From atop the mesa we saw the Grand Valley of the Colorado River. Today we head into the valley to check out The Colorado National Monument and all that the Grand Junction area has to offer. The forecast is for blistering heat, triple digits most days, so we know exploring is going to have to happen early in the day. I get a C in geography today. I had to look up why it is called the western slope. Dah, the western side of the Continental Divide. Not to be confused with the eastern side that they call The Front Range. Ok.
We settle in at Saddlehorn campground near the highest elevations of the monument. It is a nice view over the valley but not high enough to get much of a break from the mid-day heat. We check out the visitor center and make an initial pass along Rim Rock Drive through what is a small version of the big red-rock Utah parks. There are colossal and intricate monoliths, windows and towering cliffs. The route takes us down into the valley. We have been having a hankering for Colorado beef so we head for a local favorite, Cattleman’s Bar and Grill in nearby Loma. Turns out it is actually at the cattle auction barn….kind of a rustic setting but pleasant and welcoming. We go for steak of course, Kent a sirloin and I prime rib. Both are seasoned nicely and perfectly prepared as ordered. Kent’s is actually more tender but mine is quite good as well. I have to try the peach cobbler (Palisades is right here and they are known for excellent peaches). Glad I tried it, a bit cakier than I expected but delicious. We leave with a giant doggie bag, portions are huge. 
We have a bit of excitement on the way home. A band of big horn sheep appears in the roadway just at the exit of one of the rock tunnels on Rim rock Drive. They cross and seemingly fly up a nearly vertical cut to the flatland above the road. What a great way to end the day.
Collared Lizard
It’s 5:30AM, a beautiful, cool morning. A quick breakfast and we are at the Lower Monument Canyon trailhead by 6:30. Combining Lower
Monument with Wedding Canyon trail we make a 5-mile loop into the central canyon to the foot of Independence Monument. It is a bit of a climb passing red rock, pinion pine and juniper. Flycatchers and black throated sparrows flit and chip around us. An amazingly acrobatic swift evades repeated swoops of a pursuing hawk high above the cliff tops. Near the half way mark, oncoming hikers let us know that there are big horn sheep in the valley just ahead. 
Wonderful. Around the next turn we find first a band of ewes and young then spot an older male with impressive horns. Across the trail a regal looking old fellow sits quietly along with a ewe and two young. They all watch cautiously but continue to munch and mill around the area. We move on leaving them to find their site to bed down for the heat of the day. Beyond Independence Monument we spot a ewe and one lamb. Great walk. It’s 90 by the time we leave the trail around 10:30. We are glad we got an early start.
I’ve been planning a stop at the Dream Café. It is a local bakery in town and not far out of our way. They claim to have the biggest, best cinnamon rolls in town and we feel like we earned one. We end up actually having brunch there and have to take the cinnamon roll home in a doggie bag. We hang out in camp for the rest of the afternoon and evening. I take in the ranger program, The symphony of the Monument. It is a fun talk about the significance of soundscapes and the importance of protecting them as well as the visual landscapes of parks.
Next, a day in town. We sleep in then head for a local candy shop, Enstrom’s. Their claim to fame is Almond Toffee and it is fantastic. We hang out watching them make candy cooking it in big copper pots, pouring it to cool on a refrigerated table, smoothing, coating with chocolate and then with ground almonds. Teams of two work at four tables along with another 3 or so floating among them to support measuring, cleaning and charging the copper pots. All synchronized. They make a lot of toffee. I sample the toffee and we both sample store made ice cream. Now it is time for errands: haircuts and laundry. We finish up in time to spend the rest of the hot afternoon at a movie, Indiana Jones. It took me a beat just to figure out how to buy tickets. It’s all touch screen now and most are set up just to scan the prebought ticket on one’s phone. I get to the right touchscreen and find the show, choose two tickets then get a seating chart. Did I want to upgrade my seats? Geeze, I just want to see a movie. I get it figured out and we find our seats…not sure there could be a bad one or one to pay a premium for in this small theater. But hey, we are happy with ours. The movie is really just a giant rehash of all the best chase and fight scenes from past Indiana Jones movies. The plot is pretty lame and predictable; but, for Indiana Jones fans it was a fun couple hours.
Our last day here is very laid back. My one objective, find a fruit market and get some of those highly acclaimed Palisades peaches. The earliest varieties are in season and we find a few ripe and ready to eat at a little family market not far from camp. We select a couple vine ripe tomatoes as well and pay in the honor jar. While we are out, we stock up on groceries. Our next week or so is back out in the boonies in the National Forest. It’s hot when we get home. We kick on the generator and the ac for a couple hours for a lazy afternoon.