An easy day drive today, covered just 268.5 miles which brought our total trip mileage up to 6,125.3 miles. Little cooler today, down to about 75 degrees. We did drive 32 miles out of our way to visit the Great Sand Dunes, just outside of Alamosa, Colorado. Well worth the effort, although we have been here before it is always interesting to see what nature can do. These giant, pure sand dunes with some as high as 300 feet, nestled at the foot of the mountain range with altitudes of 9,000+ feet.

Once we left the prairies of southeast Colorado and started into the mountains, it was quick to realize just how beautiful western Colorado is. Drove over Monarch Pass, which was bare of any snow except on the very highest peaks. Dropped down on the western slope of the mountains, stopping long enough at Blue Mesa Reservoir for Dutch to get a little exercise by retrieving, rewarded with a cold drink of water from the Gunnison River. Stopped long enough to see the small town of Sapinero where I lived prior to my school years, the town is gone now, sitting at the bottom of Blue Mesa Reservoir.

Cleared Blue Mesa Pass and Ciero Summit and dropped into the valley and Montrose. Spent the evening visiting my sister and brother in law Clifford. Brother Bill also drove in from Grand Junction and will be around for a few days so we are having a mini family reunion. The next couple of days will be rest days, then we will be back on the road again with a full schedule of places to see, people to see and places to go - getting closer to the casinos!