Community Chat

[PhilaLady1]

If the horses and oxen could speak, I think that they would agree to say that modern transportation is a definite improvement.

[Kachina624]

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@LdyBugz wrote:

No thank you.  It's a pass for me.  I do not see ANY improvement!  It's still terrifying!  I don't know how you could drive on that thing.  

I've gone up to Pike's Peak a couple of times with co-workers when we traveled to the area for work.  I was petrified!  No guard rails there either.  There are spots where the edge of the road is like an inch away from the edge of the cliff!  Geez!  The locals told us that a few people every year meet their demise on that road.  😬

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@LdyBugz.  Colorado guardrail budget is about $10/yr.  They think guardrails are  for sissies.

At least it's paved now.  The first time I went over it as a child, it was gravel.  I made that trip on the floorboard of the car.

[dancingwoman]

@Kachina624  We drive this road a couple times a year to go to Ouray for lunch...DW...

[Malcontent]

@dancingwoman 

You are one brave woman.

[LdyBugz]

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@Kachina624 wrote:

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@LdyBugz wrote:

No thank you.  It's a pass for me.  I do not see ANY improvement!  It's still terrifying!  I don't know how you could drive on that thing.  

I've gone up to Pike's Peak a couple of times with co-workers when we traveled to the area for work.  I was petrified!  No guard rails there either.  There are spots where the edge of the road is like an inch away from the edge of the cliff!  Geez!  The locals told us that a few people every year meet their demise on that road.  😬

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@LdyBugz.  Colorado guardrail budget is about $10/yr.  They think guardrails are  for sissies.

At least it's paved now.  The first time I went over it as a child, it was gravel.  I made that trip on the floorboard of the car.

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I fully admit to being a sissy when it comes to those roads.  I was almost on the floorboard as an adult!  Maybe they can have bake sales to help pay for more guard rails.   

All kidding aside, it's amazing what our forefathers had to endure.  We are so lucky to have all the things we take for granted.  BTW, when I was brave enough to look, the views and scenery there was just spectacular!

[Sassycoco]

@Kachina624

Absolutely see a huge difference !
I'm terrified of heights....as well 😅
I would be a complete wreck ! You're brave 👏.....I would have a.lot of frustrated driver's behind me ! 😆

[Venezia]

@Kachina624 - Several years ago, one of my English friends came over for a visit.

She loves trains, so we planned a trip to Colorado to go on the Durango-Silverton, Pike's Peak, the Royal Gorge and (my favorite) the Cumbres & Toltec.

We flew into Denver, where we picked up a rental car, and set off to Durango.  I wanted coffee before I knew what would be a long drive, so stopped at the only little mom & pop store I found outside of Denver.  We weren't too far into the "mountain drive" then.  The elderly lady looked concerned and said to me "you be careful" and I thought I'm an experienced driver (my friend doesn't drive) so I'd be fine and just smiled.

Well, I am also afraid of heights.  And I had never driven over anything remotely like the Rockies.  Yep, no guardrails.  I kept my eyes straight on the road for the approximate 6 - 7 hour drive, but my friend who could see everything, kept saying "Oh, dear God!" and kept looking over the edge.   (Helpful)

And, of course, I had to make the return journey because we were flying back out of Denver.  That day I made the mistake of looking ahead and up at the mountain to see what looked like an ant.  Turned out it was a tractor-trailer.

I asked about the lack of guardrails and was told it's because the plows wouldn't be able to clear the snow from the roads in winter.  Makes sense to me (as I plow my own drive and yard).

Fun memories.

[Kachina624]

@Venezia.  I bet you two had a good time regardless of the trauma.  There are definitely techniques to be learned for driving on steep, narrow roads.  The jeep road are even more fun; unpaved, one lane and often called "shelf roads" because that's what they are.  They can be hairy.

The Durango & Silverton RR follows the same route as the pictured US 550, but you may know that.

[Kachina624]

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@dancingwoman wrote:

@Kachina624  We drive this road a couple times a year to go to Ouray for lunch...DW...

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@dancingwoman.  I'm not surprised as its practically right outside your front door.

Have you noticed if the "Made in Colorado" shop is still open in Ouray?  They had so many nice gift items.  I bought quite a bit there and at the one in Pagosa Springs.

[Kachina624]

Here's a different perspective on that highway.  It's not all scary but is breathtakingly beautiful.