THE GRAND TREK TO GRAND JUNCTION

By Erin 'Gigglechick' Bennett

Previously, on MINI Takes The States 2010 :

The Western Route.... About 100 of us gave our MINIs a salt scrub at Bonneville. We were featured on the local Utah news and our adrenaline was pumping.

After leaving the Salt Flats, we made our way back to Salt Lake City to give our trusty steeds a well-earned bath (Seriously, the salt was caked on the cars... in the wheel wells, the floor mats, and even in my pockets (yeah. no idea how that got there.)

We now had to scurry off to Grand Junction, Colorado! The last state line we'll have to cross.

I have a bone to pick with Utah... the scenery is horrible! (I mean it's great if you are into amazing cliffs, stunning rock formations, mountains that take your breath away and blue sky as far as the eye can see.... but, really, Utah... step it up. ;}









I got to see MINI Mount Rushmore...



The journey took us along I-70 and through Crescent Junction, Utah where there's a little oasis called Papa Joe's.



We refueled & refreshed our MINIs and ourselves as we perused the selection of the finest Jerky in Crescent Junction. (I bought some Beef Jerky - Original Flavor and also some Sweet & Spicy Buffalo Jerky... I've not opened either one. Mainly out of fear.)

Papa Joe holding up jerky



Had to take a few snaps of the view from Papa Joe's!





I met up with Michael & Donna and they showed me their Junior Trooper badges they received when THEY STOPPED one of the Utah State Troopers (who told them that he was very happy to report that he hasn't had to pull over one MINI --- I guess we've all been on our best behaviour so far! Good job!!)



Then we were off and running again! As we were traveling, the new MINI Countryman wound up in our pack. I whipped out my camera (No worries, I was a passenger.) and felt like paparazzi. Like MINI TMZ hunting down the star of MTTS.







The Countryman with the backdrop of Utah and then Colorado made me giddy (yeah, I am a MINI Nerd with a camera. I must've shot about 900 photos of it - alas, I will only slap a few of them up here.)



I think my favourite ones were with the windmills towering over him.





In the next post, I'll tell you about the jealous wannabe Subaru that wouldn't let me join my pack on the way to Winter Park, Colorado....

One more photo... I thought this was appropriate since we're trekking around in our little Brit motorcars...