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

[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!

[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:




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




This river feeds into Lake Powell:




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




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:




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

[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:




A lone farm:




Morning scene:






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:




We followed the Animas River all the way to Silverton:



To be continued......

[QB93Z]

Climbing up the canyon:




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




This is one of many abandoned mines:




At the Bar in the Grand Imperial Hotel:




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



Jim

[efnfast]

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

[QB93Z]

Overnight Stay in Silverton:



The main lobby of the beautifully restored Imperial Grand Hotel:




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




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




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




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:



Jim

[QB93Z]

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










Silverton in the distance:




Cruising along Main Street:




To be continued........

[QB93Z]

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

We encountered a small deer running up the shoulder:




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





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






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








to be continued......