Today was a traveling day, across a wide variety of terrain and roads. Scenic byway out of Curacanti, dogleg different highways up through Grand Junction, gasp over Douglas Pass and then trek via sandstone country on to Dinosaur National Monument.

Douglas Pass was evil-steep. Howie was down to first gear and slowing, in a couple of (thankfully short) sections. We were discussing whether we’d have to un-hook Ralph and drive the two separately beyond the big grades. But Howie manned up and we made it without blowing anything up. The pass was gorgeous, deep evergreens and emerald aspens, with even a tiny residence here and there nestled in the beauty.

Just before the summit, a road crew was knocking down some boulders and cleaning them up. We watched the proceedings for about a half hour until it was safe enough to go on.

Upon arriving and doing some basic research, the Monument turns out to be more than we expected (again) – – – seemingly an innate characteristic of this trip. We haven’t seen anything or done anything here yet, but to start with – – our camp site is right on the Green River, surrounded by monster cottonwoods. One of them has a trunk that’s about 4 feet across, a towering presence in the camp. It’s spacious, quiet, and the water and trees give it a gentle kind of peace.

The big river is full to the brim due to the recent rains, and it courses by without turbulence, nearly silent, a huge volume of purpose-bent liquid marching to some un-heard siren song.

Just to the north of camp, a tiny glimpse of what is to come beckons – – –

The Monument has driving tours, hiking trails, 1500 dinosaur bones embedded in the wall of a quarry, ancient pictographs, and canyon/river scenery among the best in the west. Oh, and by some fortuitous luck, we also have three bars of 3G. Zounds. We’re looking forward to this.