Travel Day - Taos to Cortez

Good night sleep!!  A partly cloudy day ahead for our Travel Day to Cortez, CO where we plan to base for Telluride.  After a quick discussion we opted to skip the morning ski option for the ability to do some scenic driving.  A couple of observations a out Taos.  Very rustic and in many ways like a border town on the mexican side.  The economy must be tough.  The Hampton was ok, but really run down.  Would not stay there again.  Maybe by the mountain as some newer places were available.

Why Cortez you may ask for this next leg of the trip.  The cost to stay local in Telluride was over the top so opted to suffer the extra drive time each day.  The plan is after or second day of skiing we will head to Grand Junction instead of Cortez.  The next travel day is to Salt Lake City to meet up with the family members joining us.

The drive was an awesome trek with only one spill for Jeff.  The cap to the protein drink dribbled down the front of a white shirt.  No brain farts, but some strategic stops were made.  Blaming altitude and fried food and luckily no spills.

The drive through NM was pretty much all Indian Reserves and not much other than the scenery.  The view of the snow capped mountains as we approached CO were awe inspiring and we saw so much more on the way.

We headed up through Pagosa Springs, then Durango where we stopped for lunch.

The hot springs in Pagosa Springs was very rotten egg smell throughout the town.  Like Dodge City smell of money I guess you get used to it.

We had wraps at a local place (RGP Flame Grilled Wrap) inside a mini mall downtown Durango.  Drake had the daily wrap special with andouille sausage, while Jeff enjoyed a Reuben wrap.

After lunch we headed to Ouray, CO.  It made the days trip longer, but was something we would not be able to do on way out after skiing Telluride.  

On the way we drove by Purgatory which is not on one of the ski passses.  Looked like another ski mountain to figure out how to enjoy in the future.  As we crossed the various passes the roads were curvy with steep drops and views to literally to die for.  Pictures just could not tell the story.

A lot of meadows in the passes with a ton of snow mobile activity.  We stopped at one pass peak and took in the views.

Then as we headed down from the last pass Ouray appears.  Again the views are stunning and pictures just can't convey the beauty.

From there we circled past Telluride and made the trek to Cortez as the sun set.  Checked into a much nicer Hampton Inn.  The pool is open and the rooms clean.  Newer, but better maintained.

After talking with Sarah about her moving the couches and rugs (ms bad back just getting over being crippled) we headed downtown to the Farm Bistro.  Drake has done a great job picking our eating out establishment.  Our server was kind enough during dinner to take a spill for the team by dropping a frosted mug.  Nice loud bang!  Drake had Morroccon Meatballs and Jeff Mushroom Pasta.  The garlic rolls were really tasty, so would recommend if ever in Cortez.

When we got back to the room Drake wanted to try an ice bath like the pros.  After maybe 15 seconds got a pic I cant share on the blog.  Suffice to say he wonders how the pros do it.  He did give it one more go, so an atta boy.

The day ended watching more ski videos.