'Twas time to make Our way home. We did. With alacrity. Even choosing to take the potentially treacherous Vail Pass, cutting a day off our trip.
But first things first:
Lest any in the Kingdom think We exaggerate when describing Our slothful and PJ-loving nature:
After a full day's drive, we (small "w," since in reality, We mean "Tim") pulled into an RV park at 4 pm. As usual, We would be the one checking Us in at the office while Tim unhooked the tow vehicle. However, as he turned off the engine, he turned to Us and had the temerity to command your Sovereign, "Can you please get dressed?" We were shocked (at the need to get dressed, or at the realization that, verily, We had been in PJs all day, We shall leave to your imagination).
We sojourned in Grand Junction, Colorado for a mere overnight, as the weather report from a different government agency (ie different than Our Kingdom), the Colorado Department of Transportation informed Us that Vail Pass was, indeed, passable. And, truly, that is the state We found Vail Pass to be in - passable - and no more. No honors, cum laudes, etc., here. Merely Passable. This, due to some harrowing moments.
You be the judge:
I must say, I took it all with aplomb:
And, the vistas in my adopted state do much to soothe:
Tim insists I point out, in the above photo, how "clever" it was that the engineers put the opposing lanes of traffic on top of each other, rathen than side-by-side, to minimize the impact on the mountain.
Then, the Eisenhower Tunnel. (Yes, I know it says, "Johnson Tunnel". It says, "Eisenhower" in the opposite direction. I have no idea why, nor why everyone refers to it as "Eisenhower.")
This was potentially, the worst (ie iciest) road of the trip. I thought I was doing pretty well until Tim, helpful as ever, exclaimed, "Come to the light!"
Comments (5)
There doesn't look to be a lot of room on that upper track, Dudette. I'm hoping your bus is sort of on the short side, for the way back. Yeesh.
Posted by Robin Altman | February 15, 2009 5:58 PM
Posted on February 15, 2009 17:58
I love that the truckers need multiple reminders that they are still going downhill! They need these types of signs in Snoqualmie pass in the winter. It gets scary sometimes driving downhill in snowy, icy, slushy conditions and big semis go flying by with no chains. Even more fun when they have to put the brakes on and start fishtailing- yikes!
Thanks for finding the humor on the road!
kristy
Posted by kristy | February 16, 2009 11:06 AM
Posted on February 16, 2009 11:06
What great photos, and your narrative is interesting as always.
FYI - the first bore of the tunnel, i.e. westbound, was the Eisenhower. It took a couple of years to do the other bore, and it is the Johnson (after a long ago governor, I think). We always just call it the Eisenhower, as it was that at first.
In reference to the photo of the two tier highway through Glenwood Canyon, they worked out that configuration in order to have the least impact on the canyon. It was the last segment of the interstate to be finished for just that reason. There was a great deal of opposition to putting the interstate through there at all.
Posted by Kathryn Bourgault | February 17, 2009 4:07 PM
Posted on February 17, 2009 16:07
And, thanks to YOU, Kristy, for adding to my list of what not to dos, ie Snoqualmie pass in the winter. (Although it sounds so much like, "So kill me," I think I would have figured it out!)
Posted by Doreen | March 8, 2009 11:54 PM
Posted on March 8, 2009 23:54
Kathryn - thanks!
And, lso glad you cleared up the EIsenhower/Johnson thing. I assumed it was named after both presidents, but there I go again, concrete as a sidewalk (or tunnel, as the case may be).
Posted by Doreen | March 8, 2009 11:57 PM
Posted on March 8, 2009 23:57