Grand Junction, Colorado
Organic Farm & Wildlife Refuge
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Get your second wind, the trail continues.
Old Mill Bridge & Watson Island Map
Audubon and Blue Heron Trail Map
Map of Grand Junction & Mesa County Trails
Hardly visible from the seat of a bicycle, but from the air the confluence is notable. Named for the junction of the Grand and Gunnison Rivers the city would derive its name. Later the Grand River's name was changed to the Colorado River.
After the bridges, on the left, is the Botanical Gardens and the right is Watson Island with its web of trails.
As reported in the Daily Sentinel, the large two story brick building on the left is the Holly Sugar Corporation Storage Building - built in 1899 by the Colorado Sugar Manufacturing Company. Perhaps the building desired a more exciting role in American history than hosting sugar beets, since later the Climax Uranium Company processed vanadium-uranium here. Like many older building in Grand Junction that inherited mill tailings from the America's first atomic bombs i.e. the Climax Uranium Mill and later devices, the tailings and soil were move away.
This chapter in GJct history is now over and newer residents of the area have missed their chance to stay in the colorfully named The Uranium Motel just east of the Mesa Mall.
RG Consulting Engineers, Inc. (RGCE) received an Award of Excellence from the Rocky MountainChapter of the American Concrete Institute for the Old Mill Pedestrian Bridge.
Eastern Vista
Grand Mesa, the source of drinking water, trout fishing and skiing, is visible in the eastern view.
Over the bridge and up the hill and you're at the turnaround point - Eagle Ridge Park.
If you have the time, watch the sunset from the Old Mill Pedestrian Bridge.
Continue your virtual ride or take a...
Before heading back west on the path you may wish to explore a side trip - The 29 Road Bridge. So if you divert and head east on the road (try the bike lanes on the Riverside Parkway) to 29 Road - turn right and ride south, then you will pedal over the newest bridge over the Colorado River. Across the bridge turn right on Unaweep Avenue and pedal to 27 3/8 Road. At Eagle Ridge Park you will look down on the Colorado River and the Old Mill Bridge.
Web Page Copyright P. & G. Manning, January, 2008
email: info[at]tomorrowhillfarm[dot]com
Live simply, so that others may simply live.
