Today we are out for a drive through San Isabel National Forest.  The start is near camp in the sage brush plains.  Not too exciting in itself but we do spot prong horn and a Golden Eagle.  Before long we find the rolling foothills then began to climb in earnest into the wet mountains to elevation above 9000 feet.  We started early hoping to see wildlife.  Despite dedicated spotting efforts no mega fauna…coulda shoulda been elk and bear.   Still, it is beautiful.

What an amazing roadside find, a one-man project, Bishop Castle.  It is three stories of stone and iron with flying walkways, stained glass, seemingly endless spiral staircases and a dragon head.  We climb and weave our way through towers and inner rooms.  What fun.  Kent makes his way high into the spherical topworks of the tower.  You could climb around for hours searching for hidden chambers and stairways in this structure.

We stretch our legs on the circle trail around Lake Isabell.  There is lots of fishing happening but according to the folks we talked to not much catching.  Rainbow trout are the target catch.  We cruise through the NF campgrounds and picnic areas all along a creek and nestled in the edges of the thickly wooded valley.  There are a few sites that could accommodate us….someday maybe.