Colorado Springs and the Rockies
It is Friday, July 1. It is 6:00 am here, and I am out on Joan and Jerry’s back porch, enjoying the morning. I told myself last night that I would sleep in this morning. Yeah Right!! I’m a morning person! Once the dawn has come, and I wake up, I can’t lay still in bed. It’s even worse if I’m in a different location. I have to get up and enjoy the morning. There is an energy to the early morning that I do not feel at any other time of the day. And because so many people in my life hate mornings . . . I get to enjoy it, usually, in solitude. Neta has woke up as well. She’s here, quietly enjoying her first cigarette of the day. The coffee is brewing. Meadowlarks sing in the field.
Yesterday there was just a little rain. The night air in the desert is very cool. And this morning, it is ever so slightly moist. There is a smell unique to the desert, when it gets just a hint of moisture. It is a smell of my youth, that always triggers fond memories of days spent wandering around in the desert . . . . and occasionally getting caught out in a sudden summer rain shower. It is a coming home! And a tonic to my soul! I am enjoying my vacation!
Yesterday Joan took us back into Colorado Springs to see the Garden of the Gods. What a beautiful and naturally powerful place. It is a natural rock formation right outside of the city which has been set aside for the public’s enjoyment. I was told as we entered the park that all the land was previously owned by a rancher many years ago. He gifted the land to the city, to dedicate it as a park, with the stipulation that it always be free to the public. Should that status ever change, so goes the charter, the land would revert back to the family that donated it. The story goes on that at some point the “city fathers” got this wonderful idea to then begin charging an admission to help pay for upkeep, and that they asserted that they could not find any heir. Well, before their plan could be put into action, concerned citizens of Colorado Springs went on the Internet, and they did find an heir . . . who then contacted the rest of the family. So the plan failed! The park continues to be free to everyone.
It is a desert location filled with many huge natural rock formations. Very impressive to see! There are many trails to walk, jog, hike and enjoy. We were there for only a very short time, as our plans were to go beyond the city and up into the mountains. I wanted to see true Colorado forest. But, I would enjoy visiting again! We walked only a short distance . . . . and I was reminded how very out of shape I’ve become! I grew up walking everywhere. I don’t do too much of it now. I should get back to it.
Just as we were about to leave, I heard a distinct sound, and looked up. Yes, there at the top of the ridge, dancing in the wind, a pair of Prairie Falcons! So beautiful!!
Our journey continued west, up into the mountains. Our goal was the small town of Cripple Creek. The ride raised us in elevation substantially, and the landscape changed. The low pine scrub and sand of the foothills turned into alpine forest, with tall pines and alpine flowers. Valleys opened up, filled with green grass and fields, with wild iris, and many other flowers I have no knowledge of. Our destination, Cripple Creek, may at one time have been a very quaint mountain village. They say there are wild burros who have free range of the town, having been brought there many years ago when the miners came to the location in search of gold. When the gold ran out, the miners left, and left behind the burros. However, in recent years the town passed ordinances to allow for gambling, and the casinos took over. All the taxes were raised to accommodate casinos, and all the small local businesses could not compete, thus went out of business and left. The place now is rather depressing! We began to walk the streets, looking for something to eat, however couldn’t go too far, as it was all uphill, and Neta was getting tired. So we ducked into the closest casino, and found a small restaurant. Our meal was good, and inexpensive. Shawn and I picked up the tab. A small price to pay in exchange for all the gas Joan paid for to get us up the mountain. Afterwards, we cleared our pockets of all our loose change, and played the slots. I had little success at first. However, Joan hit it big on the nickel machine and had a whole bucket of nickels. She shared her wealth. We spread out, and played the machines for fun. After a bit I began to have a hot streak on one of the machines, and played it out for a bit. When we were ready to go, I cashed out about $32.00. Enough to pay for our lunch. So we had a little fun, at the casinos expense!
We returned to Joan’s home, stopping to allow me to take a picture of the forested valley, and the horizon. I have now seen the epitome of Colorado! The high Rocky Mountains!
Yesterday there was just a little rain. The night air in the desert is very cool. And this morning, it is ever so slightly moist. There is a smell unique to the desert, when it gets just a hint of moisture. It is a smell of my youth, that always triggers fond memories of days spent wandering around in the desert . . . . and occasionally getting caught out in a sudden summer rain shower. It is a coming home! And a tonic to my soul! I am enjoying my vacation!
Yesterday Joan took us back into Colorado Springs to see the Garden of the Gods. What a beautiful and naturally powerful place. It is a natural rock formation right outside of the city which has been set aside for the public’s enjoyment. I was told as we entered the park that all the land was previously owned by a rancher many years ago. He gifted the land to the city, to dedicate it as a park, with the stipulation that it always be free to the public. Should that status ever change, so goes the charter, the land would revert back to the family that donated it. The story goes on that at some point the “city fathers” got this wonderful idea to then begin charging an admission to help pay for upkeep, and that they asserted that they could not find any heir. Well, before their plan could be put into action, concerned citizens of Colorado Springs went on the Internet, and they did find an heir . . . who then contacted the rest of the family. So the plan failed! The park continues to be free to everyone.
It is a desert location filled with many huge natural rock formations. Very impressive to see! There are many trails to walk, jog, hike and enjoy. We were there for only a very short time, as our plans were to go beyond the city and up into the mountains. I wanted to see true Colorado forest. But, I would enjoy visiting again! We walked only a short distance . . . . and I was reminded how very out of shape I’ve become! I grew up walking everywhere. I don’t do too much of it now. I should get back to it.
Just as we were about to leave, I heard a distinct sound, and looked up. Yes, there at the top of the ridge, dancing in the wind, a pair of Prairie Falcons! So beautiful!!
Our journey continued west, up into the mountains. Our goal was the small town of Cripple Creek. The ride raised us in elevation substantially, and the landscape changed. The low pine scrub and sand of the foothills turned into alpine forest, with tall pines and alpine flowers. Valleys opened up, filled with green grass and fields, with wild iris, and many other flowers I have no knowledge of. Our destination, Cripple Creek, may at one time have been a very quaint mountain village. They say there are wild burros who have free range of the town, having been brought there many years ago when the miners came to the location in search of gold. When the gold ran out, the miners left, and left behind the burros. However, in recent years the town passed ordinances to allow for gambling, and the casinos took over. All the taxes were raised to accommodate casinos, and all the small local businesses could not compete, thus went out of business and left. The place now is rather depressing! We began to walk the streets, looking for something to eat, however couldn’t go too far, as it was all uphill, and Neta was getting tired. So we ducked into the closest casino, and found a small restaurant. Our meal was good, and inexpensive. Shawn and I picked up the tab. A small price to pay in exchange for all the gas Joan paid for to get us up the mountain. Afterwards, we cleared our pockets of all our loose change, and played the slots. I had little success at first. However, Joan hit it big on the nickel machine and had a whole bucket of nickels. She shared her wealth. We spread out, and played the machines for fun. After a bit I began to have a hot streak on one of the machines, and played it out for a bit. When we were ready to go, I cashed out about $32.00. Enough to pay for our lunch. So we had a little fun, at the casinos expense!
We returned to Joan’s home, stopping to allow me to take a picture of the forested valley, and the horizon. I have now seen the epitome of Colorado! The high Rocky Mountains!
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