Colorado 2023 - Day 3

Photo by: Tim Bindner

Day 3: June 15, 2023

I woke up early again. Still on Eastern Standard Time. I took a shower, took my medicine, and waited for Marcie to wake up. Our plan today was to drive a big loop and see what we could see. Today’s driving total was 92.6 miles.

This trip to Colorado, I adjusted easily to the altitude change. In 2021, I got off the airplane in Denver and immediately had a headache for over a day. This time, not the case. I still struggled when walking or hiking to catch my breath, but no other side effects.

I sat at the kitchen island and stared out at the Collegiate Mountains before me. The sun was touching the tips of the peaks and the snow glistened. There was a light cloud that covered the peaks, and the blue sky in the background enhanced the features of the mountain. I sat there in awe.

I drove into Buena Vista, where we filled up on fuel and then filled up our tummies at Rooster Crow Café. We both ordered Early Bird Specials. Marcie had a biscuit and sausage gravy with two eggs (scrambled). I ordered the Fried Potatoes, meat of choice (crispy bacon) and French toast. I also was given hot tea (English Breakfast).

As we waited, there was a group of men sitting to the right of us at a table. Like Jan’s Restaurant, we learned later in the week that these were locals and regulars (we saw them the other times we ate at these two places). Old guys retired and talked about various things. Some I cannot repeat here.

I drove back south until heading East on Highway 285. Our first stop was two miles away at Chubb Park. We pulled off the paved road onto a single dirt track. The GPS said we had one mile to our destination and the literature we read stated “interesting rock features”. As we arrived, there were no rocks other than the ones on the road, and we were in an enormous field. I did a quick turnaround and headed back to Highway 285.

Turning left (east) our next destination was Trout Creek Pass. Only a few miles down this paved highway, we went up and over Trout Creek Pass, barely noticing anything. Strike two.

We then made a right turn (south) at Antero Junction and drove toward a town called Hartsel. The road was scary and the views on both sides were spectacular. We had the Collegiate Mountain Range to our right and the Boreas Mountains to our left.

I soon was in Hartsel then quickly out of Hartsel before I knew it. I made a right turn on Highway 9, where the road was straight and unoccupied. Two miles down, Marcie spotted some bison on the side of the road, and I stopped in the middle of the road so she could shoot one.

This stretch of road was long and honestly looked a lot like Indiana. I pulled over and let Marcie drive for a while. So far, this was turning out to be a not so good day.

Highway 9 intersected Highway 50, where we turned right and headed back toward Buena Vista. Things all the sudden changed. I saw the roaring Arkansas River and we were entering Big Horn Sheep Canyon. It is also known as the Royal Gorge Canyon.

As we descended into the valley, the sights were unbelievable. To the right of us was the Arkansas river. Next to that was a railroad track, then the rocky hills of the gorge. The colors were amazing as well. Reds, oranges, sand color, and slight hints of rust. To the left was a mirror of the hills to the right of us. As Marcie drove, we got deeper into the canyon and the hills on both sides got taller. We stopped at a rest stop so Marcie could relieve herself and I then took command of driving. Long twisty road through towns Parkdale, Texas Creek, Cotopaxi, Coaldale, Howard and eventually we stopped in Salida for lunch.

Our trip through Big Horn Canyon provided us a view of white-water rafters, kayakers and a few hikers and the river paralleled the road the entire trip.

In Salida we ate at Moonlight Pizza and Brewhouse. I had 2 slices of pizza (one pepperoni and the other cheese) along with a hand-crafted root beer. Marcie had a slice of cheese and water. Whether it was a case of being hungry or the food was that good. It disappeared quickly.

We walked around the town and stopped in a local shop that had shirts, hats, and sweatshirts. I noticed a hat and the little old lady came from behind the counter to give me the story of the hat. She was under 5 feet tall, so little is an accurate statement.

On March 1, 2019, the new Colorado State logo was announced. A 13-year-old boy won a competition where he submitted the logo. The hat I bought has that new logo on it.

Green Tree represent natural resources and evergreens on the mountains.

Red represents the red soil and red rocks that make up the mountain.

Yellow represents the abundant sunshine and golden wheat raised out east on the plains.

Blue represents all the water, lakes, creeks, and rivers.

The 3 peaks represent the mountain ranges.

In 2022 that 13-year-old turned 16 and got his driver’s license. That logo, he designed, is on his license. How cool is that?

As we drove back to our ‘home’ we took a short drive to St. Elmo’s Ghost town. Up a dusty dirt road bordered by Aspen trees, we arrived there in no time. I parked in a makeshift parking lot, and we walked around the town, checking out the old buildings. We then made our way to the General Store (which used to be the old Miner’s Exchange). I purchased a hat; Marcie got a hat and t-shirt.

St. Elmo Colorado was officially founded in 1880. Gold and Silver Mining brought many people to the area. There were over 150 Patented mine claims in the St. Elmo area. Populations reached a high of nearly 2000 people. The DSP&P (Denver South Park & Pacific Railroad) laid their tracks up to St. Elmo and continued the line through Romley then to Hancock and through the Historic Alpine Tunnel. St. Elmo was considered a Hub town for supplies arriving by train. The tracks were abandoned in 1922. It is said that St. Elmo’s population rode the last train out of town and never came back.

The highlight of this destination came when we bought 2 bags of sunflower seeds and walked over to see the chipmunks. Marcie sat down, filled her hand with seeds and within seconds had a little fella literally eating out of her palm. There are so many chipmunks and so many people feed them. They eat right out of your hand without hesitation.

We ended the long day by visiting the Midland Tunnels, Chalk Creek and stopping to take a photograph at Maxwell School. Famished, we stopped by Casa Sanchez 3 where I ate the Chipotle enchiladas and Marcie had the kids’ chicken quesadilla.

Links for places I referenced below.

Until next time,

Tim

Rooster Crow Cafe – http://places.singleplatform.com/roosters-crow-cafe/menu?ref=google

Big Horn Sheep Canyon – https://royalgorgeregion.com/bighorn-sheep-canyon/

St. Elmo’s Ghost Town – http://www.st-elmo.com/

Midland Tunnels – https://www.uncovercolorado.com/activities/midland-railroad-tunnels/

Chalk Creek – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chalk_Creek

Maxwell School – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxwell_Park_School

Casa Sanchez 3 – https://www.casasanchez-mexicanrestaurant.com/menu