And of course we have met many railroad employees. Here are a few photos of some of our favorites.
Monday, October 10, 2011
New Faces
One of the unexpected benefits of our workamper lifestyle is the chance to interact with so many different people. We work with other semi-retired people and also locals, high school and college age. Good young people are fun to be around. Having our one bedroom apartment (our RV) in Durango has given us the chance to meet lots of people from Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona,California and many other states. We have also met people from many foreign countries. Southwest Colorado is a huge draw for Europeans especially Dutch and Germans. Lately we've met nice folks from Australia and Switzerland We meet many people every day and most are on vacation and in a good mood. They love to share their adventures as we share ours. There is a lot of "did you see this?" or "have you tried that?".
And of course we have met many railroad employees. Here are a few photos of some of our favorites.
And of course we have met many railroad employees. Here are a few photos of some of our favorites.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Railfest
A highlight of our Summer in Durango has been Railfest, a celebration of historic railroading. In addition to the regular trains, there were excursions on the Galloping Goose and the Eureka and Palisade #4. There were also railyard tours, special dinners and the Parade of Trains.
The Galloping Goose is a narrow gauge motorcar built by the Rio Grande Southern RR in the 1930s to provide economical service to far flung areas of SW Colorado during the Great Depression. The Goose hauled passengers, freight and mail using a Buick or Pierce Arrow gas engine. It became known as the Galloping Goose because of the goose-like honking horn and the way it waddled down the track. We rode an excursion trip on the Goose with many photo runbys. It was a very personal experience as there were only 7 paying passengers. Here are some pics...
The Eureka and Palisade #4 is a restored narrow gauge wood burning locomotive owned by a private individual from Nevada. Built in 1875, it is one of the oldest narrow gauge locomotives in the country. It was hauled to Railfest on a lowboy truck. It is absolutely beautiful and smelled like a campfire as it steamed by. We chased it to get some photos. We also chased a special Presidential Dinner Train and got a shot near Cascade Canyon.
A unique event of the weekend was the Parade of Trains. As each train arrived from their excursions on Saturday they lined up in front of the depot. Over the course of 2 hours there were 7 locomotives staged in a V formation for all to see. We met Al Harper, the owner of the Durango and Silverton, as he worked the crowd. After allowing the spectators to walk thru the array of engines all 7 locomotives blasted their whistles at once. It was an ear piercing screech followed by big smiles all around.
What a great weekend! Any serious or casual railfan should have The Durango and Silverton Railfest on their bucket list.
The Galloping Goose is a narrow gauge motorcar built by the Rio Grande Southern RR in the 1930s to provide economical service to far flung areas of SW Colorado during the Great Depression. The Goose hauled passengers, freight and mail using a Buick or Pierce Arrow gas engine. It became known as the Galloping Goose because of the goose-like honking horn and the way it waddled down the track. We rode an excursion trip on the Goose with many photo runbys. It was a very personal experience as there were only 7 paying passengers. Here are some pics...
The Eureka and Palisade #4 is a restored narrow gauge wood burning locomotive owned by a private individual from Nevada. Built in 1875, it is one of the oldest narrow gauge locomotives in the country. It was hauled to Railfest on a lowboy truck. It is absolutely beautiful and smelled like a campfire as it steamed by. We chased it to get some photos. We also chased a special Presidential Dinner Train and got a shot near Cascade Canyon.
A unique event of the weekend was the Parade of Trains. As each train arrived from their excursions on Saturday they lined up in front of the depot. Over the course of 2 hours there were 7 locomotives staged in a V formation for all to see. We met Al Harper, the owner of the Durango and Silverton, as he worked the crowd. After allowing the spectators to walk thru the array of engines all 7 locomotives blasted their whistles at once. It was an ear piercing screech followed by big smiles all around.
What a great weekend! Any serious or casual railfan should have The Durango and Silverton Railfest on their bucket list.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Ancient Puebloan America
One of the great areas of interest in Southwest Colorado and the whole Four Corners region is the thousands of ancestral Puebloan archeological sites. We visited Mesa Verde many years ago and it was another incentive to spend the Summer in Durango.
Much of what we know of these ancestral puebloan people is speculation since there was no written language and no written history - increasingly educated guesses. For instance, we no longer call these people Anasazi since this is a Navajo word which means ancient enemies. The present day Hopi, Zuni, Acoma, Laguna and other modern pueblo people are direct descendents and object to their ancestors being called by a derogatory Navajo name. The sites around Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Arizona are still sacred to the modern natives and ceremonial events are held periodically at the ruins. The desert climate and sparce population have preserved millions of artifacts. We see 1000 year old wood at almost every site. The population of the four corners region today is perhaps 30% less than it was 1000 years ago. In one example of the effects of modern development, the McPhee Resevoir near Delores CO flooded over 2000 sites. Only 125 were excavated yielding over a million artifacts.
These Puebloan people were very industrious. They were skilled arcitects, farmers, astronomers, potters, weavers. And they were peaceful. They lived very successfully in the area for 700 years before moving on. They built the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde. They built the Great Houses of Chaco Canyon. They built roads that ran due North. They built astronomical sites that recorded the solstice, equinox and lunar standstill.
Among their descendents are some the few Native Americans not relocated by the US Army. The Taos Pueblo people have lived in the same place for over 1000 years. So far we have visited Pecos Pueblo, Chaco Canyon, Mesa Verde, Canyons of the Ancients, Aztec Ruins and Chimney Rock. Check out some of our images. Double click to see a larger image.
Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde
Long House at Mesa Verde
Pueblo Bonito Great House at Chaco Canyon
Shadows at Chaco Canyon
Chacoan wall
Stephouse Pit Dwelling at Mesa Verde
Another alcove, another cliff dwelling
Much of what we know of these ancestral puebloan people is speculation since there was no written language and no written history - increasingly educated guesses. For instance, we no longer call these people Anasazi since this is a Navajo word which means ancient enemies. The present day Hopi, Zuni, Acoma, Laguna and other modern pueblo people are direct descendents and object to their ancestors being called by a derogatory Navajo name. The sites around Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Arizona are still sacred to the modern natives and ceremonial events are held periodically at the ruins. The desert climate and sparce population have preserved millions of artifacts. We see 1000 year old wood at almost every site. The population of the four corners region today is perhaps 30% less than it was 1000 years ago. In one example of the effects of modern development, the McPhee Resevoir near Delores CO flooded over 2000 sites. Only 125 were excavated yielding over a million artifacts.
These Puebloan people were very industrious. They were skilled arcitects, farmers, astronomers, potters, weavers. And they were peaceful. They lived very successfully in the area for 700 years before moving on. They built the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde. They built the Great Houses of Chaco Canyon. They built roads that ran due North. They built astronomical sites that recorded the solstice, equinox and lunar standstill.
Among their descendents are some the few Native Americans not relocated by the US Army. The Taos Pueblo people have lived in the same place for over 1000 years. So far we have visited Pecos Pueblo, Chaco Canyon, Mesa Verde, Canyons of the Ancients, Aztec Ruins and Chimney Rock. Check out some of our images. Double click to see a larger image.
Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde
Long House at Mesa Verde
Pueblo Bonito Great House at Chaco Canyon
Shadows at Chaco Canyon
Chacoan wall
Stephouse Pit Dwelling at Mesa Verde
Another alcove, another cliff dwelling
Monday, June 20, 2011
Tales of Rails
Durango is perhaps best known for the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Each year thousands of people ride the train to Silverton. The line was built in the 1880s by the Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad to serve the silver, gold and lead mines. By the 1950s freight had declined to a trickle and the line faced abandonment but it was already a favorite of railfans. Charles Bradshaw, a citrus grower from Florida, stepped up and bought the railroad. The coal fired narrow gauge locomotives are classics of the steam age. The towering San Juan Mountain scenery of the Animas River canyon is accessed by no other means. Hikers, rafters, skiers and zipline adventurers regularly hitch a ride on the Silverton train. If you ever visit Durango, plan on a day for the train.
D & S locomotive 481 blowing out the cylinders on the high bridge
D & S May 20th
D & S on the high line. Workers were lowered by rope to blast a shelf in the canyon.
Our train in Silverton
400 feet down to the river
the Galloping Goose was an economical solution to providing minimal rail service during the Great Depression.
D & S locomotive 481 blowing out the cylinders on the high bridge
D & S May 20th
D & S on the high line. Workers were lowered by rope to blast a shelf in the canyon.
Our train in Silverton
400 feet down to the river
the Galloping Goose was an economical solution to providing minimal rail service during the Great Depression.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Getting there is fun too
We are thoroughly enjoying our time in and around Durango.
We also had great fun on the road getting to Durango. Here a few tidbits from our road trip.
The exotics really started when we got too Texas. Amarillo was 100+ degrees on May 7th! And the wind was fierce and of course in our face. So we stopped at the Visitor Center/ Rest Area and inquired. The nice folks there said you're more than welcome to spend the night in our lot. "Security comes on as soon as we close." We said OK. In Texas anyone can sleep in their vehicle at any rest area for up to 24 hours. Then we learned of Palo Duro State Park - the grand canyon of Texas - an hour away. And the Cadillac Ranch just off the Interstate on private ranch land open to the public. Our little Saturn dinghy ducked under the wind and we explored North Texas. It was great.
Check out the roadrunner. Running!
Another highlight was our first trip to Sante Fe and Taos New Mexico.
We love the lesser known National Parks and Monuments and Pecos National Monument was perfect. We experienced a blend of clear dark blue skies and dark adobe structures as we explored Pecos Pueblo an historic trading center abandoned hundreds of years ago.
Then we arrived in Sante Fe. What a great blend of art and architecture.
The Native American art is displayed and for sale at the Palace of Governors daily. We sampled the city and vowed to return. We may return via Amtrak's Southwest Chief which roared by near our campground.
Taos was our next stop. It is much like Sante Fe but on a much more intimate scale. The plaza was beautiful. The San Francisco de Asis Mission is probably the most photographed buiding in town. For good reason. We were told the church is refinished and painted annually.
We plan to go back to visit Taos Pueblo the native American village which has been continously inhabited for over 1000 years. They have ceremonial dances several times during the year which are open to visitors - but no photography.
Onward and upward to Durango we visited Albuquerque - too much desert city -although Petroglyph National Monument was interesting. Ancient puebloan pictographs carved into piles of basalt boulders.
Then we traveled NW from Albuquerque to Durango. On the way we found a Federal site called Angel Peak. Great place for a picnic. A Badlands landscape after a short bone rattling drive off the paved road. Great views and a friendly Bullsnake.
We love the road. The RV lifestyle affords unexpected adventure almost every day. By the way, our former RV was known as Wilma, a gas unit that was not too heavy duty. Our new diesel RV is now named FRED - F***''' Rear Engine Diesel, now thats heavy duty.
More super adventures from Durango soon. Keep in touch.
We also had great fun on the road getting to Durango. Here a few tidbits from our road trip.
The exotics really started when we got too Texas. Amarillo was 100+ degrees on May 7th! And the wind was fierce and of course in our face. So we stopped at the Visitor Center/ Rest Area and inquired. The nice folks there said you're more than welcome to spend the night in our lot. "Security comes on as soon as we close." We said OK. In Texas anyone can sleep in their vehicle at any rest area for up to 24 hours. Then we learned of Palo Duro State Park - the grand canyon of Texas - an hour away. And the Cadillac Ranch just off the Interstate on private ranch land open to the public. Our little Saturn dinghy ducked under the wind and we explored North Texas. It was great.
Check out the roadrunner. Running!
Another highlight was our first trip to Sante Fe and Taos New Mexico.
We love the lesser known National Parks and Monuments and Pecos National Monument was perfect. We experienced a blend of clear dark blue skies and dark adobe structures as we explored Pecos Pueblo an historic trading center abandoned hundreds of years ago.
Then we arrived in Sante Fe. What a great blend of art and architecture.
The Native American art is displayed and for sale at the Palace of Governors daily. We sampled the city and vowed to return. We may return via Amtrak's Southwest Chief which roared by near our campground.
Taos was our next stop. It is much like Sante Fe but on a much more intimate scale. The plaza was beautiful. The San Francisco de Asis Mission is probably the most photographed buiding in town. For good reason. We were told the church is refinished and painted annually.
We plan to go back to visit Taos Pueblo the native American village which has been continously inhabited for over 1000 years. They have ceremonial dances several times during the year which are open to visitors - but no photography.
Onward and upward to Durango we visited Albuquerque - too much desert city -although Petroglyph National Monument was interesting. Ancient puebloan pictographs carved into piles of basalt boulders.
Then we traveled NW from Albuquerque to Durango. On the way we found a Federal site called Angel Peak. Great place for a picnic. A Badlands landscape after a short bone rattling drive off the paved road. Great views and a friendly Bullsnake.
We love the road. The RV lifestyle affords unexpected adventure almost every day. By the way, our former RV was known as Wilma, a gas unit that was not too heavy duty. Our new diesel RV is now named FRED - F***''' Rear Engine Diesel, now thats heavy duty.
More super adventures from Durango soon. Keep in touch.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Arriving in Durango
First blog post. comments welcome.
We arrived in Durango Friday, May 13. Spectacular mountain view from our RV site which will be home for the next 5 months. See photo below. We will be workamping at the Durango KOA, Durango CO. We think we have the best site in the park. We have trees and shrubs and some privacy. Sunshine loved it immediately. Our first evening we had a get together with our fellow workers. We met a couple from South Texas who have been working here every Summer since 2004, a couple from Michigan who are working their first KOA job, and a couple from Las Cruces NM who worked here since 2000. We were made very welcome. Spent our first day in Durango getting our library card and learning the grocery stores and, of course, touring the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge RR Museum. We think we'll get season passes for the train. We can then take the ride to Silverton as many times as we like. The railroad seems to be doing well as does the town. Lots of tourists of all ages and the season won't begin for a couple weeks. Many hiking options near town as well as a great hike/bike path thru town. Weather is real nice. Very sunny and warm days and cool nights. Rain is rare here and much cherished. Mule deer are visiting the campground in the mornings. There is so much to see and do in this Four Corners area, we doubt we'll come close to doing it all in 5 months.
On our way here from New Mexico we saw many beautiful places and wildflowers.
We arrived in Durango Friday, May 13. Spectacular mountain view from our RV site which will be home for the next 5 months. See photo below. We will be workamping at the Durango KOA, Durango CO. We think we have the best site in the park. We have trees and shrubs and some privacy. Sunshine loved it immediately. Our first evening we had a get together with our fellow workers. We met a couple from South Texas who have been working here every Summer since 2004, a couple from Michigan who are working their first KOA job, and a couple from Las Cruces NM who worked here since 2000. We were made very welcome. Spent our first day in Durango getting our library card and learning the grocery stores and, of course, touring the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge RR Museum. We think we'll get season passes for the train. We can then take the ride to Silverton as many times as we like. The railroad seems to be doing well as does the town. Lots of tourists of all ages and the season won't begin for a couple weeks. Many hiking options near town as well as a great hike/bike path thru town. Weather is real nice. Very sunny and warm days and cool nights. Rain is rare here and much cherished. Mule deer are visiting the campground in the mornings. There is so much to see and do in this Four Corners area, we doubt we'll come close to doing it all in 5 months.
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