Silverton, Colorado – 4/15/2015

Silverton, Colorado – 4/15/2015

April 15, 2015 (Wednesday)

Happy Tax Day! I hope you all got refunds!

Michael spent the morning doing taxes for Aaron and Arla. I walked over to Starbucks and got some coffee and a muffin. Around 1:00 PM, we headed out. Our original thought was to go back to Mesa Verde National Park and Cortez, Colorado. However, due to the time we opted to drive to Silverton since the train won’t be going there until May.

The drive to Silverton is about fifty miles of beautiful and scary roads. The drop offs are so steep that it reminded us of the Big Sur area (without the ocean). We got to see lots of snow covered mountains on that side that we couldn’t see from this side. Just spectacular. We saw waterfalls, frozen lakes, and just some gorgeous scenery. So glad we went there. One of the passes going into Silverton was almost 11,000 feet. Also, the temperature went from the 50’s in Durango to the 30’s in Silverton area.

I was struck by the slide, center top right, that took out a swath of trees and the color is so different than the iron rich sedimentary red rock below.
I was struck by the slide, center top right, that took out a swath of trees and the color is so different than the iron rich sedimentary red rock below.
Edie and I call it Sedona Red.
Edie and I call it Sedona Red.
We are in the Rockies.
We are in the Rockies.
Nice views.
Nice views.

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We climbed to the first summit.
We climbed to the first summit.
Wild and rough up here.
Wild and rough up here.

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Beautiful partially frozen waterfall.
Beautiful partially frozen waterfall.
The sound is so perfect and harmonizes with something in the human soul.
The sound is so perfect and harmonizes with something in the human soul.

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At Molas Lake summit, Grumpy is running for the car, it was 30 degrees exactly.
At Molas Lake summit, Grumpy is running for the car, it was 30 degrees exactly.
Jogging to the car.
Jogging to the car.

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Molas Lake, still frozen.
Molas Lake, still frozen.
Today's goal, Silverton.
Today’s goal, Silverton.

Once in Silverton we just drove around. A cute little mining town. We got to see some churches, the library, an old jail, old buildings, and the highest Harley Davidson Dealership in the world. The town itself was dead as the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad doesn’t start up until May. Most of the stores and shops were closed but we did find a little cafe on a side street called Hungry Moose Bar & Grill. Michael and I split a fish special and a hamburger. Really good food and a nice place. At the end of the meal the server offered us a piece of candied bacon. Never had it before. Was pretty good and had a kick of hot cayenne pepper. Michael said it had a bite that kept on biting.

Colors.
Colors.

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A Victorian mining town.
A Victorian mining town.
With an occasional bear.
With an occasional bear.
City Hall.
City Hall.
Does not look occupied.
Does not look occupied.
County seat.
County seat.
Old mining cart.
Old mining cart.
Church.
Church.

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Public library.
Public library.
The jail.
The jail.
Today's lunch.
Today’s lunch.
Inside the bar and grill.
Inside the bar and grill.
Hamburger
Hamburger
Fish and chips.
Fish and chips.
a summertime treat.
A summertime treat.
Looks like a cold place to live.  No chimney.
Looks like a cold place to live. No chimney.

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We drove back and stopped at the Pinkerton Hot Springs. What a fun and beautiful hot springs. All the different colors were lovely.

Heading out of town.
Heading out of town.
Looks like a hot springs blow hole to me.
Looks like a hot springs blow hole to me.
Beautiful day.
Beautiful day.
Beautiful mountain creek flowing along.
Beautiful mountain creek flowing along.

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Great hot springs deposits.
Great hot springs deposits.
Grumpy testing the waters.
Grumpy testing the waters.

That was our day. Hope yours was great!