Royal Gorge - Colorado

We started our wonderful day with 2 sweet Doe's walking right through our campsite

Our first stop today was the Royal Gorge in Canon City Colorado - an absolutely amazing engineering marvel ....

The first thing we did when we arrived was ride that red gondola across the Gorge which goes above the Arkansas River ...A wonderful ride ..

This bridge was built in 1929 but in 2013 there was a terrible fire that hit this beautiful area and burned everything in the park ACCEPT the bridge.  It burned 100 boards on the bridge and they salvaged what they could of them to build an outside wall of the new Welcome Centre ...the former gondola was burned beyond repair and so we were able to ride in the beautiful new one put in just 7 months ago - It was amazing what they had accomplished in a mere 1 1/2 years ...

There was a small herd of big horn sheep that didn't seem to be too bothered by visitors all around ...we finally got to see someone brave enough to zipline across the gorge - my gosh I don't know how they do it ....it was a marvelous day once again ...I loved having our day start with the deer in the campground but it ended with this in our parking spot !!!!!

A DANG TARANTUALA!!!!  I have never seen one ...let alone one walking by my car !!!

We move on tomorrow ....with dreams of returning to this area and this campground ....

 

"Autumn, the year's last loveliest smile"

 

 

Happy Trails!!

Pike's Peak and Seven Falls

There are not enough adjectives to describe the beautiful ride up to the top of Pike's Peak at Manatou Springs Colorado ....We took a Cog Railway up to 14,000 feet ...What a ride !!!!

Our trip began at 10:40 a.m. and took 3 hours round trip which included a 20 minute rest at the top ...What an adventure !!!!   The Temperature at the bottom when we left was about 60 degrees (+15 C) and when we got to the top it was 32 degrees (0 C) with a windchill of 22 (I don't know what that is in Celsius) ;)   



This was our train and we were in that first car ....

 







 

We moved on to Seven Falls - also a beautiful view of a different kind -

 



 

 

It was another fantastic day of seeing Colorado - it is such a beautiful state ...tomorrow we go to the Royal Gorge - Pictures to follow - I took 480 photos today alone ...aren't you glad I didn't post them all :)

 

"Collect Moments not Things"

 

 

Happy Trails!!!

 

 

 

 

Colorado Springs and Gardens of the Gods

Wow what a difference a day makes ....from the prairie's to the mountains ...our day started off a bit earlier so we could have as much time as we can to see and do all that we want to while here in Colorado Springs.  It was a good drive down accept for some traffic just north of Denver due to an accident and after all these miles we have driven in the motorhome - a small car passed us and threw up a stone that cracked the drivers side window ...It doesn't hinder Phil's view so hopefully it wont spread before we get home.

I wont post all 140 photos I took today hehehe but will share some of the beauty that we experienced today -

Well it seems I don't have internet available to upload photos ...the campgrounds isn't strong enough and Cell service here in the mountain isn't strong enough to use my own Hot Spot ....

Please come back later - I will keep trying

 

 

"Be the Reason Someone Smiles Today!"

Phil so happy to be putting the state of Colorado on our Map !!!!

 

Happy Trails!!!

 

The Road to Colorado

I forgot to write in this Blog last night and I can only say it was probably due to just not having much to show or say.

We left Spearfish and one of the loveliest campgrounds we have ever stayed in on Saturday morning....we were on our way to Lusk Wyoming. I had been to Wyoming before - but it was on I-90...this time we came down through Hwy 585 to 85 and south and I had not realized it was miles and miles AND MILES of prairie and although I suppose it has its own beauty ...the brown, dry lands seemed to go on forever. 

The "fun" part of the drive was seeing my first Prairie Dogs standing up out of their holes ...looking around ...cutest thing ever, well I don't think the ranchers think so ...there was miles with no services, no rest stops, no gas stations, no campgrounds - finally we came to our chosen campground ...Prairie View !!!!!  one of only two campgrounds for miles ...in the town of Lusk, Wy ...and it was in the middle of a prairie cow pasture I am sure ....but the light at the end of this tunnel was a Pizza shop in the town, with wonderful online reviews, that delivered to the campground!!!  It was 90 degrees  (+30) when we got there so we gave the pizza a try ...they delivered right to our motorhome door and it was DELICIOUS!!! 

Soon after retiring for the night I realized I hadn't Blogged ....so here we are tonight - a twofer !!

We left the prairie campground and headed south on I-25 ...heading to Fort Collins Colorado ...once again our viewing pleasure was more of the same ....we did see deer and pronged horn antelope abundant in the brown fields ...but soon we could see the Rocky Mountains to the west as we travelled along beside them and I knew that one day soon we had to go over them or through them ...!!!!

We found a Flying J gas station and every trucker, Camper, Rv'er was there getting gas because it was the first one we had seen for miles !!   Gas was a little higher here at $2.45 and this trip we only got 7.2 mpg - but we had gone from 4000 ft to 6500 ft (above sea level) so we expected it to drop while we pulled the hills ...

See those mountains ??  Home is on the other side :)

Moving on tomorrow to Colorado Springs where we have much planned to see and do ....we have already booked our tickets for the Cog Railroad to go to the top of  Pike's Peak !!!  Phil is planning to wear a snowsuit I think !!!  We plan to stay in Colorado Springs until Thursday and longer if we don't get it all done :)  Cant wait !!!

Happy Trails

Spearfish, Bear Country and Custer State Park

 

We had a wonderfully full day of sunshine and beauty all around ....Our first stop was Bear Country USA where we hoped we would see a bear.   We were not disappointed -

 

 There were a few other animals that we were thrilled to see also :)

Then our drive through Custer State Park which was just amazingly awesome as always  - just a few of the 149 photos I took today :) 

We have loved our days here ....this campground is just beautiful ....but so much more to see so we will move on tomorrow to Lusk Wyoming ...

Happy Trails

Spearfish/Deadwood South Dakota

What a difference a day makes ....The terrain changed completely and we are now nestled in the Black Hills of South Dakota....The day started briefly with fog and a mist, but we were soon out of it and as you will see by the photos the skies were so very blue and a temp of 81 (+25 C)    Our Campground (Elkhorn Ridge) is one of the most beautiful settings we have ever been in ....although it was a bit of a white-knuckler getting down to it but well worth it ....

We had an short day of travel so we were parked and set up by 1 p.m. and so off we went for a drive - we came upon a sign that said Spearfish Scenic Route ....so we took it ....and my gosh ...the beauty was everywhere

At the end of the scenic drive was Deadwood ...on of Phil's favorite places....so we spent a few hours just exploring once again....found a couple of slot machines and ended with a nice little dinner at one of the local places...every restaurant, big or small, has slot machines !!

 

And then of course there is this :) 

Guess where he is going ??? hahahahahahaha last time it was closed but it was open today and he went up many stairs to see if it was accessible for me ...He didn't care for the atmosphere there so we didn't go in ...

Tomorrow we stay here and will go to Bear Country, The Avenue of the Presidents, and another drive around Custer State Park ...

Happy Trails!!