Fort Morgan - Colorado Springs, Colorado

August 18 - 19, 2025

August 18 - I have issues getting on the correct road at the town of Roggin, CO which results in doubling back and wasting many miles and time.  Once getting on the correct road, it a very rough country road through an unattractive area with a few feed lots. I eventually get on route 79 south which is smooth and passes through nice farm land.   

I arrive at Stasburg, Colorado hoping to visit the Comanche Crossing Museum, but it doesn’t open until 1 PM and I don’t want to spend that much time here.  I decide to put a destination in my GPS for a town that skirts around Denver, but that goes terribly wrong, it takes me on a crazy roundabout route. I Eventually come to Parker, Colorado where I park and explore the nice downtown area for a while. 

Interesting history

A few historic buildings remain

The tree was saved and turned into art

An Ugly Tesla in front of another saved old building

I then head for Colorado Springs with one stop at Castle Rock.  It's a very cool, scenic town that I considered spending the balance of the day in, but my time is now limited, need to continue to Colorado Springs. 

Castle Cafe looked great with Castle Rock in the background

How Castle Rock formed

New age Tea Shop

Fire house mural

Window art was great

The final leg to Colorado Springs was high traffic, scenic but stressful driving.  I wanted to avoid the downtown traffic as much as possible, so I headed for the historic Old Colorado City area of town.  It’s my favorite area of the city, the historic birthplace of the city with a great mix of nice restaurants, art and many shops.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Colorado_City

Definitely a colorful town

Lots of gold

The old cabin still amazingly exists on this site

Another good mural

A most intersting mural

Street corner view

Elevate without alcohol is the idea here

After the rush hour, I drive a few miles  back into center city to my favorite Irish Restaurant, Jack Quinn's, where I have the shepard’s pie bowl and a pint of Guinness.  There was a weird guess the song trivial game going on in the restaurant that was slightly entertaining, but mostly music I didn't know.  I then go back to the Old Colorado City area to stelth camp on a street for the night.

Interesting mural

Great Irish Restaurant

The clock was very special

 August 19 - I'm up very early, have a quick breakfast and  drive a few miles away to the Hogback valley trail where I take a short hike uphill with mountain views.

Nice view along the trail

Much rock was removed for buildings

Dakota Limestone was mined extensively here

 

I then send some time at the nice, small Carnegie Library in Old Colorado City for a while.  

In the afternoon I drive a few miles away to the Garden of the Gods, which was crowded with tourists, but I was able to park at the main lot and walk the trails for a hour or so.  It’s as beautiful as I remembered it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_of_the_Gods

 

I then take a ride to Manitou Springs but it is super overcrowded,  those dam tourists, can’t they stay home !  

I exit and return to the old Colorado City area where I go to Jives Coffee Lounge adjacent to the town park.  This coffee shop is a throwback to the 1960-70's coffee shop scene with a stage for a band, comfortable chairs and tables, a laid back vibe and many strange characters sitting around, except everyone these days is on their laptops or phones. 

In the evening, I drive back to downtown Colorado Springs, park and walk around the vibrant night life area of town, but it's a Tuesday night and I see nothing that appeals to me.  I do get several decent mural shots in the partial darkness, that's always good. 

Looked like a good hangout

Great sign

On my return to Old Colorado City, I detour to a real bar called Mill Hill Saloon that I had seen on line.  It’s basically old country, but it's a quiet night, with a slightly rough but pleasant bar tender who asked me if there was anything I would like to hear on the jukebox. There’s a baseball game on the TV, the usual beer sign wall treatment, but I’m impressed by the nice thick table and bar tops, the pool tables and the place actually does have character.  I like it and I bet they have some kick ass country music on the weekend.

The stage

Lots of booze

I again stealth camp on a side street, but this time I pick a bad one as at about 4 AM many cars start parking along the street.  It turns out that the business there has early morning delivery workers who start work at that time.  I end up moving to another street.  

Next stop is Pueblo, Colorado