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Day 4

Today is a perfect day to ride the Million Dollar Highway...Both directions. Also, a little ride around Silverton.

Headed out from camp, looking off to the right...









...and then off to the left, catching the sun just right. The views are spectacular, and we're not even to the good part yet.







What a view!

I like the sign too. Narrow roads, 7-8% grades, steep drop-offs. They forgot "lots of curves". lol







Here we go! 550, aka, Million Dollar Highway! The fun riding road and the views are equally stimulating.







There are more than a few places where the road is being tempted to fall off into the canyon. 










Stunning- A look back...








A couple of Trikes enjoying the road this morning!




 

MDH, Silverton & Molas Pass contnued-

Wow! My windshield & mirrors are dirty! Does not take away from how much fun this road is!








Mary in the mirror, and a look at the road carved into the side of the mountain.








Ok, this is why I'm here! There are a lot of these "fun ahead" signs...








...hmmm, 15 mph? 35 mph sounds better!








I know the scenery is fantastic, and I do appreciate it, BUT, we have no roads like this where we live, so I am thoroughly enjoying them!!!









Another look back...yes, it is the same view as about 25 curves ago, just a bit further away. 

 

 

 

Another "Fun Ahead" sign...








...this road is just a blast to ride...










...and it is always very scenic. But today we are seeing so much of the fall colors...









...that it really presents a conundrum. Concentrate on tearing up the road (which is a blast) or sit back and enjoy the amazing sights...








...We end up doing a little of both. 








Lotta bikes on the road today, here are some fellow travelers.








A look back...








...a look to the right...









...a look up...








...we both agree, this is the best "fall colors" we've ever seen, AND it is the best of the many times we've ridden the MDH.

 

 

Coming into the Red Mountain Mining Community.







5.5 mile tunnel!!!








A look over the info sign to some of the old infrastructure.








Leaving the RMMC, this road...









...just begs to be ridden...









...that is, if you like the curves!








A look back as we head to the summit of Red Mountain Pass. What amazing views!








I did not realize, until looking at this photo, that Red Mountain Summit was this high. For some reason Molas Pass feels higher.









Over 11,000 feet! A look back at the summit.








So glad to be riding this road...




 

 

...it is an absolute blast to ride.








A look back.








Mary, holding the camera way out off the side at 55 mph thru the curves. 











Spectacular views! It took us 1500+ miles to get here, but it's worth it!







Just amazing, this is a shot looking back as we come down the hill into Silverton.








View from road right outside of Silverton.









We've spent a few days in Silverton a couple of years ago. We decide to ride on, Molas Pass is just 7 miles ahead.








We do not get very far before I realize that the coolant I added yesterday was not doing the job. We stopped to call the Harley Store in Silverton to see if they have coolant there.

They do, so after taking in the view a bit...








...we head back thru the curves to Silverton.




 

 Headed back toward Silverton...








...a different perspective...








...Silverton is a great town to visit...








...there is a really interesting museum on the far side of town...







...but today the purpose of our visit is to stop into the Worlds Highest Harley Store. No motorcycles, just that other stuff...BUT, they do have some coolant!








After grabbing a couple of little bottles of coolant we headed to the big parking lot behind this gas station...








...where I drained all the coolant out of the system, then filled it up and bled all the air out.






Look for the video in a post or two down for the details on what I've learned...how to do it right. Yesterday I did Not do it correctly.




Ok, got that done and she is running like new! On to Molas Pass.








Looking back as we climb out of the valley that Silverton is in...









...and a look ahead as we climb out of Silverton.


 

 

The scenery climbing up to Molas Pass is absolutely...








...Stunning!








Pulling into the parking lot at the Molas Pass Scenic Overlook...








This is the first time we've been here when the mountains weren't capped with snow.







Taking a pic of Mary taking a pic.








Leaving out of Molas Pass overlook...







...toward Durango to eat up some more curves...









...the colors are just insane.








After riding the best part toward Durango, we turn around...







...that's better, with the sun behind us.

 

 

 

Riding back toward Ouray the scenery is amazing!







BUT, I think the curves and cambers of this road...








...for me, are the most fun. I don't know why, but hitting it in the curves is just as much fun now as it was 50 years ago!










Shadow Pic!








The road at 60 MPH. I'm having a blast!









Mary is great at capturing photos on the fly- to the right and down, showing where we've just ridden...








...and this is to the right and back, showing where we've just come from. We're doing about 60 mph here. Dunno how she does it.








Now we're getting to the really fun stuff! The pictures just do not do this road justice.






Soon after this is where I pulled over and attempted to get the drone up for some video and photos of us riding thru a series of S curves. It did not go well.  Below is a video of our Malfunctions on the Million Dollar Highway today. (Coolant issue & Drone Crash)

 

 

 

 

Here's a ground-bound photo of where I attempted to get the drone up. lol




Even with the two malfunctions, it has been a great day of riding.

 

 

 Wrapping up the day, riding the Million Dollar Highway back to camp-

There are fantastic curves...







...and amazing scenery...








...even More Fun Riding...the curves just keep coming!









And then you have stuff like this. It is hard to overstate...








...how much fun this road is. It just begs to be ridden...









...BUT, you gotta stay ON the road...








...so ride it at a brisk pace and enjoy the photos later, or ride it twice, once for the joy of the road and once for the scenery...








...this is one of the sections that get folks nervous, it's a long way down if one does not stay between the lines!









And just like that, we are descending down into Ouray.








After getting back to camp we putter around a bit, take a photo of another sunset...





Tomorrow we leave Colorado, headed over to Bryce Canyon in Utah! WhooHoo!!!

 

DAY 5 HERE