I woke up to a beautiful, crisp morning. The sky was a clear, brilliant blue, and the air had that refreshing mountain bite. I hopped on my bike and headed up into the hills behind the motel. The ride was demanding, climbing about 1,000 feet on gravel roads into Bureau of Land Management property. The climb was slow and steady, but the payoff came fast--literally. The descent was smooth, quick, and full of joy. A solid one-hour loop that reminded me just how good it feels to move.

After a well-earned shower, burrito, and strong coffee, I drove southwest along Highway 50 toward Cañon City. The route dropped about 2,000 feet in elevation, taking me into the high desert and red rock country. The temperature shift was immediate, and the landscape changed dramatically.

Before reaching Cañon City, I made a quick detour to check out the Royal Gorge Bridge Lookout. The view from the rim was impressive--steep cliffs dropping into the Arkansas River and the iconic suspension bridge spanning the gorge. But when I saw the $39 ticket price just to walk across the bridge, I passed.

Once in Cañon City, I explored a few mountain bike trailheads. There are some nice options, including a flat, paved river trail that hugs the Arkansas River. The riverfront area is dotted with green spaces and parks, and they were bustling with families, walkers, and cyclists on this sunny Sunday morning.

I wandered over to Main Street, which has a classic small-town downtown feel--though definitely less polished than Salida. A few storefronts sat empty, and many of the open businesses seemed aimed more at tourists than locals. The scene was eclectic: restaurants, gift shops, tattoo parlors, a candle store, a guns and ammo shop, and even a "Trump for President" storefront. It's a mix, to say the least.

One thing that stood out today was how intense the sun felt. You could feel the heat searing your skin--easy to get burned if you're not careful. It added to the sense that Cañon City sits on the edge of comfort for me, especially this early in the season. It was already 78°F on May 11th, and that felt out of sync with what I'm looking for in a place to call home.

To be honest, I don't think Cañon City is for us. There's nothing specific I can point to--it's more of a feeling. Something intangible doesn't sit right. It's interesting, but not inviting.

That said, I did stumble upon the Arkansas Riverwalk Park, which was a bright spot. It has a dog park with built-in agility equipment and a community garden--both signs of thoughtful public investment. And parts of the area near the river are surprisingly lush, thanks to irrigation from the Arkansas.

I checked out a couple of properties while I was there, but nothing stood out. Nothing worth calling home. A bit of a letdown, really.

From there, I looped back toward Salida by way of Silver Cliff and Westcliffe--two small towns nestled side by side in a stunning valley, seemingly out in the middle of nowhere. The views were incredible. I was curious why these towns sat so close together and learned that Silver Cliff was once the third largest city in Colorado during the mining boom. Westcliffe followed with the arrival of the railroad. What struck me most was how green and lush that valley was--greener even than Salida or Buena Vista. If we were aiming for true solitude, this would be high on the list. There are some large-acreage properties at surprisingly reasonable prices, but access to amenities would mean frequent trips back to Salida or east to Pueblo.

I ended the day with another session in the sauna and a much-needed visit to the laundromat--where I paid a small fortune. Seven bucks for one large load. Welcome to resort-town prices.