I Am a Motorcoach, Discovering the USA by Tread Windshield and Mirror…

. . . wrapping up our three-day tour with Colorado Rocks. Wait, that makes it sound kind of ordinary. Let me try again. When I say Colorado Rocks, I mean that’s what I’ve decided to name this third blog in this series: “Colorado Rocks!” You’ll see what I mean . . .

Selfies

(which by definition means I’m in them . . . though you might have to look for me)

The Royal Gorge Railroad sets out from Canyon City for a rail passage taken by over 100,000 guests a year. Rated Colorado’s #1 scenic train experience, according to NPR and USA Today it is a “must do.” Typically, the way things work between trains and motorcoaches is that the coach passengers are dropped off at the originating train station to travel by rail to another location. While they enjoy the scenic railway experience the motorcoach travels by pavement to meet them at their destination depot. In this case, the Royal Gorge Train returns to the Canyon City station, finishing the trip where it began and where I (Two Eight One) waited for my passengers in the parking lot.

MEETING THE NEWS on the roadways of America, first-hand, real time, real world news—going out and discovering the news . . .

ROYAL NEWS: The Royal Gorge has the Grape Creek to thank for a humble beginning that rapidly grows into six miles of spectacular. Cutting through granite at the bottom of the gorge, the Arkansas River is only fifty feet wide at its base. One of the deepest canyons in Colorado, the maximum depth of the Royal Gorge is 1,250 feet.

LOFTY NEWS: See that toothpickish line at the top of the granite walls of the Royal Gorge? That is the Royal Gorge Bridge. From the time of its construction in 1929 until 2001 it reigned as tallest bridge in the world. Today it remains the tallest bridge in the US.  At 18 feet wide and 1,260 feet long, it crosses the Royal Gorge 955 feet above the Arkansas River. So, of course, you’re curious:  did I drive across it? No way. The thing was built nearly 100 years ago, was completed in only six months for half what I cost, and was built by workers whose average wage was 0.50 an hour! No way. I’m not driving over that thing.

RIVERS ROADS AND RAILS NEWS: An exciting feature of this stage of our journey (from the point of view of this motorcoach) was the convergence of three historic modes of travel. Long ago the riverways provided readymade swift mobility for the earliest travelers (though these blow-up vessels represent more recent recreational interests). Man-made roads were then utilized by my ancestors (chariots, wagons, stagecoaches and such), providing routes for getting folks around in small numbers. And rails came along providing fast movement of folks in large numbers over great expanses of land, even crossing the waterways via bridges.

NEWS OF THE GODS: About one hour northeast of Canyon City, Colorado Springs is home to the Garden of the Gods, where “the gods” apparently like to do their gardening with rocks. And there’s this one rock in particular I was keeping a keen eye on, hoping nothing disrupted its delicate balance during our visit . . . especially at that moment the road took us narrowly by it. I mean, just a tiny geologic hiccup and things could turn ugly quick . . .

(Unlike selfies, these are not about me, but about travel discoveries I think you’d like to know about.)

From the Royal Gorge and the Garden of the God’s to the kitchen of royalty (atmittedly a biased view of my passengers). As enjoyable as it is to travel, our home state always offers a welcome closure to the journey. The last stop on our Grand adventure was Independence, Missouri, where V’s Italian Restaurante was indulged with grand enjoyment. When in the area, you’ll want to drop by. (10819 E US 40; for reservations: 816-353-1241)

Quote Of The Day samples

“I like the mountains because they make me feel small . . . They help me sort out what’s important in life.” ― Mark Obmascik, Halfway to Heaven: My White-knuckled–and Knuckleheaded–Quest for the Rocky Mountain High

“Self-deprication is a desease. Once it gets a hold on us — Goodbye!” – Douglas Fairbanks