After a swift and “twisty” ride from Glenwood Springs, CO following the Colorado River on I-70 to Silver Plume, CO, we stopped to take a ride on the Georgetown Loop Railroad and visit an old silver mine. My motorcycle odometer now registers 11,947 miles or 5,006 miles since we started our adventure.
Judy and John met me at the parking lot so I could put all my gear in the car. We boarded the train and started the climb toward the mine. It took 4 miles of track to raise us 450 feet to the mine entrance at 9,000 feet above sea level. By now we have adapted to the altitude by drinking lots of water and pacing ourselves having driven through the altitudes (4000-7000 feet) of the high deserts of New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah and Colorado. The train banged and lurched as the small diesel engine struggled to pull the four cars up the steep grade past rushing waterfalls and over a very high trestle. The conductor suggested if we were afraid of heights not to look down. The strong smell of diesel fumes permeated the bracing Colorado mountain air. Some cars are completely open and others are covered. The Colorado sun is really intense and sunscreen is required. We continued through the pines occasionally blowing the whistle when going around a sharp curve.
