Trip Report: The Perfect Family Trip!
EDIT: I wanted to add this link here at the beginning. Ragusa's Summer 2014 Trailer Hello friends! We have been home for two months, but I am just now feeling like getting to the trip repo...
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Ouray, Telluride, Lake City, Etc. PART 1
We had really been looking forward to this part of the trip!
I read lots of discussion about towing on the Million Dollar Highway. Many folks saying that you shouldn't attempt if you don't have experience. To that I say, either I have lots of experience, or nerves of steel. The road really wasn't anything particularly challenging. Take your time, stay within you and your rigs comfort zone, and it is no big deal. The scenery...is a BIG DEAL! It was gorgeous!
Here's the town of Silverton from up above. This is the town that the train ride toke us to. You can see the train in the photo.
And here's a pretty good idea of what the shoulder is like for parts of the drive.
We stopped at the Red Mountain mining area. You can see some of the old mines in the background.
The town of Ouray as you come down the mountain.
We have some friends from our old neighborhood that retired to Montrose, Co. and we haven't seen them in a few years. They are huge off road hobbiest, and moved to the area for the beauty and all the trail options. The plan was to stay at Ridgway State Park and spend 3-4 days letting them play tour guide through the area, including as many jeep trails as we could fit in.
Opinion, I don't see the fuss over Ridgway State Park. It was nice, not great, and was 20 minutes from most everything we did. Next time (and there will be a next time) we will stay at one of the parks in Ouray. More central for the region. They aren't as pretty, but when you spend your whole day out of the campground exploring, it doesn't matter much where you sleep. Here's the view from our campsite.
The view when leaving Ridway and heading south was one of the money shots of the entire trip! Ouray is nestled at the foot of the snow peaked ones.
So we drove into downtown Ridgway to meet up with our friends. We met at a nice little park and sat and talked for an hour. The park was the filming location for the original "True Grit" opening scenes with the grocery and the hanging in the town square. This was really neat to all of us, as we have watched both versions of the films several times as a family. And, my grandfather had instilled a love for The Duke in me.
The "True Grit" cafe' is built around what was the grocery in the movie. The brick wall behind them is the original from those scenes.
Another interesting thing in Ridgway is that the fella in this building makes the Grammy statues. Would have thought they came out of China, but it's this little old town in the mountains.
All I have time for for now. Probably heading to a 3 part series on this stop...
We had really been looking forward to this part of the trip!
I read lots of discussion about towing on the Million Dollar Highway. Many folks saying that you shouldn't attempt if you don't have experience. To that I say, either I have lots of experience, or nerves of steel. The road really wasn't anything particularly challenging. Take your time, stay within you and your rigs comfort zone, and it is no big deal. The scenery...is a BIG DEAL! It was gorgeous!
Here's the town of Silverton from up above. This is the town that the train ride toke us to. You can see the train in the photo.
And here's a pretty good idea of what the shoulder is like for parts of the drive.
We stopped at the Red Mountain mining area. You can see some of the old mines in the background.
The town of Ouray as you come down the mountain.
We have some friends from our old neighborhood that retired to Montrose, Co. and we haven't seen them in a few years. They are huge off road hobbiest, and moved to the area for the beauty and all the trail options. The plan was to stay at Ridgway State Park and spend 3-4 days letting them play tour guide through the area, including as many jeep trails as we could fit in.
Opinion, I don't see the fuss over Ridgway State Park. It was nice, not great, and was 20 minutes from most everything we did. Next time (and there will be a next time) we will stay at one of the parks in Ouray. More central for the region. They aren't as pretty, but when you spend your whole day out of the campground exploring, it doesn't matter much where you sleep. Here's the view from our campsite.
The view when leaving Ridway and heading south was one of the money shots of the entire trip! Ouray is nestled at the foot of the snow peaked ones.
So we drove into downtown Ridgway to meet up with our friends. We met at a nice little park and sat and talked for an hour. The park was the filming location for the original "True Grit" opening scenes with the grocery and the hanging in the town square. This was really neat to all of us, as we have watched both versions of the films several times as a family. And, my grandfather had instilled a love for The Duke in me.
The "True Grit" cafe' is built around what was the grocery in the movie. The brick wall behind them is the original from those scenes.
Another interesting thing in Ridgway is that the fella in this building makes the Grammy statues. Would have thought they came out of China, but it's this little old town in the mountains.
All I have time for for now. Probably heading to a 3 part series on this stop...