We moved on down (actually up) the road to South Fork, Colorado so that we could explore the Silver Thread Scenic Byway between South Fork and Lake City. The hiway shadows the upper reaches of the Rio Grande (did you know the Rio Grande began in Colorado? I didn't!) As we moved up to higher elevations we passed North Clear Creek Falls, a natural phenomenon called Slumgullion earth slide, evidence of century old
mining, and awsome mountain scenery.
One of the reasons we decided to come to Colorado this summer was because we had spent our honeymoon here 40 years ago! To celebrate this significant anniversay we thougt it might be fun to retrace our steps. I have a few photos that I had taken back then so we know a few locations and can guess on a route we might have taken.
One stop we had to revisit was Royal Gorge near Canon City. So we spent a good afternoon exploring the "park." We have fleeting memories of the suspension bridge (highest in the world) and the incline railway to the bottom (steepest in the world so the sign says) but little else. I think the bridge has remained pretty much the same, however am surprised you can still drive across it, plank bridge deck clattering as you inch across at 5 mph or less. But the area has turned into a theme park of sorts, an
arial tram and thrill ride, petting zoo and multi gift shops that I don't think were here 40 years ago. The gorge is still mighty impressive--best view still from walking across the bridge. Lots of people white water rafting the class IV spring waters of the Arkansas River through the gorge. We watched a kayaker get flipped out in a swell. The kayak stayed in the whirlpool and he went crashing down the stream. His head remained above water until we could no longer see him around a bend so we assume he was ok.
We tried to duplicate some of the old wedding trip pictures at a couple of scenic spots along the Arkansas River. We found one spot that could be it by comparing mountain landscape shapes in the background. There was a big pine tree and rocks overlooking the river. . .suppose it is the same tree? Af
ter 40 years?! So much has changed in 40 years—except us. . .well maybe a little.
One thing we do recall from the honeymoon is having pizza and Coors beer in Canon City. That was back in the days when you couldn’t get Coors outside of Colorado. So we stopped at a local pizza place for a romantic (?) dinner and a tall Coors.
mining, and awsome mountain scenery.One of the reasons we decided to come to Colorado this summer was because we had spent our honeymoon here 40 years ago! To celebrate this significant anniversay we thougt it might be fun to retrace our steps. I have a few photos that I had taken back then so we know a few locations and can guess on a route we might have taken.
One stop we had to revisit was Royal Gorge near Canon City. So we spent a good afternoon exploring the "park." We have fleeting memories of the suspension bridge (highest in the world) and the incline railway to the bottom (steepest in the world so the sign says) but little else. I think the bridge has remained pretty much the same, however am surprised you can still drive across it, plank bridge deck clattering as you inch across at 5 mph or less. But the area has turned into a theme park of sorts, an
arial tram and thrill ride, petting zoo and multi gift shops that I don't think were here 40 years ago. The gorge is still mighty impressive--best view still from walking across the bridge. Lots of people white water rafting the class IV spring waters of the Arkansas River through the gorge. We watched a kayaker get flipped out in a swell. The kayak stayed in the whirlpool and he went crashing down the stream. His head remained above water until we could no longer see him around a bend so we assume he was ok.We tried to duplicate some of the old wedding trip pictures at a couple of scenic spots along the Arkansas River. We found one spot that could be it by comparing mountain landscape shapes in the background. There was a big pine tree and rocks overlooking the river. . .suppose it is the same tree? Af
ter 40 years?! So much has changed in 40 years—except us. . .well maybe a little.One thing we do recall from the honeymoon is having pizza and Coors beer in Canon City. That was back in the days when you couldn’t get Coors outside of Colorado. So we stopped at a local pizza place for a romantic (?) dinner and a tall Coors.
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