FTJ, Entry 80: Mining Towns and Monuments in the Dust

First, I have to show you this wonderful experience we had on the way from Colorado to Utah. We had to stop for this little cattle drive. The cows went all around the RVs -- in front of us, alongside Dave and Joyce's rig. It was GREAT.

 

For those who receive this blog via email, please go to TanksPanky to see the video! It is very cool.

The trip was great, but this forced stop was THE HIGHLIGHT for me!

But I am doing this a bit out of sequence. I have to backtrack now....OK, before we left Durango, CO, we took a very beautiful -- and for me, often terrifying -- car trip to Silverton. Up up up UP through the twisty mountain roads. No guardrails or shoulders in some places. Also, the first time we ever saw a sign saying "CAUTION - Falling Rocks" AND then really saw fallen rocks. One of these lovely rocks nearly took out our car. Beau could not avoid it and ran right over it. The small boulder made a very loud noise as it went under the little Malibu, but no damage was done.

We could have taken the narrow-gauge train from Durango to Silverton, but we wanted to bring the dogs. (By the time we got to Silverton, I wanted to go back down the mountain on the train, however!)

 Just a few photos of the sights along the way. 

 

 

There were tons of bikers making the climb up the mountain.

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Silverton in the valley below.

Once we got to Silverton, we were really lucky in our timing -- the very first train of the season had just arrived! The townfolk (I believe the population of Silverton is about 700) dress in period costumes for this event, and come out to greet the train, welcoming passengers with a band and much hoopla.

The guys at the train arrival site.

Joyce and Lucy with the train.

 

My baby Buddy and me.

The band welcomes the train passengers.

Downtown Silverton

We ate lunch at the Handlebars Saloon, where we met the owner and a few of the townspeople, wandering about in costume. Our waitress's name was Handlebars Holly.

Handlebars -- a happening place! Top left, the owner, a lovely lady. Bottom left, Handlebars Holly, our server. Bottom right, I have no idea, but she was dressed like a prostitute. And she looked good!

The town of Silverton -- elevation 9.318 feet -- started as a mining town and had a pretty rough past. Got this from some literature:

In Silverton, mining casualties were frequent -- falling down an open shaft, being blown to pieces in a powder explosion, or the mine itself caving in on the workers. Snowslides carried many to eternity. Saloons, alcohol, prostitution, gambling, robbery, there were many opportunities to die violently. Suicides were not uncommon, especially among the prostitutes. Also in the early years of the town there were a few lynchings by the local vigilantes.

Yeah -- our kind of town. Anyway, we made it back alive. 

The Glory of Monument Valley

The next day we went to Monument Valley, UT (the trip that was interrupted by the cattle drive).

As mentioned previously, the wind was still howling off and on, swirling the red dust of the valley everywhere around us. The park itself is in the middle of Navajo territory -- in other words, in the middle of @#$%!! nowhere. 

We did go through Four Corners on the way:

Unfortunately, we did not go into Four Corners National Monument -- the only place in the United States where four states -- Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico -- intersect at one point.

We stayed at Gouldings Lodge/Campground, which was started by Harry and Leona "Mike" (his wife) Goulding. Frankly, there is nothing else around for miles and miles.

Gouldings is still on the same site as the original trading post from the 1920s. FYI, Harry brought movie director John Ford to Monument Valley, and the stunning landscape inspired Ford to make several famous movies there, including “The Searchers,” starring John Wayne. There is still an antique movie set (known as John Wayne's cabin) in place from the movie “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon,” along with other movie memorabilia at the museum.

Monument Valley has remained a popular place to film television and movies, including “Forrest Gump.” You can see why...

Stunning, amazing, astounding vistas everywhere you looked. The vastness of it all was mindblowing.

Too bad we had to eat red dirt the two nights we were there. Really horrible after it rained a few times. It then became lovely red swirling sticky mud. But you can't beat the scenery. 

Beau and Buddy at the Trading Post.

The Butlers and child.

Gouldings Campground.

The John Wayne cabin -- featured in the movie "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon."

Us, windblown at Gouldings.

Even the damned clouds are red!

Part of what is known as the North Window.

"The Thumb."

We took a million photos, but I tried to just give you a taste of what we experienced. 

Next time, more astounding views, this time from Arches National Park in Moab. We hiked parts of it, getting up close and personal with the arches and seemingly endless breathtaking viewpoints.

Also, our incredible jet boat tour of Canyonlands National Park.  WHAT A TRIP!!!

Tanks, Panky