Today it's time to set our sights east as we begin to make our way back to Orlando.   But not before we make one last farewell tour of the mountains. Our destination is Pueblo, CO which is only 50 miles south of Manitou Springs, but we are going to turn that into a 200 mile journey back through the mountains called the Colorado Springs Loop.
     We started by heading west on US-24W, back through Woodland Park here we stopped at the same McDonald's, this time for breakfast . The ride from Manitou Springs to Woodland Park is a wonderful climb through red rock formations, but once you head west out of Woodland Park, it flattens out and is mostly just prairie until you hit the mountains around Buena Vista. It's beautiful to be able to see so many miles across the prairie at the mountains looming in the distance. By the time we reached US-285S, we realized that we had already been on this short stretch of road as we traveled from Salida to Estes Park the other day. No matter, it gave us the final opportunity to get back up to 9500 ft and to see the 14,000 ft peaks of Mt Princeton and Mt Antero one last time.
     As we turned onto CO-291S, we passed again through Salida, but this time we got to see the historic downtown area before making our final turn onto US-50E. US-50E is just an awesome road from Salida to Pueblo. It took us down out of the mountains to the headwaters of the Arkansas River which forms the Royal Gorge. As we dropped in elevation, the canyon walls rose on both sides of us, so we were back in one of those wonderful canyon roads that is mostly flat, but twists and turns to follow the river with canyon walls on both sides, This time the canyon was fairly wide, so the road didn't twist and turn as much so it was a nice leisurely cruise at about 55 - 65 mph through the canyon .
     Once we reached Canon City, we headed for the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park. It was only about 4 miles off of US-50 and up a few switchbacks to the top. When you pulled into the parking lot, you could see this huge gorge, very deep, with a bridge built across. There was a viewing area, so we got to take a few pictures. When we got inside, they wanted a $23 admission each. For that, you could walk across the bridge, or they would drive you in a van, also you got to ride the aerial gondola across and back, and you got a ride on a miniature train. For an extra $75 you could zip-line across. All we wanted to do was to walk out on the bridge, but not for $46. There were lots of people like us who just wouldn't pay the admission and left. There was a hiking trail out of the parking lot that gave a better view for pictures, so we hiked the trail and settled for pictures. I'm not sure the pictures would have been any better from the bridge.
     From the top of the gorge, you could see railroad tracks along the river . They do offer a train ride through the bottom of the gorge that looked interesting, but they only offer trains in the morning. We had just finished with our pictures and were heading back down the switchbacks to US-50E when all of a sudden the sky opened up and it began to pour. I don't know if it was bad karma because we wouldn't pay admission that it rained, or as I prefer to think, it was good karma that the rain waited until we were done taking our pictures. In either case, if we had paid the admission we would have been walking on a bridge in the rain, so we made the right choice.
     As we pulled onto US-50E, we didn't have on our rainsuits and we were looking for an overhang somewhere where we could pull over and put them on. We pulled into a empty parking lot for some sort of campground and pulled next to a dark building with a small overhang and proceeded to put on our rainsuits. Just as we started, there was a knock on the window and some lady inside invited us in to finish. She was very nice, as it is much easier to put on rainsuits indoors out of the rain . By the time we went back out, the rain had subsided a little, but we also learned that rainsuits work best at keeping you warm if your clothes are not already wet. So we didn't get any wetter, but we were a little cold.
     The rain kept getting stronger as we headed east, but we could see blue skies in the distance. Then we looked back and saw blue skies behind us also. There was just this one big storm cloud above us! Just then we spotted a McDonald's and ducked in for a cup of coffee.   By the time we finished, the storm cloud had moved east and the rain had stopped. So we finished the last 30 miles or so to the hotel with only a couple of sprinkles.
     By the time we checked in, changed out of our wet clothes and headed out to dinner, the rain was still stopped, but dark clouds were on the horizon. Dinner was at Applebee's, we were in a town big enough for chain restaurants, so we think Applebee's is a treat - go figure. As we pulled back into the hotel, I noticed a car wash out front. It had been too long since the bike was cleaned, so I took the opportunity to wash of at least some of the road grime. At least now I can see out of the windshield. It's raining tonight, but at least the bike looks a lot better.
     Tomorrow we stay on US-50E all day as we head east to Dodge City, Kansas where US-50 is called Wyatt Earp Blvd. It should be fun!

218.0 miles today
17,709.7 miles total

5.001 gallons today
417.816 gallons total