July 26 - Telluride Loop

Lodging: Silverton, CO

Yes, yes, and yes! Great backroads, partial blue sky, and a few hours without rain! I was so excited when I woke up this morning and it wasn’t raining that I left without putting on make-up (not that I wear that much anyway). I was able to get a couple hours of glorious riding in without being rained on. Went north to Ourey via the Million Dollar Highway, ate a wonderful Detroit style pizza in the sun outside Colorado Boy Southwest, then did a loop to Telluride, Durango, and back to Silverton. Encountered hail, thunder and lightening and rain but I was snug as a bug in my electric jacket and rain gear. When I was almost back to Silverton I saw a beaver on the side of the road. The first photo is of a beautiful waterfall but you have to zoom in to see it. It is so pretty and occurs on a tight curve that isn’t marked. So several times I have had an “oops” moment trying to navigate the curve at the last minute because of staring at the waterfall too long. The second photo is of farmlands on the way to Telluride. The third photo shows the effects on my bike of spending time in a city that has almost more dirt streets than paved ones, “paved” being a loosely defined term in this case (sometimes you have to search for the pavement amidst the potholes, loose gravel, and rain puddles).