We had quite an adventure yesterday. Toni and I on the Can Am, Ben and Lynda Redler, a couple from camp on a RZR, and Chuck on his carbureted 4 wheeler went over the pass to Silverton. On our way to Silverton, we ran into one of the worst rain storms ever. We have learned to totally suit up at the first rain drop so we made it to Silverton all dry underneath. We beat the train in so it was easy to find a place to eat.
We went in to Grupy's Restaurant and I removed my rain jacket. I had taken my billfold from the storage unit on the Can Am but realized I still had my pistol on. I laid my billfold on a table and went out to store my pistol. Having forgotten my billfold, when I got back inside, a guy had my billfold and was asking those standing around if anyone knew Clayton Carroll. Lynda was standing nearby and we both spoke up. He compared my driver's license picture to me and gave it back to me. Really nice guy!
After we ate lunch, we went up Stony Pass to look at the flowers. Lo and behold, Chuck's unit quit due to vapor locking. We got it headed down hill and he rode it downhill until he could get it running again. Yay, we thought our troubles were over. Not. We took California Gulch back towards Animas Forks. This is the route Bryce took his Toyota last summer and two of our boys have been there on a trip years ago. We really like the area! It is up high where there is a very pretty blue/green lake. Chuck's unit quit again just before the top of Hurricane Pass. I pulled his rig to the top of the climb. He rode it down a ways but had to be pulled again even to get to the bottom of the pass.
Before we attempted the next climb, our friend, Ben, got his map out and figured out that we need to take Cinnamon back instead of Engineer, since Cinnamon Pass was a little lower.
Toni and I had to pull him up one of the steepest and rockiest areas. I had the Can Am in low gear and four wheel drive running wide open. A lot of the times, all four tires were spinning. I am surprised we have any tread left but we finally made it to the top. The next downhill was real long and, after riding to the bottom, it started up and made it the rest of the way back. Chuck admitted that he needs to have the carb jets changed. Later, we told him that none of us wouldn't be making anymore rides with him until he gets it fixed. He said he will.
The Toyota FJ40 club was having a really large rally coming out of Ouray and we were constantly meeting a group out on the trail. I asked one of them how many were registered and he said 250. I think we met every one of them three or four times. Next year, we are planning on learning when they are having the rally and stay off the trails.
We rode over 90 miles, which pretty much wore us out. We didn't realize how tired we were until after we got back to the MH. The really bright spot was when we saw a huge bull moose just a little ways from the trail and we watched him graze for quite a while.
This summer may not be our last in Colorado but we definitely plan to spend our time in Silverton instead of Lake City. The really fun trails are all near Silverton and it won't be necessary to spend about 3 hours going back and forth over the passes just to be able to run them.
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