Silverton, CO

Dear friends of ours, Bill and Wanda, are working in Silverton, Co. way up in the mountains. We have been wanting to visit them and decided that today was the day.

The drive through the San Juan National Forest is incredible. Several times we stopped for photos. At this scenic view pullout we were at 11,000 feet. The altitude certainly feels different.

Road construction and repaving stopped us in several spots along the way and the 100 miles took us two and a half hours. I'm sure glad we didn't bring the coach up and down these narrow, two lane roads.


Coming around the last bend we could see the Victorian mining town of Silverton sitting in a pretty valley.

We spent the day visiting and Bill played tour guide showing us old mines, tram lines with rusty mining buckets hanging from them, destroyed mills and miles of breathtaking scenery. It's like a whole other world there.

We had a good chuckle when we tried to find someplace for lunch. Apparently the town relies on tourist business from the Silverton/Durango train and when the last train leaves about 3 pm the restaurants roll up the sidewalks and lock their doors. After trying several of their favorite places, Bill and Wanda treated us to a delicious lunch at The Pickle Barrel.

Sorry I didn't get more pictures, but I was having such a great time visiting and ooohing and aaahing that I forgot about the camera.

Thanks for a terrific day Bill and Wanda! We can't wait 'til you get back to the sunshine in Arizona.