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Today was a one of a kind thoroughly terrific day. From the moment I got on the bike, until 10 minutes ago I have been thoroughly immersed in sensory Utopia!
As I began the day, I rode 10 miles from Florence to Canon City and felt the legs loosening up and getting ready for a great day.
I had breakfast at a cute little Diner in Canon City named Big Daddy’s and I loved the full plate of pancakes, eggs, ham and hash browns.
That gave me the energy to begin my climb up to the Royal Gorge!
It was 5 miles uphill off route, but I am so glad I went there!
The Suspension Bridge was commissioned and built in 1928 by Canon City and what a great move!
Now there is a full industry of tourist attractions ranging from a train rides, river rafting, bungee jumping, zip line and Gondola. There are numerous campgrounds and Restaurants as well. Canon City seems to thriving thanks to the Bridge.
Total Tourist Trap but the gorge is incredibly awe inspiring.
A lot like peering into the Grand Canyon.
I paid $19 dollars to
walk across the bridge and take some pictures and I’m glad I did! It is really an adrenaline rush to look 1200 feet down to see the river!
Hopefully my pictures can do it a fraction of the justice it deserves!
As I was leaving, my new friends Pat and Jane Scanlon invited me down to their campground for lunch.
I stayed there for a long time just enjoying their company, munching on chips and guacamole and then a wonderful lunch.
So great to just be sitting in a comfy chair with my new friends!
Finally though, I had to get going and continued another 25 miles of gradual and not so gradual climbing up to Guffey.
The final two miles were the steepest of the day of course!
I arrived in Guffey starving and thirsty and had a great meal at the Bull Moose Cafe and drank lots of water!
It’s just so much better than the WARM WATER in our water bottles after hours of riding!
Weary, but very content with the wonderful day of taking in the Rockies, I rode uphill again to the Rustic Cabins where I heard
you could get a bunk for $10.
The rumor was true! Not only could you get a bed and warm shower, but you got to drink all the beer you desired and be entertained by the very unique owner Bill.
Bill moved up here as a hippy in 1971 to get away from civilization. Wow! He sure did!
He practically owns the town now; (full disclosure, you will see from the pictures that it is mostly a ghost town!)
My bed for tonight is a piece of plywood hanging from the wall of this tiny little cabin.
It is a reenactment of a prospector’s cabin in the gold rush.
I pulled out the camping gear and will be dry so that will suffice.
There are six of us here, ( the other five are in the bunkhouse which used to be the assayer’s office.)
The old City Hall is now the Museum and Bill hangs out at his Garage(?) where he holds court telling stories of the old days partying with his Hippie friends!
He really is an entertaining guy.
It seems he thrives in bikers passing through because he
is feuding with the newcomers who own the three restaurants in Guffey.
(It puzzles me how three restaurants can survive but apparently they do.)
Colin, one of the five other, (much younger!) riders pulled out at banjo; Bill pulled out his harmonica and the two of them played bluegrass for a good hour.
( wish I could show you a picture but my phone went dead!)
It was like they had rehearsed for weeks!
I am suddenly a big fan of Bluegrass.
Well my partially recharged battery is getting very low so I have got to sign out for today.
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