Rolling on the River

Left a good job in the city
Working for the man every night and day
And I never lost one minute of sleeping
Worrying 'bout the way things might have been

Big wheel, keep on turning
Proud Mary, keep on burning
Rolling, rolling, rolling on the river

Do you remember who wrote that song and what group s/he was in?  Answer is at the end of the blog.  And for extra brownie points (because that's all you get if you're right!) what was the year?

We decided to take a stroll on part of the Arkansas Riverwalk that runs along Highway 50 right through Canon City and Pueblo (which also has their own Riverwalk).  The Riverwalk in Canon City is seven miles long and is a favorite for walking, biking, horseback riding, fishing, canoeing, and photographing. 

We didn't cover very much of the Riverwalk this time out because it was one of those spur of the moment decisions and we weren't really prepared for a long hike. Here's where we started our walk.

A little bit of the river. And how about that typical Colorado sky?

Gary and Sadie stopping for a sniff ... and maybe a pee marking or two.  Uh, Sadie, not Gary on the marking (LOL!)

 

 Underneath this tree is a carpet of white wildflowers.  Hope you can see it ... it was so beautiful.

 

A little more of the river, looking east downriver.

A perfect place to stop (right past one of the bridges) for a family photo.

 

We passed Centennial Park on our walk.  Again, love those skies!

The geese are obviously well trained about visitors.  Here they come hoping we have something to share ... but we didn't!  Such a disappointment for those geese.

These were the only two white geese in the crowd.

We also passed the Robinson House on our walk.  The Historic Robison Mansion & Carriage House is an exquisite 1884 home located down by the Arkansas River.  It is an elegant Victorian mansion set on a majestic 2.5 acre manicured lawn, fenced and gated grounds with some of the oldest trees in Cañon City.  Here is an excerpt from a newspaper article at the time it was being built.

Canon City Record, August 1, 1885:

The handsome and modern residence erected by Lyman Robison in South Canon, one of the most lovely building sites in this part of the country, 500x300 feet and facing the Arkansas river, is about completed; only a few finishing touches here and there by the painters being required to render it ready for occupancy. It is probably the handsomest and most elegant private residence South of the Arkansas. It is three stories high, the rooms on the first floor having 16 feet ceilings, on the second 11 feet and on the third 10 feet. On the first floor are the parlor, sitting room, dining and conservatory, also two bay windows 5x11 feet. The second floor contains six chambers and a bathroom. The third floor is divided into two large rooms. The main building is 61x88, with a two story kitchen, 11 and 10 feet ceilings 20x20 feet, including pantry and china closet, built onto the rear. The walls are of the finest quality of selected brick resting on a stone foundation and smoothly cut water tables. The walls are sixteen inches thick on the first floor and twelve from there up to the eves. The caps of all the windows and doors are of the renowned Berlin stone elegantly chiseled in the latest style of the stonecutters art. The roof is of the mansard style, with Gothic windows on each side and covered with metallic shingles painted in the imitation of slate surrounded by a wide, heavy cornice upheld by some of the finest brackets in the land.

The expenditures of $20,000, for the building completed will cost fully that, Mr. Robison came here to make this place his permanent home and not simply for his health and the Record is glad to chronicle the completion of his residence, the handsomest in Southern Colorado.

We walked the entire perimeter of the house and then headed back to the Riverwalk to end our journey back at the car.

 

And, as you all know, my FAVORITE sound is that of a river or creek running rampant or willy-nilly so I couldn't let this moment pass without recording it for you!  Here's my usual reminder/disclaimer that you may need to click the title link and go directly to the website if you want to watch and listen to the short video.

Finally, what you've really been waiting for the answers to the opening questions:

ANSWERS:  John Fogerty / Credence Clearwater Revival / 1969

How many did you get right?

 

Psalms 36:7-9
How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.  They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; and You give them to drink of the river of Your delights.  For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.