Red Bull. Red Bull is your friend in these situations.

That said... I have spoken with the family and suggested we could spend a little more time near the coast and an extra night at the place we stayed at in San Simeon last year (they loved it there!) and, strangely, their resistance to driving non-stop from coast to DV went away.

On that same point it looks like I can rejig a little around the Grand Canyon - Monument Valley - Mesa Verde section too if the longer drives are no longer seen as such an evil. Will give us a full day available at Mesa Verde then to suit whatever tour we can (hopefully) secure during the day. Is there any experience on the different tours within MV here I wonder?

I am interested on whether anyone has previously been to Telluride when one of the festivals has been on? Interested to hear whether it is makes it impossible to visit the town or just a little bit busier than usual?

Thank you for the tip on the Mollie Katherine Gold Mine tour. I will check it out!

Will amend the itinerary and post that up soon.

Thank you for all the info and input so far!!