April 17, 2013 No words necessary!

April 16, 2013 Nice weather ... for February!!!

We're still here in Manitou Springs.  The weather is not co-operating tho ... woke up this morning to snow flurries and 26F temps with a wind chill of 1F!  Not my idea of a pleasant temperature!

On Sunday we took in Cheyenne Mountain Zoo on a clear, sunny and COLD day. 

A little tongue action!

What an amazing place that is.  Most time for me ... zoos are a hit or miss.  This one is a definite hit.  It's huge and the enclosures are large and roomy ... some are even in the woods and you can almost feel the animals are in the wild (except for the bars and glass!).  They're expanding a lot of their exhibits as well so by May it will be even better.

What's he trying to say?

Not much for crowds so we enjoyed feeding the giraffes, watching the gorillas and meerkats etc.  We had a fairly good lunch there, then drove up the tiny winding road to the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun.  WAAYYYY up the hillside they've built a marvelous tower with a chapel, winding staircase and many photos and interesting stuff about Will Rogers.  The view from the top is breathtaking!  I swear you can see clear to Kansas!

Will Rogers Shrine to the Sun

Yesterday (Monday) we took Rosy in for some maintenance (which they somehow never 'got to') ... grrr ... still grouchy about that one as we had to find some way to spend the day while it was in the shop.  It was so cold and windy out we ended up going to 2 different malls and then walking around Costco.  Not my idea of a really special day but I did get some good stuff!

Today is of course more cold, snow and wind.  We're just trying to figure out where to spend the next few days before our flight out on the 22nd.  Do we stay here and then just drive up to Denver the night before?  Or find somewhere to camp/store Rosy near Denver?  The weather is just as bad up there if not worse and I'm not sure what there is to do in that area.  So we have some decisions to make.

Trying to stay warm!

Later the same day ... we made the decision ... we'll stay here just outside Colo Sprgs at Garden of the Gods RV Park,  drive to Denver on Sunday, spend the nite and then fly out Monday morning.  We can keep Rosy here at the campground for a few dollars while we're away ... then we'll drive back on May 2nd and spend the night here.  We'll decide then whether to move West ... North ... all depends on the weather!

In the meantime we'll try to stay warm any way we can!!

We had lunch today in one of our best restaurant finds yet ... Heidi & Dugald ... you'd LOVE it.  It's called Rudy's BBQ ... original Texas Bar-b-que.  As soon as you walk in the door you're lovingly smothered in smoke and the saliva begins to flow!  They're carving stuff up as you wait in line ... the place is always packed.  No frills but just amazing beef, pork, chicken, turkey ...
I still smell of smoke ... in a good way!  I think we'll have to go back at least one more time before we leave the area. 
 

April 13, 2013 Manitou Springs

Colorado Springs/Manitou Springs

April 11, 2013

This is probably not the best time of year to be at high altitudes … unless you’re a fur-bearing critter … which I’m not.  I miss the desert and the warm temperatures! 

We got out and about yesterday for a bit – drove up to Garden of the Gods

and checked out the sights and then on to the Trading Post which is HUGE!!.

Garden of the Gods

Old Manitou Springs

Then we walked around the older section of Manitou Springs which is very funky and interesting.  It’s very ‘tie-died/new age’ but with gun shops thrown in next to the hemp shops.  Lots of cool architecture and just a nice feeling place.  Had lunch in a Polish restaurant-wish I could have remembered some of the language from listening to my grandparents.  We had some home-made Borscht which was quite good … but different from our family recipe.  I find that every family seems to have their own version handed down.  Depends on what kind of stuff was available in their region of the old country I guess. 

Then on to Manitou Springs Cliff Dwellings

where you could walk around and see some similar dwellings to Mesa Verde.  Unfortunately we got there just as a couple buss loads of school kids around 7 - 8 years old did.  They were more interested in sliding down railings than looking at old cliff dwellings ... pretty funny actually!  But the area was amazing and the gift shop was housed in an old Pueblo home that's been there for hundreds of years.  Very cool.

Manitou Springs Cliff Dwellings

Today Bruce got up early and headed to Garden of the Gods – which is only a few minutes from our campground – to take some photos while the sun was out.  I did laundry – woo-hoo!  When he got home we both headed out to G of the G and walked around enjoying the little of the sunshine that was left. 

Bruce at G. of the G.

The clouds were moving in and the wind was picking up which I guess is typical for this area … sunny in the mornings and cloudy in the afternoons. 

April 12, 2013

Did some exploring around the areas where Bruce used to live ... up on 'the bluffs' but not such great views as it was pretty foggy/cloudy.  Went and walked around Garden of the Gods and checked out their gift shop which is HUGE!  I am apparently addicted to gift shops!

Then we hit Old Town Colorado Springs which - once again - is amazing with the old architecture and funky signs etc. 

Old Colorado Springs

We visited the Michael Garmin store and gallery (Bruce has a number of his small sculptures which are very neat!) and just enjoyed the the atmosphere!

April 13, 2013

Drove out to Canon City (spoken - Canyon city) and the Royal Gorge Bridge.  http://www.royalgorgetravel.com/?GooglePPC_2010

The temperatures were higher than forecast - but the winds made it a bit cooler - still got up to around 70F.  The bridge is awesome.  We're still not sure why it was built ... as it really isn't used for traffic anymore ... but it was built in 1929 for about $350,000 and took about 6 months which is totally

Royal Gorge Bridge

amazing to think about. Today it would take 10x that long just to get permits and quotes! 

Not sure if it was a joke

Incline Railway

There is lots to do there ... an aerial tram (Bruce went on this -  I chickened out), a zip line, a skycoaster, a funicular railway etc.  We both went on the funicular (incline) railway which goes right down to the base of the mountain to the Arkansas River below.  We saw some kayakers going down the river (Bruce was literally frothing at the mouth wishing he could join them!) as well as the scenic train that runs along the river.  The one stop we did NOT enjoy was the food ... which was overcooked and overpriced.  Still ... an amazing day!  Not looking forward to the cold weather they say is coming.  Snow forecast for Tuesday!  

We enjoyed Canon City ... cool, funky town where I got 'hatted up' ... since Bruce got his Cowboy hat

Canon City

I've been jealous so I finally got one as well.  I think I look pretty good ... for a tenderfoot!  We both

Just call me Winona!

tried on Cowboy boots but just couldn't make that final jump to the Western Way!  (we may still buy guns at WalMart tho if time permits!)  LOL!  

April 14, 2013

Last night was a doozy!  Extreme winds and torrential rains!  When I looked outside this morning I was praying it hadn't turned to snow!  It didn't - thank goodness!  There is snow forecast for early next week ... lots and lots of it!  It's pretty cold out right now ... only about 33F (8 am) and the wind is still high.  Lots of snow up on Pikes Peak so not sure this is a good time to go up the cog railway.  Not sure what we'll do today.  We would head south again but we've got Rosy booked in for a checkup tomorrow plus we have to be in Denver by the 20th.  Wish we had our snowshoes!

  

April 10 ... Wrong turn to the North Pole?

-->

April 9^th, 2013

April 8

April 9

Yesterday we were in t-shirts sitting out and enjoying this beautiful park and today we’re hunkering down for a blizzard!  We’re camped at Lake Pueblo State Park which is just south and West of Pueblo, Colorado on quite a large man-made lake.  There are several campgrounds here with minimal facilities but we do have electricity – no water or sewer hook-ups.  We went for a nice bike ride and Bruce went off by himself for a more 'manly' ride although he did take a tumble - no serious damage tho!  It's quite starkly beautiful here with thousands of gophers & ground squirrels that made us laugh!  Lots of interesting bird sightings too!  

Anyway ... we thought we’d just wait out the blizzard

as we have lots of propane/electricity for heat, lots of water in the tanks and we stocked up on food a couple of days ago.  Oh ... and we've got wine, beer & tequila enough to get us thru!  :)

Taos Pueblo

Bruce - check out 'man-bracelet'!

Before we got here tho ... we spent another day in Taos, visiting some of the local areas.  We saw Taos Pueblo which they say is the oldest continuously inhabited community in the U.S.A.  The indigenous people are still living in the adobe homes that have been there for perhaps a thousand years.  Some modifications have been made such as doors (normal adobe settlements had only entrances thru the roof that was accessable only via ladders) but there is still no electricity or running water.  Most of the people had shops selling crafts but still quite a special place!

San Francisco de Asis Church

We also visited San Francisco de Asis Church which was built in 1772.  Very beautiful and serene.  It’s built in a plaza where some of the homes surrounding it are hundreds of years old.  We came back later to a restaurant in the plaza and had some of the most amazing New Mexican food we’ve had yet.

Upon leaving Taos, we drove thru Cimarron, NM which is home to the Philmont Scout Ranch where Bruce (and his dad) spent some of the most memorable times in their lives.  Things have changed a bit … more buildings and stuff, but the feeling was the same.  Quite a neat place!

We spent that night at Sugarite Canyon State Park which – when researched – said it was one of the top State Parks in the U.S.A.  Hmmmm.  I think the people that voted for that need to get out more!  The campground was tiny – only 10 RV sites and the same for tent sites.  There were 2 ‘lakes’ that we saw … one was Lake Alice a VERY VERY tiny lake (pond) that apparently is liked by anglers, and Lake Maloya which is only very slightly larger than Alice which has a boat ramp and they said ‘liked by boaters, kayakers, etc.) but man … we could paddle around the ‘lake’ in about 10 minutes!  The park has been burned over so not much vegetation left and of course it’s early in the season so not much veg. on the bushes.  We took a bit of a hike to a old coal mine shaft nearby.  Not much else to do.

Sugarite State Park

Trinidad, Colorado

Early yesterday we headed out and stopped in Trinidad, Co. which is a cool little town.  Lots of interesting old architecture and some good shops (more jewelry!), then onwards to Pueblo.  I don’t  know how long we’ll be here … depends on the blizzard.  It’s just starting to snow now and they say accumulations of 2” – 6”.  Oh well … it’s all an adventure, right??

April 10 … Darn … all that hype and no blizzard!  It did however, get really REALLY cold … down to 15F last night!  We were toasty warm in the RV and just stayed inside playing cards and watching movies.  Not a bad way to spend a cold day/night.

Today we pulled into Colorado Springs.  Had a bit of lunch and are going to see what kind of stuff we can get into while it’s still cold.  It’s supposed to warm up tomorrow so we’ll plan some outdoor stuff for then.

Later …

April 5, 2013 Hello From Taos

-->

Hello from Taos!

Linda in one of the pools

Ojo Caliente

What a fantastic few days!  We were totally ‘off the grid’ but loving it!  Half way between Santa Fe and Taos is a magical place called ‘Ojo Caliente’.  www.ojospa.com  The site features mineral pools that have been in use by the indigineous people for thousands of years and is now a world class spa.  We stayed in their campground for 2 nights and indulged ourselves in their wonderful waters.  We sort of lucked out as the campground is pretty rustic and is run almost as an afterthought to the hotel and cottages at the spa … the reservation system leaves something to be desired and we had to change campsites about 4 times before we found one that wasn’t already spoken for.  The luck part is that they ‘comped’ us 2 passes into the public pools AND threw in a 50 minute private pool session.  The public pools are great … there are several of them and they each have a different mineral composition.  They are small with maximum capacities of between 10 – 20 people.  They are strictly ‘whisper’ zones and people use them for not only relaxation, but meditation and prayer.  There is also a larger pool which is not as hot and more relaxed as to noise levels. 

Camping at Ojo

The private pools tho are awesome!  They are about 30’ square and are surrounded by high walls of adobe but open to the stars.  We booked the pool at 8 pm and it included a fire in the kiva fireplace.  It was magical!  The night was totally black and the stars were out in full force.  And because it was private … we were able to enjoy it ‘au nauturel’!

Our 'private' pool time!

We also had the most amazing meal at their restaurant as well!

During the day there are numerous hikes in the area taking you to various places like an old mica

mine and lots of ruins.  It is a place not to be missed if you’re ever in the area!

Hiking around Ojo

Yesterday morning we pulled out reluctantly and headed for Taos.

Hiking around Ojo

The campground we’re in is ok …. But once again their ‘free wi-fi’ doesn’t work!  This is a constant problem in these places and drives us nuts!  But … still … you can see the mountains and it’s close to downtown so hard to complain too loudly!

Taos

We explored the town which is mostly touristy shops, restaurants and cool architecture.  Today we drove the 'Enchanted Circle Drive' which is an 83 mile round trip that winds through Carson Nat'l Forest and thru towns like Angel Fire, Red River, Eagle Nest etc.   We even drove up to the Taos Ski area and believe it or not ... they're still skiing there!  It looks like a huge mountain so lots of areas to still find snow.  

Taos

 Weather is beautiful and we’re enjoying the area.  We came in on a small, dirt road that wound around and down till we got to the Rio Grande Gorge.  Spectacular area but all campgrounds are still closed.  It looks like it could get extremely busy in the summer months with raft rides etc.

I think we'll stay another night and take in some local stuff tomorrow.  For now it's laundry and then Margarita time!

Santa Fe

What a gorgeous city! 

In front of 'oldest house in USA

Cowboy Bruce!

You'd think you were on a movie set it's all so amazing!  The architecture here is strictly controlled so that it's all either 'adobe-style' or 'Territorial-style' in keeping with the history of the place.  Even the hotels look like old adobe dwellings.  Just goes to show you what you can accomplish with a vision!
We wandered thru Old Town and bought a few things ... Bruce got himself a cool 'cowboy' style hat (although he denies it's a 'cowboy hat' LOL) which looks very cool on him, and then he bought me a fantastic bracelet with unique silver designs and a fairly large-ish turquoise stone and some earrings that match.  I LOVE them!  There are so many cool shops here you could spend days (and lots and LOTS of money here!)
The RV park we're at is ok ... about 15 minutes from town and hardly anyone here.  I heard a lot of coyote noises outside last night ... sounded like they'd taken down something big and were having quite a feast.  Kind of cool!

At 8,800 ft - what a view!

We had a very cool hike yesterday at a place just off Canyon Rd in a preserve owned by the Nature Concervancy - Santa Fe Canyon Preserve I think.  We hiked up to the top of the mountain there - up around 8,800 ft.  There were times I didn't think I'd make it but with encouragement I did!  Legs were fine but the altitude makes it more difficult.  But the view was worth it!  It took about 2 1/2 hours up and only an hour down!  What a great day. We had started out wanting to take a bike ride but at the trailhead we found our bikes BOTH had flat tires!  There's a nasty thorn around here that sticks to and into everything and that's what got our bikes!  So we'll have to postpone the biking till they're fixed
Today we're going to explore more of the town - Bruce found a map on-line showing a 'Coffee Lover's Tour' so you know we gotta take that!

Loretto Chapel Staircase

April 1, 2013  Had a good day just toodling around Santa Fe.  Went down to the Railyards ... some trendy shops and cool restaurants.  Had our coffee fix, then found an REI and bought some new tubes for our bikes that have a sealant in them that will seal up punctures automatically.  The staff said the thorns (called Goat's Head I think) are a plague around these parts and this is what locals use.  Always learning! We then had a wonderful lunch at a brewpub and walked some more.  There's a chapel here called "Loretto Chapel" that has a famous spiral staircase that was built mysteriously by a carpenter in 1878 with 2x360 degree turns with no visible means of support.  To this day, it baffles architects and engineers.  No one knows who the carpenter was as he left as soon as it was finished and didn't even stay to get paid.  Pretty amazing!
We then walked around on Canyon Road for a bit ... a long, narrow road lined on both sides with very trendy art galleries.  The buildings are beautiful ... all looking like original adobe homes ... and just a treat to walk around.  Didn't buy anything ... nowhere to keep a 40' statue or gallery-sized painting!
We're off tomorrow ... heading for Taos.  Will write more in a few days!

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Bruce at Petroglyph

A busy few days!  While in Albuquerque we took in the Nat'l Museum of Nuclear Science & History which - among other things - told the story of the development of the atomic bomb and the Manhatten Project.  Very interesting displays and a great look back at some pretty horrific times in history.
We also took a hike at the Petroglyph State Monument
which is a huge area just on the outskirts of town.  The hike we opted for was a 2.2 mile hike that took you out into the desert and past over 600 petroglyphs - some they estimate to be over 2,000 yrs old!
We took a day trip up to Jemez Springs and on the way visited the Coronado State Monument and the Jemez State monument with various ruins from the 1600's Spanish incursions.  Very interesting.  The town of Jemez is very quirky and we had a fabulous lunch on a patio with the sun shining and a goat to greet you as you came in!  It was so cute and wagged it's tail like a dog!  You gotta like that kind of a restaurant!

How high up are we???

Made it to the top!

Another day we took the tram up to Sandia Peak which they say has the longest, highest unsupported tram lines in the world ... but we found out that Whistler peak-to-peak gondola is longer/higher.  Nevertheless it was an awesome ride up and we had a great hike around the top of the mountain.  Good thing I'm not afraid of heights ... or am I?

Lunch after biking

The last day in Albuquerque we went on a fantastic bike ride on one of the many, many trails around the city.  This one goes for 16 miles all along the Rio Grande and is all paved and pretty level.  Great for us as we haven't been on our bikes in months!  The sun was out and we stopped for lunch before heading back to camp.

Margarita Time!

The weather has gotten warmer - in the 70's - although it may get colder before too long.  We arrived in Santa Fe this morning and the wind is blowing again and the temps are somewhat cooler ... but we are over 7,000 ft!  Had a nice wander thru Old Town and then back for the obligatory Margarita!  We had to stop in at Costco to buy Tequila and limes as we were going thru so much ... oh well ... alcohol doesn't count when you're on vacation ... right?