Durango, CO and the Train Ride

We drove to a Ute Casino for our first night in sw Colorado.  It was  a nice neat park, reasonably priced and they had a great salad bar.  No cooking that night.   The dogs were sooooooooo happy to see green grass and were finally able to run and play.  They both got a bath that night.  They were pink chihuahuas from running around in the red dust at Monument Valley.   

The next morning we left for our rv park in Durango, CO.  The photos do not show it, but most of the five days we were in Durango, it was extremely windy,   The wind picked up the dust and the entire valley was dark from the "dust storm" that rolled up it.  We did have some clear mornings which you can see in these pics.

 

After the dust and heat of AZ, the green valleys and snow covered mountains were a sight to see.

We drove up into the mountains to see these lakes.

Dale has waited a long time to ride this narrow gauge railroad.

The train stations were pretty much like they were when they were first built.  We drove up to Silverton and Dale took the train back to Durango.  

The town of Silverton out our dirty car window.

 

 

 

The ride down was very scenic.

 

The Animas River flows through downtown Durango.

 

This looks a little steep for a train track!

 

 This is the train passing right in front of our RV park.

The Iron Horse Bike Race took place on Memorial Day weekend.  The bikers raced for 49 miles up the mountains to Silverton.

Four Corners and Mexican Hat

This will be a short post.   We left Monument Valley and followed the San Juan River up to Mexican Hat.  Take a look at the pic and see if you can figure out why they named the town Mexican Hat.

We also stopped at Four Corners where New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona and Utah meet.

Monument Valley and Solar Eclipse

Monument Valley is located in the Navajo Nation.  The schools, emergency services, all government offices,etc. are run by the Navajos.  The Gouldings came to Monument Valley and set up a trading area, brought more water to the Navajos, and they were responsible for bringing many of the Hollywood movies to the valley. Mr. Goulding talked John Wayne and John Ford to film Stage Coach in Monument Valley to put it on the map and give area people jobs. It was in the 30's. From then on, Monument Valley has been a successful tourist attraction and film setting. Thanks, Mr. Goulding.  Most were John Wayne movies, but other included:

 Fort Apache, How the West was won, Cheyenne Autunm, and Trial of Billy Jack.   John Ford's "The Searchers" was shot in Monument Valley along with his "Cheyenne Autumn," "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" and others.

I'd like to see you on the stage...there's one leaving in five minutes.  Ha Ha  old joke

Gouldings rv park

The Duke and I had a beer together.

It was a beautiful valley

Our campsite at "Gouldings RV Park

This was the view from our campsite.

Another view from our campsite

Dale took this shot at sunrise

Our tour guide for Monument Valley

This Navajo woman demonstrated blanket weaving and food making

Dale in front of a Navajo Hogan  (like ho gone) .  The door always faces east and many Navajo people still live in them.

and we thought we wouldn't see "mittens" after we left MI!

 

No the I wasn't going to rob the stage with the bandana , but it did help with the dust as the truck rolled across the red dirt

The colors were beautiful.

The Three Sisters

Dale at John Ford's point.

You've probably seen a scene like this in a cowboy movie

The Totem Pole

Avoiding snakes!

Elephant Butte

Our RV Park

A movie cabin from a John Wayne movie

He's still trying to get on the stage.

While we were in Monument Valley we saw the most spectacular solar eclipse.  We weren't sure how we were going to be able to view it, then Dale noticed that our blinds were acting like pinhole cameras and that the eclipse was appearing on our kitchen cabinet.  I thought he was pulling my leg again, but nope...he was correct.  So I took a piece of aluminum foil and cover the window, poked a pin hole in it and used a paper plate to focus the image.  We were able to observe the eclipse from the comfort of our sofa.  

Yes, it really is a paper plate.

Almost a complete covering

Nice ring of fire!  I love science.