Eastern Colorado

 8 times to Colorado, and still have a lot of The Map to fill in. 

1,655 miles.  34 hours and 13 minutes driving time.

Before & after.

Saturday, May 27th, 2023

 

Early flight allowed starting early in Lakewood. It's rare to find a diner this far west.

Then to Far East Center in SW Denver then heading north to the Highlands historic area.

North of downtown is the Forney Museum of Transportation with its 500 or so vehicles.

That includes motorcycles, bicycles and trains.

 

To Central Business District.

Brown Palace Hotel opened in 1892.

It is a steel and iron frame clad in sandstone and red granite.

 

The Palace Arms opened in the hotel in 1950.  It includes a set of Napoleon's dueling pistols.

High tea is a tradition.  I'm not cultured enough to participate.

It took seven times in Denver to get to the Colorado State Capitol and now be able to say every state capitol building has been visited at least once.

More of the Capitol Hill area.

Latimer Square. It was a happy coincidence to be wearing a red, white & blue TNF shirt.

LoDo. (Lower Downtown)

Union Station goes back to 1881. Looks quite good for that age.

Denver Milk Market is a successful food hall.

Hadn't been to 16th Street Mall since 2000. So when I was 6.

Tucked into a leafy neighborhood east of downtown is Liks.  Still don't know what flavor Cheeseman is.....

 

Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum is housed in a hanger built for WWII and later used for the Air Force Academy before it moved to Colorado Springs.

Respect for the military!

Buckhorn is the oldest restaurant in Denver, 1893.

Among the décor are a buffalo shot by Teddy Roosevelt.

Elk and Cornish Game Hen

An hour north of Denver in Johnstown is Johnson's Corners famous Cinnamon Rolls.

The second former missle site I've visited, such a unique vestige of the cold war.

Loveland's energetic downtown.

 

Sunday, May 28th, 2023

Fort Collin's Old Town made it on my favorite towns list.

A balance of old meets new.

Corned Beef Hash and a stupendous Cinnamon Roll at the 1933 Silver Grill Cafe.

Starting the drive going east and then zig-zagging south.

So blessed to see America.

Ripples of time in Sterling.

Akron

Got to Burlington, found the county fairgrounds and the 1905 Kit Karson Carousel.

The neighboring museum was actually well done. And only a dollar.

 

America

Fixer upper.

Pritchett. All of it.

  

Monday, May 29th, 2023

Making a loop in remote south central Colorado.

   

And I'll build my house right...here.

   

Civilization!

   

Heading to east central Colorado.

   

To have breakfast in La Junta. Went with  Huevos Rancheros to have their outstanding homemade green chili.

   

Second time in Pueblo, this time to tour the Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum.

   

B-52 cockpit.

   

Various other cockpits.

 

Get to the choppa!

   

Manitou Springs for lunch.

   

Green Chili Cheese Omelet at Mo's Diner.

   

Has long been on the list.

   

Starting the 19 mile drive.

   

 

That climbs 6,715 feet.

   

No guardrails.

   

Can you see the road serpentining up?

   

Snow getting deeper and deeper.

   

   

Have skied, mountain biked and hiked at altitude with no issues. For some reason, today was feeling the lack of oxygen.

   

Looking toward Denver.

   

Hunk.

The newer summit house.  Imagine getting building materials up here?

   

You can see it has been skied.  That would be a big nope.

   

Rental car passed. Guy in front of me didn't. And you could smell it.

 

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

   

Cripple Creek's population maxed at 50,000 around the 1900s from nearby mines.

   

Astounding views all around.

   

Royal Gorge Bridge and Park.

   

It opened in 1929.  

   

955 feet above the Arkansas River.

   

They have a skycoaster, zip line, gondola, theatre and playland.   Lame-O did the gondola.

   

Well, this correctional facility looks clean and modern.

 

Ripples of time in Canon City.

   

Tuesday, May 30th, 2023

In awe to visit the United States Air Force Academy just north of Colorado City.

To imagine the excellence in training and education among these well maintained buildings and grounds.

Garden of the Gods

Everyone looking at the famous balancing rock. That weights 640 tons. How do they know that?

Reasonably sure I've been to Old Colorado City before.

  

Starting the northerly drive.

Never ceases to stop impressing.

  

 

Yes, will stop for some bakery at a trailer in a small remote town.

  

After a spin through Denver, to Aurora and Stanley Marketplace.