Bishops Castle 🏰

 Bishop Castle is located in south central Colorado on State Highway 165 in the Wet Mountains of Southern Colorado in the San Isabel National Forest, southwest of Pueblo, Colorado.

We discovered the castle in the summer of 1986 when on vacation. At that time we were traveling in our 1977 F150 towing a 13' Scotty with 6 people, from Clayton Lake in New Mexico to Nathrop, Colorado. We lived in Fairview, Oklahoma. We saw Fairview, Colorado on the map and decided to go that way. Just before getting there we topped a hill and saw a Model of a castle on the side of the road. Was able to pull over few 100 feet past it and walked back and discovered the castle.

At that time the start of the corners were 4-6 feet tall. We talked to Jim Bishop who was building the castle as a one man project. Over the years we have continued stopping by when in the area every few years. We have really enjoyed watching the process. As I don't have pictures available from first visits to share here. They are pre-digital.

Ok back to the Fairview thing. There's only an old mine works there. Which is just south of Bigelow Divide in Custer County - Colorado - 9,350 feet. South Hardscrabble Creek to the north. Bigelow Creek to south. 

This trip to the castle was from the North as we're staying in Florence, Colorado about 30 miles. After visiting the castle we drove on south to the town of San Isabel hoping for lunch. But restaurant is open only Thursday-Saturday. So we drove around the lake by the same name.

Then we drove on south 10 miles to Rye, Colorado.  Finding a great lunch at the Rye Cafe. After lunch we returned the same route back to Florence.

As said earlier we are spending a month in Florence? More day trip ADVENTURES to come.

Thanks again for reading and hope you enjoy hearing about our adventures.

2023 Summer Continues

 After having a great time at Dolores seeing great sights and wonderful visits with friends Mike & Sandy and new friends Bubba and LouAnn. 

It was time to go. Our next spot was Haviland Lake campground, 20 miles north of Durango, Colorado. For a week. While there we went to Silverton again as it is a beautiful drive.

Also we walked and shopped as a tourist town requires.

Our spot Haviland Lake

We were able to take a day and drove to Farmington, NM  to see Aunt and Uncle again. 

We spent one day in Durango. Again walking & shopping as it is a tourist town. We enjoyed lunch at one of our favorite restaurants Oscars Cafe which we had eaten at on other visits to Durango.

Bug hideout.

Front view

This bird was seeing itself in our window.

The rest of the time we enjoyed the forest at the campground. Then we continued on our journey and went to Abiquiu Lake again, as we had been there earlier this summer. It's a beautiful lake and area. We were there for 11 days.

As we had been here earlier we took time to rest and enjoy the views from our spot. We did, take a drive to the small towns of El Rito and Vallecitos. Was going to continue on past there but the road turned into 4 wheel drive only. So return on the same path. It was a beautiful drive both ways.

Views at Abiquiu Lake

We had lots of Hummingbirds this time which kept us entertained.

Another day we visited a Lavender Farm near the town of Abiquiu

Purple Adobe Lavender Farm

As our adventure continued we went to a Harvest Host business near Nathrop Colorado for a one night stop. We knew that our friends Mike and Janice were in that area and we were able to enjoy the evening and dinner with them in Buena Vista. A great pizza place Crave BV. Then took a walk along the Arkansas river.

Great pizza

Our Harvest Host view.

Which brings us to yesterday August 26th 2023 to Main Street Manor RV park in Florence, Colorado. Where we will be until the 26th of September. There are many places to see in this area. Will share all about them as we go. 

Thanks for reading and I hope you're enjoying the tale. Until more happens.

ON WITH THE STORY

 After 6  months (at Grandpas Park)it was time to move on. We left Live Oak Park 3-13-2015. We had a campground job by Kingman Az. On the way there we stopped at Joshua Tree National Park for 4 days. This is a very neat park. We did some wonderful hikes, so much to see.  After our time there headed to Kingman Az to park we were going to work. We left motorhome there and we flew back to Kansas for Checkup which was ok and see family then back to job at Blake Ranch rv park and Horse Motel . This was a great location.  Laughlin, Flagstaff, Sedona, Lake Havasu and Las Vegas all were just a couple hrs away.  We worked 4 days on and 4 off. So we headed to one of these for our time off. This is when we started finding out maybe we didn't need to work all the time to be able to do this. Because we were spending what we made running to all these places.  Which is what this life is about but in the RV, not resorts.

Joshua  Hike

 View from our site at Blake Ranch RV Park.

Las Vegas

Pool at Resort Sedona

London Bridge

Also while we were there.  The Whites dropped in to see us while on their summer travels. They were traveling with Stan also from the Ranch where we met the Whites. Stan also became a good friend. It was good to see them again and have the chance to get to know Stan.

By the Horse Motel part of the park.

As the name of the place says Horse. I had the great job of pooper scooper which was not what had signed up for and turn into too much physical labor for me as blood test were showing things getting worse.  So we had to leave  2 months early. 

When we left we had another job lined up in Arkansas but not for over

2 months. So we found a  place to stay in Pagosa Springs,Co for a month. Which was wonderful as we used a month pass to the Overlook Hot Springs to soak as much as we wanted. Also did a lot of fishing. This helped a little as next blood work showed a very small improvement.

 Company came by our site at The Last Resort RV Park. Pagosa Springs.

Also while at Pagosa Springs we took some day trips.

  Scenic view on the way to Lake City.

Red Mountain Pass

Ouray, Colorado

Lunch Stop

We left Pagosa Springs to head to  Red River New Mexico  for a few days before heading to Kansas again for checkup and family.

Our site at Elephant Rock Campground by Red River. 

As you can see, it doesn't take much to entertain us.

We arrived in Kansas, The checkup was good no change from last blood work. So after seeing Drs and spending time with family, especially with 3 grandkids. We headed to Magnolia Arkansas to our new rv park job at Magnolia rv park.This looked to be a job We could do. Not so fast. The other couple that was to switch off and on with us  every other week, had to leave because of health. Now this leaves us with work every week until we can find a new couple. Which happened a month later. Shortly after they arrived I had blood work done and it showed the kidney getting worse. Again it was time to do something else.

Our site backed up to the pond at Magnolia Park.

After much talk and prayer. We decide it might be time to find a place to be for awhile. So we call our friends the Whites who had a lot at the Ranch the Escapees co-op we had visited, to see what lots might be available. Which they had stopped to see us when we were  in Kingman,Az. There was a lot available, one over from them. We called the office to check on what to do. They said someone else was looking at the lot. But the first 500.00 dollar deposit would get the lot.

These are pictures Bob White took and sent us to see what lot we were getting. A renter was parked on it at the time.

We called the Whites, they were at Walmart in Carlsbad. Told them what was needed.  They left their cart and headed back to the Ranch to do the deposit for us. (He shows up again) They made the deposit and was leaving the office and meet  the other people that had been looking at the lot that was going in to make deposit.  It  was okay they took their second choice.

So as this confirmed that this was the right thing for us at this time. We worked it out to leave our job and headed to the Ranch. After a few days on the road. We arrived  and were able to stay on our lot. Then closing a couple days later.  November 2015

Summer 2023

 To back peddle a little to tell you where we've been this summer before Dolores.

As always we start our summers in Kansas in the middle of May seeing Dr and family. We left Wichita 5-24-2023. First night stayed at Coldwater Lake, Ks. where my brother Don and wife Debbie work. Had dinner with them and caught up.

The next night we stayed in Elkhart,Ks. at Prairie RV Park. Then onto Cimarron, Nm. for Memorial Day weekend. At the Ponil RV Park. On Saturday we took a drive around the Enchanted Circle, stopping for lunch at Michael's Kitchen Restaurant & Bakery. We have eaten there many times before. If you're ever in Taos this is a must. Breakfast is the best but all food is great.

After lunch we continued on to Questa then to Red River. As we got close to town about 4 miles out the traffic stopped then a slow crawl into town. The motorcycle rally was something to see. From one end to the other bikes lined both sides and center of the streets. Took over an hour to get through Red River

. 

(This was about 30 min. before the shooting.)

Sunday we attended First Baptist Church. Monday drove through the Philmont Scout Ranch.

On Tuesday 30th we stayed at Black Mesa Winery, which is part of the Harvest Host travel club for one night stays. 

Our Harvest Host stop for one night.

Then on to Cochiti Lake for 5 nights. While there we were able to visit Ronda's cousin David at his company. The Whispering Bean Coffee Roasters. Also had lunch at Upscale Rio restaurant, one of his coffee customers.

We were able to also visit downtown Santa Fe and see the Loretto Chapel Spiral Staircase and the oldest house in the USA.

On the 5th of June we went to Farmington NM to see Ronda's Aunt and Uncle. Stayed at a Harvest Host. Desert Heights Church. Visited and had dinner with them and next morning before leaving. Took Uncle to Dr. appointment.

The view when setting outside at Junction Creek Campground. Site#9

We then went on to Junction Creek Campground by Durango Colorado. This is a beautiful campground in the forest, just a little challenging to get to but worth it. While there we made a trip to Pagosa Springs to go to the Overlook Hot Springs.  Also back to Farmington to take Uncle to Dr again.

The view from the roof of Overlook Hot Springs,

After 6 nights there we moved to Abiquiu Lake in NM. for 2 weeks. While here we visited Espanola a few times for groceries, laundry, drugs and Church. We took a drive to Jemez Springs for lunch at Los Ojos Restaurant & Saloon.

Our lunch stop in Jemez Springs.

Also stopped and hiked Jemez Falls and visited the Bandelier National Monument. Both are beautiful places to see.    

                                           Jemez Falls.

                       After our time at Abiquiu Lake we moved to Conejos River Campground and RV Park by Antonito, Colorado. for 5 nights. Our friends the Whites are staying here for the summer. So great to see them again. We spent our time with them on some hikes and just visiting.

Our lunch spot and the Cumbres and Toltec train coming into Chama Station.

We took a day trip with them to Chama. Walked, shopped and had lunch as you most do in a tourist town. We had lunch at the Box Car Cafe. It's a beautiful drive to Chama and back on Hwy 17 if ever in that area.

As Bob & Beth had never been to Taos and the enchanted circle before. Off we went again on another adventure. We stopped in Taos for lunch at Guadalajara Grill. Not a fancy place but the best Mexican food you'll find. Then on to Eagles Nest, Red River and Questa.

On the 30th we moved on to La Veta, Colorado to stay at Sammy's Campground and RV Park for a week. On the 3rd we drove to Bear lake and Cuchara Pass and came back and walked the streets of La Veta and shopped and bought like you must do in a tourist town.

Bear Lake just south of Cuchara.

A view from top of Cuchara Pass.

The 5th drove to Stonewall, Colorado over Cuchara Pass. Had lunch at the Stonewall Lodge. On the way back we stopped to walk and shop the streets of Cuchara again is what you must do in a tourist town.

As driving into Stonewall from the east.

Our lunch time entertainment at the Stonewall Lodge Restaurant.

Again it was time to move on. On the 7th we arrived at Elk Creek Campground on the Gunnison River 16 miles west of Gunnison, Colorado to stay 2 weeks. While here we visited Crested Butte hike to Judd Falls and visited the North rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.

Lunch stop from La Veta to Gunnison on Hwy 114.

Our 4 mile round trip hike to Judd Falls. Ronda taking a break.

Also Ronda's brother Randy and his fiancee stopped to see us on their vacation. We took them up to Crested Butte and on up to Emerald Lake. The road the last couple miles was an adventure for a 2 wheel drive. But well worth it.

This is where we turned around at Emerald Lake. I stayed with truck as the other hike a 1/4 mile to Lake.

We also took a day trip to Lake City one day and drove around Lake San Cristobal which is a beautiful mountain lake. We bought veggies at a farmers market in Lake City.

The view from above Lake San Cristobal.

On 7-21 we moved to Montrose, Co. to Meadows of San Juan RV Park for a couple nights to do a day trip to Ouray. As we were getting there we heard from some friends from the Lone Star Corral. Which is our home park in Hondo, Texas. They were at Ridgeway State Park just south of us. 

Mike & Janice

On Saturday they went with us to Ouray.

We hike from town to Box Canyon Falls.

Then back to town and had lunch at Thai Chili Restaurant.

And as you must do in any tourist town. We walked and shopped. Then we drove over Red Mountain Pass to Silverton and walked and shopped as it is a tourist town. On our way back there was a brown bear along the road causing a wildlife jam.

A little girl told her mom as she was taking pictures that all you're getting is bear butt.

Monday we were to move on to Dolores. But to spend more time with Mike & Janice we changed plans. We stayed at Ridgeway State Park where they were for 3 nights. While there all of us took a drive to Telluride. Had lunch and walked and shopped as you must do in a tourist town.. 

On Wednesday before we were to go to Dolores to The Views RV Park & Campground. We went to Montrose to see the movie. Sound of Freedom. A must see movie.

Then 7-27 we moved to Dolores, Colorado. Which is when I started blogging. There's a post about our time at Dolores.