Day 4

 Sat, Oct. 17, 2020

Hot Air Balloons, Hike, & Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge RR

Here's the open field where a dozen
hot air balloons will be taking off.

These next videos show the XTO Energy balloon preparing for lift off.

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And now for some other balloons doing the same thing;

preparing for lift off.

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More balloon footage...

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Jan saying, "No"

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"So colorful."

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"All in Jeff & Michelle's backyard...all this excitement."

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Time for another hike...

Trail on the ridge line overlooking Durango

North view...

South view.

Looking down toward highway 550.

Now it's time for TRAIN TIME!

Taking the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge RR

We arrived at the station as the diesel engine was
making its wye around the train.

Here's the steam engine that will take us away.

Tried to zoom in a bit closer...

Inside coach car #7.

Making our first turn round the out-cropping.
You'll be able to see this part better on our return.

The Animas river far below.

You can see the beauty of the leaves and scenery here.

The following videos used to enhance the still pictures

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We've descended to the river level.

Loved the rapids.

We've reached our destination...Cascade

Now we take the wye to return back to Rockwood.

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Still going backwards on the wye

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Cascade Station.

We stopped here on the way up
to load the steam engine with water.

Letting off steam.

Video of the steam-letting.

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More letting off steam...

I was so glad to capture this steam moment.

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On the way out we were on the river side.

Now we're on the rock wall side.

We do get rather close, but not too close.

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I thought this was cool going by some implements in the yard...

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I wanted to look up at the hard rock wall.

What it looks like looking up from the coach car.

Pretty close to the granite rock walls - but not too close.

Now we've crossed the river so the river is now on our left.

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Some amazing footage of the step drop off.

"EEEE, does that look scarey or what?"

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Going slow along the narrow ledge.

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Approaching the outcropping I mentioned

at the beginning of the run.

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Jeff and I both thought this would
make a good scene to capture.

More wood parts used for land fill.

This may take your breath away...so be careful...

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Getting closer to what we talked about...

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This video really captures the part I mentioned 

in the beginning of our trip.

Great video for design and engineering required 

for this railroad to be built.

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Some RR rails along the way.

Coming into the station we go by
the switcher diesel locomotive.

Coming into the station you can see my rental car.
It's the first silver car after the three SUVs on the left.

We had a great ride on the D&S NG RR

We took a double selfie!
I'm looking at Jeff's phone and Jeff is looking at my phone.

Engineer greets his fans.

Nice 3/4 view.

Head on view.

One last look at 493.

Had to stop short because of other vehicular traffic.

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This is the embroidery done on my long sleeve shirt 
I purchased in downtown Durango.