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seemed somehow fresher, cleaner, more inviting. The Rockies of Colorado is truly a unique and wonderful
place. Once in Durango, I settled in at my Best Western hotel. After relaxing and changing, I walked into the
historic district and had dinner at a local restaurant/bar. There were a lot of young people there. They seemed
very laid back, avant garde and outdoorsy. I learned later that this is a college town.
Friday, May 7: Today, I drove the “San Juan Skyway,” “a 236 mile circuit that crosses five mountain passes
takes in the magnificent San Juan mountains, as well as the cities and towns of the region.” I drove out Rt. 160
West and passed Mesa Verde National Park. I plan on spending more time there tomorrow. I drove north on
Rt. 145 through the Dolores River Valley (photos). Further up the road, I drove through the mountain town of
Telluride. This is a big ski area in the winter and a beautiful place to be in the warm weather as well, outdoor
activities include: mountain biking and hiking, white water rafting, kayaking, etc. I drove through the quaint
mountain town of Placerville then through Ridgeway State Park. The town of Ridgeway set in a valley and
surrounded by mountains is a majestic site. From Ridgeway, I took Rt. 550 south to the historic town of Ouray.
Ouray is similar to Ridgeway, but more old west authentic and the most beautiful mountain town I have ever
scene. I took the “Million Dollar Highway” (mineral wealth passed this way in years past) over the 11,000 foot
Red Mountain Pass to the town of Silverton. This drive was truly spectacular. There was still much snow on the
ground on this sunny, warm day. I drove between, next to, around and through many gorgeous mountains and by
creeks, rivers and water falls carrying the fresh water run-off from the melting snow (photos). There was mining
equipment and log cabins set amongst the mountains. From Silverton, I drove over the Molas Divide at 10,910
feet. Then I drove alongside the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad “as it follows the Animas River
south to Durango.” This day’s drive was definitely one of the most beautiful and scenic of my life. Words alone
can not do it justice.
Once back in Durango, I noticed that “Kill Bill II” was starting in a half and hour. So, I cleaned up and
changed quickly, then caught this quirky, violent movie. It was ok, not as good as the first one. But, at least it
had resolution. Dinner at a nice, quaint, local restaurant, walked around and by a few bars to check them out –
nothing special, then back to my hotel.
Saturday, May 8: Today, I drove from Durango, Colorado to Monticello, Utah. My main destination today
was Mesa Verde National Park. Besides the park, the rest of the drive was pretty, but nothing spectacular. I did
enjoy the horses and cows grazing in the green pastures beside the road. The drive in Mesa Verde went from
very nice and relaxing to incredible views of valleys, stratified cliffs and large gorges. Fifteen miles into the park
via mountain roads I came upon the park’s Visitor Center, where I learned about the history of the Indian cliff
dwellers and the archeologists who discovered their ruins. I stopped at one preserved site of a typical adobe
settlement on a flat piece of ground, before to my 3pm guided tour of “The Cliff Palace.” “The Cliff Palace” is
what you think of when you hear Mesa Verde. It is the largest alcove dwelling in the U.S. and was inhabited by
the Ancestral Puebloans first approximately 600AD and, then again, between 1190 – 1280, when most of the
construction was done. A large portion of the site is dominated by ceremonial kivas, where the Ancestral Pueblo
Indians would pray and communicate with their G-ds. When it would get extremely cold, they would stay in these
kivas, because they were built into the earth – thus insulated. Besides the “Cliff Palace,” there are many other cliff
dwellings in the Mesa Verde National Park, indicating that this region had a large population for many centuries,
before westerners arrived. When they departed, for unknown reasons, most went to northern Arizona and the
Rio Grande in New Mexico. I then drove to Monticello, Utah and found a room at a Best Western motel. This
is a quite town, not much to do at night, even on a Saturday night. How do they live here?