Street scene of Telluride, originally uploaded by Shirley Buxton.
We finished up the snacks, heard the horrific/delightful Black Bear stories, then the four of us drove out of the box canyon and into the town of Telluride. We parked, and scheduled ourselves to be back in our cars in 45 minutes. Jerry and I strolled a couple of blocks, spending most of our time in an art gallery.
There’s lots of skiing around Telluride, a town unique in that it offers a free gondola that functions most of the year. We didn’t have time this trip, but on our last one we boarded the gondola and went to Mountain Village, spent time there, and returned on the gondola. The Telluride Magazine writes:
“While anyone in America can choose to commute via biodiesel or electric car, only Telluriders can get to work on a free gondola, a commute so unique it was featured last January on Good Morning America. The three-stage system between Telluride and Mountain Village runs 275 days a year, 7 a.m. to midnight, and carries an average of 1,918,445 riders annual. Obviously, not all of these people are going to work. But those who do have what is widely dubbed as “the most beautiful commute in America.”
A few miles out of Telluride, we turned off toward Ophir, drove through the tiny town and onto the trail. During the past few days they had received a fair amount of rain, which caused the trail to be very rough. We bounced and jolted around so much that I had a hard time taking pictures. Once, though, I turned around, saw this view, stuck the camera out and clicked. I’m astonished it turned out this well. The tiny town you see is Ophir.
A long narrow shelf constitutes part of the trail…a bit scary, as you can see here. That’s Berl’s jeep ahead of us, and I took the picture through the windshield, so you can see the trail our car is perched on.
I was still photographing through the windshield, when we came up this steep grade, and were treated with this vivid scene.
The pass is quite short, and rather soon, we came to the highway that led us in to Silverton, then on to Durango.
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Taken in (See more photos here)
Shirley Buxton 
8 replies on “Durango Vacation Journal Part 13”
hello friend,
how are you there,
here in kenya we are not in peace at all after the last year election,our houses have been burnt down and we are left with onewhere to go,no food no water we are surviving for the grace of God,even my house have been put in fire my family and church members have run to the churches to find refuge after our church have been fired last three days now,i have been seeking a chance to escape so that i can write to you,and i thank God i have run to be able to write to you,i have travel 45kms just to find communication with you,no traveling with cars some cars have been put in fire and not place to run to,i am asking you help to asist us financially so that we can find away to look for food for the church members and our family to,i have now four days without eating no food is seen at all over 180 people have been killed in a place where i am and over 200 injured,you can hear the news from BBC and internet what is going on,please talk to your friends about thies we need agent help from you.we have children who are at risk after long walk.
i am in punic after my house put in fire.please reply.
yours
friend and son john makongo
email me at: shalomm2007@yahoo.com
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Glad you made it home safely. I’d love to have your eye for beauty as it results in the most lovely pictures. Love you.
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Hello, everybody. Thanks for all the gracious comments. We’re home now…arrived around 11:00 this morning. I’ll write a “wrap-up” piece tomorrow.
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Hi Sister Buxton,
It’s been a while since I’ve left a comment, but I have been enjoying your vacation journal, especially the photos. You are the Queen of the Kodak Moment!
Love,
Carol
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Shirley, I’ve said it before, but I need to say it again: Your pictures are AMAZING. Especially the one of Ophir. Wowwwwwwwww.
Sounds like your trip has been great!
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I would like to lift my voice and say a thank you to the Buxton’s for allowing so many of us to look over your shoulder or maybe the more correct term would be through your camera lens.
I for one have enjoyed your pictures and your word pictures as well. You and your husband are precious people. And Virginia and I do appreciate you both.
Keep on having a GREAT vacation. Tell the Bro. & Sis. Stevens hello form the Clark’s.
Mervin
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Hi Sis. Buxton, I’m from Pastor Pryor’s church in the city of Tustin, CA. (Awesome Pastor) I read your blog everyday and want to thank you for sharing your vacation with us. Looks like you are having a awesome time. The pictures are beautiful. I believe my mother (Hilda Newvine) who has gone on to be with the Lord, knew you both from Garden Grove church. She always talked very highly of you both. Keep the pictures coming.
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What awesome photo’s especially the closeups of the critters. I love th butterfly and the sunflower. It looks and sounds like you are having a grand time!!!! How nice that would be….:-)
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