Colorado Trip 2015

It's been two years since we last visited Colorado, and I've missed it. This year we planned a 5-day trip (June 4-9) spending 2 days in Royal Gorge, where we have never visited, and 2-1/2 days in Denver with family. 

June 4:  Arrived in Denver late Thursday night, 6/4.  Drove our rental car to Renee's where we stayed overnight.  

June 5: The next morning we left for Royal Gorge, about 2.5 hours southwest of Denver.   We arrived in Canon City around noon.  We have an overnight motel reservation, so we checked in, then went to visit the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park

Views from the Gondola, taken one way over the Gorge

Views of the gondolas taken from the highest point in the park, on the other side of the bridge:

Views of the Visitor Center from the other side of the Bridge:

A swing ride and a photographer

We walked across the bridge to get back to the visitor center on the other side, 

about a 1/4 mile walk

Flags of all 50 states were displayed along the length of the bridge

After we left the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, we drove back toward Canon City and made a detour on Skyline Drive, which had been recommended to us by the motel desk clerk.  It was a narrow (one-way) winding road along a high ridge, with incredible views to either side!

Bob, with Canon City behind and below. 

Sue on the other side, with mountains in the background.

Skyline Drive, straight ahead!

View ahead of us

View behind us

Back in Canon City, we had an early dinner at the Royal Gorge Brewing Co, where we enjoyed good food and drinks, then dessert at the Cup and Cone, just a block away!

By that time we were ready to crash, from a combination of lack of sleep from the night before and the altitude (we were at 9,000+ feet!), so we returned to the motel and turned in early. More excitement tomorrow!

June 6: today we'll ride on the Royal Gorge Railroad.  We reserved tickets in the Club Car, so we can sit and enjoy breakfast, while riding along the Arkansas River, through Royal Gorge Canyon. 

Boarding the train, employees took our photo

Club car view

Beautiful views as the train chugged through the gorge

Royal Gorge Bridge ahead

Under the Royal Gorge Bridge

The gondolas seen from below

Bob on the train

Selfie

There are still prospectors here in this old gold mining area, hoping to find a new vein! 

Here is a prospector we saw from the train, panning for gold along the Arkansas River, as the train chugged past!

After the train returned to Cañon City, it was time to start our drive back to Denver; we had dinner plans with Renee and some long lost cousins at 7:00PM. But we decided we had time to take the scenic way back, so off we went on the Gold Belt Byway.  We tried to go by way of Phantom Canyon Road, but after just a few miles, we found it was washed out due to recent heavy rains, so we turned around and went a bit further north to pick up the High Park Road (CO highway 67).

Big Sky!

Route 50 through Canon City toward Highway 67

Scenic valley views

Looking down at the town of Cripple Creek

Going through the town of Cripple Creek, a mixture of modern and old west!

with burros wondering the streets

Past Cripple Creek, we were in some high mountain terrain, 

with breathtaking views around every bend in the road

Then on to highways and Denver and Chinese Food with long-lost cousins!

June 7:  Spent the day with Ellen, Baschen and Keston.  We played on a playground, bought sandwiches at a great sandwich place and took them to a park for a picnic.  Then we "jumped water" with Baschen.  By mid-afternoon, we returned to Ellen's house, and helped prepare for a homemade dinner with cousins Merv & Myrna.  Jon cooked some delicious food, and there was great wine and desserts.   

June 8:  Spent the day with Renee, Baschen and Keston.  We visited Jack at the cemetary, as well as Aunt Shirley and Marvin.  The kids were great most of the day.  In the evening we had supper at Renee's that we helped prepare, again with cousins Merv & Myrna.  

Early morning bunny in Renee's yard!

We miss you, Jack!

 Baschen & Keston at Jack's grave

Baschen & Keston at Great Grandma Shirley's grave

Baschen and Keston at Marvin's grave

At 8PM we left Renee's for the airport, returned the rental car and caught the first leg of our flight home.  We arrived at Logan airport at 5AM, where we had to go through security again (Bad, jetBlue!) and arrived without incident in Buffalo around 8AM.  Breakfast on the way home, then picked up our sweet Kirby at the vet, and on to home, arriving 11:30-ish.  

All is well and it was a short but great trip!  Already looking forward to next time!

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