Day 17:  Canon/Canyon City

we started the day @ 5:15
ate PB again at a rest stop
debate about route to take:  the scenic route or the freeways.  GPS suggested freeways, friend/Kirstin recommended the more scenic route.  Had planned scenic route, but when push came to shove, given the 9 hour drive, was afraid that the scenic route would be too slow and 9 hours would be 11 or 12, so we decided to take the GPS freeway route
had pleasnt drive from Gallup to Canon City, discussed some politics
the mountains came into view from colorado
the river level we passed was high from the rains
rained off and on as we drove
arrived at our site @ KOA around 2:15
altough check-in wasn’t until three
Rich found internet service in laundry room and Dad cleaned up the tarp and tent
for days, we had been discussing whether we should do skyline drive.  this is a one-lane road with sheer drops on both sides.  when we got ot Canon city, we saw it was highly advertisted, tourist attraction, gateway at entrance.  The decision was made for us when we foudn the entrance way closed, presumably due to rains fro the previous days.  To be honest, Dad had all but decided not to do it, and I think Rich agreed on the grounds that it was silly to put our selves into such a stressful position, even though we both knew we’d be able to do it, since millions have before us.
we went over to the gourge bridge to see the gourge without paying the $25 fee.  it was a pleasnt drive to campsite to gourge parking lot, but can’t get to the bridge, without going through the amusement park, which is why they charge the $25.  The guard collecting the money ws nice and told us about the free overlook up the road.  went there and got very satisifying views of deep gouge and ARK. river running through it, and the bridge over it.  BTW, the question of the dif. between gourge and canyon...and the answer we’ve decided upon is that a gourge is in effect the open save, and the canyon is the walls and river floor.
the camp site was more expensive than our typical campsite.  this one was about $30 whn we usually pay $20 or less.  but it had other amenities, including mini golf and go-karts.  Then we found out the go-karts were closd and the mini golf which included an inferior course with water-filled holes cost an additional 2.50.
we had a prive site not too far from the bathroom, which included a free shower that we both eventually used.  free wifi with rich used quite a bit.
made tuna sandwich dinner, but it rained so ate in the laundry
by this point, we had travelled 5684 miles using 179.83 gallons at a cost of $661.02

start:  106,594
end:  107,153