US-50 Coast-to-Coast: Day 8

I was on the road in Pueblo, Colorado by 7:00 AM.  The temperature started at 60 degrees and quickly got to 65 degrees. The road quickly turned into a canyon that followed Texas Creek. The road twisted along for several hours where I drove between 55 and 65 MPH. I stopped at Royal Gorge early in the day, but it was not open and all I could do was look from the parking lot. Not much to look at from the parking lot. 

After the break I started up to Monarch point, which is at 11,312 feet.  All along the road from Pueblo to Montrose there were many road construction projects and significant delays. The pavement was excellent along the whole stretch. 

The highlights of the road was Monarch point and the Gunnison River (lake).  The Monarch point road was great alpine riding at 10k altitude. The bike had no problem at all and I quickly passed many slower motorists.  

The Gunnison River area was incredible in that it was miles and miles of swishing roads that varied between 7k and 8.5k altitude. The road reminded me of the highway 166 near Santa Maria, CA.  The difference was that US 50 runs for about 6 hours and is at high altitude. 

I suspect that the road between Pueblo and Montrose for 225 miles will be the highlight of the trip. The swishing and twisties at the high altitude with the cool temperatures is hard to beat. 

After Montrose I turned North on the 50 and the road once again turned into the divided highway running straight up to Grand Junction, CO.  There was not much to look at on the North bound road other than the grasses and hills.  The temperature turned north also and got up to 91 degrees.  

I arrived at my room in the hotel in Grand Junction at 4:00 PM.  Total elapsed time was 9 hours, with a moving time of 6 hours. The total mileage was 299 miles. All in all, the road today gets a 10 out of 10.