Silverton and Ouray, CO

Silverton and Ouray, Colorado - July 27

This was a very LONG Jeep day trip to the southwest corner of Colorado....  Our destination?   Two tiny little mountain towns in the Rocky Mountains. We left Moab early around 7:00 AM and were shocked (and almost turned around) to see the GPS tell us we would be in Silverton in 4 hours but it was only about 180 miles. We were taking country roads, but truck route so we figured that there must be something pretty wild in between us and Silverton. Well, there was! Hwy 550 in Colorado curves and climbs to 11,000 feet with no guardrail. Seriously! We did see a few trucks on it; however, it was definitely not something to take the Newell on mainly because we'd probably both pass our from nerves on the way. 

Looking awkward at the Colorado boarder. Brings a new meaning to t-shirt dress.

Amazing view of the Rocky Mountains

More pictures of the road. I could go on and on!

Where is the guardrail?

Again - no guardrail!!! I DON'T UNDERSTAND!!!!!

Striking a model pose in Silverton

Train pictures for you, Daniel!

My favorite shot of the guy working on the train

Hot coals in the train

This train goes back and forth between Durango and Silverton

We ate a delicious lunch here.

After walking around Silverton for a while and poking our heads in many of the stores, we decided to go back to Ouray and do the same there. We went past Ouray on the way to Silverton so it wasn't going out of our way to sightsee. We had thought about going to Telluride, but from Silverton it was two more hours of driving and we just weren't ready for that!  Even in the small, maneuverable Jeep!

Arriving back in Ouray

This shows pretty much the entire town of Ouray which is just wedged in between the huge Rocky Mountains

Shot of the city of Ouray 

Where I got a great latte to keep me awake on the drive home

11,000 feet. Pretty high! We survived it...twice! 

Well, I am always on the Newell look out. Anytime we go anywhere or pass by a campground, I have my eyes peeled. So far my Newell sightings have made us some new friends. Friends are great, and I just LOVE to see how different each custom made coach is. While passing Ouray on the way to Silverton we passed a campground, and I saw one---a Newell!     So we stop and the coach had TENNESSEE plates but no one home so we left our card and a note. On the way back to Portal RV, we stopped again and just called the 865 phone number on the truck and Ron Skeens of Jefferson County, TN answered with "Hello Russ!" ????? Apparently Dad had fixed a circuit board for Ron a while ago. He wasn't home, but told us to go on in and give ourselves a tour of his gorgeous and no slide Newell. So we did!

Ron's 1996 Newell with the raised ceiling in the back. Great coach!

We had a LONG day but such an enjoyable one, and I managed to stay awake the entire trip back which is a feat within itself!!