days202122

Days 20,21 and 22
Durango, Silverton, Ouray,

It was a long drive from Page to Durango where I stayed at the edge of town. There was just time for a few pictures on the road north to Silverton before the light went. Day21 was first spent chasing the steam train from Durango. Then a journey up through the snow to Ouray and an evening trip east of Ridgeway. I stayed on the edge of Ouray so on day 22 I took some shots in Ridgeway before exploring the side roads off r62 and driving to Gunnison. 370 pictures in the three days.

The historic Durango-Silverton steam train has been operating for over 120 years..The line was constructed to haul silver and gold ore from the San Juan mountains. I managed to catch it getting ready in Durango , en route neath the bridge near Rockwood and arriving at Cascade Station - below left.

Having enjoyed my stay at Bashful Bob's Motel in Page - above left - read Bob's poetry at www.lightverse.net, I took few pictures on the trip to Durango - an early view of the Rockies - above right - being one.

The Million Dollar Highway is an exciting 24 mile section of road from Silverton to Ouray with sharp blind corners and thousand foot drop-offs. Its a real white knuckle drive It climbs the Red Mountain Pass (over 11,000 ft) before dropping into Ouray - below left. Shadow detail in below right picture brought out using curves adjustment layer in Photoshop.

The motels in Ouray were a bit pricy but I found a reasonable one on the edge of town before driving to Ridgeway and taking a first look at the the side tracks off r62 .The fall colours were great and I was lucky enough to have some inquisitive models too.

Ridgeway is a small town and I spent a short time taking a few pictures of the buildings and details such as the mosaic - above and bike and shop model - below right.

This whole area from Ridgeway to Telleride was magic with plenty of photogenic situations. Just when one thought the view was good there was an even better one moments later as one drove along the road.

The above three panoramas were stitched together in Photoshop from individual images taken on the Dimage 7.