Got off at an amazingly early 7 AM MDT today. I skipped breakfast in favor of breaking camp and an early start. I've decided to cross Colorado the old fashioned way on US 160 that rune E - W across Colorado ~ 120 miles south of I-70. This is an older road that passes through a bunch of old mining towns and farming communities. This does not cause as much of a slow down as you might think since there are few towns, they tend to be small and the area between towns has a 65 mph speed limit. EVERYTHING slows down crossing the mountains. "Durango" is the big town just outside the park, It is an old mining town that runs a steam rail line to "Silverton", 40 miles to the north, as a tourist attraction. It is, supposedly, a spectacular ride, but the trip takes 9 hours and that is more than I am willing to spend. It would also mean spending two nights in a motel and most look pricey. This may be a consequence of the other major class of tourists, skiers, who are not at all shy about spending money.

Interestingly enough the climb over the rockies does not seem to be as difficult as the crossing on I-70 even though the pass here is higher. Perhaps it is the difference in direction, west to east in stead of east to west, or perhaps I am just getting used to it. This is an isolated area however, and the interstate system is far away in all directions. In fact a quick check of the maps shows that, in the lower 48 states, only Lakeview OR and Tenopath NV are further from the interstate system than I am.

After crossing the rockies and lots of farmland I managed to get lost in Colorado springs. I had gotten off I-25 to "cut a corner" to I-70 and wandered around the suburbs for perhaps 5 miles. It always seems like a lot more, however, when you are actually trying to find your way. Made it all the way back to Goodland KA by evening.