For the past few years, we’ve done a long weekend trip with the Rising Sun 4×4 Club of Colorado, riding and chasing the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad (one of my favorites). Traveling between Chama, NM and Antonito, CO, the tracks cross both state lines 11 times. Chasing vintage steam trains in some old Land Cruisers, it’s just a bunch of fun. And the San Luis Valley, well it doesn’t get much better than that.

The Silbaughs enjoying an evening drive, San Luis Valley, CO.

Mornings preparations. Chama Train Yard. Chama, NM.

Maintenance check, Sublette, NM.

I’ll be the first to admit that i’m ready for a break. Been a long, but crazy ten months (since surgery). Ready to get back to Ireland.

Finished printing the 2019 Ghost Town Run poster. Just in time for the annual run this weekend.

Started printing this years 2019 Ghost Town Run poster. Fun to think we’ve been doing this run with the Rising Sun 4×4 club since 2005. Granted we didn’t run it a few years, but going on 9 years for this fun run. Started printing a silk screen poster for this years run. Image was from the 2017 run in the mountains around the old mining town of Bonanza, CO. To start things off, we went over Hayden Pass to get into the San Luis Valley. Here is a image of the poster at it’s current state. Second color run printed.

Every year, I host my local club, the Rising 4×4 Club of CO at the property. We spend a night on, or as close to the Summer Solstice as possible. Always a fun way to kick of summer. This year seemed more like fall than the beginning of summer, but still lots of fun.

Mt. Evans. Some of my favorite views.

Looking NW.

Through the main meadows of the property. Those Aspens are some of my favorite.

At the pond in the Upper Meadows.

Took a nap in the 4runner during the rain. Woke up and felt like I was being watched…

Rosalie starting to make an appearance through the clouds.

Don’t think i’ll ever tire of that drive:).

Taking the club n a drive through the property.

Monkeys Face.

Sadly missed the Wild Iris season.

Looking North towards Squaw Peak.

At the Property boundary with Mt. Evans Wilderness.

Evening sets in over camp.

A brisk morning. Woke up to 28 degrees.

Was nice to see some blue sky though.

Enjoying a nice morning walk.

Camp.

Been realizing that i’m a bit out of shape. So, started cutting new growth at the property to fix that…

End.

Ireland was my first overseas trip. Ended up spending a month exploring the Island back in 2006/07. This was during the holiday season, when the tourists ( I was one of them) wasn’t so plentiful. Had a blast hanging out over X-Mas and New Years in Ireland. Meet some great folks and saw some awesome places.

In two months, i’ll be heading back. Been 12 years since that first visit. Though I only have 9 days for a visit this time, looking to see a lot of places I couldn’t the first visit. The main highlights being: Killarney, Black Valley and a bit of the NW tip of the Ring of Kerry. Seven of my Nine nights are booked, working on the last two.

Upper Loughs, Killarney, Ireland.

Ballycarberry Castle, Ring of Kerry, Ireland.

Realized I hadn’t posted any pics from the last visit up to the cabin. Dad joined me Saturday afternoon on the 18th of May to help clean up the place from the Winter. May was my Month to host the Family Dinner ( a monthly dinner party for a bunch of friends), so decided to have it at the cabin again. Always fun to share this wonderful place! Saturday evening, after my Dad left, my friend Dan Silbaugh joined me for an almost midnight drive to the property boundary with Mt. Evans Wilderness. I love that drive, especially when the full moon is out.

A few pics to share:

Out for a late afternoon walk Saturday evening.

Things were starting to green up around the property.

Always love this view.

At the end of the service road to the property boundary with Mt. Evans Wilderness. About as remote as you can get for an hour and a half drive from Downtown Denver. I love this drive.

Didn’t get any pics from the Fam Dinner on Sunday. Guess I was to busy ( and having fun) watching all the kids play with all the old ‘Mask’ toys, tending the fire and showing the property during a nice mid morning walk.

Some of my favorite pics from Cruise Moab 2019.

The full set of pics here: Cruise Moab 2019. Just a note that there are lots of pics:).

April Action Car Show.

Brian bought a ’32 Ford Roadster.

En route to Fable Valley.

Fable Valley.

Corral Camp.

Down into Fable Valley.

Taking shelter from a mid day storm.

Photo by Marco Capote.

“T”.

Leaving Fable Valley.

Dark Canyon Wilderness.

Exploring some wonderful remote dirt roads.

Joe was here. Just after the war in 1947.

2″ of fresh snow.

A high flowing Indian Creek.

Vendor night.

Hells Revenge Trail.

End.

On Saturday of Cruise Moab, I rode along with my pal Jeremiah and the rest of the gang from Proffitt’s Cruisers. The warm sun and blue skies made for a great day on the trail.

The beginning of Hells Revenge.

Always fun watching the Mega Cruiser wheel.

Randy ready to make the climb up Hells Gate.

Randy pulled cable to get the White FJ up the last part of Hells Gate.

Bob’s turn up Hells Gate.

The Mega Cruiser going up Hells Gate.

Jeremiah spotting Luke up Hells Gate

Cactus in bloom at our lunch stop.

A well built 1st gen mini from Canada.

Jeremiahs Crawler and the snowy La Sals.

Randy in the easier Hot Tub.

One of the steeper drops on Hells Revenge.

Bob on the Escelator.

Randy’s turn on the Escelator.

Currently, my top two camps I have enjoyed to date. Both extremely meaningful and remote spots. Grandpa was a river guide/fisherman on the Missouri (as well as the Yellowstone). I joined Dad back in 2010 for our first exploration of Fable Valley, UT.

Grand Island MT:

Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid and Kid Curry would hang out here while things cooled down after they robbed the Great Northern on Exeter Creek outside Malta Montana. Just across the river to the North, Kid Curry had a hid out in Hide A Way Coulee.

After Grandpa passed in 2017, felt it was a good time to get back up to the Missouri.

A foggy sunrise above Grand Island.

Grand Island.

Mat Ralston and Martin fording a smaller channel of the Missouri to get to Grand Island.

One fine sunset from Grand Island.

Fable Valley, UT.

A place I feel was on the outer reaches of the Pueblo Culture. Chaco fell. Puebloans branched out to remote places. Spots where you might be able to find water and game. Fuel for fire. A nice valley to cultivate some corn.

9 years ago Dad and I explored this valley. It’s still an amazingly awesome remote place.

Corral Camp. Fable Valley, 2019.

Back down into Fable Valley.

Views from the Cliff Dwelling. A Pueblo not to far away. Along with some granarys. We sheltered in the alcove while the storm passed.