Some Dreams Really Do Come True, Part 2

 

Friday, June 7, 2024
5:00 am, Mountain Standard Time

My eyelids fluttered open after a somewhat choppy night of sleep. Although tired out from my long journey, I had shared the night with noisy neighbors who had no regard for campground quiet hours, and I was forced to listen to calming music through earbuds to get any sleep at all.

But that mattered little now. This was my first morning in Colorado!

Forcing myself to abandon my blanket, I slipped out of my tent into the cool 50-something degree morning and scrambled down to the edge of the Pueblo City Reservoir. I was like a little kid in an ice cream shop when I saw the endless heaps of shale fragments that lined the lake shore. Unlimited rock skipping!

I stepped into the clear water, which was definitely decisively cool, but not outright freezing. I skipped rocks for the better part of half an hour, amazed at how easy it was to entertain myself with nothing but a heap of rocks and a gigantic 4600 acre puddle. But finally, the sun poked its head over the horizon, lining up for the cover shot at the top of this page.

Now that I had my camera out, it was time to document my surroundings.

I knew rock jumping was very much against the Reservoir rules, but if it wasn't, the south shoreline looked like it might hold some promising spots.

 

Looking west, I could see some of the peaks near the San Isabel State Forest looming in the distance. And that was to be the destination of the day. So after quickly getting dressed and eating some camp stove oatmeal, I set out to link up with my friends and we got out on the road. My excitement grew higher and higher as the mountains loomed taller and taller.

Finally, way up into the mountains, we reached our first destination of the day, Bishop's Castle. Started by Jim Bishop in 1969, the elaborate stone structure has been under ongoing construction ever since, and is totally free to the public.

 

 The stonework itself is so intricate, plus elaborate ironwork all over the place.

There were also goats. I don't know why. Maybe they belong to Mr. Bishop. Maybe they are just randomly there. But they are super chill, just hanging out in the castle, lounging on the chairs, waiting for tourists to pet them.

 

 

 

The castle features several towers, all of which can be accessed by sketchy staircases.

 

Some of the staircases currently lead to nowhere, a feature of still being under construction.

Also, there is a small gatehouse with a drawbridge at the main entrance for the castle. 

It is the perfect place for someone to ambush their friends with a slurry of Monty Python insults. Which is exactly what I did.

 

The San Isabel State Forest is absolutely breathtaking. Mountains and evergreens in every single direction. If someone had told me "you died. This is Heaven," I would not at all have been disappointed.

 

Working my way back down, I entered the lower level of the castle, where i discovered a room that I felt was very much like a cathedral sanctuary. Beautiful stained glass windows, each one etched with the names of people I assume are donors and supporters of the project.

 

 

When we finished examining Bishop's Castle, it was time to head to a nearby natural waterslide. A 45 minute scramble down some steep banks, over super slick granite, and through a really cold creek.

I I did not get any pictures of the waterslide, but our group had a grand time. When we got back home, our evening was spent at a worship night hosted by some of my friends' church family. I got to take my cajon with me and accompany a few guitarists in playing and singing hymns bluegrass style. It was wonderful getting to worship Abba in the fellowship of these newly met brothers and sisters in Christ!

That pretty much wrapped up Friday. Back at my campsite, I put my earbuds back in to muffle my loud neighbors, and I drifted off to sleep, thanking Abba for his goodness and all that He had done to bring me here.

The journey continues! Stay tuned for he rest of the story!