Jun 17, 2013 - Pikes Peak Cog Railway

Sunday we did not do a lot really both felt shattered so had an easy day, hiked for an hour in the morning in Red Rock Open Space just up the road from where we are parked, the rest of the day we did not do much. Monday we drove to Manitou Springs only 3.5 miles away to get to the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, there are only 3 Cog Railways in the world like this and this is the highest, steepest & longest it takes us 8.9 miles up to the top and it takes 1.5 hours each way with only 30 minutes at the top before you have to get on it to come back...

Jun 16, 2013 - A day in Cripple Creek

48 out of 52 buildings burnt down, the old locomotive & carriage that I put a photo off on the blog also is no longer there. There is damage as well to the bridge 32 planks have got to be replaced but otherwise the bridge was saved. We had seen pictures of the fire at Royal Gorge Bridge & Park and it now looks nothing like what we visited. Saturday found the fire was out at Cripple Creek so headed up there a 42 mile drive way up in the hills with winding narrow roads again but at least we were only in the car. Cripple Creek is an old mining...

Jun 15, 2013 - Colorado Springs & Around

Wednesday drove out to Cheyenne Mountain State Park where we hiked 3.5 miles saw Prairie Dogs there and a few more different wild flowers. Then drove onto another Park where we walked a few more trails. The fires are still raging here in Black Forest as well as well as Canon City where we left. We get up in the morning and can smell the smoke and its 15-18 miles away there has been over 100 homes lost and loads of people evacuated it is 0% contained as I write this. Canon City fire has done a lot of damage as well, 48 out of 52 buildings...

Jun 6, 2013 - Enjoying Colorado Springs

Thursday morning we woke up to temperatures in the high 40's and had our heater running all night. YIKES! That is cold. But the day quickly warmed up with temperatures in the 70's with beautiful blue skies until late in the afternoon. Then a thunderstorm rolled in over the mountains and it just poured for about 30 minutes. Then there was beautiful weather again. Boy, it sure is hard to keep a car clean in Colorado Springs! I started my morning off with dance class again. We really had fun and the class even told me I have a permanent spot...

Jun 4, 2013 - Arriving in Colorado Springs

Our relaxing stay in Colorado Springs started out with a not so relaxing drive to Colorado Springs. Usually, we head from Denver to Colorado Springs and it's an easy drive on the interstate. Well, since we were going directly from Nebraska, our GPS put on U.S. Hwy 24, a one lane in each direction road which crossed the mountains. That wasn't all that bad except our RV decided to act up and had no power at all. It couldn't take the mountain passes at more than 45 miles per hour…not so good on a 65 mph one lane road. So… we unhooked the car...

Jun 3, 2013 - Home Again at Mountaindale

We tried to be relaxed and take our time getting started this morning, but the anxiety and desire to be at our destination urged us to get busy. We left High Plains Campground in Oakley, KS right at 7:30 AM, which was only 6:30 Mountain Time. We stopped for fuel at Limon because we had to fight a strong quartering headwind all the way, causing my fuel mileage to fall to 8.1 mpg for the final leg of our journey. Marilyn spotted a snow capped mountain (Pikes Peak) from 82 miles away and we began to feel at home again. It sure felt good to...

May 29, 2013 - Graduation

May 29 Wednesday Graduation – this is it, the final day. We all head out to Falcon stadium at 8:30. We have tickets for specific seats, so no co-ordination of meeting people is needed. The faculty is introduced, also all the special guests. The guest speaker today is the Secretary of the Air Force. The cadets all march into the stadium and the ceremony begins. The Secretary gives the commencement address and the students are called to the stadium one by one. There are 40 squadrons so this takes a little time. One of the customs is the hat...

May 28, 2013 - Parade & Commissioning

May 28 Saturday Graduation Parade We are up early and Mike and I are out of the door by 8:00 a.m. The idea is to get a good parking place and save some seats on the parade field. We all finally get together by 9:00 or so and the whole group is together . First up is the cadet falconer with a demonstration of falconry. Next is a display of the cadet drill team, throwing sabers back and forth and over their heads. Impressive. Finally the entire 1024 academy marches onto the field in squardrons. After the squads are on the field there is a fly...

May 28, 2013 - Baker says "where are we now?"

Yep, that's right Colorado Springs, Colorado! Gary and I were tired of being inside the RV because of the heat in Elephant Butte....so, we decided to leave a week early and head to Sioux Falls, South Dakota!! So, last night we stayed in Las Vegas, New Mexico...yep...that's right there is a Las Vegas in New Mexico too! :) Today, we traveled on up I-25 to Colorado Springs, Colorado. Once we passed the state line into Colorado it was wonderful!! Beautiful green pine trees and prairie grass!! I had my "lesson" today in driving the truck with...

May 27, 2013 - Graduation Party

Monday May 27 We opted not to go to the parade this morning and I cleaned the RV while Deb took Jakob to the Hotel where her niece’s were staying to go swimming while she headed to the airport to pick up Alex’s four best friends. Mike and I went and did some grocery shopping and picked up a few things for the RV. I found a nail salon and got my nails done for the Commissioning tomorrow. We all met up at the rental home of Alex’s roommate’s parents. There are five guys that have been buddies throughout their Academy years. There are...

May 26, 2013 - Superintendent's Reception - Academy

Ran home and got cleaned up and dressed for the Superintendent’s Reception at his home. He lives in the Carlton House, a 10,846 sq.ft. home that was started in 1931, finished in 1935. Later it was a country club and when the area was turned over to become the USAF Academy the house was then used by the Superintendent’s for the past 49 years. We went through the receiving line, was greeted by the Superintendent and his wife and then went onto the back patio for refreshments. The Academy mascot, the falcon was there and Jakob was able to pet...

May 26, 2013 - Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

May 26 Sunday Today Deb, (my daughter) and Jakob (grandson) and I are off to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. The Zoo is built on the side of the mountain and has a sky ride over the tops of the Mountain Goats, Tigers and the Barnyard. We start with the sky ride; I think I am the only one not afraid of heights. The ride takes 10 minutes and from the top you can see all of Colorado Springs. On the way down the we get a chance to see the tiger and the mountain goat is on the top of his mountain. Next we are off to see the giraffe. In this exhibit...