Pat’s brother Robert has a summer home in the mountains near Durango, Colorado (6,500 feet and 18,000 pop) and has been asking for us to come visit. It has always been high on our agenda, but we never had good timing until this summer while RVing through Colorado. So, we decided to leave the 5th wheel coach in Colorado Springs and drive the 303 miles in our new little Honda CRV instead of crossing the mountains with the rig. We had a wonderful week full of family time, activities and mountain vistas!
Our Durango update will be split into two segments. The first one (this post) is all of our activities while there and the second will be focused only on the Durango to Silverton Narrow Gauge Train ride. It was incredible!
As I mentioned above, we decided to leave the 5th wheel at the KOA in Colorado Springs. It would be pretty safe there and our drive would be much simpler and I could actually enjoy the drive and scenery.
The Drive
The drive was around and through first the snow capped front range of the Rockies and then into the San Juan mountains. We took Hwy 50 to 285 to 160. These were mostly scenic two lane roads and no interstates. Very nice! The small towns we passed all beckoned to stop for a closer look through their historic downtowns.
We did have a little extra time, so stopped for lunch in Del Norte at the old Windsor Hotel. This historic building was about to be condemned when the town and citizens all chipped in to restore it to its former glory. The lunch was in a grand dining room with white table cloths and everything.
After lunch, we stopped in Pagosa Springs for a cup of coffee at The Lift Coffee House and browsed through an antique store. Then it was back on the road again to prepare for one of the highest and steepest mountain passes in the USA: Wolf Creek Pass.
Wolf Creek Pass is a high mountain pass on the Continental Divide, in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. At the peak, it is 10,857 feet high and we saw many piles of snow in early July. In fact, some families were playing in the snow, but I’ve had my years of fun in the snow, so we did not stop. The grades were long and at 7% grade, I’m happy to be driving the little Honda.
Family Visit
Pat’s brother, Robert and his wife Sherri, were great hosts and had activities planned for every day. It was great to hang out with them and their soon to be Texas Tech freshman son Zachary and Sherri’s mom Karen. This is one of the great things about our life on the road. To visit with family and friends.
We attended their church in this tent and had a great bluegrass band visiting. 
Pat, Sandy, Robert, Randy
Robert has done a little of everything, can do anything, and is mostly fearful of nothing. As an example, while we only like to drive about 300 miles at the most in a day, he recently drove 1,300 miles with only a couple of stops to fuel up. He’s an ironman for sure!
Pat’s sister Sandy also flew in to visit and to celebrate her significant birthday. Not saying which one. 🙂 We all had a great time. Thank you Robert and Sherri for hosting us at your beautiful home.
We gathered for the local fireworks alternative (laser light show) 
For some reason the laser light show was kind of a dud. We felt bad for the community.
Mountain Hike
Early one morning, Robert and I took off on a six mile hike up around a lake and up a mountain to enjoy the views over the lake. The elevation gain was gradual and there was a meadow at the top with cattle grazing. This hike was at about 7,500 feet elevation and I was almost able to keep up with him (with a few well timed breaks!)
Eagle’s nest. 
Their lake below. 
This was a burn area several years ago. 
Gaining altitude. 
Near the top. 
Robert, the guide. 
New Aspen trees are filling in the burn areas.
Pontoon Boat & Jet Skis
On July the 3rd, we packed some lunches, loaded the jet skis and head for the lake. Robert keeps their pontoon boat moored at the lake, so it was very easy to retrieve it and climb aboard. I really enjoy the relaxed pace of a pontoon boat cruising the lake.
Loading the skiis. 
At the marina. 
Robert at the helm. 
Zachary keeping a steady course while Robert was tinkering with the jet ski. 
Robert and Sherri.
And then it was the contrast of climbing onto the sit down jet ski and throttling up for a thrilling ride across the choppy lake. Man, do those things move! We all took turns, including sister-in-law Sandy. That became a new family story. It was her first time and she enjoyed it so much she actually forgot where the boat was. Those of us on the pontoon were watching her, but just could not catch up until she ran out of gas sometime later (still looking for us). All’s well that ends well.
Four Wheelin!
On July 4th, we broke out the 4-wheel ATVs for a trip up a gravel logging road in the San Juan Forest. This road was a series of switchbacks that continued up around the tree line of a snow capped mountain. It was about an hour and a half each way. It was Robert, Sherri, Karen, Zachary, Sandy, Pat and me. Yes, they have an ATV fleet!
Pat is all geared up and ready! 
And here we go! 
Taking a break halfway up. 
Pat saying hi!
The views were just incredible and the photos just provide a hint of the beauty. Since it was my first time on one of these, I took it a little easy on the gravel with a few high drop offs on the edge of the road. You have to muscle these things through the turns. In fact, I thought our three hour round trip time to be fast until Robert told me that he has done it in about an hour before at full throttle. That’s Robert!
Look at this mud bog! 
The trail narrows. 
At the tree line.
Robert also took one of the ATV machines climbing up an almost vertical rock with Pat on the back. Yep, he’s mostly fearless.
Bar D Chuckwagon
This was a fun place out in the country near Durango with the entire family group again. Just like the chuckwagons of the cattle drive days, Bar D feeds you a dinner from a tin plate and cup. After dinner, they had a four piece country music and comedy routine that was very enjoyable. They even sang happy birthday to Sandy!
The coffee station. 
Pat and Sandy during the happy birthday song. 
That’s all for this update. The next post is all about the train ride. Can you imagine a passenger coal-fired steam train clinging to the narrow ledge of the mountain as it works its way to the top? Across wooden trestle bridges, raging rivers, and avalanche sites. Stay tuned…
Was so glad that the two of you were able to work a visit into your busy retirement schedule. We had a great time doing all of the tourist activities. Next time I need to get you onto some of the ATV trails.
It was also great to get to have Sandy here for her birthday.
Sherri and I hope to appear on a future summer schedule.
Travel safe!!
Robert
Thanks again! See ya somewhere down the road.