1. Shoot across Texas to San Antonio, and then explore the Texas Hill Country to your heart's content.
2. Explore Big Bend. If you wind up in Ft Stockton after the Hill Country, head south on 385 and West on 90. Otherwise grab 90 somewhere around Uvalde. If you have time to take smaller back roads, do it.
3. Work your way up toward Santa Fe, NM.
4. Take 550 up to Durango.
5. Take 550 from Durango to Montrose
6. Take 50 East toward Gunnison and enjoy the Black Canyon of the Gunnison
7. Cross Blue Mesa Reservoir and take 92 along the other side of the reservoir and stay in Hotchkiss.
8. Take 133 North and East until it hits 82
9. Take 82 across Independence Pass to Twin Lakes.
10. South on 24
11. East on 285
12. North on 285
13. North on Rt 9
13. East on I-70
14. East on Rt 6
15. East on I-70
16. South on 103, with drive to top of Mt Evans
17. Continue East on 103 (Squaw Pass Road) into Evergreen
18. South on 73
19. East on North Turkey Creek Road until you cross under 285, then turn Right
20. East on Deer Creek Canyon Road
21. Hop onto 470 or one of the boulevards leading into Denver
Check your map for the names of the passes, and check the web to make sure they're open during your riding dates.
In Colorado, get up at the crack of dawn (watch for deer, elk, and ice on the roads), and ride till early afternoon. Then watch out for the thunderstorms. They're usually gone by 5:00 or 6:00, but you can never be sure.
I've been trapped by a blizzard on Memorial Day in the Southern Rockies, and have been hit by hail just about any time except August. Small hail, though. Not big like on the plains.
Good luck,
ape