Rail trip and 4 wheeling

Sunday, Sept 25

Today, we reached another new plateau of beautiful scenery and excitement.

It seems that each day improves in some way over the previous. It's almost like working out to get in shape. Each workout you improve. Each day, the experience improves.

Today was memorable. We rode the Durango – Silverton Railroad, climbing nearly 4,000 feet in the process. With each turn in the rail line, we were introduced to new scenery all the way to Silverton.

The steam locomotive still uses coal to fire the boiler

It was a very cool morning and the coffee was great

The pictures can tell some of the story of the scenery, but cannot begin to tell the experience.

We rode in this open car.  It was cold at first, but by the end of the trip we were very comfortable - and the views were great.



Some of the rock walls were only inches from the train cars.  You didn't hang your arms out the window very far.

 

I stood up almost all of the 4 hour ride.  I didn't want to sit down because I might miss something.  It was all beautiful

We had to stop 3 times on the way up the mountain to replenish the water for the locomotive



A happy Mimi



We met another train coming down the mountain

There were hundreds of people along the route taking pictures of the train going by.

The scenery got better every mile

The four plus hour ride up culminated in Chuck and Cheryl meeting us at the Silverton station.

Main Street, Silverton, Colorado.  All of the other streets in town were not paved.

Then the real adventure began.

After lunch, and with no previous discussion, we went four-wheelin' up to the Continental Divide in Chuck's Jeep. This turned out to be quite the experience. Again, some of the pictures can show the beautiful scenery, but nothing about the experience.

The road is a lot rougher than it looks.  The aspen trees are beautiful.



The view from the Continental Divide

 

On the (other) Continental Divide.  The first one is in Spruce Pine.



Chuck and Cheryl

The markers for clearing snow from the road.

Stony Pass - 12,650 feet



The road we traveled to the Continental Divide



Chuck Carson - the fearless driver



Panorama from the divide



To add a little drama, when we reached the summit, we met some hikers who were monitoring a situation where a wife and husband had gotten separated from each other on a hike along the Continental Divide Trail. The wife had gotten back to their car, but was in a state of panic because she did not know where her husband was. They had somehow gotten separated on the trail.

All turned out okay eventually with the husband finally appearing on the trail with his dog.

Another great day. Tomorrow, we have to leave Junction Creek Campground – they close. So we'll be moving to a new campground – and hopefully getting the slideout fixed.

Mesa Verde National Park

Saturday, Sept. 24

This morning we got an early start, meeting Chuck and Cheryl to drive to Mesa Verde National Park. They have been volunteers at the park for the past 6 years, until recently serving as the lead volunteers. So we knew we were going to be in for a real treat – and we were.

Dave, Clara, Chuck and Cheryl

I have heard of the cliff dwelling homes and seen pictures, but nothing prepares you for being there and experiencing them.

About 1,400 years ago, long before any European exploration of our country, a group of people living in this area chose Mesa Verde for their homes.  For more than 700 years their descendants lived and flourished here, eventually building the elaborate stone communities in the sheltered alcoves of the canyon walls.  Then in the late 1200s within the span of one or two generations, they left their homes and moved away.

From the park, you can see to Arizona and Utah. We are over 8,000 feet, and most of the mountains now are taking on a different contour.



The "Cliff Palace" of Mesa Verde



Chuck and Cheryl directed us to two tours, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The morning tour to the largest of the collection of kivas and dwelling units in the Park, which make up the "Cliff Palace".

The afternoon tour turned out to be the highlight of the day. We toured the "Balcony House".  This time Cheryl and Chuck joined us.  The walk/climb down was steep, and climb back up was narrow, sometimes going through tunnels just barely wide enough and high enough for a person to slither through. Some of the climbs out were up very steep (and thankfully, sturdy) ladders.

The Park Ranger provided a lot of insight into how people lived in the cliffs.

Clara coming out of the tunnel at Balcony House

There were many opportunities to climb (and descend) on this tour



And I made it!!!!

These dwelling were occupied until about 600 years ago and, although there are many theories, it doesn't appear that anyone is sure why the Indians left them

This was a real change of pace for us. Most of what we have been studying and seeing are geologically based. But today was an immersion into culture and history.

Cheryl and Chuck, because of their vast experience in the park were able to provide us with fascinating insights into what we were seeing and provided expansion and edification on what the rangers were telling us.

We demonstrate what we've learned, with our shadows covering an 800 year old Kiva

It was a day that want be forgotten.

Cheryl and Chuck really made this a very special day for us.

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.