Albuquerque, N.M. to Colorado Springs, Colo. via “The Oldest Ditch”
Distance: 363 miles / 584 km
Time: 6 hours
[“Why’d you skip this?” “Why’d you skip that?” I’ve seen this part of America a dozen times over. I’ve been to all 50 states and had a business meeting in 47 of them. I know Colorado and New Mexico are astoundingly beautiful. I want to live in one of the two during my life. I like it. I know I’m skipping stuff.]
The Gorge Bridge. Or more fully, the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. Astounding. It’s the seventh highest bridge in the United States. My mom took me here when I was about the age of my son. It scared the woof out of me then, and it still kinda makes me weak in the knees now. “About” 600 feet over the Rio Grande River. C’mon people! Lots of approximates here. Don’t make me use geometry! This isn’t hard! There is a whole entry of “Bridge height discrepancy” on the Wiki. Like, we need another trip! To finally settle the height of the bridge.
The span is 1,280 feet long. Looking south from the center
The middle is dizzying.
Looking north.
The bridge number, in the Zia symbol. Interestingly, the Zia sun symbol combines native designs in the red and yellow of Spain and Nuevo México. Spain ruled New Mexico for over 250 years. The United States is just about that old…
The Lawrence Ranch… “Lady Chatterley’s Lover”
The Oldest Ditch in Colorado. San Luis, Colo. No foolin’. It’s a real monument. “Colorado’s greatness built on irrigation.” Look at the names of the grantees. It smelled really good here. I also saw a high speed police chase and lost my prescription sunglasses somewhere along the road.
Storms brewing near Blanca Peak, Colo.
The Spanish Peaks.
Back on the Interstate (sigh), somewhere between Pueblo and Colorado Springs.
A Viking’s Walkabout: | Prologue | Day 01 Calif. to Az. | Day 02 Az. to N.M. | Day 03 N.M. to Colo. | Day 04 Colo. | Day 05 Colo., Kan., Neb. | Day 06 Part 1 Neb. | Day 6 Part 2 Neb. to S.D. | Day 07 S.D., Wy., Mont. | Day 08 Mont. to Alta. | Day 09 Alta. (Banff) | Day 10 Alta. (Grande Cache) | Day 11 Alta. to B.C. | Day 12 B.C. to Yukon | Day 13 Yukon | Day 14 Yukon to Alaska | Day 15 Alaska (Coldfoot) | Day 16 Part 1 Alaska (Atigun Pass) | Day 16 Part 2 Alaska (Deadhorse) | Day 17 Alaska (Prudhoe Bay) | Day 18 Alaska (Fairbanks) | Day 19 Alaska (Anchorage) | Day 20 Alaska (Anchorage) | Day 21 Alaska (Tok) | Day 22 Alaska to Yukon | Day 23 Yukon | Day 24 Yukon to B.C. | Day 25 B.C. (Prince Rupert) | Day 26 B.C. (Prince George) | Day 27 B.C. (Vancouver) | Day 28 B.C. to Wash. | Day 29 Wash. to Or. | Day 30 Or. | Day 31 Or. to Calif. | Day 32 Calif. |