I left Denver early on the 11th and headed to Ouray, CO in the southwest of the state where the Million Dollar Highway is located. As was the case with many of my travels to a new destination, the scenery o the drive there was almost as spectacular as the destination. I arrived around 4:00 and got settled at a KOA campground. I then jumped on the bike and rode to Telluride an hour away. Telluride is a former silver mining town which is now a ski resort and mountain biking destination. Its population is the 6th richest in the country. I was told that the billionaires are now pushing out the millionaires. The town is nestled among the mountains on 3 sides and has a gondola that you can ride for free to the top of the mountain and on to another quaint village and beyond to where the rich live. I rode the gondola but could not venture very far because my leg was bothering me that day. I was leaving town and the sun was directly in my eyes and I could barely see so I turned around and had dinner at a little bakery that served pizza and sandwiches. I sat on the porch looking at the mountains as the sun set. When I left it was dark so I was a little worried about an elk or deer or some other animal jumping out in the road so I followed another car so they could run interference for me. I made it back safely and prepared for my last day.
I took off early on my bike the next day for Durango via the Million Dollar Highway. The drive was fantastic and a must for anyone who comes near this area especially motorcycle riders. The views of the mountains are stunning and the road twists and turns its way through them. However, it is not for the faint of heart as there are no guardrails and you are right next to 100 foot dropoffs in a lot of places. Just as I was about to arrive ion Durango I saw a glider coming in for a landing in a field next to the road. I turned around and went back to see if I could go up. The price was reasonable and they had an opening 1-1/2 hours from then at 12:30. I told them to pencil me in and I would be back. I rode into Durango for a light lunch and then headed back. I arrived at 12:05 but they were ready for me so I jumped in and my pilot, who has been flying since the 50's, jumped in behind me. We hooked up to the plane to pull us up to our altitude and took off. We used the updrafts from the mountains to attain our altitude just like when I went skydiving and then I was told to pull the lever that released the rope. We were on our own now flying above the mountains. We did some tight circles for a minute to gain even more altitude up to 12000 feet and then leveled off and flew toward the mountains. If you want to glide this has got to be one of the best places to do it. The mountains are spectacular and you are flying right there in them. After flying around the mountains for a while we turned and headed back toward the valley. At this point I asked if I could fly the plane and he said "go ahead and grab the stick" so I did. It was harder than I expected it to be but I was doing OK. I flew the plane for a couple of minutes and then told my pilot to take control. We got over the valley and suddenly we went into a severe dive. Then he pulled up and we did a loop. It was like being on a roller coaster ride in the sky. He did that same move a couple of more times as I yelled "WOO HOO" and then we made our way down for the landing. When we stopped, the lady who took the money came out to help us. I told her that I had thrown up all over the floor and she said that I was smiling too much for that to be true. The flight was so much fun that I could not stop smiling for a long time. I then headed to Mesa Verde to see the Pueblo homes in the side of the mountains. My leg was feeling pretty good today so I was able to walk the half mile to see one of them up close and go inside one of the rooms. It was amazing to think that they lived like this in the side of mountains. I ventured around there for a while and then headed back home. The ride back over the Million Dollar Highway was great because there were no cars in front of me all the way to the top so I got to have fun.
This was the perfect day to end this first journey. I didn't get to do everything I originally planned but I added some things and had a great time. Except for hurting my leg, everything has been perfect. My sister-in-law, Sandy, said that when I get old I won't have anything exciting left for my bucket list. The list will look like this:
(1) Read a book
(2) catch a fish
(3) have a bowel movement
But I figure that I can just start over again with all the exciting things I have done already. I'm so glad that I took the time off to make this journey. I will remember it for as long as I live. I have met so many great people and had so much fun putting 5000 miles on my bike in six weeks. I pray that my upcoming adventures will go as well as this first one. For now, I will be happy to get home to see my family and friends who I miss very much. Hopefully, they miss me a little too.
I hope everyone has enjoyed reading my blogs as much as I have enjoyed writing them.
God bless and may you be healthy.
Steve out!!!
I took off early on my bike the next day for Durango via the Million Dollar Highway. The drive was fantastic and a must for anyone who comes near this area especially motorcycle riders. The views of the mountains are stunning and the road twists and turns its way through them. However, it is not for the faint of heart as there are no guardrails and you are right next to 100 foot dropoffs in a lot of places. Just as I was about to arrive ion Durango I saw a glider coming in for a landing in a field next to the road. I turned around and went back to see if I could go up. The price was reasonable and they had an opening 1-1/2 hours from then at 12:30. I told them to pencil me in and I would be back. I rode into Durango for a light lunch and then headed back. I arrived at 12:05 but they were ready for me so I jumped in and my pilot, who has been flying since the 50's, jumped in behind me. We hooked up to the plane to pull us up to our altitude and took off. We used the updrafts from the mountains to attain our altitude just like when I went skydiving and then I was told to pull the lever that released the rope. We were on our own now flying above the mountains. We did some tight circles for a minute to gain even more altitude up to 12000 feet and then leveled off and flew toward the mountains. If you want to glide this has got to be one of the best places to do it. The mountains are spectacular and you are flying right there in them. After flying around the mountains for a while we turned and headed back toward the valley. At this point I asked if I could fly the plane and he said "go ahead and grab the stick" so I did. It was harder than I expected it to be but I was doing OK. I flew the plane for a couple of minutes and then told my pilot to take control. We got over the valley and suddenly we went into a severe dive. Then he pulled up and we did a loop. It was like being on a roller coaster ride in the sky. He did that same move a couple of more times as I yelled "WOO HOO" and then we made our way down for the landing. When we stopped, the lady who took the money came out to help us. I told her that I had thrown up all over the floor and she said that I was smiling too much for that to be true. The flight was so much fun that I could not stop smiling for a long time. I then headed to Mesa Verde to see the Pueblo homes in the side of the mountains. My leg was feeling pretty good today so I was able to walk the half mile to see one of them up close and go inside one of the rooms. It was amazing to think that they lived like this in the side of mountains. I ventured around there for a while and then headed back home. The ride back over the Million Dollar Highway was great because there were no cars in front of me all the way to the top so I got to have fun.
This was the perfect day to end this first journey. I didn't get to do everything I originally planned but I added some things and had a great time. Except for hurting my leg, everything has been perfect. My sister-in-law, Sandy, said that when I get old I won't have anything exciting left for my bucket list. The list will look like this:
(1) Read a book
(2) catch a fish
(3) have a bowel movement
But I figure that I can just start over again with all the exciting things I have done already. I'm so glad that I took the time off to make this journey. I will remember it for as long as I live. I have met so many great people and had so much fun putting 5000 miles on my bike in six weeks. I pray that my upcoming adventures will go as well as this first one. For now, I will be happy to get home to see my family and friends who I miss very much. Hopefully, they miss me a little too.
I hope everyone has enjoyed reading my blogs as much as I have enjoyed writing them.
God bless and may you be healthy.
Steve out!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment