Dreamin' about Trips

A miner's railroad running into the mine. If memory serves, above Telluride, Colorado.

In my family, we have a common affliction. Every spring, each of our minds turns to travel. I could blame my fever on our friend John Deikis who recently returned from grand motorcycle travel adventures. Unfortunately, that doesn't explain my sister's itchy foot, nor my niece spending this week on an island off Brazil.

This year feels busy and I don't expect any grand trips, but in the back of my mind, I've been thinking about a motorcycle exploration of high country Colorado and Wyoming. As a matter of fact, I ran across some old photos which got the juices flowing, so here are some pics to intice you into summer. Excuse the picture quality. They are scans of 3 x 5 prints, so not great.

Speaking of Telluride, the town is in the canyon at the bottom of the valley in this picture. And Telluride is at 8800 feet elevation.


Sometimes, the stream is the road is the stream. If you look closely, you can see the nose of our Jeep in the lower left. We had just come up the stream bottom about a mile with 1 to 2 foot bolders and 2 feet of water flowing past. The stream had high rock banks that were so narrow that we couldn't open either door. Finally, at the exit of the stream, it widened enough to open the door and take this picture.


Ghost towns and even single ghost buildings are everywhere. I love the color of the wood on these old building.


Imogene Pass is over 13,000 feet elevation. It lies on the main route between Ouray and Telluride and there was mining almost to the pass on both sides. I find it interesting to see the mountains that are only a little higher than the pass, knowing that those mountains are 14,000 feet or more.


The Crystal City Power House is a classic photo perched as it is on a rock above the river. In Crystal City's heyday, there was a dam from the rock to the other side. The vertical box shaft under the house contained a vertical axis power screw that was driven by the water and generated electricity for this modern town.


Bird Camp Valley is one of the prettiest mountain valleys that I know. In summer it is filled with wild flowers of every color.


I'm really pleased with the framing and composition of these pictures. Of course, I don't take any credit. These pictures were taken by my father on our little off-road trip in 90's. I just found them sorting out things in his house. I guess I've still got a lot to learn from him.