Unless you have things to see and do in the Cortez area {and Mesa Verde NP is a must see if you have not been there yet} you can avoid Ship Rock to Cortez by going east on N5 little north of Gallup and then north on the 371 through Farmington and Aztec. You eventually pick up the 550 northbound and it brings you out just southeast of Durango. These roads are all decent and it is a more direct route. As I said earlier I will be driving to Pagosa Springs on Monday but had forgotten about the N5. Durango to Pagosa Springs a a very nice ride that takes about an hour.
:C