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CO 92 Hotchkiss to Blue Mesa Reservoir

CO 92 winds through varied country between Hotchkiss and the point where it meets US 50 at the Blue Mesa Reservoir. In Crawford you pass the one-time biker-friendly restaurant run by Joe Cocker’s wife, but the Mad Dog Diner has gone out of business now. However, thanks given to Paul Haack for the info, I'm able to tell you that the place has had a rebirth and is open once again, now as the Old Mad Dog Cafe.

South of Crawford the road runs along the north rim of the Grand Canyon of the Gunnison. Down closer to the reservoir you enter the hills that box in the canyon that was dammed to form the reservoir. Twists and turns, ups and downs guaranteed, along with some spectacular views.

We just took this route again on 10-7-12 and I have to admit I had forgotten how spectacular it is. And Kris and Andy Bartol, who run the Hotchkiss Inn, told us they think it's a better road than even the Million Dollar Highway between Durango and Ouray. I'm not at all sure that I disagree.

Andy Simons has very generously provided me with a couple photos he shot along this route. Sooner or later I’ll get back and shoot a bunch more. Until then, here’s a taste of what you’ll see.

This first shot Andy just refers to as a roadside stop; the second one is looking down into the Black Canyon of the Gunnison from the north side:

roadside stop along CO 92 Black Canyon of the Gunnison

All right, I finally did get over onto this road again and here are some more shots:

roadside stop along CO 92 Black Canyon of the Gunnison roadside stop along CO 92 Black Canyon of the Gunnison Black Canyon of the Gunnison

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