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--- Day 1 & 2 -- Blanding, Utah to Vail, Colorado and Layover in Vail ---
This trip came about as a result of Dottie's mother taking a trip to Vail, where she would spend time escaping the Phoenix heat for a while. She drove from Phoenix to our home one day and the next day Dottie and her mom drove to Vail. I followed on the V-Strom 650. We made the trip over in one day and then spent the next with her mom before returning the following two days. I'll go into the return trip back to Blanding on the following pages.
We drove/rode to Vail by following 191 north from Blanding, UT to Moab. Just out of Moab we turned northeast and took the scenic route up along the Colorado River on 128 to I70 and then west to Vail, CO.
If you take 128 to I70 when you get close to I70 there is a "T" intersection where the sign tells you to turn left if you are going to I70. I prefer to not follow the sign's advice and would recommend to you to turn right and proceed to I70 that way. Not only is it a fair bet shorter in mileage, but you get the opportunity to pass by the ghost town of Cisco. There are still might be a couple people living there, at least part of the year, but if so not many.
If you saw the movie Thelma and Louise some of it was filmed in Cisco. There is an old gas station that was used in the movie and they tore a wall down so they could shoot inside with the cameras. Johnny Cash wrote a song about H. Ballard Harris who owned, I believe, this gas station called "Cisco Clifton's Filling Station".
I lived in Moab during the time they were shooting the movie and went by Cisco on the way to Grand Junction on one of the days they were shooting. Sitting there were a number of cop cars that were being used in the movie along with a huge stainless steel semi gas truck. I thought it was there to refuel the cars, but in the movie it was blown-up near there.
At one point there were building lots on the back tax rolls and one could of bought a lot for less than $100 in back taxes. I almost did, just so I could say I had land in Cisco. Didn't do it and now kick myself, but who knows, lots for back taxes still might be coming up.
Cisco now is mainly buildings that are in the final days of their lives.
Some interesting vehicles and ...
.... buildings and ...
.... even an oil well. Surprises me that the small engine on it hasn't been appropriated by someone.
Some of the buildings must contain some very expensive contents as ...
..... there are numerous warnings ...
.... to stay away. Just another little 'friendly' western town. It is worth a few minutes or longer of your time. Dottie took the above pictures on an earlier trip through Cisco. On this trip we were just trying to make it to Vail. We stopped twice for gas for me and also for lunch. I needed the breaks as I hadn't ridden for awhile and my butt was reminding me of that.
We bought Sena SMH10 Headsets the year before and I had one on my helmet and it came in handy as I could call Dottie in the car with the Blue Tooth/Phone connection or she could call me. She also had her helmet/headset in the car for the ride back.
We arrived in Vail in the afternoon and Dottie's mom showed us around there that day and the following. I've been by Vail a number of times on the interstate over the years and think I skied there in the 60's. Boy has it changed.
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