On The Road Again... Jim & Lyndi's 2023 ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone

[QB93Z]

...On the Road Again - We are underway on our ZR-1 Road Trip for 2023. We left Westminster, MD on Thursday. We will be driving about 6 hours a day: Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, South Dakota and Utah. A few days at the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National Park.

Then we will visit Park City City, UT for a week, drive to Durango, CO to ride the Silverton and Durango railroad to Silverton, CO. We are going to visit the Royal Gorge in Colorado, then drive to Branson, MO for a week.

Two days home through Lexington, KY.

Our get away photo was taken on Main Street in front of our house, Lyndi is proud of her flowers:


https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_4001.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


Pennsylvania Turnpike tunnel under the Alleghany Mountains, west of Harrisburg:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_0040_(2).JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds



I am still working on how to post our photos on PhotoBucket. I will post more pictures in the future.

Jim

[secondchance]

Willie - Jim, wish you a wonderful, safe trip.

[dandt67]

Have a safe trip and look forward to the photos.

[WARP TEN]

Have a great trip Jim. If coming through Illinois and near Chicago, check in and we can have lunch with Marc. FYI I gave up on Photobucket years ago. --Bob

[tgonyaw]

Safe Travels!

Looking forward to the pictures and comments!

[LarryMow]

Hope you and Lyndi have a fun, safe trip. If this is your first time on the train in Durango, it is absolutely beautiful. I went for the first time last year and plan on going back as soon as I can. If you get close to North Platte, NE you should check out Union Pacifics Bailey Yard/Golden Spike Tower??the worlds largest railroad yard at 8 miles long.

[QB93Z]

We drove to Fort Dodge, Iowa today. The weather has been beautiful and we have time "doing things along the way". I set this trip up with about 450 miles a day so we have time to sight see along the way.

I would like to dump PhotoBucket, but I have thousands of pictures on PhotoBucket that support all of the Road Trip threads and WAZOO threads that might be lost.

I think that my current problem with posting pictures is an overlap of file names from current images and the images files from the past. I am working on a solution.

Stay tuned... I will get this working.

jim

[JimZRyd]

Safe travels!! Always enjoy your road trip photos👍🏻

[QB93Z]

On Sunday, we drove across South Dakota to the town of White River, population 581. We found a Dollar General store, The Sweet Spot Motel which is brand new, with 8 rooms (we got room 107), no operating gas stations, and the Round Up Bar and Grill, a friendly place with cold beer and nice people.

During our drive we saw a feature on several barns that I haven't before. It looks like a large cupola, but it sits atop the barn like a cross wise dormer.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_0193.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds

Later on I saw a barn with the structure on the roof and a feed auger run up to it. So, I assume it is set up to convey live stock feed loft:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_0214.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


Jim

[QB93Z]

I am still trying to get way to post pictures. I tried the ZR-1 Net Registry App. When I open the App, I can see the commands on the screens but no threads are shown under any of the Subjects and I cannot access any way to upload anything to the site.

Is the ZR-1 Net Registry App still in use?

Jim

[WARP TEN]

I don't use the phone app but I have no trouble loading pix from the Forum website on a computer. Do you have a laptop you could use? --Bob

[QB93Z]

Hi Bob, Yes I have a LapTop computer and I have an iPad.

Jim

[QB93Z]

On the Road Day 3 -

On the way to Fort Dodge, we stopped at our favorite Truck Stop, the Largest Truck Stop in The World:


https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_0322.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds

I like the design of this bridge:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_0317.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


In Fort Dodge there is the largest mural in the US. In order to "beautify" an abandoned grain elevator, the city hired an Australian artist, Guido_Van_Helten to create a mural on all four sides of the 110 foot tall structure. Completed in 2018, the portrayal of working class citizens is stunning. If you look closely, you can see me standing at the base of the tower:


https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_0474.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


Jim

[QB93Z]

On The Road - Day 6

After a night in Sturges, we got back on I-90 West. We got off the highway to drive through Deadwood:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_0015_(3).JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


We drove on to Spearfish Canyon and stopped at the Spearfish Canyon Lodge. We were impressed by the facilities and the surrounding scenery:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_0076_(2).JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


We drove on down the Canyon following the Spearfish Creek:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_0096_(2).JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


We continued West to cross the mountains on our way to Powell, WY:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_0235_(2).JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_0371_(3).JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


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We followed the Tensleep River North to reach Powell, WY. Powell is our last stop before entering Yellowstone National Park. It is possible that the East-side NP enter point becomes crowded in the morning, so we will be leaving Powell early to beat the rush.

Jim

[QB93Z]

On The Road - Day 7 ? We got underway from Powell, WY at 6 AM hoping to be ahead of the crowd if the traffic got heavy. We drove south to Cody, WY and turned right to take US14, US16, US20 to enter the Yellowstone East entrance.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_0775.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


We had the great fortune to enter the mountains with snow still on the terrain in many places:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_0803.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


Even some of the lakes were snow covered:
https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_0820.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds



When we left Powell, we didn?t have any ice for our drink cooler. Part-way up the mountain we realized that we didn?t need snow, WE HAD SNOW:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_0830.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


I took the opportunity of the ice stop to check the condition of our ?snow tires?. All Good.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_0864.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


The road over the mountains reached an elevation over 8,500 feet. The outside temperature was 41 degrees for a while.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_0874.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


To be continued...

[QB93Z]

Our track to the Old Faithful area took us around Yellowstone Lake. The combination of the cold air and the cold water and the clouds created a fascinating display:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_0989.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


We stopped at the West Thumb area of Yellowstone Lake to see the steam vents along the lake edge. Lyndi got a good look with an elk that was grazing on the newly uncovered grass:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_0117.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds

Lyndi got face to face with the Elk:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_0129.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds

About 20 minutes after we reached the site of Old Faithful we watched a display:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_0200.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds

[GOLDCYLON]

Safe travels

[QB93Z]

Road Trip Day 8 ? At Yellowstone National Park
We got an early start for the day. The morning sun on the vent period on Old Faithfull gave a silhouette:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_00042.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


On our drive North to Canyon Village on the Eastern side of the Park, we encountered a group of about 50 buffalo walking down the road:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_00422.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds
https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_00552.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_01612.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


South of Canyon Village, we got a good look at the Upper Falls of the Yellowstone River:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_0365.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds

[Raykahn]

These are great pictures, glad you are getting around! Jess and myself took an extremely similar trip last year. If you haven't been Devil's Tower is very interesting, our dogs went nuts at the huge prairie dog community on the road up to it.

[QB93Z]

Road Trip Day 9 ? At Yellowstone National Park
We left the Inn early and drove north from Old Faithful on the Grand Loop Road. Just south of Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook, we found a herd of buffalo crossing the road:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_05992.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


As we got closer, a mother and calf joined the group from the pasture on the right:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_07332.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


The herd decided to claim the right of way and stopped all auto traffic for about 5 minutes. No If, ands or BUTT's:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_07612.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


Further along the Grand Loop toward the Mammoth Springs region of the Park, the scenery is very beautiful:


https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_08992.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


It is late May, and there is still a lot of snow in the high elevations:


https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_09492.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


to be continued........

[QB93Z]

A nice mountain pasture:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_01482.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


We enjoyed visiting the Mammoth Springs near the Park entrance:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_00502.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


A water fall on the Gibbon river that runs along the Grand Loop Road:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_01272.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds

[efnfast]

Wow, that's all I got, just wow. Thanks Jim and Lyndi.

[QB93Z]

Day 10, Grand Tetons:

On Saturday we Left Yellowstone and drove South to Grand Tetons National Park and on to Afton, WY:

The Grand Teton Mountains:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_01302.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


The Snake River with the Grand Tetons in the background:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_01912.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds



Grand Teton Mountains:


https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_03092.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


Jim and Lyndi at the Lake Jackson Lodge:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_04242.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


Do you see a face?

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_05892.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


to be continued.......

[QB93Z]

A storm is brewing:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_04472.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds



Afton, WY - The largest Elk antler arch:


https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_06402.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Thanks for sharing Jim and Lyndi. Safe travel and best wishes. Awesome memories for sure.


Sent from my iPhone using ZR-1 Net Registry (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=90383)

[QB93Z]

Day 11 - We drove from Afton, Wyoming to Park City, Utah.

We checked out of the Old Faithful Inn on Friday but our reserved time-share week in Park City didn't start until Sunday. I made the reservations for Yellowstone NP back in May 2020. By the time I got around to being able to make the Park City reservation, there was no availability for a Saturday check-in, so we decided to spend two days making the 370 mile drive. It was a good decision because we enjoyed the drive with little pressure and got to take some "back roads" through southern Idaho and northern Utah that we have never driven.

Lyndi and I will get caught up on the photos later today.

Jim

[QB93Z]

Day 11 - Afton, WY to Park City, Utah

In Afton, we stayed at Coulter?s Lodge. The building was built about 80 years ago and has been nicely restored and has a Caf?, a dining room, upstairs rooms and a large rustic bar. Even the TV remote holder has been updated:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_00012.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


We left Afton early and enjoyed the early morning mountain scenery. Steers grazing in a large pasture:


https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_00072.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


A stand of Quaking Aspens. We plan to see the Trembling Giant called the Pando, spanning 147 acres in the Fishlake National Forest in Southern Utah. Definitely a bucket list item. All the trees are genetically the same and grow from the same root system. It is a million years old and has 47,000 trees.


https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_004222.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


Early morning in the mountains along the Salt River:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_00762.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds




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https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_04302.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds

[staminqia]

Safe travels Jim. I never knew the registry actually had an APP. Interesting idea of its still working.

Anthony

[QB93Z]

We are in Park City, Utah at the Westgate Park City Resort. We trade a time-share week in Orlando to stay in Park City after the ski season is over.

We are relaxing and taking it easy>

Jim

[QB93Z]

Day 13 - Park City, Utah

The excitement never stops here on the side of the mountain after ski season. We watched the gondola technicians take all the cars off the cables in preparation for replacement:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_001133.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


We took a day trip to Provo, Utah. It is a one-hour drive south from Park City and over the Wasatch Mountains:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_010733.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_012433.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_013733.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


Brigham Young University?s Museum of Art is one of our favorite art museums. We visit here every time we are in this part of Utah. This year we were very impressed by an installation in the main lobby of strands of colored monofilament to create a prism effect:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_014733.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


A new exhibit included a nice collection of art by a 20th-century artist named Maynard Dixon:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_019133.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds

Jim

[QB93Z]

Day 13 & 14 - Park City

We are still in Park City, relaxing and easy hikes. We are having a nice vacation.

Jim

[efnfast]

Nice Jim, and thanks for the "post card" pictures.

[QB93Z]

Day 15 ? Park City, Utah

Our plan for the day was to visit Ogden, Utah. The Ogden Union Station has become an active place. In addition to several railroad ?museums?, several other civic organizations have displays there. Instead of driving west then north through the Salt Lake City traffic, we drove East on I-80 then North to Ogden. We were following the railroad?s main corridor through Utah:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_003666.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


After sight seeing in Ogden, we headed east again to oldest continuously operated business in Utah, The Shooting Star Saloon. Built in 1850 the store became a saloon before Prohibition, and has operated since then:

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https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_020266.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


After a nice lunch of a Star Burger, two hamburger patties with bratwurst, we headed back to Park City, racing to stay ahead of several thunder storms:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_016966.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds

Jim

[Matt B]

Great pictures, Jim! Were you eventually successful in staying save and dry?

[QB93Z]

We made it back to the resort with about 10 minutes of light rain, just enough to clean some of the dust off.

Jim

[Matt B]

Perfect!!

[WARP TEN]

I don't know your complete schedule Jim but if you are anywhere between Cheyenne WY and Omaha NE during the week of June 7, you might be able to catch the UP Big Boy Challenger No. 4014. It leaves Cheyenne June 7 and arrives in Omaha June 14, then returns a few days later. Here is a map and a link to its schedule, just in case. If you haven't had a chance to see it in operation it is worth a detour for a train guy. --Bob

Union Pacific Steam Schedule

Union Pacific's famed Big Boy No. 4014, the world's largest steam locomotive still in operation, returns to the rails on June 7, 2023 for its Home Run Express Tour to Omaha, Nebraska, where it will be on display for 11 days during the college baseball championship.

The Big Boy will leave Cheyenne, Wyoming, on June 7, en route to Omaha. It will make whistle-stops in Wyoming and Nebraska, before returning to its home base in Cheyenne on July 3. During its Omaha display at Union Pacific's Home Plate, next to Charles Schwab Field, the public will be allowed to see the locomotive up close between June 15-21 and June 24-25 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m

https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm

[QB93Z]

Hi Bob, I would really love to see the Big Boy again, but, we are in southern Colorado riding the Durango & Silverton Railroad, then we will be going to Canon City, CO to ride the Royal Gorge Route Railroad.

Thanks for the heads up!

Jim

[Figure8it]

We have family in Durango and took the train last summer. It?s amazing and has some of the most beautiful views. Enjoy!!

We stayed at the campground the train goes through. It was a treat to see it and I even got some drone footage one day as it passed by.

1992 Polo Green ZR-1, DRM500

[QB93Z]

Day 16 - Saturday: We left the resort in the morning and turned on to I-80 to drive to to Provo. About 1 mile later, the ZR-1 stalled and died and would not restart. We called AAA and a rollback got us back to the Resort. I did a little troubleshooting and found that the pumps were running but there was no fuel pressure to the fuel rail. I removed the Fuel Pump Assembly and found the pump output hose was disconnected from the fuel tubing. I reinstalled the hose and reassembled the car, and we were on the road again in about a an hour and a half.


Day 17 - Sunday: We left Park City and drove to Monticello, Utah. We took a scenic route south to I-70, west of Green River. Then turned south on UT-24, a National Scenic Byway. At Hanksville we turned onto UT-95, one of the most scenic roads in the country. At Hite we got to see the area that used to be Lake Powell and is now a narrow river. Continuing on, we passed Natural Bridges National Monument. We reached US-191 south of Blanding, UT.

Day 18 - Monday: We started early and drove to Durango, Colorado to ride the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. We are in Silverton now and I am having trouble posting again. We take the train back to Durango tomorrow, Tuesday. One of my brothers is going to meet us in Durango and we will visit for a while. I will get to work on the picture posting problem (PPP) after we get to Gunnison on Wednesday.

Jim

[JThomas]

I love the fact the previous owner of your car was shocked when you told him you would put on new tires and drive it home! If he only knew how that car has travelled over the years! :thumbsup:

[QB93Z]

You are right Joe, When we were in Utah, I thought about contacting the previous owner. I decided he probably wouldn't be impressed.

Day 19 - We road the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad from Silverton back to Durango.

Day 21 - We drove from Durango to Gunnison, Co. The first part of the trip followed US-550, known as the Million Dollar Highway because it is estimated the construction cost was $1 million a mile. The route took us back to Silverton. The into high altitudes in the San Juan Mountains. Over night, the was a light snow on the high mountains and trees. The scenery was stunning. Lyndi took hundreds of pictures and I think I will be able to post them starting soon. We stopped in Ouray, Elkridge, Montrose, and Black Canyon on the Gunnison River National Park.

Day 22 - We got a very early start and drove to Canyon City, CO to ride Royal Gorge Route Railway. We have been fans of the Royal Gorge for years. In 2018 we got to drive across the Royal Gorge Bridge suspension bridge with a group of ZR-1's. From 1,200 feet down, riding on a train through the canyon, the sight of where the ZR-1's had been parked was amazing.

Stay tuned for some pictures of the wonderful landscapes we have seen...

Jim

[QB93Z]

Here are some pictures on the drive from I-70 to Blanding, CO on UT-191 and UT-95:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_001733.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


This part of Utah is The Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and encompasses Lake Powell:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_006933.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


This river feeds into Lake Powell:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_008333.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


Here we are at a butte over looking what is left of Lake Powell:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_008933.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


This is Lake Powell just below the Hite Bridge. Five years ago when we were at this spot, the water level extended up to the base of cliff on the far side:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_010233.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


UT-95 continues past Natural Bridges National Monument to US-191, the road north to Moab:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_017133.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds

[ZR-1 Guy]

Theresa and I are following your adventures daily - thanks for all the great pictures - looking forward to the next set of photos from the last few days.

Yes, 550 from Durango to Ouray, also know as the "Million Dollar Highway", has got to be one of, if not our favorite roads of all time! When we were there three years ago we purposely prepositioned ourselves in a hotel on the north end of Durango, leaving just enough before sunrise to be in the twisty sections at first light. We then had a clean run all the way to Bear Creek Falls (you have to see it to believe it, I assume you'll be sharing your pictures from there) without any traffic.

For those of you who haven't driven it yet, what makes this road so special, and expensive to build, is that much of the road is literally built into the side of a very steep mountainside. To reduce the cost they built it only as wide as needed to let two cars pass side by side, without any shoulders, and, because they get so much snow, there are almost no guardrails so that the plows can simply push the snow off the side of the road. The result is breathtaking views of the mountains and the valley below, without being impended by any ugly guardrails, combined with a little bit of that adrenaline rush you get from the feeling of impending doom.

Definitely should be on everyone's bucket list! Perhaps we should add it to our next Mountain Run?

Hint - By driving it from the South to North direction you spend a majority of the drive on the inside lane.

Safe travels!

Glenn & Theresa

[QB93Z]

Here are some pictures of the drive from Monticello, UT to Durango. We left very early to ensure existing road construction would not cause us to miss our train:

Just before Sunrise:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_001244.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


A lone farm:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_001644.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


Morning scene:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_018744.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds




We arrived in time and boarded the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad pulled by two steam Locomotives for the ride to Silverton.

Rounding the Bend:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_035644.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


We followed the Animas River all the way to Silverton:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_039844.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds

To be continued......

[QB93Z]

Climbing up the canyon:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_046744.JPG?width=700&height=370&fit=bounds


The canyon wall can come within six inches of the train:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_050044.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


This is one of many abandoned mines:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_063444.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


At the Bar in the Grand Imperial Hotel:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_066844.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


Silverton must have one of the first to have tiny houses because there are so many:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_069044.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds

Jim

[efnfast]

Thanks Jim and Lyndi, keep 'em coming! Have a blast. - Steve

[QB93Z]

Overnight Stay in Silverton:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_000755.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds

The main lobby of the beautifully restored Imperial Grand Hotel:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_006855.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


The older passenger platform that was further from the center of town has been shut down:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_002355.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


We did find the Jail in case we spent too long in the Bar:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_005555.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


We were greeted by this welcoming committee in an antique store we entered:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_004655.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


Locomotive 173 arriving to pick up passengers who are returning to Durango. There is an option to ride a tour bus back to Durango. The bus makes the trip in about an hour, and the train takes about 2.5 hours:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_008655.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds

Jim

[QB93Z]

After the train trips, we drove from Durango to Silverton in the ZR-1:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_065088.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_069388.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_069588.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_070988.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


Silverton in the distance:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_073788.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


Cruising along Main Street:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_083288.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


To be continued........

[QB93Z]

We left Silverton and got back on US-550 North:

We encountered a small deer running up the shoulder:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_090166.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


Crossing the mountains between Silverton and Ouray took us to 11,086 feet elevation:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_099266.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds



We did encounter several work sites on the highway working on repairs to the road due to a heavy Winter:


https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_095866.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds



The night before we started this drive there was a strong storm that put down some snow making a beautiful landscape:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_096566.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds



https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_099466.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


to be continued......

[AlbanyBrian]

Nice pictures, looks like a great trip.

[efnfast]

Jim, being in Silverton, you have to listen to CW McCall, the silverton train.

[QB93Z]

Day 24:

Hey Steve, I will have to find that track.

Today we drove from Canon City, CO to Greensburg, KS. Tomorrow we will drive to our Westgate Branson Resort in Branson, Missouri. We will be there for a week and I will get caught up on posting pictures.

Jim

[Jagdpanzer]

Back in 2007 the town of Greensburg, Kansas was totally destroyed by a huge EF5 tornado.
https://www.weather.gov/ddc/greensburgfiveyear

[A26B]

Back in 2007 the town of Greensburg, Kansas was totally destroyed by a huge EF5 tornado.
https://www.weather.gov/ddc/greensburgfiveyear

Yes! & was rebuilt as a completely "green" town (as in zero carbon). Also the worlds deepest hand-dug well and (if i remember correctly) hide-out of the famous Dalton Gang. Little town, in the middle of nowhere but very unique.

Phil & I were territorial neighbors so to speak, in western Kansas. Phil in Garden City & me in Liberal. Flatlanders for sure.

[Jagdpanzer]

When I was a kid my parents would load us in the car and drive to Wichita to visit family. Being about halfway we always stopped at Greensburg for Dairy Queen and to check out the hand dug well.


Sent from my iPhone using ZR-1 Net Registry (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=90383)

[QB93Z]

On Thursday, we left Gunnison, Co and drove east to Canon City, Co to take a ride on the Royal Gorge Railroad. This was the second time that we started the day?s driving in the early morning. It is working for us because we can make some mileage before the traffic gets heavy.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_000311.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


Our route took us over the Rocky Mountains on the Monarch Pass at 11,040 feet. In August 2014, we crossed the Monarch Pass from East to West in a blinding snow storm. Today?s trip was much more pleasant.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_003411.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


We arrived in Canon City with plenty of time to check out the train:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_051911.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


Our accommodations were in a Vista Dome car and we had access to an open gondola car which provided wonderful views:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_047611.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


The trip on the train is through the Arkansas River at the bottom of Royal Gorge, one of the deepest canyons in the US:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_041811.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


To be continued.....

[QB93Z]

In 2018, Lyndi & I took part in the first ZR-1 Rocky Mountain Run. We assembled a group of five ZR-1's and got permission to cross the Royal Gorge Bridge and park our cars on the bridge.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_001711.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


On the trip through the gorge today, we got a nice view of the suspension bridge from below. The gorge is about 1,000 feet deep at this point:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_044011.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


After the ride, we stopped for a picture with our diesel locomotive:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_052411.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


Upon return to our motel, we were greeted with a dark thunder cloud and a rainbow:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_055611.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds

[QB93Z]

Here are some pictures from Day 24:

Has anyone been to Swink?

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_005344.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds



A nicely preserved 2-6-2 steam locomotive:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_006044.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds



In La Junta, Kansas there is a large sign with the distances to some of the cities served by Amtrak. I did not get to see an Amtrak train pass through town:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_006244.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds



We don?t know what this rail car is being used for:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_007244.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds



We saw a group of nicely restored Model A Fords driving west:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_010044.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds



We made it to Greensburg:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_027944.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds

[Jagdpanzer]

Looks like it's a hopper bottom grain car raised up on stilts to load trucks driving underneath.


Sent from my iPhone using ZR-1 Net Registry (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=90383)

[Jagdpanzer]

Jim,
Did you stay overnight in Greensburg or just pass through?


Sent from my iPhone using ZR-1 Net Registry (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=90383)

[Jagdpanzer]

Not meaning to be picky but La Junta is in Colorado


Sent from my iPhone using ZR-1 Net Registry (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=90383)

[QB93Z]

Day 25 ? Greensburg, KS to Branson, MO

Sunrise on the Kansas plain:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_001077.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


This is Stray. Stray was sitting on the pick up work box without a leash waiting for his owner. The owner said the dog showed up at his house and wouldn't leave. Every day Stray runs 4 miles to a children's park and plays with the children. Then he runs 4 miles back to his home. Stray is a good dog:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_004277.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


We were driving east and when we reached Joplin, Mo. We encountered several US-66 restored locations. This store welcomed travelers heading west:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_005377.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


You gotta love the open road:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_006277.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


We arrived in Branson in a rain storm. The traffic was heavy (after crossing Kansas, anything would be heavy traffic). I doubt that this is the original movie version of the Ghost Busters car:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_006577.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds

[QB93Z]

Not meaning to be picky but La Junta is in Colorado


Sent from my iPhone using ZR-1 Net Registry (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=90383)

Good catch, you would know Phil!

By the way I cannot pronounce La Junta either.

Jim

[tf95ZR1]

Incredible trip and pictures as always.
Thank you: it helps me to daydream while
being at work in the city.
You & Lyndi sure seem to be living life right!
Best wishes and continue to be safe and have FUN!
Bars, Trains : Yes
Jail: No

[efnfast]

Jim, any idea how deep that dug well was? I've worked on a hand dug well that was over 100' deep.

[Jagdpanzer]

109 feet (33 m) deep and 32 feet (9.8 m) in diameter.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Well_(Kansas)#:~:text=Under%20the%20name%20of% 20%22Greensburg,(9.8%20m)%20in%20diameter.


Sent from my iPhone using ZR-1 Net Registry (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=90383)

[QB93Z]

Day 27 - We are staying at a Westgate Resort in Branson, Mo for a week. Today we went to Dickerson Park Zoo in Springfield, Mo. We were very pleased with this zoo. The facilities are in very good condition and the habitat display spaces are very well designed.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_000388.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_004988.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_007388.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_015888.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_017288.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds

[QB93Z]

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_030688.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_032788.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_052788.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_055388.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds

Jim

[QB93Z]

Day 29 - We are still at Westgate Lake Resort in Branson, Mo:

We ventured into downtown Branson and decided that the traffic was a real mess. We did see some interesting constructions:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_001734.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


Back at the resort things were calmer:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_002233.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


and we enjoyed another beautiful sunset:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/pp152/QB93Z/DSC_000233.JPG?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds


Jim

[QB93Z]

Hello from Home. We drove 1115 miles from Branson, MO to Westminster, MD with one stay in Lexington, KY.

Over all the ZR-1 Road Trip was 8,798 miles in 34 days.

Thanks for riding with us and thanks for your nice comments.

Stay safe and enjoy the Ride.

Jim

[WARP TEN]

Hello from Home. We drove 1115 miles from Branson, MO to Westminster, MD with one stay in Lexington, KY.

Over all the ZR-1 Road Trip was 8,798 miles in 34 days.

Thanks for riding with us and thanks got your nice comments.

Stay safe and enjoy the Ride.

Jim

Great Jim! Lyndi's pictures are always a joy to see. How many miles do you now have on the Purple Z? -Bob

[QB93Z]

Great Jim! Lyndi's pictures are always a joy to see. How many miles do you now have on the Purple Z? -Bob


The Purple Z now has 109,507 miles traveled.

Jim

[Raykahn]

Welcome home!

[tf95ZR1]

So...
where next?
:)

[QB93Z]

So...
where next?
:)

We have a trip to Gatlinburg in August. Then a short trip around Lake Huron and to Sault Ste Marie on the Canada - US border. There is an excursion train north into Ontario. We hope that we will be there for some nice Fall color.
Then back to Niagara Falls, Watkins Glen and Home.

Jim

[secondchance]

Welcome back!

[evolutionross]

Epic trip! Thanks as always for including us with the photos and story! Welcome home.
Ross

[tiegsd]

Always look enjoy seeing highlights of the travels of the purple Z.