Conference quokka::colorado_singles

It's a 6 to 7 hour drive depending on your driving and sightseeing speed.
It can take quite a bit longer if you go the 50/550 route and stop
along the way to look around.

I have stayed on motel row in Durango 2-3 times but cannnot reccomend
any particular place. I do suggest reservations in the summer because 
things do fill up. Reservations for the Durango to Silverton railway
are a must if you want to be sure of a place.

Mesa Verde is great. Make sure you visit the ruin (I can't remember the 
name) where you have to wait in line and the rangers take groups on
a guided tour. It's quite an experience, ladders, tunnel, and rock stairs,
etc.

				Dick

	Definatly plan a day for the drive.  In fact, you might want
	to start early and make a side trip to the Great Sand Dunes.
	You should plan the trip so that you get in to Durango before
	dark, as the last leg is through National Forest and its
	typically better, although not absolutely necessary, to travel 
	these type of roads while its still daylite (less worry about
	animals and the like).

	If I remember correctly (it was a couple of years back that
	I went) I stayed at the Holiday Inn in Durango.  It was nice
	there and still fairly close to Messa Verde.  Of course there
	are also accomadations in the park and in the town near the
	park, but Durango itself has alot to offer.

						Have fun,

						  Joe

    Yes, thanks to you both.  Someone else suggested the Sand Dunes on
    the way; although I have been there, the person I am going with has not.
    Apparently, this is 15 miles detour /a total of 30 miles out of the way.
    
    I have been to Mesa Verde once but was passing through there at a time
    when I did not have my 35 mm camera with me which was real unfortunate.
    I'm hoping if the pictures come out, to produce enlargements since I 
    have a southwestern theme in my home; this would fit in quite nicely.
    
    Yvette

    Yvette, You brought back some memories to me of last summer when Terry
    and I came out to visit you and we went to Mesa Verde.  It was one of
    the most interesting things that we had done when we were out there.
    There is so much to see there that I believe that we should have
    planned to spend two days there instead of only one.  
            Terry is leaving July 19 for Colorado.  She is having a pool
    party this Sunday, so that we can all meet her kids.  Hope the weather
    is decent. 
            I know that eventually I will be out to visit you and her at
    some point in time.  I really had a great time last summer out there,
    thanks to you two.
            Thanks again,
            
            Sally

    
    	Another excellent site to see while in the Springs:
    
    Try visiting the 'Cliff Dwellings' near Manitou Springs.
    
    This site reminds me of a mini-Mesa Verde if you will and also
    contains dwellings under the rocks built by the ancient Indians.
    
    I took some photos of this and am getting them developed as we speak.
    
    Yvette

    
    	Well, I'm able to find a few seconds here to scan this
    	notes conf. The 'Cliff Dwellings' are not real. They
    	where built as a replica of the real ones. Indians
    	never lived there, only tourists. They are still
    	interesting, however, not the real thing. (drink Coke ;^) )