9. Tag: Million Dollar Highway

I have slept better. It was also because guests were checking in at 12:30 a.m. They weren't really loud, but it was enough. I personally don't like arriving too late. It's nice for me to have some of my room. Even if of course I don't have time for other things. But at my age you need a bit of rest.

Before the trip, I shop at a local supermarket. And once again, I forget that the store here has its own bonus system. And special offers are only valid if you have a membership card. Theoretically, I could apply for one, but in practice it's too much work. So I accept the five dollar extra. It's interesting to note that there are more varieties of Nutella here than at home.

Before heading into the mountains, I pass a pasture with cows and the largest American flag I have ever seen. It cannot be raised by hand.

After a short stretch, it quickly becomes alpine. Numerous barriers indicate that roads are often closed here in winter. The Million Dollar Highway is actually just a short stretch between Ouray and Silverton on Highway 550. But the entire mountain pass is usually called that.

Six years ago I drove the same route in the opposite direction. I was incredibly lucky because the road was closed a day later. And it was very wintry when I drove there too. Today there is still snow in some places, but of course everything is clear.

All hell breaks loose in Ouray. Of course, that could also be because it's Sunday. And Monday is Memorial Day, an American holiday. The drive is truly unique. The road climbs the mountain massif in numerous switchbacks with speed limits of up to 10 mph. And on the right, it often goes steeply downhill, so you hope that the erosion hasn't progressed too far yet.

Many motorcyclists don't take the speed limits all that seriously. And there's no sheriff anywhere in sight. But I don't think I'm annoyed. The ride is just too beautiful. It takes me more than 2 hours to drive 100 km.

As I return to flatter terrain, I notice my tiredness increasing. I decide to call it a day this morning. I'm back in New Mexico by now. For sentimental reasons, I drive to Aztec and look at a place I stayed in six years ago. Only the A&W, where I had a real embarrassment at the time, seems to be closed. But I wouldn't have gone in anyway.

Before I drive to my accommodation, I buy some expensive but good sushi to satisfy my needs. You can get it freshly prepared in every supermarket here - as is the case almost all the time here too.

The hotel in Farmington is the best quality hotel I've stayed in so far on my trip. But it's also the most expensive. The only inconvenient thing about hotels is that you can't drive right up to the door. Some people think that's a problem, but I like it.

Tomorrow I'll have a nicer breakfast here for the first time. At least the reviews rave about it. You can get started from 6:00 a.m. But I don't plan on being the first. A little more sleep wouldn't hurt. And hotel walls are thicker.