Sep 4: A quick return to Chama, NM - 2

The next day, it was back to Denver via Bailey... 6½ hrs if you don't stop, which I did for food, and later for fuel. This time, I was determined to check out the (almost) village of Moffat on Hwy-17, so from Alamosa I went thataway. Moffat was established thanks to the Coloradan millionaire, David Moffat and almost became important before the world caught up with it and consigned it to the dusty dustbin of history. But I'd heard of Grammy's Kitchen and, having not partaken of breakfast, it was past my lunchtime. I'm glad I pulled in there... what a place! Check this out;
https://grammyskitchenmoffat.com

Moffat (7,566 ft) is out on the scrubby flatlands of the massive San Luis Valley, was a narrow-gauge rail mecca in the early mining days, and might have been the state capital at one time. Alas...

Replete, I continued across the valley floor and commenced the almost imperceptible climb up to Poncho Pass (8,010 ft). You get a shock as you crest the summit though (a gentle summit... a bit like that hill between Athol and Five Rivers in Southland), as the descent of those 500 ft from there into Poncha Springs (7,477 ft) is abrupt.

From Poncha Springs, I follow US-285 the 142 miles to Denver. This is a convoluted route that cruises across broad valleys and climbs and descends some interesting topography... not least the descent of the Front Range directly into Denver.Les mer