A Day to Relax

We found this very warm little pool out in the country. Actually it is one of Colorado's many hot springs. The temp of the water was about 104 degrees back by Mitch (under the hot waterfalls) and gradually got cooler as it worked across the 25 foot pool--about 96 degrees for most of the day. The mountains were in the background and the wild sunflowers edged the pool. Stress relief!!!

Royal Gorge Bridge and Park

After the train ride yesterday, we viewed the bridge from the top today. The park has a lot to offer, beautiful sights and some of the commercial stuff.

There was a wildlife park with white buffalo, and an old town with all the trappings.








The view from the top is spectacular. This range touts John F. Kennedy's profile. Click on the picture and the juts to the left of center really look like JFK. I wonder who it looked like before he was born.




Our admission ticket also allowed us to use the Inclined Train, a train affair that descends at a 45 degree angle 1200 feet.









And then we were looking up!





The first picture shows the tram that we took when we got back to the top.

Royal Gorge Railroad--Canon City, CO

We decided to take the "Wine Express" Royal Gorge Railroad trip. It was a two hour trip through the Royal Gorge in a dining car with a wine and appetizer tasting. The wines were Colorado vintages paired with a beautiful plate of little bites of shrimp, salmon, pork, and beef.














While we were eating and drinking the train traveled about 13 miles of scenic railway along the Arkansas River.









At the bottom of the Gorge we were 1,053 feet below the suspension bridge in an area 32 feet wide.


We were able to enjoy the sights from an open car.













Traveling is all about food--when in Rome eat Roman food. Right?! Well, what must one eat when in the Rocky Mountains?

Rocky Mountain Oysters!!!! Actually, when you cut "them" in strips, batter "them", deep fry "them", and serve "them" with a ranch dressing, they can't be bad. (I think they taste like chicken!!)


However, the challenge is this--what can you create with Rocky Mountain Oysters? Keith--any ideas? Here's Jason and Chef Boss Govind Armstrong talking over the challenge!! Actually, Jason spent a week cooking up a storm in New York recently. I'm not sure we'll find RMO on the menu at Table Eight South Beach when we get to Florida!

Garden of the Gods Colorado Springs, CO

We stopped at the Visitor Center of Garden of the Gods and checked out all the written information. From the deck I took the picture looking down on the "Garden" with Pikes Peak looming in the background.
















The first place to drive is past the North and South Gateway Rocks. The whole place is full of unique rock formations caused by erosion over millions of years. Different kinds of rocks are represented by different colors, most are red, some are gray, others are white.




It was a gorgeous day, 75 degrees, sunny--a wonderful day for climbing if you're so inclined--or watching! There are two climbers on South Gateway Rock. Click on the picture to see the ropes they use.



This is Balanced Rock--all those dudes who are not supposed to be rock climbing are trying hard to hold that rock up...



















Me, on the other hand, simply balanced it on the tops of my hands!
















Truly, with the blue sky, the white clouds, the red rocks, the green trees, and the shining sun, we are in the "Garden of God"!

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

We decided to spend the day doing some sight seeing and went right past Pikes Peak. You don't see a picture of it because we couldn't see it for all the fog and clouds.

We visited Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument and saw some spectacular petrified wood. 34 million years ago the area had mild weather and was covered with giant redwood trees. Volcanos later, all that are left are the base of the trunks of the trees, but they are huge and there are a lot of them. The area also has the largest number of fossils in the world, is renowned for its insect fossils, but has fossils of fish, leaves, and plants.

Ah, finally Pikes Peak--in the center of the picture right above the pine tree! But 50 miles away! On the way home it was also covered with clouds so I still didn't get a picture. It is still a pretty picture.

On the road again--through Colorado

I thought Colorado was mountains! The "Front Range" is the eastern part of the state and there were no mountains--only yellow prairie lands--built from the small sun flower type plants that covered the ground.

Then comes Denver. I thought it was in the mountains, but even though it is a mile high, Denver is only the foothills of the Rockies to the west.

On the road again--through Nebraska

Actually, Nebraska looks a lot like Iowa--corn, beans, more corn, more corn, maybe some flax. We hit the gravel roads checking out the back country--God's abundance--we are well fed.

Rich invited us to the produce farm he works at and gave us a tour. It's amazing how it all works! And he sent us home with a sampling of produce. Beautiful! If you click on the produce, you can actually taste it!!!