Wow! What an Experience! Durango-Silverton Railroad

In all of our travels we have been privileged to zoom by some beautiful places at 70 miles per hour. We have of regretted not taking time to stop and investigate many of the places we pass. One of the places we talk about most as we zoom through is Colorado. We have been here three times in the last 18 years and all of them were very quick trips through or in and out of the state. This year we finally planned a few days off in Colorado. The first thing we learned... a few days is not enough!

The last 3 days have been spent doing something I have always wanted to do. Since the first time I heard about the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad I have wanted to ride it. It travels through 45 miles of absolutely beautiful country. I posted a few pictures yesterday but I could not resist posting a bunch more this evening. Like most of the pictures I post on here these were taken with my iPhone so the quality isn't all that great but I think they turned out pretty good. I hope I haven't overdone the amount pictures.

I have also posted a few pictures of the trip from Colorado Springs to Durango and back. We left the BoggsMobile in the campground here and drove Mr. Cheap Jeep and after several 7% grades I am so glad we did. Wolf Creek Pass on Hwy 160 which we crossed going and coming goes up at 6% for over 10 curvy miles and then down the other side at 6% and 7% for over 8 curvy miles. The pass itself is about 10800 feet above sea level. We crossed it going and coming. That would have been a wild ride in the BoggsMobile. We saw lots of RVs but they were all taking it very easy and holding on very tight!

We drove to Durango through Pueblo, then West Hwy. 160 through Alamosa and Pagosa Springs on Thursday. We rode the train on Friday which is over 7 hours round trip. Today (Saturday) we came back through Pagosa Springs and Del Norte then North on Hwy. 285, then East on Hwy. 24. It was a long trip but so beautiful I can't describe it. We have been having trouble loading pictures on our regular website for weeks but when we resolve that we will post the pictures from Odie's camera there.

I hope you enjoy. Please leave a comment or drop me an email to let us know what you think.

Davy


On The Way to Durango, Colorado Hwy. 160 from about 9000 feet above sea level.


At The Station in Durango


The Beautiful Train Ride From Durango to Silverton and Back













Kelly Jo and Odie in Silverton, CO


These were taken from Wilkerson Pass (9500 feet above sea level) on Hwy. 24 on the way back to Colorado Springs

Durango-Silverton Railroad Pictures

We are half way finished with the train ride. We are in Silverton
eating lunch. Here are a few pictures to wet your appetite. The view
is awesome!

Davy

The Air Force Academy

We went to the Air Force Academy Wednesday and it was awesome! It is at the North end of Colorado Springs and nestled right up against the mountains. It is absolutely beautiful up there. Back in the late 1950s the government purchased the first 10,000 acres for the Academy for $100 and acre. I would like to have 10 or 20 acres of the land myself. I think I would be willing to double their money! lol

The visitors center is very nice and informative. The folks there suggested we walk to the chapel and the cadet grounds which we did. It was only 1/3 mile but it was literally uphill both ways and with the altitude over 6000 ft. it was quite a walk for this fat boy. Kelly Jo has been walking at least 2 miles a day and she was pretty winded as well so I didn't feel so bad. Odie was in her power chair and the hills and thin air didn't seem to bother her at all.

The first picture is one of the cadet grounds and the rest are of the inside of the chapel and one of the outside. The third picture is of the massive pipe organ in the back of the chapel. It is a pretty impressive structure. In fact the whole Academy is pretty impressive. They certainly put the cadets through their paces in four years and I would say every graduate deserves the degree and their place as officers in the Air Force. Thank God for folks that are willing to serve our nation in that capacity.

We were able to see some of the cadets flying gliders which is part of their training and that was a sight to behold as well. Too bad they were to far away to capture pictures with my iPhone.

Today we are off to Durango, Colorado... I'm sure we will have some pictures and stories...

Davy