Week 108 - Royal Gorge and Amarillo - 09-07-2008

A Huge Howdy from Texas,

This week's trip took us from Pueblo, Colorado to Amarillo, Texas. Part of trip we followed the Arkansas River. The headwaters of the Arkansas River start in central Colorado. The river flows 1,469 miles through Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas before dumping into the Mississippi. Before reaching Pueblo the river cuts a path through Royal Gorge. Have you heard of Royal Gorge, Colorado? Really? Well, we never have, but came across it in a Colorado visitor guide.

The River Walk in Pueblo is beautiful. It surrounds a canal of water siphoned off of the Arkansas River. While on the River Walk Pete joined a pick up game with the local stiffs.

Ellen and the wildflowers enjoy the sun rise at Royal View Campground near Canon City, Colorado.

At 1,053 feet above the Arkansas River, the Royal Gorge Bridge, when built, was the highest suspension bridge in the world. The 1/4 mile long bridge is supported by two large cables anchored at either end. While automobiles can cross the bridge (but not 33,000 lb motorhomes), it was constructed as a tourist attraction. Had we been able to cross it with our motorhome, we would have saved 12 miles on our journey.

Over the years, they added restaurants, lodging, gift shops, an Incline Railway to reach the canyon bottom, an Aerial Tram to cross over the top of the canyon, a carousel, kid's train, burro rides, mule team wagon rides, a trolley, a "Royal Rush Skycoaster" and more. Other than that it is just another amazing engineering feat. The park entrance fee is $24 per person, unless you get there before 9 am and save $10 each. It includes all rides except for the skycoaster.

It was fun to see big horn sheep and the multi-colored bison.

1) This is the view from the base of the Skycoaster. The skycoaster is a 100 foot tall, free fall tower, that swings you through the sky, 1200 feet above the Arkansas River. The skycoaster, for those crazy enough to ride it, is an additional $27. No, thanks, we can toss our cookies by just looking down from the bridge! 2) The view of the bridge looking up from the Arkansas River.

The large cables supporting the bridge are actually 2,100 strands of Number 9 galvanized wire (what looks like a heavy weight coat hanger). The original "cables" were anchored at one spot as shown in photo No. 4. The original single anchors were replaced by 18 anchors holding about 116 cables each. It required 8,400 wire splices to cut and re-anchor the cables.

The Incline Railway carries you down 1200 feet in about 5 1/2 minutes at a 45 degree (100% grade) slope.

At the bottom trains and rafters get a close view of the canyon.

1) The aerial tram was included in the price, but we preferred taking its photo. 2) "My name is Edith Ann."

Oh yeah, did we mention that the Royal Gorge Bridge was built in six months, between June and November of 1929! We have been most amazed by the incredible engineering feats completed in the USA in the early 1900's.

Suddenly, I rate this email Great! In 2013 a fire consumed Royal Gorge.

The drive from Parkdale, CO, south, follows the Arkansas River for 14 miles on Colorado Highway 69. Simply gorgeous!

We made our way out of Colorado, through New Mexico, to Amarillo, Texas. The entire trip through the Texas panhandle was mostly flat, as shown below.

It was a delightful surprise to visit Palo Duro Canyon State Park 25 miles south of Amarillo. Far from flat, you can drive from the rim of the canyon to the floor and through a few miles of the more than 10 miles of canyon. The road runner and wild turkey kept us company part of the way.

Next week we head off to Oklahoma and Arkansas. Yeehaw!

Love, Pete and Ellen

Photos from Sep 2008