DK Custom Products

Phone: 662.252.8828
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Day 3

We are staying 15 miles outside of Ouray, and my back is much better.

Today we're riding the Million Dollar Highway...









...aka 550. Mary in the Mirror as we head out...








...on the 550 now...









...getting closer. Yes, that is smoke, fog, snow and glaciers in this pic...about 10 miles outside of Ouray.









The stream beside the road, that is beginning to get curvy...almost there!









As we get closer to Ouray, the canyon walls get closer to the road.










The town of Ouray is a bit of a tourist trap, but there are some good eats here also. Because of CoVid were not stopping....the main street is maybe a mile long...










...then you are on the fun part....between Ouray and Durango, the Million Dollar Highway.









Barely outside of Ouray, looking back at it-



I don't know how many times we've ridden the Million Dollar Highway (it's one of our favorites), but in the dozen or so times, we've never stopped at the Box Canyon Falls. Today we are stopping.









Only a couple times I've run across this sign. 








Parking for the short walk to the falls...










Sure nuff, that sign was right. I count 4 chipmunks and 1 bird in this pic-









Walking toward the falls, we are about halfway down...








...looking up you can see the walkway at the top of the canyon.









Still about halfway down, you can see the water thru the cracks in the canyon wall...








Down at the bottom...

 

 

This water flows out into a stream that runs a bit behind Main Street of Ouray...







Mary getting one last pic before we head back up.







The way out of the parking lot for Box Canyon Falls led us back down into the back streets of Ouray. Someone has a good sense of humor.  What a fantastic view!









Back on the MDH, just coming out of a tunnel...









...the views are spectacular, and we have not even really started yet.









Pulled over at the first scenic outlook, there is a waterfall to Mary's right, and across the canyon...








...wow, we have never seen this waterfall flowing so little water.

Yes, that is a construction zone just a bit past the bridge, the road is narrowed down to a single lane.

While here some other bikers stopped off to look. One of them was from the Northeast and saw our plate. Turns out he is a Customer of DK Custom. We chatted for a bit.

 

Another photo of the waterfall...this one showing the pool at the bottom.








Photo of Mary at the waterfall. The ceramic coating on the TG is holding up well, makes it pop. It has not been washed or wiped down in thousands of miles.









Instead of dealing with the traffic that is piled up from the construction today, we decide to explore more around Ouray. This is a little section of the MDH between the falls and Ouray.

Roads like this are why we ride. Love seeing those "fun ahead" signs!








Mary wants to see the "Baby Bathtubs"...








Let's park and go for a little hike...









...there are hundreds of these, and they're all dry. We'll have to come back earlier in the year, when there is more snow melt.









Back on the TG, we climb up the side of the canyon wall outside of Ouray...









...the asphalt road dead ends at a campground. We turn around and have a great view of the town of Ouray on the way done.








Back on the 550, aka MDH, aka Million Dollar Highway. This road is in our top ten to ride...both because of the views and it is just a road that begs to be ridden with all the curves.




 

Coming back down into Ouray...








...did not stop at all in town. On the Ridgeway side of Ouray now...








...the curves are nice and the scenery fantastic! Rock face on the right and stream on the left.








Uh-Oh...noticed my engine temp was higher than normal. Could not figure out why at first.

Then I checked the coolant overflow tank and it was bone dry...








In close to 100,000 miles of riding on Twin Cooled bikes I have never had to do anything at all with the coolant system. But this was just the start of a learning curve. I did a little online research and found some compatible coolant (no HD dealerships for many miles in any direction) along with a funnel, and filled up the coolant overflow tank to the appropriate level, then followed the bleed procedure.









Back on the road and everything seems fine. Stopped for these deer to cross, and watched them go up the hillside.










Mary and I near the lake where we're camped...









...Mary in front of a part of the lake that is dry right now. The red arrow is pointing to where we are camped, with the mountains in the background.










Looks like fire in the hill near where we're camped...though there are some fires around, this is just the start of the sun dropping below the hill.









A little later, the sunset has more color, the TG is really dusty, and the moon is full. What a great day of riding and exploring a bit.

 

DAY 4 HERE