I needed to put this racer into the blog. He was the only "handicapable" racer in the Iron Horse but when I shot this photo, he was AHEAD of the train.Quite an athlete. 

These racers are behind the train - it just went by - but they're having fun. Note the woman on the tandum bibycle - all smiles. They still have about 23 more miles of "fun". 

These racers are feeing the train and smelling the coal smoke as the train passes under the highway.  

The object of this race is to beat the Durango-Silverton Train into Silverton. The train goes along the Million Dollar Highway enroute to Silverton. 

Note the sign - "Road Work 1 Mile". From the look on the faces of almost every rider we saw, they were all working real hard. 

The 35th Annual " Iron Horse Bike Race " from Durango - Silverton. This ride had over 2500 riders and went over Coal Bank and Molas Passes - approx 35 grueling miles. The winner completed the climb/ride in about 2 hours and 15 min. The riders went right by our KOA. 

At the entrance to Chimney Rock, they had a facility manned by volunteers and hummingbirds. The volunteers led tours through the Chimney Rock area - the hummers made diving forays at the bottle of sugar water and put on quite a show. 

A close up of Chimney Rock. Note the very typical blue and cloudless western sky. 

On Route 160 - Pagosa Springs to Durango, it's hard to miss Chimney Rock - a Pueblo Indian landmark - off in the distance. A very dry climate and rugged terrain. 

Heading through Pagosa Springs,CO on a daytime excursion, we found this 7 foot bronco and rider performing in the middle of the street. A definite reminder that we're in the wild, wild west. 

The famous narrow gage train coming into the station. 

Ted & Jan just outside the Durango Silverton Train Station. 

Durango to Silverton Railway station on Main St in Durango 

They grow the pine cones REAL BIG in Colorado! 

Lemon Lake about 15 miles out of Durango. Beautiful scenery but no luck fishing. 

Lake Molas - still frozen over in mid May - as we drive back to the Durango, Colorado area from Silverton. 

End of the line at the Silverton RR Station. From here you walk into town on their unpaved road ( 1/8th of a mile ) to shop and eat. The 70.00 round trip parallels the Million Dollar Highway and provides some great photo ops. 

The court house and a couple of merchant shops in Silverton with Kendall mountain in the background 

Sleepy downtown Silverton. The main street is the only paved street - the rest are dirt and gravel 

Silverton coming down from Molas Pass. Kendall Mountain towers over the down. 

The view from Molas Pass (10.990 feet ) and looking down on frozen Molas lake. Yes, still frozen in mid May. 

One of the many pull-offs along the hwy so you could take pictures. Since parts of this hwy is through the mountains, they are constantly warnng about "U" turn ( and they mean "U" turns ) and rocks in the road and when colder, the danger of avalanches on the highway. 

Jan in the snow at the top of Coal Bank Pass - 10, 640 feet high.. Still driving the Million Dollar Hwy heading north. 

Another scene heading north . Lots of snowy mountians and the Aspen trees ( the grey looking trees ) just starting to bud out. 

View along US 550 heading from Durango to Silverton and Ouray. We we enroute to Silverton today.