Monday, Christy and I went sightseeing. She has very little riding time so we took my truck. First we went to Pike's Peak. We headed to Manitou Springs and rode the cog train up the mountain. That was a wise decision as it had snowed the night before. The train is a little pricey but worth it. They point out all kinds of interesting thing on the way up. Here's where the maintenance crew used to live.
Five guys used to share one room downstairs and the foreman got to have his wife and kids with him. They also told us about a couple who decided to hike the mountain on their honeymoon back in 1911. The last train of the day stopped and offered to take them down as a really bad storm was coming in. They refused and were found under 6 feet of snow the next morning. The train employees erected this cross where they were found.
Then we got to the summit and had 70 minutes to freeze our
off. On our way back down, they told us the temp was 20* with a windchill of 10*. I don't believe it for a minute. I got this pic of the windsock standing straight out so I know it had to be around 0*.
Here's a pic of me at the sign. You can tell I wasn't dressed for it.
We took pics at the sign just off the train, went inside to warm up, then back out to take the pic at this sign and the rest of the pics. Afterward we went back in for hot cocoa and fudge covered doughnuts. Cost about $12 for that. The tourist shop and little snack bar will rip you a new one.
This is a plaque dedicated to the woman who wrote the song America, the Beautiful. They told us she wrote it after seeing the mountains, especially Pike's Peak, and prairies of Colorado.
Here's a view looking toward Colorado Springs. Apparently on a clear day you can see Kansas and Oklahoma.
On the train ride back down, the conductor pointed out this rock formation they call Bonaparte. Can't understand why.
Here's a pic of the hiking trail for those who want to climb up or walk down the Peak. They say it takes about 6 hours to do either. I don't understand why you would want to do that when God gave us Valkyries.
After leaving Manitou Springs, we headed for Garden of the Gods. A truly awesome place.
I tried not to squint but that sun was really bright.
Since I had been talking about Bishop's Castle a lot, I knew I had to take Christy to see it. This time there weren't any crowds and the sun was out which made it warmer than Sunday. When I was there Sunday, Misfit said the place wasn't built to code. Here's a pic of the pins holding the balcony onto the wall.
The home made crane Mr. Bishop uses to get materials up the outside of the castle.
The Great Hall's Dragon Head is pretty impressive. It's made from recycled stainless steel hospital trays. The nostrils are the wood burning stove's chimney and it can breathe fire. They replaced the fire breathing system with an upgraded one that can shoot fire out 60 feet but they're a little scared to use it as it could set the trees on fire.
Remember that tower I chickened out in climbing. Here's a pic of me on top Monday afternoon.
Here's a better pic of the castle in the sun. If you're in the area you should see it. It's west of Pueblo and about 24 miles northwest of Colorado City on Highway 165.
I was in a weekend Public Speaking class this past weekend and decided to do my first speech on Bishop's Castle. In doing some research, I discovered the metal dome on one of the other towers will turn if someone runs in it. I might have to try that out next time.
After getting back to Colorado Springs, we loaded the I/S and packed the truck for the journey home.
Because of the road construction in New Mexico, Old Grouch gave us a route out of town and back toward Texas. A little over an hour east of Colorado Springs, we ran across this community and I just had to take a pic of the sign since Moonshine lives in Pumpkin Center, LA.
To tell you the truth, after driving through the Colorado plains almost to the Kansas state line then cutting south on US 287, I thought we would never get out of the state but we did.
We decided we wanted to get through Dallas/Fort Worth before catching a hotel but about 9:30 that night I was starving so we stopped at a truckstop on the north side of Alvord, TX on US 287. They had a restaurant called the Hot Skillet. The food is awesome. I got the Big Texan omelet. It filled one side of the platter from end to end and the home fries took up the other side with four pieces of toast. I almost had to be rolled out of the place.
If you're ever in the area check it out. We hit a Super 8 in Teller, TX about 1 am and crashed. We checked out 5 minutes ahead of the deadline and hit the road. After stopping for a late lunch in West Monroe, LA we went to Ocean Springs, MS where I borrowed some ATV ramps from a buddy then up got up to Lucedale about 11 p.m.
All in all, it was an excellent adventure. I just wish I had more time to spend exploring Colorado. Misfit and Old Grouch have both invited me back and said I need at least a week to spend. That might happen this summer.
Marty
