Fred Eaglesmith's ROOTS ON THE NARROW GAUGE Deep Into the Heart of the San Juan Mountains Albuquerque, NM - Durango, CO - Pagosa Springs - Chama, NM - Albuquerque Sept. 26-Oct. 2, 2008 "Let's get our own train and go someplace great. I don't mean a fancy one, I mean an old one, with steam and dust and cinders." - Fred Eaglesmith. Journey with the Fred Eaglesmith Band with guests Corb Lund, Washboard Hank and Lance Loree (others tba) as we travel into the magical San Juan mountains of southwestern Colorada and Northern New Mexico. We will ride the last great, scenically spectacular examples of steam-era railroading in North America. The legendary Durango & Silverton deep through Los Animas Canyon, then to the wild country of the Cumbres & Toltec, North America's longest, highest and most remote narrow gauge railroad. And with us the whole time will be the irrepressible, astonishing Fred J. Eaglesmith and his hardy band of adventurers and special guests. Naturalist Elsabe Kloppers will be there to keep us informed about the fascinating flora, fauna and topography of this remarkable region. We'll have concerts and jam sessions, Open Mics and picking parties - with a fine mix of FredTrain veterans and newcomers. We provide several dinners during the week. Solo traveler, couple, or group of friends - you won't find a better group of people to hang out and travel with anywhere! We'll gather in Albuquerque on Friday, September 26, for a kickoff reception and concert with Fred and friends. Lodging provided at Best Western Rio Grande Inn Old Town. Saturday, we board a chartered motorcoach for the drive through the stark southwestern landscape of buttes and mesas to Durango, Colorado, the gateway city of the "Silver San Juans," at 6,600 feet above sea level. We have the afternoon free to explore this fascinating town, then a show that evening and overnight accommodations. On Sunday, we board the storied Durango and Silverton Railroad for the unforgettable trip to Silverton, twisting through the Canyon of the Rio de las Animas Perditas ("The River of Lost Souls") on rails three feet apart, in a land where no roads reach. Silverton is now a quiet hamlet of 500 year-round residents, but at one time it was the nexus of a booming precious-metals mining industry. Nestled in a mountain valley at 9,300 feet, one steps into another era when one steps off the train. Once we check into the vintage Grand Imperial Hotel, the afternoon is free for exploring. Hiking, mine and jeep tours and other outdoor activities are available, with everyone back in town for an a great buffet and evening show. We depart Silverton early Monday afternoon, retracing the rails back to Durango, where we board our motorcoach for the easy, hour-and-a-half trip to Pagosa Springs. Checking in to the Springs Resort, our home for the next two nights, we have the evening free. Tuesday is a day to explore the remarkable sights and sensations of Pagosa Springs and the ancient Puebloan ruins of nearby Chiney Rock. The springs on the banks of the San Juan River have been visited by native peoples for thousands of years. Today they are bounded within the 30-acre, full-service spa at which we will be staying. There are 18 mineral pools of varying size and heat, and they are available to us around the clock during our stay. Dinner and a show that night will cap off a full day! Wednesday morning, we set out early on the motorcoach for the one-hour ride to Chama, New Mexico, where we board the astonishing Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. When you board the C&TS, it is as if you have stepped back a century. The equipment, engines, buildings - all have an indisputable authenticity to them. The open-air platform car is a great place to take in the sights, and maybe for an impromptu jam, as well! We climb from Chama, fighting for elevation, around breathtaking Windy Point to the summit of Cumbres Pass at 10,022 feet, then descend slowly to the old railroad camp of Osier, Colorado, where lunch is served. Reboarding our train, we arrive back in Chama late in the afternoon. There's time to wash up at the our hotel for the night, then to the atmospheric High Country Restaurant for a buffet dinner and a final, outdoor rocking show, complete with bonfire. On Thursday we ride by motorcoach from Chama to Santa Fe, where we have several hours for lunch and exploring the historic Plaza area. Then it's a simple drive back to Albuquerque for a farewell event and a final night at the Rio Grande Inn Old Town. Albuquerque's fabled Balloon Fest begins Friday, October 3 - guests wishing to extend their stay are welcome to make their own arrangements. Sign up today, by e-mailing Roots on the Rails at trains@sover.net, by calling 866-484-3669 (toll free in the US & Canada) or 802-258-1397. Price This is the most affordable FredTrain ever! One week of amazing scenery and plenty of music (not just any music - Fred Music!) for $1,989 per person. If you are traveling alone, an optional single supplement of $750 brings you your own hotel room each night if you desire. Otherwise, we will do our best to pair you with another compatible trip member. Or rent your own car (instead of riding the motorcoach), travel at your own pace, joining us for the trains, concerts and hotels: $1,689 per person. $300 USD per person non-refundable deposit by credit card required to hold space. 2% discount on total price if you provide us with monthly postdated checks, sent at time of sign-up. Payments outside of deposit are refundable until 60 days prior to departure. Reservations are transferrable. Trip is limited to 70 patrons. Liability release signature required. Tentative Itinerary Fri. 26 Sept. - Arrival in Albuquerque. Late afternoon welcome reception; evening show, hotel provided. Sat. 27 Sept. - Albuquerque to Durango on chartered motorcoach; afternoon free; evening show, hotel provided. Sun. 28 Sept. - Durango to Silverton onboard the Durango & Silverton narrow gauge steam railroad; afternoon free for hiking, optional mine or jeep tours, etc. Evening show, dinner, hotel provided. Mon. 29 Sept. - Depart Silverton 1:30 pm, return to Durango, motorcoach to Pagosa Springs. Evening free, hotel provided. Tues. 30 Sept. - Day free to explore Pagosa Springs: hiking, fishing, golfing, spas, archaeology, and the hot springs themselves. Dinner, evening show and hotel provided. Wed. 1 Oct. - Depart Pagosa Springs by motorcoach to Chama, NM. Board Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, ride Chama to Osier and return by late afternoon. Lunch, dinner, evening show at High Country restaurant, hotel provided. Thur. 2 Oct. - Depart by motorcoach to Santa Fe; 2-3 hours in Santa Fe, then to Albuquerque. Farewell event. Hotel provided. Fri. 3 Oct. - We go our seperate ways. (Note: Albuquerque Balloon Fest begins on Friday). The Fine Print: The payment of a deposit or any part or full payment for a reservation shall constitute consent to all the provisions contained herein. Flying Under Radar, LLC and Sawdust promotions shall not be held responsible for property loss or damage and/or any damages resulting from illness, personal injuries or death which may be sustained by reason of, or while engaged on, any trip or tour whether due to the ownership, maintenance, use, operation or control of any vehicle, hotel, common carrier or any other conveyance used in carrying out these tours. We can assume no liability due to any cause whatsoever whether caused by failure or delay or other irregularity, acts or omissions occurring during a tour under which the means of transportation or other service thereby is offered or supplied by owners, operators or public carriers for whom Flying Under Radar, LLC acts only as agent. Flying Under Radar, LLC reserves the right (at its discretion) to alter or omit any part of the itinerary, or change any reservation, feature and/or means of conveyance without notice or for any reason whatsoever and without allowance or refund and with extra costs, if any, resulting therefrom paid by the passengers. Lineup subject to change. We reserve the right to cancel any tour prior to departure, in which case payment will be refunded without further obligation on our part. Flying Under Radar, LLC shall not be responsible for any injury to person (whether or not resulting in death) or damage to property. Flying Under Radar, LLC strongly urges individual passengers to obtain appropriate insurance coverage. Baggage is at the owner's risk entirely. The transportation companies concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time passengers are not aboard their carriers or conveyances. The passenger contract in use by the carriers concerned (when issued) shall constitute the sole contract between the transportation companies and the purchaser of these tours and/or passage. By accepting the ticket the passenger also agrees to its terms and conditions. By forwarding of deposit, the passenger certifies that he/she does not have any mental, physical or other condition or disability that would create a hazard for him/herself or other passengers. Flying Under Radar, LLC reserves the right to cancel or withdraw any person as a member of the tour at any time. Back to Top Home | This Week's Newsletter | Bellows Falls | Directions | Press | Links Web site design by Omnivore Media.