Grand Train Journey across USA - Day 11

[Guest]

DAY 11 – (28-6-06) – The big red beast

As we rise, we phoned the station to check on the progress of our train only to discover it’s running 9 ½ hours late! Rather than waste the day or hang around at the station, we decide to hire a car. The airport and car hire place are directly across from where we are staying.The choice is quite limited – a white van or a fire engine red Durango! You can guess what we chose.This beast does 12 miles to the gallon. I love it - you could live in this thing!

We head up north of Grand Junction to the Colorado National Monument – a National Park which consists of Mesa’s surrounding the Grand Junction Valley.

This area of beauty is filled with a similar red-rock structure to the Grand Canyon, but on a more intimate and accessible scale. Unlike the Grand Canyon, this area can be driven into and you can get “up close and personal” with the natural geography. We watched a short animated presentation at the visitors’ centre which outlined the geological history of the area, telling how the layers of rock were deposited and then worn away again. From sea, to desert, to sea, to glacial filled canyon, to desert again, this area has been constantly changing for billions of years.

This sign just how the rock strata were deposited and what was around at the time. The base rock is over 1000 million years old. Compare that with 140 million years ago when dinosaurs were walking the land.

This is the first time we have ever ventured on to a mesa and it’s staggering in its beauty. I think the blurb from the National Parks website sums it up superbly: “Colorado National Monument preserves one of the grand landscapes of the American West. But this treasure is much more than a monument. Towering monoliths exist within a vast plateau and canyon panorama. You can experience sheer-walled, red rock canyons along the twists and turns of Rim Rock Drive, where you may spy bighorn sheep and soaring eagles”.

The area has a webcam but do remember the time difference – they are 7 hours behind us so from 2p.m. to 11p.m. our time is a good time to view: nps.gov/customcf/webcam/...0EC5909 608EF

The formations have been given some odd titles.

The kissing couple (the formation on the right):

The organ pipes:

Some more views:

Looking back towards Grand Junction:

My particular favourite is the balancing rock:

Just thought this would look good on the rockery:

Enjoying the views:

When we return to the valley floor we take the smaller roads back towards Grand Junction, calling in at Two Rivers Winery – a local vineyard which specialises in some of the more popular American varietals. The two rivers referred to in the name are the Gunnison and the Colorado.

We buy a couple of bottles to take back home.

After a delicious tasting (and some spitting for Darrin, the “nominated driver” !) we continue into the downtown area of Grand Junction. This is not as we expected. From the railway line, you think of Grand Junction as a place of commerce, industry, farming and machining. Whilst it is quite true that all this takes place, the downtown area is full of art, (I featured some of the street sculptures in part 10) bookstores, restaurants, theatres and even the local radio station. Calling in at a supermarket we pick up some sliced chicken and salads and a bottle of white wine for a late lunch.

We return the car (really don’t want to hand it back) and head for the hotel. We had informed them of the train delay whilst chatting this morning and they very kindly let us keep the room for the day up to 6p.m. for the marvellous sum of $20! We head for the swimming pool once again to cool down from the raging afternoon sun. Whilst Darrin continues swimming and sun bathing I go grab an hour’s nap. Dinner is taken at WW Peppers across from the airport. They specialise in crab enchiladas and the juiciest of steaks – sorry no pictures of the food.

It’s time to get the shuttle bus to the train station for our continuing journey on the California Zephyr – taking us across the continental divide and into the mid-west and on to our next destination – Chicago. When the train finally arrives at 9p.m. – exactly 12 hours late we are more than ready to head to our compartment. Good job we chose to eat at WW Peppers – evening meal service has finished on the train – all that is available is coffee.

I think it’s worth saying here that if you ever plan to use Amtrak services across the USA be prepared to build in some flexibility to your plans. The Coast Starlight service from Seattle to Los Angeles is notorious for being behind schedule by 5 hours or more and as you’ve seen here in exceptional circumstances it can be 12 hours on other services.

So we settle in for another night on a train. I seriously hope I can get some sleep. Thankfully, my hopes are granted.

INDEX: http://DIBB.in/11466192

[Mr Tom Morrow]

Geoff. Such a pity about the delay but in hindsight I suspect you were glad of it. What marvelous views and a wonderful experience to see the National Park. Just think, you saved yourself another trip, or maybe not!
$20 to hold your room was a great deal as well.
After the Winery visit I bet you slept well!

[Eeyore rocks]

I think the delay was a bit of a blessing...at least you made good use of the day... oh! And thanks for yet another webcam I can watch...

Thanks for sharing.

[anji]

Definitely a good idea to hire the car and get some time out whilst waiting. Can't believe how late your trains can run - must be a nightmare for travellers who have to be at a certain place on time, but they probably don't take the train as they know the score!

Wonderful scenery for the day

[Melvin Pearce]

Can't believe how late that train was

At least you made the most of your day, love the views and the car

Lesley and Melvin

[Guest]

As I keep repeating, if you use long haul Amtrak then build flexibility into your time table - and to think we moan when a train is 15 minutes late in the UK.

[disney owl]

great car!