Forum: Oklahomatidbits.com General Forum (go)
Moderators:  /  David Smith Jr

I'll show you brave

http://youtube.com/watch?v=LWLbu1wIIEo

When the doc tells me I've got two weeks to live, this is what I want to do. But I'm gonna wait a week and six days to be sure.

OK, Mike, meet you in Silverton, CO for a trip down the million dollar highway to Ouray.  That should about do it.  Can't believe this guy didn't encounter at least one grandma doing 20 mph in her Citroen, right down the middle of the road, or some farmer with a load of pigs plastering the pavement.  Don't think he had enough tearoffs for a deal like that.

Good to hear from you Mike. Red, Steve, Buddy Faye, and I are all glad to know you are well. We haven't seen or spoke to each other in quite some time. Man, how the years fly by without contact of true friends. You without a doubt were the best full bodied Driver that ever graced Fairgrounds Speedway. I'm certain there are records set by you that will most likely never be broken.

Galen,

I was at all those places last week. Beautiful stuff. My best day in photography EVER was on Kebler Pass (couldn't find the cookie factory) shooting beautiful aspens with snow capped mountains in the background. Of course, when I tried to upload them, the card was corrupted. Arrrgggghhhh.

I did get a few good ones at http://www.pbase.com/lefturn99/fall_colors

Uncle A, thanks for the kind words. I got a note from Chris Puckett that said they have taken Paul home from the hospital, as there is nothing else to be done. I told Chris to mention Red to him to remind him of the olden days. How is Red doing? Since I've been exiled to Tulsa I haven't seen many of the old friends.

Mike

NICE stuff, Mike. I'm heading out to Buena Vista later this month to shoot ghost towns in the area. Would have liked to go earlier for the color, but things get in the way. Nice thing about mountains and ghost towns is they don't spin into the infield and chase the photographer. All I have to worry about is near-sighted hunters and bears....piece of cake, relatively speaking.

Beautiful scenery, but that don't look like Tulsa. lol... I did notice the road turned left, was that a coincidence or fate. But seriously I'm sorry to hear the news about Paul, he's a great guy. God speed to him, Chris and the rest of the family. Red is doing good. He has his own tractor and for the past several years has been making runs from Minnesota to California. Not out of necessity he just enjoys it. Steve is in Bixby, he has his own business selling Sun Screeens and doing very well at it.Buddy Faye has recently retired and is well. As for me I'm still hanging out around the track playing with those dadgum ol cars.

Galen I think we may have already stated this..........but me and my family vacation up there every few years. Been jeepin up there on the mine roads so much I could do it blindfolded....although I hope I'm never in that situation. One of the most beautiful places in the world...........from Telluride to Ouray to Lake City to Silverton. If you would ever like........I have about 20 books on the history and trails and mining history in the area........along with a few dozen maps of it all. Just stay away from Black Bear Pass. You woulnd;t believe the amount of info I have on the San Juan Mountains. One of my favorite things to read about 2nd to Civil War. I think we're goin up there next summer, I'm waitin to see ascs schedules for 08 so that we may hit up a race in Aztec, NM or Olathe, Colorado. Might as well. Can't go without seeing races for 2 weeks - not willingly anyways.lol.

Anyhoot - if you ever need any info about that area........hey your from Texas aren't you? We're heading down there to The Bowl for the weekend you should find us - or the other way around. Write back and let me know - may meet up saturday durin intermission or somthin -

How much would could a wouldchuck chuck if a 
wouldchuck could chuck would

I'm almost positive thats from north of Ouray lookin south towards Ouray...........is it? Going to or from Ridgeway? if so then that is the Uncompghre River in the foreground......and American Flats and Matterhorn Pk. would be due west. with Mt. Sneffels down to the southwest. Twin Peaks nearby as well. Galen if you're gonna be at the race this weekend it would be great to talk about the San Juans - my mom is damn near passionate about it - been goin a lot longer than me. Even my 8 year old nephew who will be with us has been up there. He liked the Hot Air Balloon ride we took up by Ridgeway. My girlfriend hasn't been yet - but will be broken in next year - funny thing is 3 days after we get back from that trip we'll be heading up to Iowa for the 360 Nationals. Lots of driving.

Man this is the coolest thread - EVER! I love it up there........hopefully next year we'll do 4-wheelers instead of jeeps. Jeeps over engineer pass hurt...............same with Telluride side of Imogene..........Camp Bird and Yankee Boy Basin is nice and smooth though........

I'll be smitten if we keep this thread goin awhile. I'll see if my mom can't post some of our jeeping pictures.......last time we went was 04. I'll make sure to keep it to a minimum - I cataloged over 1,000 of em in order of the jeep trails and date (I'm a freak like that). man this is too cool. ya'll keep it going. it's gonna be about sunday or monday before I can get soem on here due to the racin this weekend.

How much would could a wouldchuck chuck if a 
wouldchuck could chuck would

got lots of books about those too.

let's see..........you goin to look at Pitkin, Alpine, or Alpine Tunnels? or how about Turret, oro city, Leavick, or Sacramento? - a cool place to go see would be the ghost towns of Kokomo, Alma, and Fairplay. Man there are a bunch of areas in any direction from you that are just loaded with ghost towns. Lots of good jeeping trails up there too. Thats it - I'm taking some of these books down with me..............done went and got my dander up! man my mom and myself would really, really enjoy meeting you and sharing stories.

How much would could a wouldchuck chuck if a 
wouldchuck could chuck would

Well, it's pretty slow on the racing front right now, so maybe David won't mind if I go one more OT photo. Feel like the Colorado Tourism Dept. This was taken from the hot tub deck at the Box Canyon Lodge in Ouray. Too cold and too rich for a retirement home, but if you're looking for a vacation......

OKCfan, nope, that is west (I think. I was kinda turned around) of Telluride. There is a road to the airport that goes up from the main road.

Galen, I stayed in the Ouray Hotel, built in the 1890's. I'm sure it wasn't as nice but I'll bet it was cheaper. Ouray is my new favorite place in the world. It's not quite as pretty as Telluride, but the peeps aren't as snooty. Speaking of snooty, drove through Aspen. Whoa!!!!

Telluride is a resort town - whereas Ouray can only expand to the north - the ranchers in that area have pretty much united to stop development in that area. People I met up there always said that in Telluride you can't smoke in the resorts but could do a line of dope in em. Always thought that was more of an analogy of how different the 2 towns are. Ouray one of the few places you can literally walk up to deer and talk to em int he middle of town. Telluride has been commercialized - Ouray is 100% authentic. Mr. Spivey - we now have something in common other than racin - as that has been my favorite since I was 3. My moms since 1966. Man I could go on forever about Ouray. So that pic must have been taken int he vicinity of Last Dollar Road - the only other real connection other than Ophir Pass and Imogene Pass. Have you been up Yankee Boy Basin. Here's 5 trips well worth your while in that area-------

Last Dollar Road and Imogene Pass - while also checkin out Sneffels, Camp Bird, and Yankee Boy Basin. On Telluride side check out Tomboy Mine - they used to bowl above timberline - crazy people. lol.

From Ouray take Engineer Pass over to Lake City - come back via Cinnamon Pass - and definitely check out Animas Forks ( old ghost town - also highest altitude in the us to ever have a printed a newspaper. Engineer offers great views of Matterhorn among other big ol' fourteeners.

Take Corkscrw Gulch which turns into Hurricane and California Passes to Animas Forks - check out Mineral Point too - but be careful to not get stuck. On Hurricane Pass you'll see Lake Como - which is Turquoise Blue and water is poisonous. The road you'll see leading up to it from below is Poughkeepsie Gulch - which you'll get in much trouble if you go with rented jeep because 90% get stuck in it (major water hole). Once at Animas rollin through - ah whats the name - California Gulch - and I can't remember the other 2 - but they offered the most beautiful scenery I've ever seen up there. When I get back from Devil's Bowl I'll look at my map and post it. There's also from Animas another road that goes down to Silverton - not 4 wheel drive but pretty need - goes through Gladstone I believe.

Black Bear Pass if you got the balls - 10 people on average die on it every year - Do Not take a jeep on this trail - you'll be liable to catch a case. lol.

Stony Pass from Silverton to Creede - also in that vicinity are Alta and Alta Lakes - Brown Mountain - and a lot of other roads of interest too. Old ghost town of Carson in neat too.

Not to brag at all but it's funny ya'll bring Ouray up.......I know that whole area of the San Juans like the back of my hand. I want to do all the passes on 4 wheelers next year so I can get to see everything in 1 trip - in a jeep those roads are so rough or shelved it's hard. There's so much about that place that draws me to it. History in a big way. I became familiar with the passes and everything else because of the mines up there. All the old colorado trails and ghost towns were all created and busted out because of the mines. It's fascinating stuff really. Even the men that made the history like Otto Mears or Tom Walsh, Chief Ouray, Chipeta, on the east side of Engineer there was a party of people trying to go west that got stormed in a became cannibals - case was notorious and was tried in Lake City - later became known that the leader of the party killed 4 of em so he could eat em - but he was never convicted. Jesse James first robbery was the bank of Telluride. interesting - the wild west so many learn about was very prevalent in those days of the mining boom. Ironton - which is located along million dollar highway by red mountain was cared out by glaciers. Dutton is another old ghost town to check out - but take wasp and bee killer because they'll divebomb you like Japanese Kamikaze. I went to an archeology camp in 1999 out on highway 666 (natural bron killers - hehe) that was out by Cortez and La Plata Mountains.......Lizard Head Pass will head you out in that direction. aw man - I could go on forever. But I am raced out and exhausted............

but now I can't stop thinkin bout Colorado. Sorry this was so lengthy but for the hell of it I'm gonna add more later....................

How much would could a wouldchuck chuck if a 
wouldchuck could chuck would

I hear ya. Unfortunately, I was in my company car. It wouldn't have been a good career move to try sone of those passes. I did go on a Jeep tour from Marble to Crystal Mill that was excellent. I would have done one in Ouray but I just ran out of time. First time I've been in that area but I'm going back for spring wildflowers.

I've seen many of those places you mentioned on [url]http://advrider.com/[/url] That site is what I call "Motorcycle Porn". It's addictive.

I do think some of those roads are more suited for ATVs than dual sport cycles (I've got a KLR 650).

I also did Black Canyon but I wasn't as impressed as some of the other places.

Mike