Days 162-165: Friends in High Places

Friends in High Places: Colorado

Days 162 – 165

June 8 – 11

Colorado, pretty much all of it.

Characteristic of any world travel I do, plans are loosely defined in order to ensure serendipity while simultaneously avoiding aimless wandering.  So for this trip, Plan ‘A’ was to cut across Northern New Mexico until I was south of Durango, CO, then cut north across the Million Dollar Highway, a pristine ribbon of road carved along a cliff side between Silverton and Ouray in Western Colorado.  However, Plan ‘B’ involved visiting two good friends in Colorado: a friend from overseas contracting and a friend from my travels.  So off I was to Denver.  In the end, I was the benefactor of this side journey, spending plenty of quality time through many of Colorado’s beautiful byways (the Million Dollar Highway included).  

Ned and I met in Peru and tackled Patagonia together.

Chris and I met years ago in Baghdad and have remained good friends since.

Colorado Highway 50.

Red Mountain along the Million Dollar Highway.

"Colorful Colorado" applies even to simple rivers.

The Million Dollar Highway is a sliver of road cut from a cliffside.

Colorado Highway 90 feels like how a lonely desert road should feel.