Saturday, May 28 On to Curecanti NRA, bonus trip to Black Canyon of the Gunnison..

We woke up early this morning, 0630 or so, since it was so cold-  52 inside the coach..  We didn't run the heater last night, but we quickly warmed up the coach and got breakfast out of the way. 

At 9, we went across the street to the Elk Creek Visitor center for Curecanti National Recreation area, and the Ranger there suggested that we go ahead and visit Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park today as a very doable trip. 

Wow, Wow, Wow...  some incredible scenery..  The Black Canyon is not as famous perhaps as its big brother the Grand Canyon in Arizona, but it is breath taking to view, trust me!

An area in Curecanti called "The Needles" on the drive over to Black Cayon of the Gunnison

We stopped at the Cimmaron Visitor Center for Curecanti on the way over, and got a pin and some stamps, and Buster got very friendly with Ranger Tom Wardlaw.  We drove into the park to see more trains, but they had removed the exhibit of the train to be repaired..  they did have some train cars on exhibit though. 

It was a narrow gauge railway that ran through here, so the cars were very small

Then, it was on to Black Canyon.  The visitor center yielded a stamp and a pin, and then we drove the length of the rim road...  Totally awesome viewing of the canyon. 

Pretty much Wow is all you can say!

After we got back to Elk Creek, we decided to get this week's laundry done, so we loaded up after having a super lunch at the restaurant here in the park, and went back to Gunnison to get that done. 

Tomorrow, Sunday, we are planning to run about 40 miles up the road to Crested Butte- which is a resort area and ski run.  Weather has been very nice the last couple of days, highs in the 70's...  Cool when you wake up, for sure. 

Monday, we're off to Grand Junction and Colorado National Park.