Originally we were to depart here on Monday, August 16th to head to Dead Horse outside of Moab, Utah. A place we love visiting. However in looking at the forecast they will have temperatures in the upper 90’s to 100* F (102*F today) and lows in the mid 60s to 70s. The forecast here in Priest Gulch next week will be mid 60’s for a high with rain and lows in the 40’s. I checked with the office first thing this morning and there was only one site available (not on the river … and that’s okay) that we can move to on Monday for four additional nights. We took it!!!
Now back to Telluride …
In our research we had heard that there is a free public gondola in Telluride that dogs can ride. Not knowing how true the rumor, or what we were getting into, we decided to go without Jett to check it out first. Also one of the employees at Priest Gulch told us to go up to Mountain Village to park for free. Then take the free gondola into Telluride. Otherwise the parking in town was scarce, possibly expensive and some of the lots are blocks from the main section of town.
What a great tip! Mountain Village is just west and over the next mountain from the box canyon of Telluride. We parked at the entrance to the free parking garage up near Mountain Village. Found out dogs are allowed on the gondolas. Then realized it takes two gondola rides to get down into Telluride. There are MANY gondola lifts here but these two are part of the public transportation and are free.
Tim and I hopped into the first gondola that took us down into Mountain Village. Just adorable! There are many shops and eateries located there.
(Private glass dome rooms for dinner reservations)
Once at Mountain Village we immediately got off our lift to catch the next lift. This lift took us up in a different direction, up and over then down the next mountain peak at 10,540’ elevation. The magnificent view that we had as the gondola reached the peak, going, going up, then over and down, anticipating the drop like being on a roller coaster, was breathtaking, possibly even a little scary. BUT what the VIEW and what a MEMORABLE way to have that first glimpse of Telluride.
After we dropped down into Telluride, down to a 8,750’ elevation, we began exploring. Tim needed to go to the Ace Hardware and we both needed to eat. In making our way to the hardware store, across town from the gondola, we stopped in a few shops along the way.
Telluride was founded in 1878 and was a former Victorian mining town. We passed through the historic district, finding many lovely landmarks in town. We then found the Timberline Ace Hardware! They of course had everything we needed … including a hummingbird feeder. Since we have been getting buzzed everyday by them, guess we better feed them before we get hit.
Our next stop was back to a brewery we had passed earlier in the day. Smuggler Union!! On our walk there we saw pop-up tents at the end of a street. Thinking it was a festival we headed that way only to find it was a pop-up COVID vaccination location … with a line of people. Nice to see this available.
Smuggler Union not only had their own amazing beer selection but some delicious food. Best in town we were told. Tim had the Mushroom Chicken Linguine and I of course had the Pork Tacos since I had my Cervezas and Taco hat on! Everything was very tasty!!
Now it was time to head back to the gondolas and back up and over the mountain. We still had a 40 mile drive back to basecamp to check on Jett and get that hummingbird feeder ready for action!! Plus we hear it gets cold here in the winter …
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