Hooray for Ouray and Candy the Inflatable

Sorry about the abundance of photos. I fell in love with this lovely mountain town.

Read the text below and don't miss Candy. I'll include her photo tomorrow.

Ouray

Ouray

Ouray

Ouray

Ouray

Ouray

On the way to Ouray

One of the Uranium girls. Teeth falling out, arm that doesn't work, brain cell degredation and split ends. Her Dad died of the poison years ago.

Moab, UT to Mesa Verde, Colorado - 300 miles

Although I was enjoying Utah; at the beginning of today's ride we went from Utah to Colorado. The change was immediate and stunning. Similar magnificent rock formations that were mostly bare in Utah are now covered in evergreens and Aspens. The air is so pure I feel like all my sins are being cleansed away. Motorcycling cannot get much better than this. Three of us stopped in a uranium mining town for a spot of tea. Four older women worked there. They all appeared to be suffering various degrees of radiation poisoning. We discussed the upcoming vote on whether to allow the mining company to put in a mill. These women want it for the extra jobs. More rational people understand that processing the ore there will only increase the damage these folks are suffering. We spilled a lot of coffee and left. Two hours later we were meandering through unspeakable beauty when we came upon a town called Ouray. It was a sparkling gem, a golden orb, a priceless jewel. Well you get the picture, it was stunning. I parked and Mac followed. The town is wedged into the mountainside. If you are on Main street, and I am directly across Main street from you, you will be nearly 12 feet below me. You have to climb from one side of the street to the other.

It was founded in 1898. All the buildings in town are brick or stone. All were designed without considering cost. If ever you can-go to this town!

Mac and I sat on a shaded bench. I rapelled down to the expresso bar across the street and trekked back with two beverages (Mac couldn't have made it before dinner time).

As we sat watching the above average people walk by, we noticed our mate Jeff approaching in the follow van. We hailed him so he could join us and noticed it was Candy the inflatable doll driving, not Jeff! Wait a minute, it's a British van and steers from the right side so Candy was only the passenger. It is humorous to watch people react to Candy's driving. Most are amused, some scandalized. We roar at either reaction.