Day 29: Pagosa Springs, CO to Durango, CO
178.04 Miles | 3:31 Riding Time
Today is Thursday, May 9, 2024, and it’s Day 29 of my cross country motorcycle trip.
I so enjoy the opportunity to reconnect with people I haven’t seen in years on this trip. I started out today with breakfast with a colleague from my years at Texas Instruments. Lenda was both a work and school colleague—as we were in the same MBA program from 1998 - 2000.
Breakfast with Lenda and her husband Mike was at Two Chicks and a Hippie in Pagosa Springs. The Huevos Rancheros with Green Chili was really good, as was the chance to catch up with an old friend. They were a great source of information about how to make the most of my ride to Durango. The direct route is only 60 miles, but managed to extend that to 178 miles. I also learned about Skijoring—where you get pulled on skis by a rider on horseback—their daughter participates. (as a rider).
I took a southern route and headed down from Pagosa Springs on RT 84 toward Chama, NM. Crossing in to New Mexico, it’s amazing how the landscape changes so dramatically—traded mountains for mesas. I rode through Dulce, Navajo Dam, and Aztec, before heading up on 550, crossing back over into Colorado, and arriving in Durango.
Since I’m taking the Durango-Silverton train in the morning, I stayed at the General Palmer hotel, which is next to the depot. Had lunch, checked in and explored downtown Durango. Dinner at Perbacco on Main Ave—highly recommend. Kim, Massimo, and bartender Keylee (sorry, I don’t know how to spell your name, let me know and I’ll fix it) made my bar dining a delight. They all ride motorcycles, so there was plenty to talk about. The pic above is my Linguine allo Scolio shellfish and salmon over pasta with garlic, oil and light tomato sauce. The food was amazing. Grazie mille!
The Route
Elevation Profile