The Million Dollar Highway

I am officially seven weeks in to my thirteen week travel assignment. I decided to venture back to Ourey without Jax so I could wander through the shops and enjoy an afternoon latte. But first, I had every intention of driving up to Silverton, only eighteen miles away from Ourey. The dealbreaker being ‘The Million Dollar Highway’. At every mention of visiting Silverton and/or Durango, I was met with…’You’ll have to go over on the Million Dollar Highway. ‘ I wondered what the big deal was. After all, a highway is a highway. (😂😂😂😂😳NO). At the top of ‘TMDH’ is Red Mountain Pass. I see signs daily as I drive to Iron Will Doggy Daycare warning that all trucks hauling loads of goods are required by law to have chains if going over Red Mountain Pass. ‘Well’, I thought, ‘surely I’m not going THAT far.’🤔 (😂😂😂😂😂😳YES).

The Million Dollar Highway edge. No rails. Not even tiny curbs to keep you focused😂😂😂😱! And this, only a mile in. And it gets worse😂😂😂.

There were multiple signs warning of falling rock, but nowhere to go to ESCAPE the falling rock!

At my patient visit yesterday, I mentioned my plan to go to Silverton today and was told, ‘Once you go through the tunnel, there is one last pull off, and then you are committed…’

Seems like everyone who lives here has a healthy respect for Red Mountain Pass and the Million Dollar Highway😂😂😂😂😂😂 I should have learned from that. The tunnel…

I made it around several heart stopping curves to the last pull out.

This is where I promptly turned around. 😂😂😂 If I EVER visit Silverton, it will NOT be via the Million Dollar Highway! Heading back to Ourey now for a stiff Irish whiskey!😂😂