Heading Home Today

Above, mule deer near our campground in Cortez last evening. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today is the last day of the trip. We'll be heading out of Cortez, Colorado this morning. The drive back to Jamestown, New Mexico is only three hours long along U.S. 491 through the Navajo Nation and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe areas to Gallup.

Interestingly, U.S. 491 was once designated U.S. 666 until 2003.

According to Wikipedia:

U.S. Route 491 (US 491) is a north–south U.S. Highway serving the Four Corners region of the United States. One of the newest designations in the U.S. Highway System, it was created in 2003 as a renumbering of U.S. Route 666 (US 666). With the 666 designation, this road was nicknamed the "Devil's Highway" because of the significance of the number 666 to many Christian denominations, which believe it to be the Number of the Beast. This Satanic connotation, combined with a high fatality rate along the New Mexico portion, convinced some people the highway was cursed. The problem was compounded by persistent sign theft. These factors led to two efforts to renumber the highway, first by officials in Arizona, later in New Mexico. There have been safety improvement projects in recent years, and fatality rates have subsequently decreased.

Above, the entrance sign to Mesa Verde National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It has been an enjoyable vacation break. It was fun to ride the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, to visit Durango and Silverton, Colorado for the first time since 1986. Visiting Mesa Verde National Park for the fourth time was also pleasurable. Visiting Ouray and Ridgway (to see True Grit locations) was also enjoyable.

Above, the Lone Spur Cafe in Silverton. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Getting to these areas within a day's drive from home is an added plus. It was interesting to see so many Jeeps and other off-highway vehicles (OHV) was interesting. None of the Jeeps were of the vintage as mine.

Above, the DSNGR at Highline with the Animas River 400 feet below. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The weather was varied. An early (for September) winter storm came in at about the same time as the start of the trip and we were treated to rain in Durango, snow scenes (on U.S 550 "Million Dollar
Highway" between Silverton and Ouray) and then more seasonal weather towards the end in Cortez.

This is one trip that I plan on doing again.

Above, a morning campfire. Photo by Armand Vaquer.