Tuesday, October 7

Start in Moab, Dewey Bridge (what's left), Colorado River, Colorado mountain fall colors, Stay in Cortez CO 
Weather:
  Lows: Moab (airport): 44; Moab: 41; Arches National Park: 46
  Highs: Moab (airport): 70; Moab: 74; Castle Valley: 72; Cortez: 69; Telluride: 66
When researching for the trip, I discovered that the historic Dewey Bridge over the Colorado River northeast of Moab had burned down this spring. Photos are available through Wikipedia or the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. I had visited the bridge in February 2004 and decided I wanted to see what was left. On the way back to Moab, there were some nice views of the Colorado River and the nearby formations.
After a quick lunch in Moab, we left town and began our drive toward southwest Colorado, shifting gears from desert rockscapes to the fall colors of the Colorado mountains. After checking in to our hotel at Cortez, CO, we drove the highway between Cortez and Telluride enjoying the fall colors.

Wednesday, October 8

Start and stay in Cortez CO, more Colorado mountain fall colors 
Weather:
  Low: Cortez: 35
  Highs: Cortez: 73; Durango: 68; Silverton: 68
We took another fall colors drive today from Cortez to Durango to Silverton. There were nice fall colors, but unfortunately not many places to stop and/or do photography. We had lunch at an old-style saloon/restaurant in Silverton, then back to Cortez. We did have a nice view out the motel windows of some mesas south of Cortez.