Winding down in Priest Gulch

The last two days here in Colorado have been beautiful. The weather was perfect for exploring the area as well as relaxing at our campsite by the river. Even though the nights and early mornings were chilly, the daytime temperatures reached the mid eighties.

Yesterday, we drove to Delores, CO. Delores is in the San Juan Mountains at an elevation of 7000 feet. The Delores River runs through the town…the same river that runs behind our campsite.

In Delores, we visited the Galloping Goose Railroad Museum. Our camping neighbor, JR, volunteers at the museum and gave us all kinds of information about the Galloping Goose. What is a Galloping Goose? The Rio Grande Southern Railroad built seven rail cars in the 1930’s, named The Galloping Goose. The rail cars remained in operation until the end of service on the line in the early 1950s. In 1998 Goose #5 was bought by the city of Dolores, Colorado and restored. From time to time is operated on the Durango and Silverton railroad. Goose #5 sits in front of the museum.

Today, we decided on another road trip. We took highway CO 145 to Telluride. Actually, the stop in Telluride was a mistake by the navigator, me. We took a slow drive through town and ended up on a dead-end road. At least the scenery was pretty, and I got some pictures of waterfalls.

Returning to the highway, we continued on towards Ouray, CO. The sky was very hazy and smoky from the fire near Durango. We drove through the town of Ridgeway. The movies True Grit and How the West Was Won were filmed in this area. Steep mountains and cliffs surround Ridgeway. I wonder if the town got it’s name from the mountains in the distance?

A few miles further, we arrived in Ouray, and made the obligatory drive through downtown Ouray. This small community sits in a valley at 7,792 feet and it surrounded by 13,000 foot towering peaks of the Rocky Mountains. In the past I have heard it referred to as “Little Switzerland”.

Before returning “home”, we stopped at a park, had a picnic lunch, and watched a group of beginner rock climbers. It was interesting watching them try to find how and where to place their hands and feet. Once they climbed to the end of the ropes, they easily repelled down the rocks. Just watching made my hands ache!

Back at Priest Gulch, we spent a relaxing late afternoon by the river.