May 21 thru 24 - Western Colorado

Arrived in Colorado and stayed in an RV Park in Fruita, just outside of Grand Junction.  We provisioned up at the Sam's Club in Grand Junction and spent the rest of the day taking it easy(man, this relaxing lifestyle is exhausting!).  The next day we spent exploring Colorado National Monument enjoying the sights in the park (sorry...no pics...I forgot my camera...senior moment).  Janet got some pictures using her phone and we'll try to post some later.  That evening a thunderstorm blew in and it was a real trailer shaker!  Janet and I sat inside the relative safety of our RV and watched the huge lightning strikes hitting the ground near us hoping that we wouldn't be next.  Fortunately it rolled past us without incident.  After spending a couple days in Fruita we moved about 80 miles SE to Montrose.  Montrose is the gateway to the Gunnison National Forest and Black Canyon.  Black Canyon National Park is a deep gorge cut out by a fast moving river over millions of years.  It is much different than the Grand Canyon and Bryce in that the rock is harder and much darker in color (none of that red color we were getting accustomed to).  It got its name from the early explorers who observed that due to its deep narrow gorges the sun hardly ever penetrated the lower portions of the canyon.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison

 While in the park another storm was blowing through and allowed me this shot of the ominous clouds looming over the mountains.

Storm over Colorado