1. Vacation Trips

Colorado-Utah Drive 1976

I spent the summer of 1976 working in South Carolina. A friend (Dave) joined me for the return trip home, to Sonoma Valley, California. We had a great drive west from Charleston, taking secondary roads as often as possible, to get close to the scenery. In Colorado, we turned south off I-70 at Glenwood Springs and headed for McClure Pass, Paonia, Montrose, Ouray, and Silverton, en route to Mesa Verde and Arches National Parks. This gallery contains all the photos we took on this coast-to-coast drive -- countryside around Montrose, the San Juan Mountains, Mesa Verde, and a few at the Arches. Film was so cheap! I wish I had taken many more photos than these! Enjoy. Some pics are undoubtedly misidentified or out of order. If you would care to comment or make a correction about something, please drop me a line ... especially if you are Dave.
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  • Colorado and Utah maps.

    Colorado and Utah maps.

  • Rocky Mountain crest from I-70

    Rocky Mountain crest from I-70

  • Dillon Reservoir from I-70

    Dillon Reservoir from I-70

  • Beautiful pines and aspens on sculpted ridges and peaks.

    Beautiful pines and aspens on sculpted ridges and peaks.

  • Impressive rocky peak.

    Impressive rocky peak.

  • Distant mountains in Colorado.

    Distant mountains in Colorado.

  • Somewhere in Colorado -- along Hwy 133?

    Somewhere in Colorado -- along Hwy 133?

  • Scenery near Montrose.

    Scenery near Montrose.

  • Looking back at Ouray as we head down the Million Dollar Highway (US 550).

    Looking back at Ouray as we head down the Million Dollar Highway (US 550).

  • Near Durango.

    Near Durango.

  • San Juan Mountains.

    San Juan Mountains.

  • Impressive peak.

    Impressive peak.

  • Alpine peak.

    Alpine peak.

  • Flowing streams coming down a peak, from our moving car.

    Flowing streams coming down a peak, from our moving car.

  • Pines and Aspens.

    Pines and Aspens.

  • Pines, aspens, flowing water, old cabin.

    Pines, aspens, flowing water, old cabin.

  • In the San Juans.

    In the San Juans.

  • Aspen trees behind a mountain cabin.

    Aspen trees behind a mountain cabin.

  • Scenic canyon, guardrail from moving car on Hwy 550.

    Scenic canyon, guardrail from moving car on Hwy 550.

  • Scenic canyon, guardrail from moving car on Hwy 550.

    Scenic canyon, guardrail from moving car on Hwy 550.

  • Scenic mountains.

    Scenic mountains.

  • Scenic mountains.

    Scenic mountains.

  • Entering Mesa Verde National Park.

    Entering Mesa Verde National Park.

  • At Mesa Verde.

    At Mesa Verde.

  • Ruins at Mesa Verde.

    Ruins at Mesa Verde.

  • Ruins at Mesa Verde.

    Ruins at Mesa Verde.

  • Ruins at Mesa Verde.

    Ruins at Mesa Verde.

  • Ruins at Mesa Verde.

    Ruins at Mesa Verde.

  • Dave walking around ruins at Mesa Verde.

    Dave walking around ruins at Mesa Verde.

  • Mesa Verde -- Square Tower House.

    Mesa Verde -- Square Tower House.

  • Kiva at Mesa Verde.

    Kiva at Mesa Verde.

  • Frank (yours truly) at Mesa Verde.

    Frank (yours truly) at Mesa Verde.

  • The Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde.

    The Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde.

  • The Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde.

    The Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde.

  • The Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde.

    The Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde.

  • The Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde.

    The Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde.

  • Arches National Park - Turret Arch.

    Arches National Park - Turret Arch.

  • Arches National Park - Dave at North Window Arch.

    Arches National Park - Dave at North Window Arch.

  • Frank (yours truly) and VW at Arches National Park.

    Frank (yours truly) and VW at Arches National Park.

  • Frank (yours truly) and VW at Arches National Park.

    Frank (yours truly) and VW at Arches National Park.

  • Home again, back in Sonoma Valley.

    Home again, back in Sonoma Valley.

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