Day 12 - Royal Gorge

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After 5 days in Alamosa, we headed northeast today to Canon City (about a 3 hour drive) to see Royal Gorge. The views are spectacular here as you look down into the gorge over 1000 feet below. And for 2 civil engineers this is the site of at least 3 engineering feats. The first is the 2000 ft span wood decked bridge that is the highest suspension bridge in the world, the second is the Otis elevator which takes you down a 45 degree incline to the bottom of the gorge, and the third is the cantilevered railroad bridge at the bottom of the gorge which carried freight and now passenger trains. We took a walk across the bridge (you can look down through the wood slats to the gorge) and then took the aerial tramway back across. The park continues to expand and includes a theater, shops, petting zoo, wildlife viewing area, and a recreated western town. From Royal Gorge we headed further north to Colorado Springs where we had the chance to catch up with the Rafferty's and have dinner - it's hard to believe that it's been nearly 6 years since we have seen each other. And as all good days end a swim in the hotel pool topped the evening.

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Comments

[grandpa jack]

bet your dad was in 7th heaven.