Southwestern Colorado Trip

Hi All--


This is a blog about our trip from Longmont, Colorado (home) to Glenwood Springs, Cortez, Mesa Verde, Ouray, Telluride, and Silverton.

To Glenwood

We left Longmont on a rainy Friday afternoon, September 5th. After we reached the Eisenhower tunnel the sky cleared and the sun came out and we left cloudy, gloomy Longmont behind.

We arrived in Glenwood springs in the early evening, staying at the Glenwood HotSprings Hotel http://www.hotspringspool.com/. This hotel is right across the street from the Hot springs pool and includes passes to the pool and a continental breakfast in the cost of the room.

We Walked around Glenwood a little, to the old train station where the passenger trains still drop and pick up passengers. We walked through the old Colorado Hotel where many famous people have stayed over the years including me, a long time ago, and some guy named Teddy Roosevelt! We went back to the hotel and changed into our swim suits and headed for the Hot Springs Pool. The weather in Glenwood was great! It was fun to float on my back and look at the stars!!! (the pool stays open until 10:00 p.m.). Of course we stayed until they kicked us out.

The rooms in The Glenwood Springs Hotel are spacious and new, however the bed had a bit of a soft spot in the middle, felt like my feet were above my head!!!

We left Glenwood Springs the following day headed for Cortez, Colorado.

BTW-there is a Starbucks in the Target West of town in Glenwood for those that good coffee is important to.

Cortez Colorado and Mesa Verde

Saturday September 6th

We made our way from Glenwood Springs to Cortez via Hwy 133 and McClure Pass. We stayed in Cortez while we visited Mesa Verde, which is not too far away. Today I got my first glimpse of the San Juan Mountains (after 32 years in Colorado????) Cortez is very small town, no Starbucks here!! Although there was a coffee / breakfast place called the Silver Bean, it is a converted old Airstream trailer with a patio out front, Very Cool!!!

We ate dinner at a place called the Dry Dock restaurant..very good food, reasonable prices and on Sunday there was live music, from a Willie Nelson look-alike, OR WAS IT WILLIE??? Seriously, this guy was good and he looked like Willie, sang like Willie...hummmm

Mesa Verde

Sunday September 7th

Today we Visited Mesa Verde, Which is a vast collection of abandoned Indian cliff dwelling (mostly). I had always heard that it was a mystery as to why the Indians left, but according to some they left due to the effects of draught on their food supply, but who knows?? The main areas we visited were Balcony House, Spruce House and Cliff Palace. At Balcony House we went on a ranger led tour, up a very tall ladder, then back out through a fairly small hole (doorway) in which the guy in front of us got stuck, seriously. If your butt is too big you'd be in trouble!!!

On to Spruce House, where Joel climbed down into a spider hole...I mean Kiva. This was a great place because we could walk around and explore on our own, but there were a couple of rangers around to answer questions, and they obviously loved their jobs!

It was here we ran into some wild turkeys... really... out of nowhere!

We went on a sunset tour of Cliff Palace which was really the highlight of the day for me. The tour was small and the guide was in character, of one of the early explorers of this area, which made it fun and interesting.

Ouray

Monday, September 8th

We left Cortez for Ouray today. On the way out we ate at a truck stop/ diner that was.....interesting..........very interesting...............it was called the Ute Cafe...................yes, interesting...........

On the way we stopped in Rico, to use the potty and get coffee, Yes I'm all about the coffee!!!! It was just this small coffee stand and sandwich shop, it looks like they made some mean sandwiches and the coffee was really good considering we were in the middle of nowhere! We arrived in Ouray after a scenic drive through the mountains and stayed 2 nights at the Hot Springs Inn http://www.hotspringsinn.com/. Super nice, new place right on the river.

Silverton

Tuesday, September 9th

We drove to Silverton, otherwise know as the Birthplace of Joel, via Red Mountain Pass. It's a beautiful drive and the town itself looks, in a lot of ways, like time just stopped. We visited the miners hospital, built in 1906, where Joel was born. It now houses a collection of offices, including the editor of the town newspaper. His office is in the old Operating room, which is, quite literally, where Joel was born.

The Steam train which runs from Durango to Silverton and back, was in town http://www.durangotrain.com/. It's interesting how many people got off that train who were obviously from foreign countries. I tend to forget what an amazing place I live in and how people come from all over the world to see Colorado!

When we got back to Ouray we went to see Cascade falls and Box Canyon falls in the north part of town. For dinner went to the Outlaw restaurant, which I highly recommend, long wait but great food!

Home

Wednesday, September 10th

We headed home today. We ate breakfast at the Coffee House in Ouray. A nice little Internet cafe, with good coffee, food and ambiance. The Spinach and Feta Omelet we had was great.

On the way we stopped outside of Montrose to see the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.

Thanks for sharing our trip. I hope to add some video to this blog, so check back!!