We had the most excellent almost 300 mile ride out on the eastern half of Southern CO. There is a adobe replica Fort/Trading Post just outside of La Junta, CO. Called "Bent's Old Fort". They have guided tours or you can just walk around and check out the fort. We started out from Colorado Springs, headed east on Hwy. 24, picked up CO. Hwy. 94 and headed out into the flatlands and prairies of Colorado.
It's 62 miles of open country two lane road, with hardly any traffic and vast views. Headed for Pumkin Center, which use to be a cafe/gas station/post office but is now just a private home at the corner of Hwy. 94 and Hwy. 71, we headed South on Hwy. 71 which is more open prairie heading to Rocky Ford, CO. to pick up CO. Hwy. 50 E. into the town of La Junta. The fort is about 10 miles outside of La Junta, just look for the signs, which takes you on a back hwy. The Fort parking lot is a ways from the fort itself, if you need a ride (golf cart), one of the rangers will come get you. We enjoyed the walk down the path, past a couple of wild donky's and were greeted by a lady ranger in "period costume" . Since we've been here before we didn't take the tour, just took a few photo's, then headed back into La Junta for some lunch. After a quick Micky D's burger we headed back on CO. Hwy. 50 W. towards Pueblo, CO. it's 60 miles and we were running out of daylight as we turned onto I-25 N. back to the Springs!. A warm sunny, November day, just totally awesome!! :)
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| The fort cemetery with the only headstone left after a flood |
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| The path to the fort |
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| Jo in the General Store with period items |
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| The Fur Press, Bent's Fort was a military and a trading post, with the closest town being "600 miles" away in MO. |
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| A view from the Stables up to the 2nd. floor of the Fort. |
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| One of the two Canon implacements to ward off the bad guys! ;) |
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| The Rec Room with the Pool Table that also was an operating table if needed, it's HUGE! |
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| A view looking north from the south upper level |
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| a view looking west from the eastside upper level |
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