New Camera Plains Tour
Alright, time to test my new camera. After taking a round of pictures for a recent COSMIX Update, I decided I needed to put my new camera through its paces. That, and I kinda wanted to get out of the Springs for a while. The camera gets an enthusiastic thumbs up from me, in case any of you were wondering...
Let's see how this thang works.
OK. The COSMIX pics are stored in the memory card, and I have plenty of room to go. Let's ride!
)
The back of a warning chevron sign becomes an ad hoc billboard. The views expressed on this sign are not necessarily the views of r-dub.us.
)
Heading north of the springs, I stop to get a cold one. Also, there's an abandoned part to this rest stop. I'm hoping to check it out.
)
These are some tight roads with some tight corners. After getting a drink, I found the access road to the abandoned part. The number of signs saying keep out were staggering, so I decided not to go exploring. Back into the r-dub mobile!
)
Maybe I can access the rest stop from the other side, however! Nope. This county road veers away from the interstate. I did find this specimen, though.
)
Then they can nail you for being on your cell phone while driving.
)
Exiting in Castle Rock to check out the progress on moving the western end of SH 86. This is the first exit into Castle Rock. That advisory sign doesn't lie.
)
That's a hard right followed immediately by a stop sign. Also, note how the ad signs on the LBS are all tacked on.
)
Now in downtown Castle Rock. I like the way Franktown is shown on the sign. This is also the current west END! of SH 86.
)
What you see when you first turn onto SH 86.
)
Redundant, but it gets the point across.
)
The first distance sign we encounter.
)
SH 86 takes a curving path out of Castle Rock. Here's proof of that.
)
This intersection is where the new routing of SH 86 will join with the current routing. 86 will turn left here.
)
Looks like the changeover is getting close, too. This was taken with the zoom (YAY! I have a zoom lens!) at the crossroad looking down the new routing.
)
The first reassurance shield you see on 86. There were none on the old alignment, so I bet the changeover is happening soon.
)
Lots of little cuts to keep the road relatively smooth through here.
)
Cable-stay guardrails are making a comeback in Colorado. Here's a new installation. That doesn't look like the best way to anchor them. That close to the road is just inviting disaster.
)
How Castle Rock signs its intersections. And every signal at this light was tilted. Windy, or lazy installation? You make the call.
)
The first (and only) state highway SH 86 intersects is SH 83.
)
Castlewood Canyon State Park is a little park where Cherry Creek has worn down the rocks in its canyon to a smooth surface. Think boulder-sized river rocks piled about 100 feet high with a creek running in the bottom. Back to here, why do we get two JCT 83 signs?
)
Fugly font face here.
)
This is SOP for how Colorado signs highway intersections with other major highways.
)
The next distance sign we see.
)
Typical view on SH 86 between Franktown and Elizabeth.
)
SH 86 is signed at 55 mph through here, but there's multiple crossroads that usually slow you down a bit.
)
Families of those killed by drunk drivers can elect to have a sign placed at the accident scene. Here's a shot of one such sign. The red on the lower sign is not an X: there's a top loop to it as well.
)
Reassurance shield sighting as we keep heading east.
)
Elbert county has their own way of signing boundary lines. Usually the signs just say the name of the county: no greeting.
)
Crossroads are still numerous here. Cross traffic is actually quite high on this stretch since many Denverites call this county home. It's only about 30 minutes to the southern edge of Denver from here.
)
Turning traffic is so high here that CDOT came out and widened as necessary.
)
Approaching Elizabeth, CO.
)
Check out the light pole for opposing traffic on the right: reflector lights!
)
As I was driving by this truck, it kept backing up into my lane. Your heart skips a beat when you think you're about to get into a wreck with something this big. It skips two beats when you realize that you're going to first impact with that hook that's right under the triangle sign.
)
Hey look! The police can read! And check out the No-lead tag on the gas price sign. When's the last time you've seen unleaded called "No-Lead?"
)
Nestled amongst the construction stuff lies a warning that this road is about to get quite lonely
)
The treed part of this road is about to go away.
)
Since we are traveling on a road that gets its fair share of blizzard conditions, CDOT has to be able to close it.
)
Still a little bit of traffic here. I'm betting that it'll clear out after Kiowa.
)
Speaking of Kiowa, here we are! What is it with lowering a speed limit on a main road as the road descends into the town, anyways?
)
All along 86 are opportunities to head south to towns along US 24 via county roads. Here's one such opportunity.
)
Kiowa city limit sign. Note that Colorado does not put the population of the city on the sign as some states in the Midwest do.
)
It took me a few minutes to figure out what was missing from the sign. Why it was made this way is anyone's guess.
)
There's a whole lotta nothing from here to I-70 now, I'm betting.
)
Sit back and relax, kiddies. We've got some distance to travel.
)
While driving at a reasonable and prudent speed through here, a car passing the other way starts waving frantically for me to slow down. As I get closer, I see that the car has a white sheet taped to the hood. The sheet reads Wide Load. I got the hint and pulled to the side. Gotta love DIY moving days.
)
A reassurance shield showing the way.
- Where to next?
- This trip's Index
- Page 2 fv
Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with any of the orginizations listed within this site. I'm just a bored roadgeek with way too much time on his hands. All of the picts in this page are mine and mine alone unless otherwise noted. Remember, kids: stealing is bad, mmmm-k? I get quite pissy if things are taken without telling me. I don't like to be pissy. You won't like it either. If you want to link to this page, that's fine. Please shoot me an email beforehand so I can link to your page as well. K? Thanks. --Ryan
Additional links you may find handy... Sitemap ... RSS Feed information