We left Flagstaff on July 3rd to head to Silverton, CO. But first we had to stop at REI to figure out a way to move some stuff to the roof of the car. I would love a Thule box, but I did not have money for that in the budget. We lucked out to find the last soft-sided car box and it was only $110. Life changing! (By the way – the new REI store in Flagstaff is beautiful!) We had to pick up the big boys from the BMX park, get some fast food and head out of town. Driving the reservation is always an interesting experience. Why all the tires? I can’t understand all the tires in the yards.
When we saw the sign for 4 Corners, Sinjin was so excited. I told him we would stop when we cane to it. What I did not know was that it would cost $30 for us to see the 4 Corners. But a promise is a promise…
When we saw the sign for 4 Corners, Sinjin was so excited. I told him we would stop when we cane to it. What I did not know was that it would cost $30 for us to see the 4 Corners. But a promise is a promise…
4 Corners stop
In my typical blonde fashion, I forgot that there would be a time change. This meant we would not arrive in Silverton by 8:30pm like I thought. We got to Durango at 9:30pm starving and cranky. We decided to get a hotel, which made me cry because I am constantly worried about the budget. Although, after we drove to Silverton the next day, I realized we had made a wise decision. The other bonus was that we were able to see Durango. What an awesome town! I was a little annoyed that I could not find a Target, but we did find a Wal-Mart for getting some groceries. I did have another small meltdown because I was now on day 3 of no running.
Loving Durango! This creek was right outside our hotel door.
We finally made it to Silverton, but because it was July 4th we discovered the dispersed camping was already packed. After a few times up and down some sections of the road we found a spot we could squeeze into and started to unpack. Dumb luck strikes again and we loved the spot! We were right on the creek at South Mineral Campground.
Norm and Sinjin at Mineral Creek in the San Juan National Forest
Directly behind our tents was a little trail that led to the spring. The kids had a blast playing in the water. The water is contaminated from mining so you can’t drink it. I was worried about letting the kids play in it, but I figured if it was going to kill us there would be signs. In the middle of the night Sinjin was sleep walking and shaking. I was of course convinced that this was due to him playing in the water and couldn’t fall back asleep.
This path was 20 feet from our tent to the creek!
They braved the freezing cold water to get to this rock island behind our camp. This is where we saw the moose!
On the 5th (Saturday) the campground started to clear out. On our way to town we saw Jamil’s truck and the kids were so excited that we had found their friends. While I was down at his camp looking for him, someone drove by and told my family that they were hiking. I left a note on the car telling them where our camp was located. We went in to town to let the kids play at the park and the boys use the small half pipe at the school. I stopped to get drinks for everyone and use wifi only to find out that the town had pretty much shut down wifi to visitors because they were so many for the 4th of July.
Sunday we attempted to take the kids for a hike. That ended poorly for some of us. The trail was pretty steep and slippery and the little kids were pretty much losing it. Norm and the big boys did some hiking, but not too far. The kids and I were walking back to camp when we they pulled up next to us in the back of a car. They were a young couple who work in the Tonto National Forest doing camping with kids (rehabilitation work). Norm isn’t very good with facts, but Enzo thought she was hot.
Back at camp we were getting ready to go back to town for the day. The T’s had left a note to meet them there. I decided to run to town – not too bad since it is all downhill. I almost beat my family to town. Clearly they have issues getting themselves together when I am not around to help! I passed Sabrina and her kids at the park by the library (which I did not know existed). I told her my family was at the other park and we decided to meet there. But when I got to the other park my family wasn’t there. Luckily Enzo came out of the bathroom and called Norm because I did not have my phone. Norm read Sabrina’s note again and realized that they were at the other park. Since Silverton is only a few streets he decided to find it. I ran back down to the library park and yelled at him for not being at the right park. Of course Sabrina had left because I told her we were at the other park. We proceeded to yell at each other in the middle of Silverton. Good times!
Sunday we attempted to take the kids for a hike. That ended poorly for some of us. The trail was pretty steep and slippery and the little kids were pretty much losing it. Norm and the big boys did some hiking, but not too far. The kids and I were walking back to camp when we they pulled up next to us in the back of a car. They were a young couple who work in the Tonto National Forest doing camping with kids (rehabilitation work). Norm isn’t very good with facts, but Enzo thought she was hot.
Back at camp we were getting ready to go back to town for the day. The T’s had left a note to meet them there. I decided to run to town – not too bad since it is all downhill. I almost beat my family to town. Clearly they have issues getting themselves together when I am not around to help! I passed Sabrina and her kids at the park by the library (which I did not know existed). I told her my family was at the other park and we decided to meet there. But when I got to the other park my family wasn’t there. Luckily Enzo came out of the bathroom and called Norm because I did not have my phone. Norm read Sabrina’s note again and realized that they were at the other park. Since Silverton is only a few streets he decided to find it. I ran back down to the library park and yelled at him for not being at the right park. Of course Sabrina had left because I told her we were at the other park. We proceeded to yell at each other in the middle of Silverton. Good times!
We stayed late in the day playing at both parks. I had promised we could have hotdogs over the campfire for dinner so we stopped at the local grocery store to pick up hotdogs and few other items. As soon as we got back to camp, something happened and moral plummeted! Everyone wanted to leave for Telluride right that minute. There was no way this was happening! By the time we tore down camp and got to Telluride it would be dark and since camping is first come, first serve I did not want to take my chances. We were rewarded with the most beautiful evening weather yet!
Double rainbow on our last night!
This morning we packed up camp and left for Telluride. Sabrina said we should take the route through Ophir. It takes less time and it is beautiful. What she failed to mention is that it is an alpine mountain pass. We got some good advice from a man at the visitor’s center in Silverton about driving the road. It was gorgeous! But I was really happy when it was over! It’s pretty scary at some points. A one car road with a super steep drop off is a little nerve racking! The town of Ophir was so cute that my kids want a summerhouse there (they must have money I don’t know about!).
Ophir Trail Pass.
Ophir was adorable!
We arrived in Telluride where it was a mad rush to get one of the few remaining spots in the city campground. Success! We have bathrooms, showers, 2 playgrounds, hiking and walking trails, and wifi! We can walk to town, which we have learned is a necessity. Parking is ridiculous! I was much happier in the woods, but the wifi is nice because I have schoolwork to turn in for my Phd.
So 4 days in Telluride and who knows where we will go next…
So 4 days in Telluride and who knows where we will go next…
