America’s Bridge
Well, we just came down “America’s Mountain” so it only seems fitting that we go directly to “America’s Bridge.”
As in, we came down from the summit of Pikes Peak, went and got our camper, and headed straight to Royal Gorge.
Y’all.
It’s a bridge suspended 956 feet above the Arkansas River, not to mention it was built in 7 months in 1929. What could possibly go wrong?
Oh…and the guy at the check in counter said to go across the gorge on the gondola first and then walk back across the bridge.
The what?!?!
Okay, is Justin trying to literally scare me to death for some reason???
I can do this. The gorge with all its beautiful colors and jagged edges almost 1000 feet down looks perfectly nice. It’s fine. I’m fine.
In fairness, the gondola (pronounced gon-dO-la per the checkin guy)-wasn’t as terrifying as the ride we’d just been on.
We got to the other side and Aubyn begged to be allowed to do the zipline across the gorge. I’m sorry. I hate to repeat myself, but the what???
I swear, if I had not been there for her birth, I would not know she was related to me.
Unfortunately for her (but not for me), she didn’t meet the weight limit and has to wait (as if this momma is going to let her come near that contraption anytime soon!).
Yet again, Colorado proves it has he best playgrounds. Not only are they fun, the mountains in the background make every one of them seem like they’re on a movie set.
Edley decided she’d had enough and was upset about a snowcone or something, so I told the fam I’d walk ahead fast and get her across. (Any excuse not to linger on scary things!)
Once across, I could admire the view a little better and the video explaining the construction of the bridge eased my mind quite a bit. It really is a quite impressive engineering feat.
It still boggles my mind though that someone would see a huge chasm and say, “Let’s do something never done before and build a bridge across this huge gap using these formulas I came up with in my head.” Is it just me?
Once we’d had our fill of the gorge, it was time to head on to our next campsite – right along the Arkansas River.
After a long day full of adrenaline rushes, the peaceful banks of the Arkansas River was just what I think we all needed to unwind from the big day.
Oh, and its also where my kids learned you have to wear shoes when in southern Colorado because cactus are plentiful and cactus needles hurt!
We learn something new every day.
