Today was the best drive of the tour so far. We stopped in Rifle. I had been thinking we would find a saloon bar a bit like you see in the old Westerns and would perch on a stool and order a whisky (although that bit was far-fetched as we got to Rifle at 10am). And maybe a gun fight would suddenly break out outside. Sadly, or maybe happily, it was a very calm diner with crap coffee.
Back on the I-70 West until we got to Grand Junction. I was expecting a big junction, a bit like spaghetti junction, but it seemed to be a rolling retail park. Bert found us a great restaurant called The Devil’s Kitchen which turned out to be a rooftop restaurant with an amazing view. Our first glimpse of the desert. And given all my moanings about no fresh vegetables, I ordered Tatonka Cruciferous aka Tempura seasonal broccolini with buffalo sauce and citrus aioli.
So I ODd on broccoli. Couldn’t eat it all. Best not to moan about lack of greens.
Bert went for a Nashville chicken sandwich which was fried chicken in a doughnut with maple syrup and bleu cheese coleslaw. With a side of chips. Few things to confirm. Yes it came in a doughnut. And yes they call it bleu cheese not blue cheese. The overall taste was, strangely, sugar. The chips were amazing.
The view was like in the old movies and we saw more people wearing US flags in all forms. It’s a big thing.
As you can see the scenery has changed enormously. As we drove further west, we dropped a few thousand feet. About half an hour after lunch, we hit the State Line and passed into Utah. Stopping at the first view point for a photo opportunity, the heat had started to build.
Even better, the speed limit also started build and the magic 80mph kicked in. The road surface was fab. And everyone drives so beautifully!
We turned off the I-70W onto the UT128. Wow. Really. It knocks Honister Pass out of the park. It was indescribably beautiful. Photos really can’t do it justice. Just giant slabs of red rock, some like fingers, some like cathedrals.
The views just got bigger and better. I felt so grateful that my eyes were able to see these amazing things and that I was lucky enough to have Bert with me.
We were very keen to get the 10pm (UK time) exit poll so had a white knuckle ride as the radio came in and out of signal. We pulled over at 9.59pm UK as the radio crackled into life and listened as the likely Labour landslide was announced.
Giddy with excitement, the last few miles were joyful. Suddenly, we emerged from the red giants into Moab town and our hotel. Stepping out of the car, the heat was incredible – 35 degrees. That’s hot.
So luckily for us, it’s 5.30pm and we can easily watch the results come in while the day is still youngish. No bar in the hotel as alcohol and Utah have an interesting relationship, we managed to buy some beers and crisps to bring up to the room. What a great end to an epic day. And tomorrow, well, we are going into the desert at 10pm to see the dark skies, and the milky way zoom overhead. Life is truly great.
Snoo's kitchen 
S
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