Our plan is to be home by mid June, and to do that we need to get a move on! We also are planning to meet Amy and Jack and kiddies at Disneyland the end of the month. All of this means we have to chose carefully where we spend our time -- a new experience for us.
Today we drove one of our longest days -- 315 miles from Durango to Colorado Springs, over beautiful mountain passes and through "valleys" at 7,000+ feet. We stopped at a rest stop for lunch at 9,000 feet with a waterfall tumbling down from a thousand feet higher yet. Awesome!
Straggling into Colorado Springs, we sought out an older motel in Manitou Springs. What a find this was! A wonderful room at the Villa Inn. Manitou Springs is tucked in the folds of the Rocky Mountain foothills with lovely parks, yummy restaurants and lovingly restored vintage motels. Many of the "attractions" are within steps of this charming little town.
Before retiring for the evening, we made arrangements to take the Cog Railroad to the top of Pike's Peak the next morning. Even though it was showering and not looking too promising. The motel owner assured us "this is Colorado -- tomorrow will be great". And she was right -- the morning dawned beautiful, so our layers were reduced to a fleece over our golf shirts. 14,130 feet is HIGH!! We weren't cold with the snow all around us -- but we could hardly breathe! The view from Pike's Peak is incredible -- mountains, lakes, cities and views into neighboring states -- just don't move too fast, or you will be panting -- a very weird experience.
Upon returning to more hospitable altitude's -- still over 7000 feet -- we were able to breathe again at visited the Miramont Castle dating to 1895. Unfortunately this old house had been converted to many uses over the years including a Sanitarium, and had lost much of it's charm.
A drive took us to see the Broadmoor -- absolutely a breathtaking setting, but not enough time for us to enjoy it this trip. We will be back to experience the golf course and the hotel at a later date. While in the area, we drove up to Seven Falls, but at 4:30 in the afternoon (it gets dark at 8!) -- it was closed. We couldn't believe it. We decided we had seen enough pictures of the Falls, and that we wouldn't be back.
We decided to end our day at The Garden of the Gods. In the middle of this granite mountain range, you have a whole valley of red rock formations. This park is fabulous, and you can tell that the locals also enjoy it. We were there late in the afternoon after an 80+ degree day, and the rock climbers were out in force, clambering up many of the faces rising from the valley floor. Moms walking their babies, joggers, bicyclist, hikers, and horse back riding filled the park with late day enjoyment. An invigorating way to end a glorious day.
Our next adventure was to the gold mining area of Cripple Creek. An added bonus for Phil was that Phil Jr worked in a mine here after high school run by Portland based Nerco. Our mine tour was very interesting. The guide was a "Santa in denim" who has worked in the mines all his life. We descended 1000 feet into the mine where Ed showed us and told us how mining was done in years gone by. How they set the charges, how the air circulated, how they accounted for everyone on each shift, what equipment they used, and what the gold looked like in the mine. Cripple Creek is a small mining area compared to other areas, but the gold extracted here was much more plentiful on a "per acre" basis.
We decide Phil Jr. would hate Cripple Creek today. When he was there in the late 80's, it was dying, but charming. In 1991, gambling was brought to town, and it is a bustling casino town now. Many of the old buildings have been rejuvenated into casinos -- and the seniors come by the bustled up the winding roads to enjoy gambling the day away.
Heading back to town, we headed for the US Olympic Training center as Phil had spied a Volleyball exhibition being held in the late afternoon. After trying to find where is was in this large complex -- we found it was actually in downtown Colorado Springs -- so off we went. We missed the team workout, but enjoyed the players working with kids and teenagers to promote the virtues of volleyball.
Today we are off for Denver to see a few sights there, as Phil has never been there. I've been there so many times I could throw up! But first, we head to the US Air Force Academy for a tour there as we leave beautiful Colorado Springs. This is quite a campus, but young by Academy standards, only started in the 1950's. This was finals week, so not many cadets around, and they canceled their daily parade because of it. Their chapel is world renowned, and it is breathtaking. A design like any you've ever seen.
Once in Denver, we did see some places I have never been. We stumbled into the Cherry Hills area, escaping a massive traffic jam on I-25. This is definitely one of the exclusive areas of town and I think we saw each area as we tried to find our way into downtown Denver! Even happened by the exclusive Cherry Creek(?) or is it Cherry Hills Country Club. Impressive, nonetheless.
After a quick look at downtown and the State Capital, we were off for Boulder in rush hour traffic. Fortunately, we weren't in any hurry. Today has been rainy all day, so this made the traffic even worse, and, more importantly, we couldn't see the mountains! Again, the desk clerk at the motel assured us that tomorrow could bring a 90 degree day. We'll see.
Well, it is alot like Oregon -- the day dawned sunny and bright with most of the mountains in view. We headed for CU to see the campus and the stadium. This would be great place to go to school. The campus is lovely, and the town small and intimate -- perfect for a campus town. Boulder Creek meanders through it all.
After meandering around the campus, we headed for their historic area -- as one local said -- "what is historic about it -- they have torn everything down and rebuilt it!" But it has a very nice feel along the Pearl Street Mall, nonetheless. Unfortunately, we wandered into Chico's and they had a store full of things I could have bought. Phil might think I DID buy the store out -- had to ship everything home. I have been very good this whole trip, so I guess I deserved it -- and half of the items were on sale (the woman's rationalization for everything!).
We have had another camera catostorphy, and needed to find a real camera shop. When I was rewinding the 35mm, the film went "snap". I knew it had broken, so we found a shop with a dark room where they could remove it safely from the camera -- this roll will get developed when we get home -- it will take special handling. But hopefully, the pic's will be OK.
With over half the day gone, we are off to Rocky Mountain NP. Estes Park is a darling little town. Checked out the Stanley Hotel -- and realized we had been there before, when we went to Ft. Collins, back when we were dating -- wasn't that at least a hundred years ago? Rain has been threatening all day, but there were so many great RV Parks here, however, we don't like rain camping, so ducked into one of the many cabin motels in the area. Don't even think of staying in some chain location here, the cabins are so cute -- and there are lots of them. We found the Big Thompson Timberlane Lodge and thoroughly enjoyed the cabin and their lovely grounds. It was pretty funny, as we headed down their driveway to cross the river, I yelled at Phil (something I rarely do) "STOP!!" The bridge ahead of us did not look RV friendly -- and sure enough there is a small sign with a weight limit of 7,000 lbs. We are about 8,500. Phil sprinted across the bridge to the office and found that there is a back entrance for behemoths like us. Lovely grassy grounds, a pool, a kids play area, BBQ's and picnic tables, and several inviting hot tubs made this a perfect place to stay for a night or a week.
Saturday morning was partly sunny and partly cloudy, but we were on a mission to enjoy the Park. The road through the park isn't open yet, due to snow, but we went as far as we could and then also took in the area around Bear Lake. Even this very traveled trail had snow on the north side. It was a nice hike around the lake and we enjoyed our lunch while we here there.
Spring hasn't really arrived here yet, the trees were just beginning to bud out, and the wildflowers were either already done, or not yet in bloom -- but many people were still out to enjoy a spring day in the Park. Clouds peaked in and out of the majestic peaks, changing the picture potential moment to moment. What a treat in such a magnificent park.
Our next destination was Vail, albeit without cousin Debbie, who we hoped to visit. In a call earlier in the week, she was with her daughter and friends in New Orleans for a graduation trip. Our timing couldn't have been worse. But we decide, oh well, we can explore Vail on our own and try to catch Deb on another trip. We have decided Colorado is a location we need to return to -- so much to see -- but you have to come in the middle of the summer!! Unless you LOVE snow!!
Found a cute, homey Best Western in the heart of town (yes, Deb offered her house, but we didn't want her to fuss with getting the info to us -- we'll be back and enjoy seeing her another time). The hotel recommended the Montauk Grille nearby -- turned out this was there last night of operation for a few weeks til the summer season starts here -- and they were packed. The.sign out front said "SOLD OUT Saturday night "-- the phone ringing off the hook with denials, but did we let that stop us -- no way! Turns out the owner was at the desk, we (I) was respectful and pleasant to him, sympathized with his dilemma, he said "let me see what I can do", as yet another call changing reservations from 7 to 4 and "we will be late", came in. Less than 5 minutes later, we were seated with the hustle and bustle everywhere around us. What a break! The waiters were attentive, the food delicious, and they even gave Phil a complimentary glass of wine when he spilled his first one all over the table. A real class operation. You can see why they are so successful. A big thank you went out to the owner. He seemed appreciative that someone actually recognized his effort on behalf of a visitor to Vail.
Today we are off for Grand Junction or Montrose CO to see The newest National Park -- The Black Canyon of the Gunnison. The drive from Vail to Grand Junction is without a doubt the most spectacular Interstate drive we have had. You go through Glenwood Canyon, through many wonderful little towns, all along the Colorado River. In many places the freeway is actually a long bridge clinging tenuously to the mountainside. In a couple of places the traffic going the other way was actually under us, the canyon was so narrow. Besides the beauty, we noticed that there is a bike/walking/skating path the full length of this incredible route.
We HAD to buy some gas before Grand Junction -- we were nursing our last $1.62 tank and knew we were in for trouble. Gas all along I 70 had been very high. When we got to Glenwood Springs (the largest town along the way, so it should be a little lower), we about fainted --$1.96! A new high for the trip. We figured out how many gallons we needed to get to Grand Junction and bought just $20 worth!
We arrived in Grand Junction early enough we decided to push on for Montrose (after filling up on $1.79 gas) so we were ready to hit the park in the AM.
I hope this week is good luck -- we picked up two more prospects for our Van this week....