Brian's Journal: Day 27 Royal Gorge and Royal Gouge
Another glorious day of waking up in the mountains! Martin and Caroline rode out of Pueblo after 8:00. The temperature was in the seventies but a dry climate and cool mountain air made for a breezy ride. Jeremy drove the RV and I was drove with Caroline’s Acura RSX. I hadn’t driven in a month and I was excited to zigzag through Colorado canyons. At the start of the ride, I drove straight for miles as mountains in front grew increasingly bigger. Once we got into the mountains twists and turns were as frequent as changes in speed limit. Signs changed speed from thirty-five miles around a curve to sixty-five back on a straight section of road in a blink of the eye. I pinched myself every couple of miles to reminded myself of the sheer magnitude of the rock faces and the dazzling arrangement of teal and green foliage. Colorado is incredible!
Martin and Caroline had to deal with more heat today, but managed an impressive fort-two miles through rolling hills. I had drove ahead to Westcliffe and talked to an old-timer outside a bar. He told me how tough doing business was in town. Every year a couple of places faded out of existence and new ones took their place or owners changed. As I was walking back to Caroline's car I told him we were planning to go to Royal Gorge later. He yelled, “Have fun at the Royal Gouge.” I said thanks thinking that I misheard him. After an hour’s drive and a thousand big yellow “You’re almost there” signs that I got the man's meaning. We drove all the way to find out the price to see the gorge was a whopping $25 a person! We were stunned by this highway robbery, but Martin generously paid for us since we had traveled so far to see, "the big hole in the ground".
We did not ride the aerial tram across the gorge. We did walk across the rickety wooden planks of the Royal Gorge Bridge. Built in 1929 for $350,000 (present day cost of fifteen million), the bridge hangs 1,053 feet above the Arkansas River. It is the world’s highest suspension bridge. While it may be renowned as a legendary feat of engineering, it seemed dangerous for both pedestrians and cars. The wind was swaying the wooden boards beneath our feet. A fully loaded trolley forced me to the side as it passed making the bridge shake even more.
Also noteworthy is the Incline Railway,. Built in 1931, and featuring a 45-degree angle, the world’s steepest incline railway is still considered one of the most difficult structures ever built. As impressive as the bridge, tram and train are, a slew of commercialization around the gorge make a once naturally beautiful landmark scared by over-the-top commercialism. Time to drive back to Westcliffe and get a good night sleep for tomorrow!
B