Basics

The Oil Leak series started in 2011 to celebrate the 50thanniversary of the E-Type Jaguar. Every year since then, with the exception of 2020 when Covid intervened, there has been an Oil Leak trip. Though Jaguar E-Types predominate as participants, other Jaguars have also made appearances including XK120, XK140, Mark 10, XJ8, XK8 and F-Types. All are welcome. 

Unlike many other organized road trips, the Oil Leaks are very much DIY experiences – just a bunch of friendly Jaguar enthusiasts sharing enjoyable driving roads and interesting places to visit. Each participant is responsible for their own hotel arrangements, luggage, navigation, spare parts etc. There is no dedicated support vehicle – we all support each other. The organizers are volunteers – this year it is a collaborative effort from long-term leakers Glen Barker, Michael Jenkins, and David Langley. They outline the daily routes, research the stops along the way, research accommodation for each overnight stay and seek out eateries for group dinners in the evening and sometimes lunch along the way. Though numbers have varied widely over the years we have found that it works best with 8-12 cars and 20-25 participants. 

Previous Oil Leaks have had routes that progress from start to finish with a new venue for each overnight stop. The SWCOL will work from two bases, Durango and Montrose with day trips from Durango on Monday and Tuesday, and from Montrose on Thursday and Friday. Wednesday’s route will take us from Durango to Montrose. This approach should have the following benefits:

· No need to pack our bags and load our cars every day

· An extra 30 minutes in bed or an extra cup of coffee before the drive because of the above.

· More freedom to substitute your own itinerary for a day if the group itinerary isn’t interesting to you or you need a break from driving (or the other participants 😊). How about exploring the local towns, doing a bit of shopping, relaxing at the hotel, enjoying some local cuisine and a beverage, or fixing the car so it’s ready for the next day’s drive? 

The following daily itineraries are the ones that the organizers have researched (somewhat!) for the group to follow. We know more about some of them than others, so there may be surprises along the way – be prepared! Anyone is, of course, free to substitute their own itinerary – please let others know that you are doing so that we don’t needlessly wait around for you. As we get closer to the event these itineraries will become more detailed with timings.  

• Drive to Durango, Colorado.
• Check-in at your hotel. Some hotel suggestions are listed after the itineraries
• Join the group for a SWCOL kick-off dinner at a location TBD

If you want to have an extra day in Durango to recover from a long drive to the start of the OL and decide to arrive a day early, there are some suggestions on what you can do in and around the city here:  https://www.durango.org/things-to-do/ 

and here: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g33397-Activities-Durango_Colorado/

Monday will be a relatively low mileage day for some respite for those who drove a long distance to start the tour.

• Drive to Mesa Verde National Park Visitor Center: 45m
• Explore the park on your own visiting the sites: 5hr 
•      Cliff Palace
•      Balcony House
•      Spruce Tree House
•      Long House
•      Multiple Overlooks 

Several of these sites require tickets which must be booked in advance – more details will be provided in the detailed itinerary. If you want a relaxing day without being rushed we suggest limiting yourself to one ticketed tour, and spend the rest of the time at the other unticketed sites and overlooks in the park. This would be a good day to bring a picnic lunch.

• Meet up at the Visitors Center for a Poker Rally drive back to Durango: 90 minutes
• Return to your Durango Hotel
• Dinner at location TBD  – bring your Poker Cards to find the winner (Prizes will be presented)!!! 

Tuesday will be a great driving day with scenic views and stops along the way. With luck we will get to experience some of the fall colors at altitude. The drive will include the Million Dollar Highway between Ouray and Silverton at over 11,000 ft elevation. Hold onto your hats!

• Durango to Telluride 2h 10m
• Explore Telluride -  Gondola Ride to Mountain Village, OR hike to Bridal Veil Falls (1h 30m so take a picnic)
• Lunch in Telluride (for non-hikers)
• Telluride to Ouray 1h 5m
• Ouray to Silverton 1hr with stops – “The Million Dollar Highway”
• Explore in Silverton 1hr
• Silverton to Durango 1h 5m
• Return to your Durango Hotel
• Dinner at location TBD 

This will be the highest mileage day of the trip, totaling close to 300 miles with some great driving roads along the way.  A shorter alternative is available should you prefer by retracing part of yesterday’s San Juan Skyway route in the opposite direction as far as Ouray.

• Durango to Chimney Rock: 1hr 10m
• Enter Chimney Rock National Monument - involves a section of dirt road: 20m **
• Explore Chimney Rock: 1hr
• Chimney Rock to Pagaso Springs: 45m
• Lunch in Pagaso Springs
• Pagaso Springs to Lake City: 2hr
• Lake City to Montrose: 2hr 15m
• Check into your Montrose Hotel - Some hotel suggestions are listed after the itineraries
• Dinner at location TBD

** We will try to research the condition of the dirt road prior to the trip to determine if it is passable for our low slung E-Types.

Thursday brings a visit to The Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park followed by a scenic drive. The park is famous for its spectacular cliffs, and our tour will include a drive along the South Rim of the gorge.

• Montrose to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park: 20m
• Black Canyon South Rim South Rim Drive: 2hr 30m
• Black Canyon of the Gunnison to Sapinero: 50m
• Sapinero to Hotchkiss with lunch at TBD along the way: 2hr 30m
• Hotchkiss to Delta and Montrose: 1hr
• Return to your Montrose Hotel
• Dinner at location TBD 

The final day of SWCOL takes us to Colorado National Monument followed by another scenic drive. Colorado National Monument preserves one of the grand landscapes of the American West. Towering monoliths exist within a vast plateau and canyon panorama. You can experience sheer-walled, red rock canyons along the twists and turns of Rim Rock Drive, where you may spy bighorn sheep and soaring eagles.

• Montrose to Colorado National Monument: 2hr
• Colorado National Monument Scenic Rim Rock Drive. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy at one of the overlooks: 2hr 30m
• Colorado National Monument to Grand Junction:45m
• Grand Junction to Mesa: 1hr 10m
• Mesa to Montrose: 1hr 40m
• Return to your Montrose Hotel
• End of tour Celebration Dinner at location TBD 

For those interested in hanging around the area there is a Car event in Telluride the following weekend: https://tellurideautumnclassic.com/