter snows, it was amazing to see snow fence.
These are 14 foot high fences that are built back from the highway. They are designed to slow the snow and cause it to swirl and fall into a drift before reaching the highway. The drift continues to build, causing the wind to blow the snow over the top of the highway helping to keep it clear. They must work because they look very expensive and they go on for miles and miles.
Our final destination that day was Lander, Wyoming, where we spent two nights. Our goal on this leg of the trip was to be in position to visit what we were told is an amazing museum.
That will be the next blog and if you thought this one had a lot of pictures, I was just getting warmed up.
I hope you are enjoying the blog and if you have any suggestions for us, please let us know.
We will keep you posted on our travels and we hope that you get a chance to get out here and see some of this amazing country.
Tom & Suzie
No comments:
Post a Comment