the big three-oh tour
The date: July 3, 1976. The place: Northwest Community Hospital in Rolling Meadows, IL. The event: r-dub's entrance to this world of ours. Flashing forward thirty years, we find r-dub wandering yet again, enjoying not only his birthday but a rare day off from work as well. He's heading to the southwest part of the state, heretofor unconquered by him. Let's tag along, shall we?
It's my birthday and I'll drive if I want to
Page 1. Walsenburg to the eastern edge of the San Luis Valley. This is where the Mato Vega Fire happened just weeks earlier than the trip.
Page 2 shows all the flatness that is the San Luis Valley from the eastern edge to Monte Vista, including Alamosa.
Page 3. Finishing up with the San Luis Valley, we start to ascend Wolf Creek Pass.
Page 4. Wolf Creek Pass. Going up and part of coming down.
Page 5 is the rest of Wolf Creek Pass and into the town of Pagosa Springs, which is a lot bigger than I thought. You also get to see why this sign is smiling at you!
Page 6. From Pagosa Springs to Durango. There's a few odd-colored signs, goofs, and bypasses here.
Page 7 finds us traveling north from Durango on US 550. We'll start to ascend into the passes on this page. We'll also get stuck in a rainstorm and learn a definition or two of SUCK.
Page 8 is us still climbing and falling. Coal Bank Pass and Molas Pass in pictures await you on this page.
Page 9. Descending Molas Pass into the lovely town of Silverton. After done wandering through this bustling tourist haven, we'll start our ascent of Red Mountain Pass.
Page 10 showcases the first part of the descent of Red Mountain Pass, and I take time out to reflect on my birthday.
Page 11. The name "Million Dollar Highway" apparently came from the cost per mile to build this thing. See if you can tell why on this page. This is the greatest canyon I've had the pleasure of driving.
Page 12 shows us the Grand Valley from Ouray into Delta. Amazing how we can go from canyon to flatlands in just a few miles.
Page 13. We finish up this trip by taking SH 65 through the Grand Mesa National Forest. It's the long way to Grand Junction, but it's much more photogenic than US 50.
Section Links
- Trip Index
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with any of the orginizations listed within this site. I'm just a bored roadgeek with way too much time on his hands. All of the picts in this page are mine and mine alone unless otherwise noted. Remember, kids: stealing is bad, mmmm-k? I get quite pissy if things are taken without telling me. I don't like to be pissy. You won't like it either. If you want to link to this page, that's fine. Please shoot me an email beforehand so I can link to your page as well. K? Thanks. --Ryan
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