The Traveling 3some - Day 3- From Vernal, Utah to Hot Sulphur Springs,Colorado

October 9 - 261 miles - 38.3mpg

After a free hot beakfast at our motel we drove to Starbucks to grab two for the road before heading out of Vernal. No freeway today, we'll stay on scenic Route 40 across nearly all of upper Colorado. Great day, little traffic and, as befits a scenic road, great and varied scenery. The anchor of Route 40 in Colorado is Steamboat Springs, which we stopped in for a look-see toward the end of the day's run. That run was relatively short in order to reach our motel in Hot Sulphur Springs by 3 pm. That was so we could to unpack asap and head down the street for a thermal soak. Mind you, all of this was done with no advance planning, per advice of friends, so it's quite wonderful that things accidentally worked out just as if we actually did plan them. Lots of "ruff-ruffing" from Cricket to show the way.

We visited the Dinosaur National Monument last year so we waved today as we drove by.

Beautiful scenery along our 4 hour drive to Hot Sulphur Springs, Colorado.

Ho hum.....

Per the sign, Kremmling's motto is "untapped, untamed", whatever that means. But it's no doubt very patriotic.

Cricket took Pam for a walk: you know why.

We stopped for a Coke at McDonalds - and a photo op!

Cresting a rise presents us with our first view of the Rockies.

What's this white stuff? It's not from the previous winter. Maybe shoulda brought chains?

Finally.....

We arrived at 2:30pm, checked into our motel then made a bee-line for the Hot Sulphur Springs Spa.  The Ute Indians (and their horses and dogs) once bathed and healed mind, body, spirit and relaxed in the sacred waters. The springs have been in operation since 1864 and renovated in 1997.  We enjoyed all 24 spas - large and small.

Norm taking the waters. For sure there's Sulphur here.

When the weather is really foul, the inside pools are needed. Low attendance in here suggests the weather is not foul today.

A cornucopia of different pools, large and small, all with their varying temperatures posted - up to 112 degrees F.

Aaahhhhh!  Hot, but oh, so good.

This one is really hot. Norm is in there getting parboiled.

We answered "yes" to the departure sign's query - felt wonderfully relaxed up until when we began watching the second debate on TV.  Where's the wine?

Cricket slept in Pam's suitcase last night and now we see him in Norm's.  He is covering his bases!