ROYAL GORGE AND ARKANSAS RIVER, COLORADO

Our next to last stop was in Royal Gorge, Colorado where we took a side trip to the Royal Gorge bridge.  It is a "bridge to no where" that you can either walk or drive across. The bridge was built on a bet between two businessmen one of which was a bridge builder. The group decided to walk it, and some of us even looked over the side to the river way below us.  There was a prairie fire last year which devastated the bridge park. Of fifty-two buildings forty-eight were destroyed. We arrived only two weeks after the new visitor center opened and the only other attractions that were open were the bridge and skycoaster over the gorge.

 Ken and I took a two hour train ride through the gorge as well.  The pictures say it all!  A beautiful day, finished off with a beautiful sunset and more entertainment by Ira.

Not to be excluded was the excellent dinner prepared by staff which included Cowboy chili,a Barry specialty, jalapeno cornbread, a great salad and dessert.

ME, SERVING THE CORNBREAD

TERRY DISHING OUT THE SALAD

BARRY DISHES OUT HIS COWBOY CHILE

DAVID IS IT THAT GOOD OF A PHOTO





THE TRAIN APPROACHES BELOW

STOPPED AT THE STATION ON THE HANGING BRIDGE

SUE, IRA AND JOHN MADE IT ACROSS

SOME OF THE GIRLS SKIPPING ACROSS THE BRIDGE WITH WALLY

FOR NOW IT IS THE CLOSEST TO FLORIDA WE CAN GET 

TRACKS OF THE INCLINED RAILWAY, NOT CURRENTLY IN OPERATION

OLD RIO GRANDE STEAMER THAT USE TO TRAVEL TH GORGE

SKYLINE DRIVE

TRIP ON THE ROYAL GORGE ROUTE TOURIST TRAIN

RIDING THE TRAIN ALONG THE ARKANSAS RIVER

STOPPED ON THE ONE OF A KIND SUSPENSION BRIDGE SUPPORTED

 BY THE CANYON WALLS. WAS BUILT DUE TO THE GORGE BEING TOO 

NARROW TO BUILD ROAD BED

REMAINS OF OLD WOODEN WATER PIPE THAT SUPPLIED CANON CITY
WATER UNTIL RECENTLY

THE BRIDGE AND SKY COASTER ABOVE

AN OLD STEAMER

THE CURRENT ENGINE

THIS CAR LOOKS FAMILIAR. IT USED TO BE ON THE ALASKA RAILROAD ON THE ANCHORAGE TO FAIRBANKS PART OF THE RAIL AND CRUISE THAT HOLLAND AMERICA HAS

IRA PLAYS HARD TO GET US AN OUTSTANDING SUNSET

THERE! ISN'T IT GORGEOUS

DURANGO, COLORADO

Of course Durango, as well as the rest of the trip, is out west so what goes along with cowboys and Indians?  Well Terry figured Mexican, so we had a staff prepared Mexican dinner which was enjoyed by all.

The highlight of the stop of course is the trip on the Durango and Silverton railroad. While waiting for the bus we got an extra show of horses on their way to a parade on Durango's Main Street. We rode up to Silverton by bus which accounts for all the beautiful  mountain pictures. After arriving in Silverton we all had lunch at Handlebars restaurant where we have eaten before on previous visits. Then of course there was time for shopping with end of the season bargains.  Then there was the train trip back through the river valley back to Durango, the pictures say it all.

Buy the way not all the pictures posted on the blog during this trip are mine so I wish to thank Marilyn, Timmy and others who have contributed pictures. 

MORE FOOD MEXICAN NIGHT

AND MARGARITAS

SOMEONE GRAB MO -  NO UNDERAGE DRINKING!

AND DON'T FORGET DESSERT

TWO PEAS IN A POD

LINDA, KATHY, TIM AND JAN WAITING FOR THE BUS

ON THE ROAD UP THE MOUNTAINS TO SILVERTON

JOAN ITS NOT THAT BAD

DOWNTOWN SILVERTON
The only paved street

ARRIVING FROM DURANGO

DAVID AND SUE WITH MO

MARILYN AND BRIAN