After the Falls, we took a 1 hour scenic drive Northwest of Ouray, with Traveler at the wheel, to Telluride. Home of the Rich & Yuppie.
You need extra deep pockets to live and play here. Seriously. 3500 sf homes going for $4M on a couple acres. Very beautiful, and nice to visit, but eccentric well to do people, have exploited this old mining town, into an exclusive rich mans playground.
We walked the downtown main street shopping district after hunting a parking spot. Ended up in a pay parking garage. Glad we was in Traveler's Expedition, as the lifted rigs would have been stuck out in the streets somewhere far away.
The old clock tower court house, on main street.
Came across the old Galloping Goose on display. This was a luxury rail road limo. Had first class cabin up front with operator, and a middle class cabin in back. Lower class couldn't afford this high end converted truck/train.
We grabbed lunch at some wild Burger joint downtown. Here is what a $26.00 Burger meal looks like. Buffalo cheese burger, Fries, and a drink. Very good, (except they didn't hold the Kale like I asked ) and filled me for the rest of the day, but holy moly, this place had a 30 min waiting line. High prices do not bother the locals. LOL
We was watching the gondola lifts going up the mountains, and found out that they run all year, and are free. We decided to check it out. Figured a quick trip to the top & back down would make for some good views and pictures. We got in line, masked up, and away we went to the top. Or so we thought.
At the top of this lift, at San Sophia Station, we discovered that it was just the tip of the iceberg. This was just the front door to a whole new world. At this location, you can get onto a hiking trail or two, and some mountain bike trails, leading back to Telluride.
Or... You can get onto a different gondola, and continue on! We had no idea there was more lifts. Turns out, there are a network of them, and all free. We jump on, and head to the next stop. Holy Moly.....Where are we, and what happened to the poor life I currently reside in?
Next stop.... Mountain village. Up here is the real $$ maker of this town. It's where the elite play, and spend frivolously. Crazy for a working stiff like me to see how the other half lives.
This is a massive resort village, filled with high end everything. Hotels, clubs, shopping, fancy restaurants, live outdoor/indoor entertainment, you name it, if it's high end expensive, it's there.
We walk around a portion of it, and see that they have transformed the ski runs, for downhill mountain biking during the off season. They even converted the chair lifts for bikes. You load your bike on a lift, cross over, and get onto a chair lift ahead of it. When at the top, you jump off, and then grab your bike as it comes to you. Crazy cool. These trails are rated the same as ski trails. From beginner to Double Diamond. They have bike rentals, and man was we tempted to do it, but wasn't prepared. You need riding gear for this, which we didn't have. Someday tho!
Traveler found out that the public phones are free of charge up here.
We jumped back on the Gondola lift, and headed to the next Resort village. It rained on us up there, but didn't dampen our moods one bit.
We walked this location, and jumped back onto the gondola lift. We rode to each location, and found that each had it's own off shoot lifts taking you elsewhere. Unreal how many different places you can visit from up here. Seems like it's never ending. You have to get off each lift, and get back on, if you do not want to stop. They take a head count for funding, so you can't just sit and spin all day.
We headed back to Ouray KOA, and got back to camp at 6:30 pm. Was a full day of tourist stuff, and super glad we did it. It was a complete blast with awesome company.
My son ordered a pizza downtown Ouray. Kid eats like 5 times a day, and doesn't show it. Traveler & I was still full from lunch, and decided Ice cream was in order. We dropped the kid off at the pizza joint, where he ate outside. We headed for the local Ice cream parlor for some yums.
So as we're eating our Yums, we get a message from the kiddo. Apparently a Black Bear wanted to join him for dinner. Everybody else ran up the stairs to their rooms, and watched my kid stand his ground, and defend his pizza. I guess the kid won, as he brought leftovers back to camp.
Back to camp, and share stories of the adventures of the week around a campfire. Was a trip to remember, that's for sure. Took me 11 years to get back, and the only thing that went as expected, was the fellowship of this forum. We stick together thru good and bad. We don't throw our hands up and quit when the going gets tough. We have spirit, guts, grit, and persevere thru all that is thrown at us. It's not for the complaining Karen's & Ken's of today, it's for those that stay committed, and put in the work, regardless of what life throws at you. That my friends, is what it takes to make these trips happen sometimes. Sheer determination, and willingness to see it thru to the end.
Another adventure awaits! See some of you in Moab next spring!
We had rain and hail on Tuesday after black bear, During Imogen.
