August 7: Let me Tell-U About Colorado
Colorado has it all – Mountains, meadows, and meandering rivers, all in a bright explosion of color. Today’s ride took me from Durango to Telluride and back via Molas Pass, the Million Dollar Highway, and a variety of backroads.
Today was a day of excess on the bike. But unlike eating too much of a rich dessert, there’s really nothing wrong with riding your favorite road several times. I planned to do the Telluride Loop from Durango via the Million Dollar Highway this morning. But rather than just hit the Million Dollar Highway once I decided to go back and forth an extra time, allowing me to soak in the curves, vistas, and colors a total of three times. Woohoo!
Heading north on highway 550 this morning, I breathed in the crisp mountain air and appreciated the mild temperatures and stunning vistas. I stopped at the Molas Pass overlook to admire the rugged dark cliffs, sweeping green hills, and deep blue valleys of the San Juan Mountains. The meadows filled with trees and shrubs in the foreground reminded me very much of the hiking trails I so much love in Switzerland.
Shortly after, I rounded a corner and saw the city of Silverton nestled at the base of the mountains in front of me, a sign that my favorite part of the ride was about to begin. As I had gotten so many good pictures yesterday, I decided to ride north, south, and then north again on the Million Dollar Highway today without stopping to take pictures. It was exhilarating to lean into the curves, swoop along the straightaways, and admire the valleys, mountains, and meadows around me.
After stopping in Ouray for lunch I continued north to Ridgway and then west on highway 62 towards Placerville and Telluride. The loop towards Telluride and then south to Durango provided a remarkable bird’s-eye view of the San Juan Mountains. At first the road passes meadows and farmlands at the base of the foothills but quickly climbs in elevation, providing stunning far-reaching views of the mountains on all sides. Continuing on highway 145, the road twists and turns along the Dolores River through Dolores and then on to Mancos on the way back to Durango. What a ride!
