The crowd arrived in Salida on Saturday Afternoon and settled in for the weekend. Olive, Dorothy, and Alan stayed at my house and the others stayed at the Aspen Leaf Lodge. All met at 544 H St. for cocktails and supper. (hamburgers and corn on-the-cob)
This year our expedition was much shorter and over smoother (but narrow) roads than we used last year. My Jeep is broken so I rode with Jack & Cathy. Alan, Dorothy, and Olive rode together and the Akins and Aldrich�s went in one vehicle.
Saturday morning, at a civilized hour, we traveled South on US 285 to Mears Junction; West at Mears Junction to Silver Creek and South at Toll Gulch Rd. This is the road that takes you over Mosquito Pass and down into Bonanza. The road is not too rough but there are a few trying spots. Mostly it is just narrow and hanging to the mountain side. From Bonanza it is an easy ride to Villa Grove and back to Salida on the highway.
That night we dined out at the Windmill and finished up with some refreshment at my house.
On Sunday, since my Jeep was broken, I sent the tribe North toward Aspen Ridge with instructions and a map on two choices of route. They would either end up in Fairplay or at Jackie's Corners depending on the route they may have taken. (I have no idea which way they went but I assume they made it back to Denver)
Here are some pictures from the Mosquito Pass part of the trip. Perhaps later we can add some more pictures. Check back and watch the "update date" to see if more pictures were added.
Once we were on Toll Gulch Road we took a break while there were still bushes around. We had already driven several miles to get to this point. There were a few places where the scenery was nice before we got here. When you gotta go, you gotta stop.
A mile further up the pass and the road is actually a little smoother but it is getting narrow. We were a bit concerned for the elderly folks since they were driving a fairly wide vehicle.
Getting toward the top of Mosquito pass now. Here is Alan and the "girls" as they start across the talus slope. I think Alan was driving here but I am sure he had plenty of help.
Just about at the top of the pass here. We had to stop and take a group picture. Where is the group? I didn't take the picture but maybe, before too long, it will find it's way to this page.
In the full size picture you can see the trace of the road we took to get to this
lofty position. It is just above the silver SUV. In the background is Mt. Ouray and, if you
look very close, you can see a line where the D&RG; RR Main Line crossed the Continental Divide.
OK, Before too long went by and Olive sent me the group picture she took. The camera was put on a rock and it took a few times to make it (the new camera) work as planned but it finally did. And here is the picture.
On the Bonanza side of the pass we made a stop along Squirrel Creek. We had enough to eat for lunch even though I had advised that we would eat at a restaurant in Saguache. I didn't make many points with that but my Jeep was broke and I couldn't plan as well as usual. (excuse)
Once back in Salida we congregated at my house and Olive showed her pictures on my TV. A couple of the ladies tried to get me to break my camera too. (almost succeeded)
Once everyone left on Sunday the cat, Sasha, had some time to fag out in the sunshine. She has not had that much attention since she took over here. Poor thing! Now she misses all the people.
Click here to go back to the main page.