Border to Border Posse Ride '21 Day 4-5

 I started slacking on updating everyone. The days were longish and full of beautiful countryside. We left off arriving at Santa Fe, NM. Leaving Santa Fe we continued north and drove around Wheeler Peak. From there we headed west to Durango, CO.

After a night in Durango, we headed up to Silverton to visit the World's Highest Harley Store and the Million Dollar Highway (US 550).

Overlooking Silverton, CO

Why is It Called the Million Dollar Highway?

The road was originally created by Otto Mears as a toll way in 1883 and operated as such until the 1920s when it was rebuilt. Historians aren't certain of why this highway has its name. One explanation is that an early traveler was so overcome by vertigo on the steep and winding stretch of road that he insisted he would never travel it again, even if he was paid a million dollars.

Another explanation is that the construction of the road in the 1930's cost one million dollars per mile, or that the land cost a total of a million. Also, some people think that the name has to do with the fact that builders used gravel from the nearby silver and gold mines and that the dirt was so rich in ore, it was worth a million.

ref: https://www.durango.com/million-dollar-highway/

Regardless of how or why it was named this, the view alone would be worth the name!
Our drive continued north stopping off a Black Canyons of the Gunnison. This is now my third time to see this enormous crack in the Colorado lands. After showing Zak the awesomeness of a little water erosion over millions of years we headed further north to Glenwood Springs.