Day 7 of the journey finds us in Durango, CO. After a few days in Gunnison, we had a great day hitching down with a brief stop at Orvis Hot Springs, located in Ridgway, CO. A quick note about both of those places: Gunnison county, specifically Gunnison and Crested Butte is one of the coolest, hippest, freakiest, funkiest, raunchiest, drinkingest, totally twisted wild ass places i have ever been. i had the good(?) fortune of living there off and on for about 4 years, and i recommend it at the top of the list of places to go before you die. I made some of the friendships that i value most in this world here. Just whatever you do, don't move there. The place is like a giant vortex that sucks in souls, and you might go up for a weekend vacation and find yourself still there on some dismal gray day in early march, 10 years later asking "what the fuck happened to my life?" Although, you will have gotten some great skiing in... The other spot that I mentioned was Orvis Hot Springs. Located 1 mile south of the quiet little town of Ridgway, (not a typo, they don't like the "e") this hot spring resort is by far one of the nicest places i have ever been in my life. The amazing scenery of the San Juan mountain range and the superb zen garden landscaping compliment exquisitely the soothing mineral waters of the several naturally finished pools. I have found a serenity there unlike any other I have yet experienced. Other than that, Durango is also a beautiful, wonderful place, and my tattoo is all but healed. Week one, in the bag. Next stop, to find a Samuel Combs...