Montana Trip - Day 4

[up around 0645 (saw part of sunrise over mountains) - drove down to the Great Sand Dunes (0750) - had to walk five football fields to get to first hill - cold sand - animal tracks - hills and valleys - following others but finally settled for 475' dune - at top, HUGE valley below - too far to cross - getting hotter - headed back down hill (high school field trip ?) - on way out of the park, saw herd of elk along road - took pictures and waited behind an RV (State Trooper...) - drove back to hotel to shower and change - (1000) decided to take a chance and drive across the valley to visit the source of the Rio Grande - used county and farm roads (gravel) after dropping off mail in Mosca - made it to US-160 without much trouble - paralleling Rio Grande all the way - stopped at South Fork and learned you need a 4X4 to drive up to the source (reservoir) - got other info about the state (very helpful) - drove back to Del Norte and got Subway for lunch - then on CO-112 to US-285 - could see the sand dunes the whole time I was in the San Luis Valley - figured out I probablly lost two hours - scenic drive through a canyon all the way to Salida - drove through town - drove north again, paralleling Arkansas River (pretty) - rain off/on - changed to US-24 - gas in Buena Vista ["Bunah Vista"] - turned onto CO-82 to drive across the Independence Pass - scenic! - twin lakes, snow on mountains, creeks along road - some speedy BMWs several times (in a hurry) - passed Mount Elbert (highest point in CO) - crossed continental divide (12093 feet) - drive down was OK (not as scenic) - saw lots of bikers - road narrowed to only one car width a few times! - drove into Aspen and explored in a car - finally had to park - walked around in the scenic downtown - very high end people and shopping establishments - got ice cream - filled bottles up with Aspen (tap) water - recycling (etc.) - after about an hour, got back to car and explored neighborhoods around the town (lots of Sotheby signs) - on my way down to I-70 via CO-82 - weird HOV lanes, lots of stop lights, TONS of traffic, gas costs $0.50 more than everywhere else (I was not happy) - made it to the interstate and made good time to Rifle (crossed [Colorado River]) - used CO-13 all the way to Meeker (VERY remote, but still some traffic) - then CO-64 to Dinosaur - unbelievably remote!! - no cars for nearly 50 miles - driving through White River Valley - pretty - rain and lightning in the distance - swithed to US-40 - snacks at Dinosaur - mesas everywhere - drove into Utah around 1930, sun peeking out of clouds - "Yampa Plateau" - checked on lodging as I entered Vernal - found a cheep place (Weston Lamplighter Motel) - caught up on email and prepped a little for genealogy research in Salt Lake City - some TV - bed around 2300L.]