A recap of the last few days...
We took a jeep tour in Ouray while Dad and Ethan spent the day driving an ATV. It started out in an absolute downpour for us. By the time we were picked up it had tapered off-lucky for us. We still needed blankets and jackets but the views on the way were so worth it.
The dumbest thing I saw today-a mom in shorts and a tank top with her small child riding in front of her on an ATV with no helmet on either one of them. Going up to the top was going up to 12,500 ft. The weather was rainy and she is taking her child out as if for a Sunday drive-crazy!
We also saw flowers at a drop off. Some guys were up there on July 4th shooting off fireworks. They shot one that they thought was a dud and then it started to go off-one of them shouted that it was live and they all ran from it. One 22 year old ran off the side of the cliff trying to get away from it. I think about the police man who had to notify his family. As a mother,would you ever get over the rage at such a waste?
I wonder what percentage of accidents/fatalities in the mountains are just pure stupidity that could have been avoided and what are true accidents nothing could have been done to prevent.
Later that night, mom and I lie/lay? awake thinking about our drive the next day. Dad has absolutely no idea and is actually looking forward to the challenge. So glad we prevailed.
We drive to Durango the back way. I can't imagine the views were any better than what we saw. It was stunning-as is eveything in this state. It rained off and on but that only added to the beauty as the clouds were a spectacular pattern of gray with blue sky mixed in.
I regained a lot of confidence driving with new brakes and knowing not to ride them. I coasted downhill most of the way.
We stopped for lunch in Telluride and walked around a bit. It had a completely different feel than Ouray but I'm glad we saw it.
We are not staying in the city of Durango but out in Bayfield. We are about 20 miles outside of town staying at a lodge overlooking Lake Vallecito. We are also in the "Penthouse" which means we walk up 3 flights of stairs to get to our lodging! Good thing for teenagers.
Our plan for today is to rent a boat and go out on to the lake. I am betting it is FREEZING. We'll see if we make it into Durango or just stay around here.
The area around here is burned black. We asked the lady who checked us in when the fire was-2002! The timber is all still on the ground and it looks like it just happened. I asked her why they did not pick up the logs. She said that would have made too much sense. Some environmentalists sued to leave it "natural." So now it is just kindling for the next wild fire-geez!
A great trip!
