This is the Part II of our day trip to Silverton and Ouray, CO in the mountains north of Durango. New feature beginning yesterday - I'm going to try to reply to your comments within a day so if you get a chance stop back by.
We got to Silverton about 1:30pm and decided to look for the restaurants I'd researched the day before only to find a line out the door at all of them - others must have done the same research. So we just drove around town and snapped a few shots with Bev's phone - I'd filled the card in my camera and the spares were strategically located in Tennessee.
We decided that since we were so close we would drive on up to Ouray and I just thought I’d been over a curvy mountain road getting to Silverton – the Million Dollar Highway was a death-grip-on-the-wheel road with the hundreds of feet drop-offs beginning at the white line at the edge of the pavement and very few guardrails – but the scenery was still spectacular.
We got to Silverton about 1:30pm and decided to look for the restaurants I'd researched the day before only to find a line out the door at all of them - others must have done the same research. So we just drove around town and snapped a few shots with Bev's phone - I'd filled the card in my camera and the spares were strategically located in Tennessee.
Ouray (2010 population of 1000) appears much more prosperous than Silverton, likely due to its easier access from the north and the re-opening of a silver mine – only the main street in Silverton was paved. Unlike Silverton's location in a large bowl, Ouray is located at the head of a narrow valley with mountins closely located on three sides.
Heading into Ouray, I commented that a little hole-in-the-wall burger joint would work for me and there it was Maggie's Kitchen - voted best burger in town.
Photos can
be enlarged by clicking on them.
Have a great
day and thanks for stopping by Almost Heaven South.
Larry
9/16/12
event date
Those windy roads with the drop offs....Yikes. I would be stuck there waiting for someone to drive me home. I'm not a brave driver. How do you take in the scenery and drive at the same time.
ReplyDeleteSam
I'm glad you guinea-pigged that Million Dollar Highway. I think I'll visit Ouray from the north side. :) Great pictures, love the ones of the old buildings. And I'll take one of those cheeseburgers and a bucket of those onion rings please.
ReplyDeleteI've been on the Million Dollar Highway... yea, scary as all hell, but absolutely breath taking!
ReplyDeleteSam - On that road I missed most of the scenery unless I pulled over or slowed way down.
ReplyDeleteLA - Good plan then you can drive further south a couple of miles and get as much of the million dollar highway as you'll want and can still see what it's like.
ReplyDeleteJenn - I'd say this post brought back some memories for you.
ReplyDeleteOh man, look at that cheeseburger. Oh, and the gorgeous scenery :)
ReplyDeleteThe scenery is gorgeous, Larry. That road sounds quite intimidating. I at first thought you drove it in the RV. That would truly have been heroic :-). It sounds like you and Bev are having a great trip. Keep us all posted. Have a great day. Blessings...Mary
ReplyDeleteWhat glorious country! I visited Silverton many years ago...the city looks the same except for the cars parked out front! :-)
ReplyDeletePam - The burger tasted even better than it looked - we stumbled into the right place.
ReplyDeleteMary - I doubt there is enough silver in those mountains to pay me to drive the RV over that road - even if I had it completely to myself.
ReplyDeleteKathy - I was surprised it was so busy, but at least one train was there when we were and it was Sunday.
ReplyDeleteNice camera phone shots. Good job keeping your spare camera card safely in Tennessee. That's a move worthy of me!
ReplyDeleteJust beautiful country....so different from where you and I both live. Thank you for taking us along.
ReplyDeleteLast time I was on the Million Dollar Highway I was pregnant with my daughter and it was spring, the snow was still melting on the pass and the waterfalls caused by snow melt was breathtaking. The drop offs were breathtaking, too :) One of these days I'm going to ride the Durango/Silverton train instead of just looking at it from the highway. Great shots!!!!
ReplyDeleteMarjie - I bought the extras when this happened before so it would never happen again.
ReplyDeleteAndrea - I'm surprised that trip didn't result in an instant delivery - I'd still like to do the train as well.
ReplyDeleteSuch an interesting and beautiful part of the country. The roads remind me of the ones we travel in Europe...my least favorite thing because I'm always sitting on the side of the car looking straight down.
ReplyDeleteHoly SH-- , Larry! You DID drive to Ouray on that Million Dollar Highway. Did you just feel your heart racing on that road? Oh my Lord, I was never so scared in my life as I was while Bill drove that road. But you're right the scenery is some of the finest in our country!
ReplyDeleteI was picturing those extreme down hill skate boarders and luge guys trying to do that road. I wonder how it compares to "the Dragon" for # of curves, looks like it would be close.
ReplyDelete