• Stewncarol
  • Stewncarol

On The Road Again 2017

A 122-day adventure by Stewncarol Read more
  • Royal Gorge Bridge Park - Canon City, CO

    July 30, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    A whopping 955' above the Arkansas River The Royal Gorge Bridge was the tallest in the world until 2001. It's 1260' long and 18' wide and has all the states flag along it. Braved the gondola but gave the zip line a miss. Spectacular view of the Gorge from the bridge and many overlooks on both sidesRead more

  • Pueblo State Park - Pueblo, CO

    August 1, 2017 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 22 °C

    Great campground overlooking the lake and marina. Each site has picnic table, shelter and fire pit. Lots of birds and spectacular sunset this evening. See the moon in the photo of the clouds reflecting in the window. Had dinner outside and are now having our first campfire in ages with a wee tot of bourbon to round off the day !!Read more

  • Pueblo State Park Hike

    August 2, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Morning hike up round the cliffs behind the campground. Great views over the lake and the mountains beyond. Walked up a canyon and saw lots of colourful wildflowers, birds mud nests stuck on the cliff, not sure who the occupants would have been, oh and a snake curled up under some vegetation on the trail edge. Lucky I saw it before I walked past, Stew took the photo and we've identified it as a prairie rattlesnake We walked off the trail round it to be on the safe side.Read more

  • Historic Arkansas Riverside Walk

    August 6, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Sunday stroll around the park commemorating the old route of the Arkansas river before it was diverted following the 1921 flood. Really lovely park with stunning bronze statues. Interesting visit to the El Pueblo History Museum. Followed by a beer at a local craft brewery.Read more

  • San Isabel NF - CO

    August 7, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Scenic and Historic Byway drive through Hardscrabble Canyon in the San Isabel National Forest on a drizzly day. Birthday cake stop in the canyon surrounded by cliffs and trees with spectacular mountains as a backdrop. Drove up a forest road that had dry camping sites, one occupied with an old motorhome.Read more

  • Bishops Castle - San Isabel NF

    August 7, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    Amazing place built by one man, Jim Bishop, over the last 48 years. He's still working on it at 73 and is a real character who has had to fight the authorities to achieve his dream. Free to view and climb all over and is funded by donations. Castle website is an interesting read. Stew was braver than me and climbed up to the top and crossed the metal bridge !!Read more

  • COS Rodeo - Colorado Springs, CO

    August 9, 2017 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 16 °C

    Shout out to everyone at COS Rodeo, it went ahead despite the thunderstorms before and during the event. Kids were Mutton Bustin', young lads Steer Ridin', girls Barrel Racin' and (fearless) men Bronco and Bull Ridin'. Great evening's entertainment with a tasty Chuck Wagon dinner. Check out the guy riding the longhorn !!Read more

  • Pikes Peak, CO

    August 10, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C

    Thunderstorms at 05:30, but forecast to clear. 08:00 sun is shining so.... Weather, check. Warm clothes, check (Stew's only warm hat is a 'Wee Jimmy' cap), Drinks & snacks, check. Ready to drive up to the top of Pikes Peak. It's a 2-lane highway which climbs and switchbacks 8000' all the way to the top, to an elevation of 14,115'. Great to have lots of turnouts to stop and take in the awesome views of the plains to the south and the Rocky Mountains to the north. Air here is thin and so no rushing around. Glad we drove instead of taking the cog railway.Read more

  • Pikes Peak - Double Cut

    August 10, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Elevation 12,300'. Great turnout with typical alpine terrain and we walked out round the rocks on small trails amazed to find all kinds of wildflowers growing in nooks and crannies, even thistles and bluebells !! Rocks are fantastic, layers pushed up vertically and others lying where they fell from the higher peaks.Read more

  • Pikes Peak - Glen Cove

    August 10, 2017 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 17 °C

    Elevation 11,500'. Walked in through the trees to the bottom of the towering cliff. Found lots of rusty cans, so this must have been an old camp from way back and they would have got their water from a small creek. Surprised to see different types of fungi growing in among the rocks and trees. A great place to chill out and have a snack.Read more

  • Old Colorado City, CO

    August 11, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    An interesting walk round the Old Colorado City History Museum, followed by a walk up the main street. Surprised to find The Queen at the British Tea Room, had a chat with the owner, a lady originally from Brighton, she gave us a free cup of PG Tips tea each to take away. Lots of arty shops, old buildings and murals. Rain started so we headed back to the car and drove to our next stop, a bar !!Read more

  • Bristol Brewing Co - Colorado Springs

    August 11, 2017 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 18 °C

    Wanted to pay a visit after tasting their Cheyenne Canon Piñon Nut beer at the Royal Gorge. Amazed when we arrived to find it in the old Ivywild school building. They didn't have the beer we'd tried so we decided on a tasting. Pretty good range of beers, highlights were the Red Rocket Pale Ale and The Laughing Lab Scottish Ale. They brew the beer onsite and also gave a gift shop, cocktail bar called 'The Principal's Office' and a bakery. Carrying on the school theme the restrooms walls were every educational !!Read more

  • Highway 24 to Buena Vista, CO

    August 13, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Amazing scenic road climbing up and down through canyons and over passes, the view as we left the Pike National Forest was stunning over the flat high plain to The Collegiate Peaks of the Sawatch Range in The Rocky Mountains. Spending a few days at Snowy Peaks RV Park exploring.Read more

  • Lost Lake - Cottonwood Pass, Buena Vista

    August 14, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Noticed sign in town said Cottonwood Pass was closed as we drove to the Chamber of Commerce, which doubles as a visitor centre. The very helpful lady there gave us maps and info and more importantly told us that we could drive up to the top of Cottonwood Pass to the Continental Divide. The road is closed down the other side for resurfacing, hence the closed sign. Also about a good hike near the top to Lost Lake. The drive in was spectacular, through the forest following the river, even saw beaver dams and a lodge. Superb trail through forest, clearings and across streams to the beautiful lake nestled at the foot of the mountains. Air is thin up here at around 11,000' and we were out of breath on even small climbs, so slowly does it. Lots of birds, wildflowers and fungi (that's Stew!!!). Afterwards we drove up to the top, 12,126' and were treated again to fantastic views. Oh, and the weather was perfect, sunshine and a few clouds and temps in the mid 70's F.Read more

  • Breckenridge, CO

    August 15, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Road trip in the Jeep from Buena Vista to Breckenridge, CO. Lovely drive up the Arkansas river, over mountain passes, passed by lakes and through old mining towns on the way. Some of Breckinridge seemed familiar, but it looks so different in its summer colours. There's so many more buildings since we were here 13 years ago. We rode the 'new' gondola from the parking lot to Peak 8 and which is completely unrecognisable as there's a huge complex there and more going up still. The base is a summer activity centre and was buzzing with people. We had lunch at the Tbar restaurant and then went back down and had a walk up Main Street. Drove up to peak 9 which looked familiar, but eerily quiet as all summer activities are at peak 8. Drive back via Fairplay completed the loop. Great day out.Read more

  • St Elmo - Ghost Town, CO

    August 16, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    St. Elmo is a ghost town in Chaffee County, CO, Founded in 1880, St. Elmo lies in the heart of the Sawatch Range, 20 miles from Buena Vista and sits at an elevation of 9,961'. Nearly 2,000 people settled in this town when mining for gold and silver started. The mining industry started to decline in the early 1920s, and in 1922 the railroad discontinued service. The buildings are all privately owned and some are being restored. The Miner's Exchange is now a General Store selling all sorts, from touristy teeshirts and hats (yes Stew bought one) to old junk. Wildlife was friendly, people were hand feeding chipmunks and squirrels, while hummingbirds were buzzing round our heads at the store. Interesting drive in and out down a dirt road.Read more

  • Boondocking at Kenosha Pass, CO

    August 17, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Heading back towards Denver we found this turnout at the top of the Kenosha Pass (10,000') and as the Colorado Trail (500 miles of hiking) crossed here we decided to go for a hike and stay overnight. The trail winds up gently through cottonwoods and pine forest to a summit overlooking high plains. The smell of the pine sap reminds us of some of the forests in Scotland. You feel like you're being watched as the notches in the cottonwoods look like eyes. All along the trail are shelters (Ray Mears style). Wildlife sightings, a few squirrels, chipmunks, birds and lots of wildflowers.Read more