We managed to squeeze in a visit to the Wyoming State Capitol in Cheyenne, crossing it off our list, before heading south to Colorado.
Every since leaving Helena, Montana we’ve been in the smoke of the numerous forest fires. It was the same in Colorado with a large fire west of Fort Collins. We holed up in an just so-so RV park in Greeley primary as a base for a bike ride along the Poudre River Trail and a visit with my sister, Jude, in Denver. The Bike trail is a paved trail running from Greeley to Windsor following the aforementioned river for 18 miles from start to finish. I rode this trail some years ago and it was time to return. Last time there was a coffee shop along the way, this time nada. Still a great ride mostly in the country. After a visit with my sister, we were planning on heading west, over the Rocky Mountains to and area in Northwest Colorado, a place we have never visited before.
The fastest and most scenic route would be Hwy 14 following the Poudre River, but it had been closed for sometime due to the fire. We were aware of this, but not to worry, we could cross on Hwy 34 through Rocky Mountains National Park. But as luck would have it a new fire closed that highway. The next option was to return Laramie and head south from there to our intended destination, but you guessed it another fire sprung up in Wyoming blocking our intended route. So we did manage to get to where we wanted to go, by going further west from Laramie before heading south. The silver lining in our new route was the we were west of all the fires and seeing blue sky for the first time in weeks.
We spent a couple nights in Rawlins, Wyoming, a town with a mixed vibe. You drive down the Interstate Business Loop, and is seems that every other business has gone under. More than a couple of old motels are closed down and is different states of repair. Some are derelict and seem that the owners just abandoned them. Weeds growing up in parking lots, broken windows, door falling off their hinges. Then along the old historic Main Street, many business seem to be thriving. No more run down buildings, restaurants doing business. It’s as though one street was just abandoned and another was revitalized.
We paid a visit to the old Wyoming State Prison, an took a guide tour. Opened in 1901, it was in business for 80 years till 1981. First built with stockade like wooden walls, they we easily breached as evidenced by a mass escape in 1912 when 30 inmates escaped through the walls. By 1915 the wooden walls had been replaced is the current cement walls. Another improvement was the addition of hot water in the original Cell Block A in 1978. In 1907 Anne Bruce was the last female prisoner to be held the the old prison. She was convicted of killing her father after putting poison in a pie she baked. In her confession, she states, “....While I was in the act of making the pies a feeling or wish came over me to kill someone....”
As I write this, we are staying in an city park in Meeker, Colorado. With three RV spots with electrical hookups and really fast WiFi, it is situated in town with the White River running by. Nice spot for $20 a night. Just outside of town is the Flat Tops Scenic Byway which follows the White River into the mountains and then continues over the Flat Tops. The 82 mile road is paved for the first 30 mile or so, the rest being a good gravel road. The fall colors were in their full glory, causing us to stop numerous times for photos. If you’re ever in this part of Colorado, I highly recommend this drive. Really beautiful.
Today is a down day for being a tourist as I have once again drawn the short straw and will be spending the morning doing the laundry. Tomorrow the journey south towards home continues, but with 3 weeks left, we intend on going slow.
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