Today was huge. We started early and went hard all day. We kicked things off at the Amish bakery in downtown Westcliffe. I highly recommend the pumpkin squares with vanilla icing, which I'll probably get again tomorrow. From the bakery we headed to the San Isabel National Forest for a nostalgic tour of Lake Isabel and vicinity - the location of Vicki's girlhood family vacations back in the late 60's. As the pictures below clearly show, things have changed a lot over the last 40 years. According to Vicki, this place wasn't exactly the Ritz when she was there as a kid and it's maybe gone down just a little over the last four decades.
After Vicki's memory lane experience we headed out on our hike for the day, which turned out to be awesome. We hiked up onto the local mountain to an old silver mine. At the end of the trail was an old miners' cabin and what's left of the mine itself. Just above the mine was a series of small waterfalls, where we had out picnic lunch.
Upon returning to civilization we checked out Lake Isabel and found it surrounded with trout fishermen, all of whom seemed to be hauling in plenty of rainbow trout. We hatched a plan to come back tomorrow and do some fishing. Maybe we'll have trout for dinner tomorrow night. Or, maybe we'll have leftovers from Monday night.
Upon our return to the metropolis of Westcliffe we had dinner at the Mahone's Poag Irish Pub. We'd heard that they had pretty good fish and chips. What we hadn't heard was that fish and chips are only served on the weekend. Small detail. We settled for chicken sandwiches and fries.
Our final event of the day was seeing a herd of pronghorn antelope crossing the road in front of us just as we got to "our house".
After Vicki's memory lane experience we headed out on our hike for the day, which turned out to be awesome. We hiked up onto the local mountain to an old silver mine. At the end of the trail was an old miners' cabin and what's left of the mine itself. Just above the mine was a series of small waterfalls, where we had out picnic lunch.
Upon returning to civilization we checked out Lake Isabel and found it surrounded with trout fishermen, all of whom seemed to be hauling in plenty of rainbow trout. We hatched a plan to come back tomorrow and do some fishing. Maybe we'll have trout for dinner tomorrow night. Or, maybe we'll have leftovers from Monday night.
Upon our return to the metropolis of Westcliffe we had dinner at the Mahone's Poag Irish Pub. We'd heard that they had pretty good fish and chips. What we hadn't heard was that fish and chips are only served on the weekend. Small detail. We settled for chicken sandwiches and fries.
Our final event of the day was seeing a herd of pronghorn antelope crossing the road in front of us just as we got to "our house".
The Pronghorn Antelope Herd
Vicki and I at the falls above the old mine.
Vicki at the old mine.
Lake Isabel
Me trying to figure out which way to go?
Pine Lodge - Vacation paradise for the Sills clan 40+ years ago.
Vicki and her sister sat at this very spot many, many years ago when they were kids.
The Bishop's Castle - I forgot to mention this place in my narrative above. The "castle" has been under construction since 1969. It's being built by a guy named Bishop (image that) who has been working on it single-handedly for almost 40 years! The guy is well-known throughout southern Colorado as a certified nut case. If you're ever in the area make sure to stop by and see this place. Admission is free but donations are accepted. In addition to the castle itself, it's very interesting to read Mr. Bishop's rants against the state of Colorado and the U.S. federal government, both of whom are involved in a conspiracy to subjugate and enslave the population of the U.S. Call Mr. Bishop for more information about why it is unconstitutional for the states to require driver's licences of their citizens. Power to the people! By the way, that's me waving from high atop the castle, which is definitely NOT OSHA compliant.
Bishop's Castle(Check out the dragon's head on the front)
Another Rocky Mountain Sunset
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