Continuing the ride; we pick up the Million Dollar Highway - |
Silverton is another great place to stage out of. There are some old Victorian hotels, a couple of motels and campgrounds/RV campgrounds. Silverton is the end of the line |
time to ride the DRGRR. I have been on it so often, feel as if I should be a conductor. Just a great ride and scenery you will not have elsewhere.
Here I am on the shoot
Interior of Brown Bear Cafe
Now that we have had a fine meal, lets ride!
On the road to |
Along the Animas River
Durango is just an hour away. Up and over Molas Pass.
Whether you are riding to Durango or wish a beautiful place to have
a picnic Molas Lake has camping available and a stunning place to
spend some quiet moments. Located on Highway 550 just a few minutes out of Silverton on the way to Durango.
Ophir Pass is a high mountain pass at 11,789 feet in any case don't know if I would drive it in vehicle other the a 4x4 or higher clearance
bike.
About midway up from the Silverton side.
The pass is generally open June through September. Check the local
weather for it can snow anytime of the year. The Silverton side is not to exciting - beautiful but no "pucker factor" - Not so for the west side!
As you descend from the top of the pass you are presented with a gorgeous view of the valley; but it is a steep and narrow road. And a rather steep drop off!
Video of the assent from the Silverton side:
To Hell You Ride thats what they said about Telluride in the old days.
Seems the name came about from the miners warning of the treacherous mountain journey they had to take to get there.
I remrember it wasn't to many years ago when you could buy a nice little home there for cheap - I mean next to nothing and that was in the early 1960's. Then it was "discovered" and only the pretty boys from
Hollywood or the tech gurus can afford it now. Telluride remains a destination not to be missed. The ride, be it up and over Ophir Pass or the long way around it is worth the ride.
,Floradoras is a small restaurant, good food. If you can get the window
table and watch for the "stars "to walk by. Yeah, me either; but I did want to run into Tom Cruz. Figured we could talk about his P-51's.
At one time he had two. Must be rough.
Silverton to Durango is a nice ride of about an hour. As mentioned above do take a moment or an overnight at Molas Lake. If you are camping there, hope you brought you down bag, at over 10,000 feet
the published average lows during the summer is around 30 degrees at night. AAA rates the Molas Lake campground the most beautiful
campground in Colorado. I believe it.
Durango is the pace for fine dinning and some exquisite lodging.
The locals and the informed visitor will often go to the Durango Diner.
For a fine Italian dinner with an excellent wine list try Mutu's located downtown and just minutes from the train station.
If traveling to Durango in the peak summer months don't forget to
make reservations for the DRGRR train. This is a must do. The
ride is a couple of hours from Durango to Silverton. My first rides
was in the 1950's and I still ride it everytime I am in the area. Someday
I will transfer the 16mm film my father shot of the train in 1941. Then
it was only a work train. His film shows the sheep being taken up from the low pastures to the high pastures for summer.
So there you have it, Dolores to Durango. A wonderful ride. Beautiful
scenery. Great ride. Good eats. So wonderful I go back just about every year. Love Southwest Colorado - God lives there!
See You Down The Road
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Author
Karl Johnson
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