Colorado Springs, Colorado

Garden of the Gods RV Park
Colorado Springs, Colorado

June 7 - 11, 2014

You may not be able to see it, but we so love concrete sites!!!  Beautiful site looking onto the Midland Trail Bike Path.  Remember always to request an executive site!!!

 

Pike's Peak...our destination here...what do we have to look forward to:

 

Our last trip on a cog railroad was up Mt. Washington in New Hampshire.  The only three cog railroads in the world:  Mount Washington in New Hampshire (done that; got the t-shirt!!); Pike's Peak, Colorado (done that; got the oxygen!) and Switzerland...(never gonna happen!!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you notice the 14,110 feet elevation?  Now, combine that with 9 degree weather and 50 mph wind....talk about needing oxygen!  Have to say they offered "aerosol" cans of oxygen when we boarded....and we bought one:  50 puffs of mint-flavored oxygen for only $8.  I think it was a bunch of bull; Ken thought it worked!!  You knew the oxygen was gone when there was no further feeling of mint!!!!!!

The views were outstanding.....

Katherine Lee Bates, born in Falmouth, originally wrote the lyrics of America the Beautiful as a poem,  and the music was composed by church organist and choirmaster, Samuel A. Ward.  Bates originally wrote the words as a poem, Pikes Peak, first published  in 1895.  At that time, the poem was titled America for publication.  Ward had originally written the music, Materna.  Ward's music, combined with the Bates poem, was first published in 1910 and titled America the Beautiful.  The song is one of the most popular of the many American patriotic songs.

Let me tell you....it was damn cold out there.  9 degrees and the wind.....I saw a small piece of ice that could have been a projectile to hurt anyone in its path!  I do have to say, I question that big hulk of a man who hung onto the railing on the right not to let me pass...no matter what!!!

 

 

Comfortably back in the rail car for our trip back.....

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

Then a jaunt through Manitou Springs:

 

Miramont Castle (who wouldn't want to live here?)



 

Lunch at Manitou Springs Brewery!

 

 

 

 

Next stop:  Garden of the Gods; a city park....wow, I don't think you can say that about a lot of city parks!!!  We enjoyed the Ridge Trail, (thank you Lord), a somewhat level, concrete trail.  Unfortunately, you will find a lot of novice hikers (like us) and little kids (not like us) on this type of trail; but enjoyable nonetheless!

Balanced Rock
 

 

This "city" park gave us as much enjoyment as a lot of the majestic national parks; however, you can't really compare the two.....let's just say, there's a lot to enjoy in the exploration of this beautiful, what-may-be-around-the-corner country!!!

We leave here, the real last stop on our southern country tour....we leave here with conflicting feelings; our explorative trip is over, one we had so looked forward to and so very much enjoyed...Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona; Vegas; five National Parks in Utah; three mega stops in Colorado; yet we still have a cross country trip home; seeing states we have never seen before.  And the end result:  HOME!!!  Can't wait!!