Tardif-Times: Day 55 - Gila National Park

Visited Gila NP today. The ride in was almost more fun than the visit. The narrow and VERY winding road had Judy on the edge of her seat for about 4 hours. We'll include one picture of a hairpin turn, typical of about 30-40 on route. Then of course, there was one way in, so, a repeat had to be driven on the way back. We did snap a couple of interesting road sign pics. One especially dear to us northerners who have to live around snow and snow removals. We also found the Continental Divide and decided to stand on the line separating the East from the West of this great US. The biggest challenge today was the 30+ mph winds. We were happy to find our tent still up, but now that we are in it, not sure how long it will stay on the ground. Starting to get really cold nights. The wind chill is not helping any. Getting into the 30s nights. We are testing our sleeping bags ratings. Sure hope the label wasn't a big selling exageration. Time will tell. We leave in the morning for the Petrified Forest in Arizona. Two days there, then it'll be the Grand Canyon.

p.s. from Judy: The road to Gila Cliffs was the scariest road I have ever been on in my life! It was very narrow and wound its way for 50 miles up and down very steep grades. The edge of the road dropped off only inches from the tar several hundred feet into canyons. AND THERE WERE NO GUARDRAILS! At several places we were up on top of ridges that were much higher than where we had crossed the continental divide. The worst part was that we had to go back out over the same road. My fingernail prints in the armrests are a lasting testament of how much I enjoyed that ride! But the scenery was beautiful. The Gila Cliff dwellings were anticlimactic after that!