Day 16: Tuesday, September 19, 2006
1712
We are on our way to Colorado Springs now via the scenic byway route 141. Lana had looked up earlier a few highlights along the way so we decided to check them out.
The first one was at mile marker 139, and according to the info that we had we should stop at an old granite quarry and we would have an “amazing view of the canyon”. Well we drove up this lovely dirt road for a few miles and discovered that what the person must have actually meant was a campsite looking back over the road that we just got off. We were at 9500 feet so the view was nice ;-).
After returning back to 141 we stopped next at mile marker 129 and an old adobe style mansion built by a Mr. Driggs in 1914. The mansion is now in ruins but the sign says that it is an historical site now and they would like to rebuild to its former self.
Our next stop at was at the small town of Gateway. When you drive into Gateway it just looks like a tiny country town, but when you get to the outskirts of the town there is a huge new development in place with restaurant, gas station, and hotel. Apparently from what we were told back in Grand Junction this new development is owned by the guy who owns the Discovery channel and he is trying to make it “touristy”. We stopped here for gas as well as a lunch break and the food wasn’t bad. ;-)
Next on our journey today was mile marker 81 and the historic hanging flume, which was built by miners back around 1890. The flume was designed to carry water from the San Miguel River to the mining site where it was used to help separate the gold from the gravel. It is now in disrepair but is still hanging from the side of the cliffs along 141, and is impressive to see.
- Tanya
(Click here to see photos from our day.)
We are on our way to Colorado Springs now via the scenic byway route 141. Lana had looked up earlier a few highlights along the way so we decided to check them out.
The first one was at mile marker 139, and according to the info that we had we should stop at an old granite quarry and we would have an “amazing view of the canyon”. Well we drove up this lovely dirt road for a few miles and discovered that what the person must have actually meant was a campsite looking back over the road that we just got off. We were at 9500 feet so the view was nice ;-).
After returning back to 141 we stopped next at mile marker 129 and an old adobe style mansion built by a Mr. Driggs in 1914. The mansion is now in ruins but the sign says that it is an historical site now and they would like to rebuild to its former self.
Our next stop at was at the small town of Gateway. When you drive into Gateway it just looks like a tiny country town, but when you get to the outskirts of the town there is a huge new development in place with restaurant, gas station, and hotel. Apparently from what we were told back in Grand Junction this new development is owned by the guy who owns the Discovery channel and he is trying to make it “touristy”. We stopped here for gas as well as a lunch break and the food wasn’t bad. ;-)
Next on our journey today was mile marker 81 and the historic hanging flume, which was built by miners back around 1890. The flume was designed to carry water from the San Miguel River to the mining site where it was used to help separate the gold from the gravel. It is now in disrepair but is still hanging from the side of the cliffs along 141, and is impressive to see.
- Tanya
(Click here to see photos from our day.)
posted by Lana at 10:50 AM
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