DAY 4 - Tuesday 6/21
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| After the quick Driver's Meeting, we headed out from Pagosa Springs around 9am for our 4th day of the adventure | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs5960_small.jpg) | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs5967_small.jpg) |
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today was mainly driving and sight-seeing along the way - passing thru Durango | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs5984_small.jpg) | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs5971_small.jpg) | we past Chimney Rock - a half-day excursion on it's own - not to mention the long gravel road to get to it |
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Lunch Reservations |
![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs112837_small.jpg) | we stopped in Mancos, CO and had lunch at the Millwood Junction - great food and service | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs112812_small.jpg) |
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![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs113428_small.jpg) | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs113439_small.jpg) | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs113444_small.jpg) | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs113507_small.jpg) |
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| ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs112940_small.jpg) | a member which had tire issues with their Vette had to rent a MUSTANG - however, we let them join us for lunch anyway
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![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/DOC0899_small.jpg) | ...time to head on down the highway | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/DOC0900_small.jpg) | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/DOC0901_small.jpg) |
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Our Afternoon Excursion |
![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs5990_small.jpg) | After lunch we headed on down the road to Mesa Verde National Park
area map - park map | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs6042_small.jpg) | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs5991_small.jpg) |
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The afternoon was on your own - or in smaller groups since some have more interest in this stop than others might. You could easily spend a couple of days in this park. |
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![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs5986_small.jpg) | The sculpture outside the Mesa Verde National Park Visitor And Research Center is titled "The Ancient Ones" | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs5987_small.jpg) | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs5988_small.jpg) |
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![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/RCG60808_small.jpg) | several artifacts were on display inside the Visitor's Center
...just prior to entering the Nat'l Park | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/RCG60809_small.jpg) |
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![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs5989_small.jpg) | The drive to the various Cliff Dwellings are about 45 minutes from the Visitor Center. The views from the cliffs within park were amazing ...not to mention some fun roads | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs6004_small.jpg) |
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![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs6028_small.jpg) | The Spruce Tree House (3rd largest) in Mesa Verde. The dwelling contains about 130 rooms and 8 kivas (kee-vahs), or ceremonial chambers, built into a natural alcove measuring 216 feet (66 meters) at greatest width and 89 feet (27 meters) at its greatest depth | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs6009_small.jpg) |
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![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs6016_small.jpg) | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs6017_small.jpg) | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs6036_small.jpg) | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs6019_small.jpg) |
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![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs6035_small.jpg) | This dwelling was closed to the public - you could only walk up and around the end of the canyon for different views | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs6030_small.jpg) | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs6032_small.jpg) |
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![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/RCG60812_small.jpg) | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/RCG60813_small.jpg) | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/RCG60822_small.jpg) | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/RCG60825_small.jpg) |
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![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/FMP_0093_small.jpg) | there were some awesome views as you drove from site to site within the park | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/FMP_0091_small.jpg) |
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| plenty of areas to sit and cool down ...some areas had Park Rangers sharing information while you sat | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/DBC150236_small.jpg) | |
![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/FMP_0081_small.jpg) | The Cliff Palace is the most famous and largest dwelling in the park. It has over 150 individual rooms and more than 20 kivas (rooms for religious rituals) | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/FMP_0083_small.jpg) |
![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/FMP_0080_small.jpg) | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/DBC5644_small.jpg) | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/DBC5640_small.jpg) | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/FMP_0084_small.jpg) |
![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs6052_small.jpg) | enough history ...and heat ...heading back thru the tunnel towards the park exit ...then back to Durango which is approximately 1 hour | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs6055_small.jpg) |
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You could stay at Mesa Verde as long as you wanted heading back to Durango on your own |
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plenty of Cruiser opportunities as well | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/DOC0913_small.jpg) | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/RCG60854_small.jpg) | the view of the mountains looked great - ready to get back to what most of consider the prettier parts of CO |
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Arrival at our Hotel for the next 2 nights
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![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs070018_small.jpg) | We checked into the hotel, the General Palmer in downtown Durango.
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![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs6058_small.jpg) | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs6064_small.jpg) | ...we parked in the hotel parking lot adjacent to the train station
King Palace Suite --> | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs170204_small.jpg) |
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![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs6071_small.jpg) | You had time to freshen up before dinner
From our balcony, we watched as the three scheduled D&SNG trains rolled in from Silverton | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs173451_small.jpg) |
| ...and of course, the typical late afternoon mountain shower | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs6084_small.jpg) | |
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Tonight's Group Dinner Reservations |
![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs194054_small.jpg) | we headed to dinner next door at the Palace Restaurant.
The Grand Room was reserved for our group dinner
click for our special evening group menu | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/RCG60867_small.jpg) |
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![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/RCG60864_small.jpg) | the aroma of good food fill the air ![](../../images/sf/hungry.gif) ...and ours was awesome! | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs194100_small.jpg) | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/RCG60865_small.jpg) |
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they wouldn't setup a large table for us - of course that is tough with round tables | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs194056_small.jpg) | ![](../../images/2016/061816-SAC/21/MACs203918_small.jpg) | WOW - AWESOME deserts!!! |
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NEXT CURVE |
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