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On Monday, we set off on a little two-day drive down some old familiar territory in search of a little fall color. (Leaf changing seems to be delayed this year.)
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On the way, we took a short detour into the old mining town of Ophir. I had hoped to stop for a Lemonade, but it seems the kids’ upscale shop was apparently closed for the season.
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Our route took us down the San Juan Skyway to Lizard Head Pass (named for a spire that doesn’t look like the head of any lizard I’ve ever seen).
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From there, we took detoured down part of the Galloping Goose Trail.
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The graded roadway follows the route of the Rio Grande Southern Railroad, once the tracks of the Galloping Geese . Along the way, we passed an abandoned trestle…
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…and an historic water tank from the bygone railroad days.
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We camped for the night in the Super 8 in Cortez. Tuesday morning, we headed for home on a route through Colorado’s canyon country. Our first stop was a return visit to the Lowery Pueblo ruins in Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, a site I’ve enjoyed several times before.
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From there, we drove through the self-proclaimed Pinto Bean Capital of the World and soon turned onto a highway that would follow the Dolores River northward.
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Along the way, we stopped to look down on the remains of the famous hanging flume…
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…a wooden water trough clinging to the cliffs, 150+ feet above the canyon floor.
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We continued on toward Gateway, motoring through a wide canyon with ruddy cliffs towering skyward on both sides of the highway. (Yes, friends, this is a pretty part of Colorado.)
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Entering the Grand Valley, we made a detour to Dos Hombres (our favorite Mexican restaurant) in Clifton for burritos (excellent) and margaritas (not excellent). Then on toward home.