We're Not in Kansas anymore, Toto

Yep, we have moved on!  Currently, we are in Branson, Missouri, known far and wide as (according to Wikipedia) the live music captital of the world.

A few facts--again, compliments of Wikipedia:

--Located in the Ozark Mountains (not exactly like the Rockies--but beautiful).
--Population (not counting thousands of tourists) around 11, 000.
--A popular vacation destination with more than 50 entertainment theaters--lots of "tribute" acts (read fake Elvises and fake almost any other mostly country entertainer you can imagine).
--The huge Lake Taneycomo--formed after the White River was dammed (as opposed to "damned") in 1912.
--Some episodes (in their 8th season and were stretching for new ideas) of the Beverly Hillbillies were filmed around the Branson area.
--Andy Williams built (well, paid to have built) his Moon River theater in Branson in 1992--sadly, he no longer sings there--at least not in a "live" performance.
--Glen Campbell built his Goodtime theater here in 1994--sadly, he is no longer able to perform (tho his family would probably do most anything to get him back on a stage for the $$.  Did any of you happen to see the relatively recent documentary of Glen's last tour?  While his family claimed he was very happy to be performing in his quickly deteriorating Alzhimers state of mind, it was rather pathetic to watch at times).

An iconic landmark in Branson

In 2012 an F-2 tornado struck parts of Branson.  There was some 3 million dollars worth of damage in the city--the evidence of which is still visible around town where still-empty lots are located.  Most of the damage was repaired quickly tho.  No theater=no money coming in.

And, lastly in my fact-finding report, Wikipedia states that the climate here in Branson is categorized as "sub-tropical."  Oz thinks this would be a beautiful place to live.  I agree that it is beautiful--the trees around the area are on the very verge of bursting out in glorious fall colors.  But a sub-tropical climate--I am thinking the big NO!

But I am waaaay ahead of myself here.  Where were we before Branson (I can just hear you screaming that question right now)?  Well, after we left Durango, we spent a couple of nights in Walsenburg, CO, on our way to Pratt, Missouri.  We stayed in Lathrop State Park.  Two major downsides to that sojourn--NO WIFI and no sewer hook-up--a relatively big deal when traveling in an RV.  However, we did meet and share wine with a very nice group of folks who were traveling together.  They were all in Hitchhiker 5th wheel RV's (sort of a club) and were on their way to Albuquerque to attend the balloon festival.  One couple was traveling with their rather unattractive little toy poodle whose name I did not retain in my memory bank.  Another of the group was accompanying their cat, who apparently goes everywhere with them.  The cat sat outside with the group but was defiitely not thrilled with the dog.  We were told that the two pets had a little set-to the night before, and the cat emerged as the winner--the poodle had an owie on its nose.  The park setting was nice--quiet and calm.  Eastern Colorado has rolling hills and scrub brush.

This is not our RV.

On the last day of September, we left Colorado and entered Kansas.   I have always been told that Kansas has a very flat and boring landscape.  I did not find that description to be true.  Relatively flat--especially compared to that of Western Colorado.  But the fields of Kansas are beautiful; planted for the fall/winter in wheat and milo.  How many people reading this blog are familiar with milo--raise     your hand.  From the internet:  "Farmers on the hot, dry plains from Texas to South Dakota grow and use grain sorghum (milo) like Corn Belt farmers use corn.  During the past 25 years, the grain sorghum acreage in the U.S. has ranged from 15 to 18 million acres per year. Grain sorghum acreage is somewhat greater than acreages for oats and barley, but considerably less than the land area planted to corn, wheat, and soybeans."  The fields are beautiful!

A milo field

As I understand it, milo is used to feed cattle.  Anyway, I learned something new--had never even heard of milo before entering Kansas!

Another feature of Kansas are cows, cows, cows!!!  And, along with cows come feedlots.  There are all those cows, munching their merry way towards becoming a nice ribeye or porterhouse steak.  I tried to yell at them to stop eating and stay skinny but did they listen?  Nooooo!  I had expected to see fields of sunflowers but have since been told that October is too late in the season.  I did see fields of dead sunflowers--awaiting the collection of their seeds--another big business.  And, we also passed a Tyson Chicken processing plant--the smell of burning chicken feathers was absolutely nauseating!  Then we passed a huge truck, full of live chickens on their one-way trip to the chicken processing plant.  I have to tell you--I like my meat but DO NOT like seeing it in a truck on the road!

In Garden City, KS, on our way to our destination of Pratt, we saw a huge factory/plant/whatever where the parts for the GIANT windmills (think Mojave/Tehachapi) are manufactured.  Seeing the blades and "stems" up close was pretty mind-blowing.

Finally, we arrive in Pratt.  Home of Bob's sister-in-law, Karen, and his brother-in-law, Bob Pinkall.  Karen is Linda's sister.

They were superb hosts for us, both in Pratt and again down here in Branson for the past week!  But before I talk about all our exciting activities in Kansas, first a little data about Pratt.  How many of you (who don't live in Kansas) have ever heard of Pratt?  Uh huh, that's what I thought.  Well, for starters, Pratt is the county seat of Pratt County.  They have a population of around 7,000 (humans, that is--there are probably right around 4 billion cows in the area).  Pratt has a community college named  . . . . wait for it . . . . Pratt Community College.  Their high school team is the Pratt Greenbacks.  And, this is pretty big--their town hosts the Miss Kansas Pageant every year!!!

Bob and Karen have three really nice sons who are all married to really nice women.

Rita and Bruce Pinkall

Bruce and Rita's daughter, Katie, her husband, Justin, and baby Logan

Allen and Charlotte Pinkall

Michelle and Gary Pinkall with Myah the wonder dog

The second night in Pratt, we drove to Garden City (along with Rita) and watched a community college football game at which Bruce was the head referee.  Learning about referee duties gave me a whole 'nother perspective from which to view football (not that I had much perspective to start with--ooops--the grammar queen meant to say "with which to start."  The home team won and other than the occasional unpleasant whiff of a nearby stockyard when the wind shifted, a good time was had by all!

The stadium was spectacular!

Me and Rita at the football game--did I tell you that she is married to the head referee?

The Garden City community college football Mascot

The next day we were invited to a delicious dinner at Bruce and Rita's house.  And, that day I also met Linda's other sister, Diane Floyd.  She was on her way home to Johnson City, having just attended her high school reunion in Hutchinson.  Diane is the youngest of the three Nonken sisters.

Me and Diane

On Tuesday the two Bobs, Karen and I drove to Hutchinson and toured a salt mine--once called the Carey Salt Mine.  As a quick side note, Oz once worked for Morton Salt there in Hutchinson.  It was in Hutchinson where he met Linda.  The salt mine was formed about 275 million years ago when the Permian Sea dried up (cannot think of a way to not end that sentence with a preposition).  It was not discovered until 1887 when a fellow was drilling for oil and found the salt deposit instead.  The tour took place 650 feet underground--we got there (wearing our hard hats) via a freight elevator.

The second time on this trip where a hard hat was required!

Riding the salt mine train. 

Strataca--under which the salt mine is located.

Bob and Karen

Bob's very artsy photo of his shadow in the mine.

Now for the really interesting part of the mine tour--also existing in the mine is an underground Vault and Storage facility used to store a vast number of original Hollywood movies and TV shows (with many costumes), as well as millions of  documents and items from all over the world in a secure and environmentally conducive place.  Lastly, there is a lot of trash in the mine dating all the way back to when the mine was first operated.  It is the rule (and the neat nick in me doth protest greatly) that "what goes in the mine stays in the mine."  Trash, people!  That does not make a whit of sense to me! Alright--enough about the mine!

In the afternoon after our tour of the salt mine, we drove out to Allen and Charlotte's lovely home.  First we walked down to the barn and met their two horses--one of which is HUGE!  But a gentle giant.  Next we got to meet the cat and then the two wild and crazy doggies.  Later we all went to a nice Italian restaurant for dinner.

Next day Karen chauffeured me around town--first to meet her friend for coffee at a delightful shop called Simply Southwest.  I could have spent hours in that store.  Next we visited a couple of dress shops (where I may have purchased a little sump'em-sump'em).  That evening Gary, Michelle, and Myah (the wonder dog) came to Bob and Karen's house for a delicious dinner (one of many great meals that Karen prepared for us during the course of our visit). 

On Thursday Karen drove me to Wichita to meet a friend of mine, Melinda Meckenstock.  We have known each other for several years but had never actually met in person.  Melinda is a relative of sorts (it's complicated) on the Hladik side of the family (Al's mom)--she is the step-granddaughter of Andy's brother Frank.  Anyway, when I found out that Oz and I would be going to Kansas, I just knew this might be my only opportunity to finally meet Melinda.  We arranged to meet at a restaurant called Doc's Greens.  Liked the restaurant--loved Melinda!  She ended up spending the afternoon with me and Karen as we flitted around Dillard's Department Store (my favorite store).

Me and Melinda

Karen, me, and Melinda (not sure why my mouth is smiling but my eyes are frowning).

Another football game Friday night--this time Pratt High School v  Who Knows?  Neither Bob nor I can remember.  This game was their homecoming coming.  And, having smartly scheduled a school they knew they could beat, they did just that!

Friday night lights!

Now we come to Saturday and the pièce de résistance.  FRANKIE AVALON appearing at the historic Fox Theater in Hutchinson!!  Before we arrived, Karen had told us that she and Bob had been given tickets to this show last Christmas by the kids.  They managed to procure two more tickets for us.  At first I was thinking, "Frankie Avalon?  Really?"  Man oh man was I ever surprised!  The show was fabulous!  He still has a great voice!  And, in his band was his first-born son (of 4 sons and 4 daughters!), Frankie, Jr.--drummer extroidinaire!  But an even bigger surprise was one of his guitar players and back-up singer--Edan Everly.  Yes, Don (of the Everly Brothers fame) Everly's son.  Don is alive and kicking; but sadly, we lost Phil several years back.  Edan and Frankie sang some of the Everly Brothers songs together, and it was pure magic for me!!!

Frankie Avalon and Edan Everly

The Frankie I remember from the 60's

The Frankie of today--not half bad!

Frankie and our sweet Annette

Alright, winding down now, I promise!  Sunday, our last day in Pratt was spent getting ready to head off to Branson the next day.  Bob discovered that we had somehow left something requiring electricity (or battery power in this case) on in the RV when we stored it for the duration of our Pratt visit.  Guess what was the result of that little oversight. . . . .yep--dead battery.  Fortunately he was able to recharge it on Sunday before our departure on Monday.  He brought the Catfish back over to Karen and Bob's house, and we began the arduous chore of reloading it for the next leg of our trip.  Rita and Bruce came over for one last (for me and Bob at least) delicious Karen lunch.

Soooooo, if you are as tired reading this blog as I am writing it, you will be thrilled to hear about my executive decision--I will write a second blog recounting our Branson adventures.  Maybe tomorrow. Right how a glass of wine is calling my name.  But, first, one last Pratt photo:

Bob was very amused by these Pratt water towers!

Glamgirl and Oz signing out.    

Fall Has Arrived in Durango, CO

Monday, September 26, 2016

Well, this mountain fall weather is much different from my lovely desert fall weather.  COLD here!  We had a cabin in the Greenhorn Mountains for 14 years, and I loved the fall days up there. Warmish during the day and cool at night--the fireplace helped.  But here it feels like winter already.  Rained like the dickens most of the day last Friday.  A cold rain!  No more sitting outside in the evenings and chatting with neighbors.  Time to move on?

A lot has happened since I last wrote.   Remember our RV neighbor Max, the bird-trapping boy?  He and his parents, Bob and Sarah, were planning to leave on September 8 to go travel around Europe for 6 months or so.  They had moved out of this park a few weeks back (to a cheaper place to save $$).  So we were very surprised to find see their RV back in its same old space next to us one day.  Moakie, the Golden Retriever, was still with them.  Turns out, bad luck has caused them to put their travel plans on hold.  Sarah, a back-to-nature sort (as opposed to Glamgirl--a back-to-the-mall sort), liked to go into the local mountains and hunt for mushrooms.   She did that one day by herself--stepped wrong, fell, and broke her leg in three places!  Luckily, she had her cell phone with her, and even more luckily, she had cell service up there in the mountains.  She called her husband--unfortnately, he had left his cell phone in the car (isn't that just like a man?) and didn't get her frantic message until 2 hours later!  She left a message that she thought she had broken her leg and that Max would know where to find her (him having been to those hunting grounds before).  Of course, as soon as husband Bob heard her message, he contacted the local Search and Rescue unit.  Max (as he excitedly told us later) got to ride with the S&R guys and give them directions.  Not having been able to reach her husband, Mom had crawled 3/4ths of a mile back towards her car before they found her.  One tough woman!

Max and Moakie

Meanwhile, even tho Bob is greatly appreciative of my cooking skills, I still find the need to share my bounty with others.  Made a lovely peach pie one day and shared it with neighbors all around us.  Lots of great feedback, which pathetically, I seem to need.

Peach pie on right side of tiny counter

On Wednesday the 14th we decided to take a drive up to Silverton--we had heard that the scenery along the way up there was beautiful.  So, off we went.  Our first stop was in Honeyville--where I made friends with a honeybear.

Honeyville is a family-owned specialty honey business that was started in 1918 with just a couple of hobby beehives.  Some of the hives are still located in their original locations.  They have a glass beehive (I could not find the queen), a viewing window to watch honey being bottled, and free samples of all their honeys, honey wines, and even chocolate honey (yuck).  In the store they have for sell a fabulous variety of whipped honeys, honey enhanced jellies, jams, and sauces.  Needless to say, we found several items without which we could not live!  This store also made me think about what the Brier Creek Apiary in Thomson, GA, could become some day (owned and operated by my nephews and my brother).  You can get a free catalogue by calling:  800-676-7690.

From Honeyville we made our way on up the road to James Ranch Market--where you can buy fresh eggs, morning-harvested vegetables, and watch cheese being made by their on-site artisan cheese maker  But, best of all, they make the most delicious hamburgers on the face of the earth--bar none--they even beat (by a long shot) my favorite--In-and-Out Burgers!  Now that's saying something.

The Market

One of the egg makers having a bad hair day

Finally back on the road to Silverton.   Along the way we crossed over Coal Bank Pass at 10, 300 feet in altitude.  When we got to Silverton, we were surprised to find out that there was SO MUCH MORE TO SEE than we realized when we went by train a week or so ago.  Because of the stern warning by the train people that they would leave stragglers behind, we limited our sight-seeing that day to a very small area.  We missed the best part of town.  After cruising around a bit (and seeing some very interesting things, including somebody's homemade ski truck,

we headed on up the road to the Old Hundred Gold Mine. 

My friend and neighbor, Mary Grimsley, had highly recommended that we take the mine tour there.  The property is no longer mined but is open for tours.  The tour took us on a vintage electric powered narrow gauge mine train 1/3rd of a mile into the heart of the 1300 foot Galena mountain,  We were able (with our great guide) to see real mining equipment (air-powered drills, slusher, and mucking machines dating as far back as the 1930's) in action!  LOUD!  And, I also almost froze to death!  Outside, pouring rain was falling.  Inside, water was dripping on our heads!  But, despite the discomfort (would be wonderful to do this tour along about mid-July), we were very glad we did it!

A couple of days later we decided to go to the Mesa Verde National Park, located only a few miles up the road from Durango.  Raise your hand if you have already visited this place.  Yep, like I thought--most of you have seen it.  Well, the following is for those who have not yet had the pleasure.  We stopped in Mancos, CO, on the way and had a wonderful breakfast at the Absolute Bakery and Cafe.  Located in a 100-year old building, this cafe is chock full of books (on shelves right next to your table), art and a great wait staff.  Needless to say, our breakfast was delicious.  Another sight along the way was a banner just off the highway that read:  "Massive Petroleum Spill and Toxic Site" with skull and crossbone logos!  Seems that a Sinclair gas station was once located here.  Apparently the land owner sued a contractor (hired by the former operator of the gas station to clean up a spill) and put up signs to draw attention to the dispute, which went to federal court.  The landowner got a $1 settlement and now refuses to allow access for cleanup, despite the concerns highlighted on the signage.  Needless to say, we did not stop there--not even for a quick photo!

Finally we reach Mesa Verde--just magnificent!

After a quick stop at the visitor center at the entrance to the park, we set off on our driving tour.  A little history:  Around AD 550, the Anasazi people (now called Ancestral Pueblo people to reflect their modern descendants) moved onto the Mesa Verde.  For over 700 years these people and their descendants lived and flourished here, eventually building elaborate stone communities in the sheltered alcoves of canyon walls.  In the late 1200's in the span of a generation or two, they left their homes and moved away.  These cliff dwellings were first reported by local ranchers in the 1880's.   (NOTE:  I am not this smart--quoting the brochure that we were given at the park entrance.)  Our car tour took us down the Chapin Mesa road where the best sights (from the car) were along the Mesa Top Loop and the Cliff Palace Loop.  Sadly, another sight along the way were huge areas where three different fires in recent years have left hundreds of dead trees in their path.

Cliff Palace

We might have been tempted to get out of the car and hike to some of the accessible sites had I not developed altitude sickness partway through our drive.  I was surprised by this as the altitude at the highest point is only around 7700 feet.  But, if altitude sickness equals nauseated, sweaty, and headachy, that was what I had.  As we headed back down the mesa, those symptoms disappeared.  I was so happy!

One more thing we saw along the way:

Located on Hwy 160, near Mancos, at the Mud Creek Hogan Gift Shop.  Telephone poles have been fitted with giant arrowheads and stuck into the ground at 45 degree angles  No idea why.

And, finally, my dedicated readers (I like to think positively), I will describe what will probably be our last adventure in this location before we head east this coming Wednesday.  Yesterday we decided to take a little Sunday drive.  Our drive took us down into New Mexico.  Our destination was the Harvest Wine Festival just outside of Blanco, NM, near Farmington.  The festival is held on beautiful grounds near the San Juan River, surrounded by towering cottonwood trees, glowing sandstone cliffs, and curious tail-less peacocks (molting).  Lots of craft and food booths, wine tasting, and live music.  We shopped, we ate, we listened. And, a wonderful time was had by all!

Our favorite craft booth was this wonderful Indian potter whose creations were beautiful! 

So, almost done here.  But wait!  Two Friday nights ago we went to a local football game--the Durango Demons v. the Farmington somebodies.  Durango high school has a fabulous new stadium with faux turf.  We cheered for the home team (while watching all the teenage fans who were there to be seen--not to watch the game.  I was freezing to death and the kids were dressed in sleeveless outfits with no jackets in sight.  BTW--the Demons won!

Me and Oz at the ballgame! (His first-ever selfie)

So, one last thing (I promise).  For the past week or so, Bob has been chasing a medical issue.  Back in August or so he started having pain in his neck that eventually migrated down into his shoulder.  After suffering with the pain for a while, he decided to see if he could find a doctor to identify the source and recommend a fix.  Two MRI's, a CT scan, and a cancer scare later, he is back to square one.  First doc thought his shoulder pain was related to a torn rotator cuff--MRI showed a perfect rotator cuff.  Second MRI (of his neck) revealed a suspicious lymph node, which resulted in him getting a CT scan..  After Bob found and showed the doctor a report from 2005 of a suspicious lymph node in his neck that, after a needle biopsy, was determined to be benign, she concluded that the current suspicious lymph node was one in the same and gave him a clean bill of health re lymph node.  Now we need to find a spine doc who can read the neck MRI and CT scan and figure out what is causing the neck/shoulder pain.  Dr. Nancy (me) suspects the cause is stenosis of various disks in the spine.  Those were mentioned in the radiology report.  But, we will try to find a real doctor, perhaps when we get to Georgia, to make a diagnosis and recommendation or a fix.  Meanwhile, he keeps the pain at a manageable level with ibuprofen.  

Glamgirl closing for now.

  

15th anniversary of 9/11

Sunday, 9/11/16

A somber day of reflection and remembering.  Where were you on this awful day in 2001?  Just like the day of Kennedy's assassination, I will forever remember where I was and exactly what I was doing.  Sad times.


Seen today just down the street from us.  Joint venture by the local police and firefighters.

Alright, I have put myself in a box here--how do I move from that paragraph above to describe the good time we are having here in Durango?  With apologies, I will just move on.  I mentioned in my last post that we were going that night to the Bar D Chuckwagon Supper and Famous Western Stage Show, featuring the Bar D Wranglers.

Met my cousin, Matt Palmer--not really--at least not that I know of, but he and I had a laugh about it.  Matt was the youngest in the group.  He is an amazing fiddle player and baritone singer.  He was joined by Gary Cook, a two-time National Champion flatpick guitar player and tenor; Joel Racheff who plays a gigantic bass and sings. . . . comedy (according to the pamphlet)--he was quite funny; and Richard Espinosa who sang the lead vocals and played rhythm guitar.  He was really funny!  Last but not least (he joined in for the last two numbers) was Cy Scarborough--91 years old, he is the General Manager and one of the original owners of the Bar D,

The show was fabulous!  What's that?  How was the supper?  Hmmmm. . . . .if you go, go for the music!  Food wasn't anything to write home about.  But then, consider the writer here.  However, during the dinner part, sitting across the table from me and Bob were two Amish couples.  Just as friendly as could be.  They told us that they live in an Amish commiunity in Indiana--drive a horse and buggy and don't use electricity.  However, they had been driven to Durango by their nephew, who is not Amish.  They explained that traveling in a car being driven by a non-Amish person is permitted.  One of the couples told us that they take a train from Indiana to Phoenix almost every winter to get away from the snow.  They also laughed when I told them about how Bob (and his neighbor, Connie) used to think that the TV show called The Amish Mafia was real.  Bob and Connie were so disappointed when I showed them a website that debunked that myth!  Don't think they ever watched it again.

One afternoon we took a drive around the area of Durango.  The trees in the higher elevations are starting to turn beautiful colors--gold and orange and red.  A college is located here--Fort Lewis College--a 4-year liberal arts public college. Along this ride, we stopped by a neato gourmet market, where I bought a jar of pickled asparagus.  Hoping it is half as good as the pickled asparagus that Sally Macy served to us two summers ago.  Next door was a wine/liquor shop.  No wine in the grocery stores.  However, in June of this year the Colorado governor signed a bill that will allow grocery stores to sell wine and full-strength beer.  This change will be phased in over the NEXT TWENTY YEARS!!!!!  Supposedly the long phase in was designed to protect local small businesses and unique craft brewing joints from going out of business right away when people figure out that the grocery stores and Target/Wal-Mart-type businesses can sell these libations soooooo much cheaper that the mom-and-pop stores whose prices are OUT OF SIGHT--at least for this wine-drinking Californian.  I am finding that wines here--the same ones I buy at Albertson's at home--cost at least 4 or 5 dollars more than what I pay in Cali.

Went shopping one afternoon at the local Bed, Bath, and Beyond.  Isn't it amazing how sometimes you have no idea what you need until you see it?  I went in there looking for a bench scraper--a kitchen utensil which I am convinced I cannot live without.  Came out with said bench scraper, along with a cutting board, tongs, 4 soup bowls, a wooden-wicked candle, and a beautiful Wilton 9X13 baking pan--WHICH WILL NOT FIT IN THE RV OVEN!  Guess I will be bringing that back home with me.  Should have measured first.  And, I should have bought a pie plate--decided a couple of days later that I wanted to make a buttermilk peach pie.  No pie plate.  That's alright because they always sell them at grocery stores.  Uh huh!  At the City Market they only sell them in sets of two!  That's right--nice Pyrex pie plates but only in sets of two!  I didn't need two!  Guess one of those will come home with me, too, to join the other eight I have there.

So, this brings us to last Thursday.  Several years ago when Bob and Linda were spending a summer in Alaska, they met some RV neighbors, Sammy and Peggy Bougeus (pronounced:  Bogus).  Tho they only spent a couple of hours together, they became fast friends--a friendship that still exists today.  A few weeks ago Bob and Sammy talked, and we found out that they were on an RV trip that would bring them to Durango for a couple of nights.  Sure enough--they rolled in last Thursday afternoon and were able to park right next to us.  That night I made Cajun Catfish Chowder for them (along with the buttermilk peach pie).  Messed up this tiny kitchen to hell and back but it was worth it!  Ate outside (the rain and thunderstorms seem to have calmed down for now) and a good time was had by all.

Next morning at the crack of dawn we all hot-footed it up to the trolley stop next to our RV park and rode it downtown to the train station.  Several days before,  Bob and I had purchased tickets for the four of us to ride the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad to Silverton.   Two trains go up each day--we took the second train that left at 8:45 a.m.  Those who know me well will not be surprised to hear that I got us to the train station more than an hour before the scheduled departure time.  Hey, we were not late!  And, there were gift shops to peruse while waiting.  Finally we boarded  the train.  We had been advised to reserve a seat in an open car, which we did.

 Me, Peggy, and Sammy (Sammy is a lot funnier than he looks here).

The scenery between here and Silverton is almost beyond my ability to describe--so beautiful!  I will let the photos speak for themselves.

The train runs on coal--lots of smoke and cinders flying by!

Still in the lower elevation here.

Uh, you can reach out and touch these rocks if you want to risk losing your hand.

A gold miner we saw along the way.

In the mountains now.

Some of the drop-offs were rather precipitous!

See above comment.

The Animus river which was alongside us most of the way.

Periodically, the train blew off steam.

When we finally arrived in Silverton--the train ride was 3-1/2 hours--it traveled very slowly--we looked around a bit then had lunch at Natalia's 1912 Restaurant.  Food just o.k. but we really didn't go there for the food.  But, before we re-boarded the train (they only allowed us 2 hours to look around--with a STERN warning that they would leave at 2:30 with or without the passengers), we found an ice cream shop serving huckleberry ice cream waffle cones!  Yum-O!

The return trip was in full sun all the way--the outside car was not as nice.  I got a tad sunburned.  But, again, the views were spectacular!  Pack you bags and come visit Durango and take this train ride--you won't regret it.  I know several of my readers have already had this wonderful experience.

The evening concluded with wine and cheese and crackers outside.  Next morning Peggy and Sammy were pulling out bright and early, headed back to Louisiana via, among other places, Taos and Santa Fe.

And, you might be relieved to hear that this now concludes the blog for today.  Oh, one last thing.  The first night with Peggy and Sammy, a beautiful Golden Doodle named Dudley, towing his owner, Marilyn, at the end of his leash, stopped by.  We offered Marilyn wine, which she promptly accepted. We chatted at the table for a while.  Then Marilyn told us that we just had to see her RV.  Said it was huge.  So, we all got up and began following Marilyn and Dudley on a wandering path through the RV park.  At some point Marilyn announced that she might not know exactly where her RV was parked.  Hmmmmm. . . .  Me thinks Marilyn had already been imbibing something before we gave her wine.  Finally located her RV--RIGHT ACROSS FROM OUR RV!!!  She was right--it was HUGE.  We could have square danced in the living room area--that is if we knew how to square dance.  The kitchen was to die for--so much prep space.  And the bedroom had a king-sized bed!  Let me tell you--that Golden Doodle had it made!!  Now, finally, glam girl signing out.