Traveling to Durango

Friday, Sept 23

There isn't a good description of today!

We got up early to head to Durango and meet Chuck and Cheryl Carson. We figured if we were underway by 7:30, that would give us plenty of time to get set up and enjoy the afternoon with them.

Everything was going well until Clara started to pull in the slides – and the back one (the bedroom) – stuck about 4 inches in, leaving about 8-10 inches hanging.

After a couple of hours working on it, we couldn't get it in, so we started out with it hanging – on the drivers side. We stopped in the first town we got to outside the park and couldn't get it worked on and the only choice was to drive to Durango with it out.

Now we are going on the most perilous drive we have ever been on. We have heard about the drive on the “million dollar road” (Highway 550) a long time. Steep, narrow, winding roads that make the trip across Trail Ridge Road look like a freeway - and with an extra 10 inches hanging out on the drivers side.  (No pictures - I don't want to remember)

The road was everything that we had ever heard of and a little extra. A truly beautiful, exciting, heart stopping, slow, perilous, downright dangerous drive – without 10 inches extra hanging out of your RV.  The extra 10 inches makes it all of the above - times 10.



I like it when I'm on the lane further from the cliff



The road is the same width, it's just that the side of the road has consequences

It's hard to imagine, but this was taken out the passenger side of the RV, looking straight down!

Obviously, they have a problem with rocks falling on the road in this stretch

This is what we just traveled

We made it with no problems – just quite a few very anxious moments. Every curve was memorable. There was one where the recommended speed was 10 mph – I went 5.

The Aspen Tree is starting to turn bright yellow



I'm glad I'm on the inside

 

It's nice to have a big windshield



The road ahead.  On the left side of the picture you see the reflection of the sign we put in the drivers side window to let other motorist know that we "know" the slide is out.



We finally got in cell phone range and I was able to contact the manufacturer of the slide and he gave me the steps to take to troubleshoot, making me feel a little better.

We got to Durango and headed for Junction Campground. I got a phone call and Chuck and Cheryl were right behind us. “We couldn't miss you, you had your slide out”.

We got the the campsite, said our hellos and promptly went to work diagnosing the slide problem. I think we've found it, so now we can relax and work on it next week.

We went with Chuck and Cheryl in their car to explore Durango. What a town! I think we're going to stay quite a while.

Meanwhile, we're planning the weekend. Saturday, we're going to Mesa Verda National Park where they have worked as volunteers for years.

And Sunday, we have tickets on the Durango to Silverton Railroad. Chuck and Cheryl are picking us up on Silverton for more touring.

And Monday, we hope to get the slide fixed.