3rd to 6th July....Tunnel Drive Hike x 2 & Garden of The Gods.....

Tuesday 3rd July....
After a few rest days and planning our route across country to South Carolina we head back through Canon City  to The Tunnel Drive Trailhead Hike along an old gold rush Railroad Trail ...

As temperatures are still hitting triple digits we had planned to get here early for the 4 mile round trip hike but as it's 11 o'clock we just walk a short way on the trail especially as there is a steep incline at the beginning of the trail before it levels out through the tunnels...

Beautiful views of the Royal Gorge and the Arkansas River....

The Royal Gorge Train on it's return journey to Canon City...
I think I have mentioned that Colorado is suffering many wildfires... today we can see the smoke of 3 active fires from our RV park when we return home, two in the rather ironically named Wet Mountains...
During the afternoon we have sudden gusty winds and big dust swirls, with the dust and smoke we loose sight of the mountains but clear again the next morning.....

Wednesday 4th July....
Happy Independence Day...
Pot Luck Supper at the park....they supply the meat and we all take sides, a good gathering and interaction with fellow campers.....
Temperatures are at a record high 40C....thank goodness for their pool as our lounge area is as hot as outside.......

Thursday 5th July...
We head once more on scenic state route 115 north to Colorado Springs to Garden of the Gods Park.....
This is a free state park, a very good driving route through the park plus hiking, walking and accessible trails....
This is the Siamese Twins rock formation....

Yorkieman and Mrs Blogger dwafted by the rocks... 

We think this pretty chap is a Blue Jay.....

It is as to be expected very busy being the day after Independence Day but still space to stop and enjoy the rock formations...

Our lunch time sandwich view....

Keyhole Window Rock...

We did do a few short walks but although overcast it's very hot....

Pike's Peak from The Garden of the Gods....shrouded in dark clouds......

Another great day out in this very scenic area...
After filling up with diesel in Fort Carson, the cheapest for months we head back home and find our living area is 104F/40C there is definitely something wrong with the a/c !!!!!!
The local mobile RV repairman will come out tomorrow...
Luckily the wind gets up and we have  a heavy rain storm which cools things down a bit, we are so pleased for the locals they are desperate for rain and without lightening...

Friday 6th July...
Ok this morning we do get up early and get to the Tunnel Drive hiking trail early and so worth it...
There are 3 tunnels at the beginning of the trail the third about 150 yards long...

Stunning views of the gorge, river and railroad.....

One of two trestle bridges on the 2 mile trail....

It made us smile that the notice says maximum capacity for bridge is 150 persons....we met about 10 people on the trail.....

Enjoying the fabulous view before heading home to the bad news that our living area a/c unit is toast and they can't get a replacement unit before we are due to leave on Sunday....we need to start heading east and so phone ahead to another mobile RV repairman our stop in Chapman, Kansas.....

Another stunning sunset....

Despite our living area being a no go area and worry about the fridge/freezer which is really struggling we are ok and have so loved this area and this RV park....
When we were in Grand Lake we were fascinated by the hummingbirds...here we are fascinated by two families of plover called Killdeer....if they detect danger one of the parents pretends to have a broken wing to lure prey away from their babies....
Tomorrow we head east to Oakley Kansas...
Until the next post...
The Rather Hot Campers....

29th June....Bishops Castle & The Royal Gorge Railroad......

On the advise of Rex, a great guy from Texas and one of the RV park helpers, we go up into the Wet Mountains to the San Isabel National Forest to Rye and visit this "roadside attraction"....

Bishops Castle.....
Quirky, labour intensive and as one review says whimsical !!
It's all the work of Jim Bishop who in 1959 purchased  a parcel of land to build a family cabin, it's still a work in progress....

You can just see Yorkieman looking up thinking strewth is someone walking across the gantry ???

And yes there is and no we don't not after seeing how flimsy some of the grating is !!!!! 

Part playground and part medieval fantasy....

Entry is free and at own risk....

He is now advertising the castle as a wedding venue....

We did walk out on some of the lower gantries and up via the inside narrow stone steps (much like Cologne Cathedral !!) to the higher levels....

Like it or not it is indeed a work of "art"....and at 9,000ft elevation it is a beautifully cool 78F/23C temperature...
The song for today...
Castles in the Air...Don McLean...

A fun morning and a lovely scenic drive to get to it.....
Also time when we get back to Canon City to park at the depot and catch the 3.30 Royal Gorge Train....

As I mentioned when we visited the Royal Gorge Bridge Park a few days ago the railroad runs through the gorge alongside of the Arkansas River....

Rafters enjoying the Arkansas River....

Entering the narrower area of the gorge....
It's a two hour round trip and although we have comfortable assigned seats we spend most of the journey on the observation deck taking in the views and listening to the information about the history of the train and area....

The first sighting of the suspension bridge...

Suspension bridge, gondola and the frame of the Skycoaster.....

I was quite surprised to have captured these guys as the train was moving and I had just a glimpse of them between the bushes...

This is part of the old "wood stave pipeline" 
For over 70 years Canon City's water supply was carried 8 miles through this 30 inch redwood pipeline until abandoned in 1974...

One of the "Hanging Bridge" supports....an engineering marvel of 1878....
The gorge was too narrow at this point to build a conventional track and a hanging bridge was devised...

The gondola looks rather vulnerable from this shot !!!
On the return journey we stop under the suspension bridge....
This is a tradition that was started by Teddy Roosevelt in 1905 when he and his entourage stopped for a picnic and from then on when he rode the train he would have it stop for a short while at the bridge...the stop is now set at 5 minutes...

In a few days time we will do the Tunnel Drive hike and cross this trestle bridge....

Back home and our lovely view as the sun is starting to set......

Being a bit nostalgic so added in yet another pic of our rig as not too many more weeks of owning our home on wheels...
I'm loving the setting sun effect....

We were back home in time for cook out and grilled pork chops and corn, one of our favourite staples....
And another fabulous sunset on a great day...
Until the next post...
The Very Happy Campers....

27th June.....Royal Gorge Bridge & The Skyline Drive, Colorado....

This is the fabulous view from our home across the prairie to the mountains.....
We really love this RV Park and the owner, Nancy is a real sweetie,  folks say I never stop but she knocks spots of me .......wonder if she would let me drive her Bobcat ????

Today we head just north of Canon City to The Royal Gorge Bridge & Park....
Big tourist attraction but a huge area and plenty of room for all....
This engine built in 1902 pulled freight throughout this area until being retired and resting here on the Royal Gorge overlook....sadly her caboose was destroyed in the big Royal Gorge Fire of  2013....

You have to look closely to see this beautiful hummingbird "sucking" the nectar from the petunia....she/he went into most of the flowers in this pot before flying away, a joy to watch...

Folks at the RV park recommended taking the gondola first and then walking back across the suspension bridge as it's then a downhill walk to the bridge and as the temps are topping 100F/38C we went along with the suggestion !!!

Great views of the gorge and as so often a great chat with a family from Michigan who couldn't believe a couple of Brits had extensively visited their state....

Our first proper views of the Gorge, Arkansas River and the Royal Gorge Railroad....

We discover when we ride the train a few days later that this section of the railroad is called "The Hanging Bridge"...because the gorge here was too narrow, only 30ft wide, to lay track a hanging bridge was built in 1878/79....
We are always amazed at the ingenuity of the worlds early designers, engineers and builders..... 

The suspension bridge spanning the gorge....

This is an "insane" "ride" !!! Hauled back and then catapulted out over the gorge !!!! A few years ago we might have done it !!!

The suspension bridge built in 1929 is one of the worlds highest.....

A nice touch on the bridge is a flag of every state of the USA.....
We had expected a suspension bridge like the one at Grouse Mountain Vancouver but this one was still pretty spectacular and great views down into the gorge....

There is a steady flow of white water rafters going down  the Arkansas River....

We had a really good visit to the Gorge and head back down to Canon City via The Skyline Drive.....
This is the Gateway Arch built in 1932 and uses stone from every state in the union...

The 4 mile Skyline Drive is a narrow one way (thankfully) road over a limestone ridge known as a hogback.....

A view across the valley & part of Canon City....

The road was built in 1905 by inmates of the territorial prison in the town for visitors and residents to enjoy the panoramic views of the Canon City, The Wet Mountains and the Arkansas Valley.....
Canon City is known as the city of prisons having 13 in the surrounding area....
The original territorial prison in town, now federal, houses max security disabled prisoners......

The road is described "not for the faint hearted" !!

800ft drops on both sides...

The view down to US50......

An interesting drive and great views....

Part of historic Canon City....

Another beautiful sunset.....

And a full moon rising...
We have had a really great day, lots of highs (excuse the pun !!) we are so enjoying this area and this RV Park....
No light pollution so clear starry nights...
Until the next post....
The "High" Campers....