After the delivery of the 2024 Pleasure Way XLTS as you have read, drove from Gallup, NM up to Durango, Silverton, Ouray; overdnighting at the Harvest Host property in Montrose. Continues ontiued up to an overnight at one of the campgrounds at Wind River Canyon.  Departing in the early morning to catch the morning light.

  Old established Mexican resturant seving authentic Mexican meals.  

​On the drive, stopped for a late lunch in Riverton, Wyoming at THE DEPOT. Old established Mexican resturant, located downtown on Main Street.

​Wonderful lunch of shredded beef enchilada and chile 
relleno, and of course a margarita.

Enjoy the drive:

From the "Canyon" it is only a few hours to TRINITY RANCH, my home.  The route took me to Cody, Wyoming where should you find yourself there be sure to visit the BUFFALO BILL CODY CENTER OF THE WEST, but better pan an entire day to see it!   

Never to miss a meal and lunchtime stopped at one of my favorite Mexican restaurants in Red Lodge, Montana, La Palmita, never a disappointment.

Timing is everything for a few days upon return we got a dumping of eleven inches of snow.  I do love Winter here so beautiful.

Downtown Durango

How many times have I driven this route?  Too many times to count.  Have done it in cars, RV’s, motorcycles, and now again in the 2024 Pleasure Way XLTS.  Have driven the Million Dollar Highway in all seasons.  Always beautiful!

From Gallup, NM drove direct to Durango, on to Silverton on to Ouray and a great lunch.
My fears of the 4 cylinder being able to handle the mountain passes rolled under my tires at 50 miles per hour as I climbed Molas Pass.  Not a race car but adequate considering the altitude.

                     Molas Lake.  Camping is nice here; however a bit brisk in the Fall.

From Molas Lake a downhill drive to Silverton where you will find good restaurants and RV camping.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

​If you have never done it,   You really should plan a trip out here and take the train from Durango to Silverton.  About a three hour ride and a wonderful experience!   If you are skittish there are some area that you may not wish to look over the tracks.  My father and mother did the trip in 1941 when it was still a work train running sheep to the high country.  He shot a wonderful 16mm film of the trip.

​Drive the Million Dollar Highway

Arrived in Ouray in time for lunch.  Had a hankerin’ for a pizza so stopped into GOLDBELT’s, restaurant, established in 2011, offering up some fine craft beers and to die for hand tossed pizza.  Highly recommend this fine establishment.  Started with a fresh Greek salad followed by  the pizza - worth the drive back!

Overnighted at a Harvest Host  property, a delightful family award winning winery - La Noue Dubois; located just south of Montrose a few miles.   After a informative wine tasting with the owner, Rick, bedded down next to the vineyard and next to the river.
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Well I wish I’d known that Pleasure Way was going to release the XLTS.  Would have saved quite a lot of money.  Bought the Ascent in May and BOOM in September they released the  XLTS.  I just needed  more room and the storage is phenomenal- both inside and outside. Here are a few photos of the interior I pirated off the website, to see more and a great video I refer you to Pleasure Way’s website.  

Kudos  to La Mesa Rv in Phoenix, delivery was easy and the out of state transfer went well.  They drove it to Gallup, NM and through me the keys.  I overnighted in Gallup which was fine for wanted to see the EL RANCHO HOTEL.  Made famous by the Hollywood crowd;  many movies were shot around the area
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The hotel was built in 1936 by  RE Griffith, the brother of famous film director DW Griffith.   As mentioned, many films were lensed in the area and the crew made El Ranch home during the shoot.  Anybody and everybody stayed there  - John Wayne, Burt Lancaster, Dean Jagger, Dorothy Malone, Errol Flynn, Katherine Hepburn and just about all the A list stars.

I had diner and then again breakfast.  The lounge and restaurant was great with top notch Margaritas. For breakfast had the Monument Valley Enchiladas, very good; but for some, you might find it a tad bit “hot”

The route home was through Silverton, Colorado and the Million Dollar Highway to Ouray on to Wind River, WY and the back to the ranch.   The next post will take us on the drive.

See You Down The Road