THURSDAY - Since our previous travel day sightseeing activity worked out so well we decided to try it again.
At 10:00AM today we have Trolly Ticket reservations for a tour through Garden of the Gods. We're almost an hour away and need to be off this campsite by 8:30AM, so we need to get moving if we don't want to be late.
GARDEN OF THE GODS
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Even during the 1/4-mile walk from the overflow parking lot to the Visitor Center we had some amazing views of the rock formations in the park.
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Pikes Peak is hidden behind that puffy white cloud on the right.
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Still walking and not on the Trolley Tour just yet.
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Now we're on the tour! That is called Grey Rock because it's not as red as the others.
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This city of Colorado Springs Park is free to enter. You can drive through the park on the same roads the Trolly uses or just walk or ride your bike.
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The white rock was entirely different from anything else in the park.
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There are several parking lots to get out and explore from.
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See the sky peaking through the hole at the top?
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I don't know about you? This looks like a camel kissing a frogs butt.
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This large rock is the only place off limits to the rock climbers.
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Those look like they might be fun to climb, but not for me.
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This one looked like a pregnant woman with her hands atop her bulging belly.
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Here the route travels between Steamboat Rock and Balanced Rock.
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This is a much better photo of Balanced Rock.
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Our route circled around and we got to enjoy the view for a second time.
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Pikes Peak is really socked in behind the clouds now.
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These are called Giant Footprints, but I'm not seeing it from this angle.
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That scar on the mountian is a set of stairs that some use as an exercise course. It gains over 2000' feet in elevation in less than a mile!
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After the tour was over we went up to the cafe on the second floor for some lunch. This painting has a 3D effect, being pained on the floor and the wall.
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I hesitate to mention this because we don't talk about religion or politics on this site.
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A few years ago a local man chiseled out the "S"'s on all seven of the parks beautiful signs. I guess he didn't like the inference there is more than one God.
By 12:00 NOON we were back in ROVER and heading south on Interstate-25 for a very short distance. We were on the Interstate for such a short distance that we didn't even have to merge into traffic. We got on at Exit 141 and stayed on the entrance ramp until it turned into the exit ramp for Exit 140 where we got off.
That's typical of the route that my trusty Garmin GPS draws up for me.
CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN STATE PARK
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By 12:30PM we were at the Entrance Gate for Cheyenne Mountain State Park.
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We've got a long back-in site that we easily fit in. On the right we even have a trailhead that leads into the woods next to our site.
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I'm not sure why the water spigot is so far away, but I guess it makes it easy to put out a fire.
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We've got a high berm behind our campsite, so no neighbors in that direction.
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We do have neighbors across the street, but with the way our trailer floorplan is we won't even see them.
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A couple hours after we got set up this big eared mule deer stuck their head out of the bushes.
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After the mama deer came out we noticed she was being followed by a little one.
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Yeah, you're just a cute as your mama.
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The little one was a lot more skittish than the larger deer.
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They finally got close enough together that we could get them in the same shot.
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2-1/2 hours later three young men came out of the same break in the woods.
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They all three crossed from right to left behind our trailer.
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An hour later the first two came back through our site going left to right this time. SORRY, NO PHOTO THIS TIME, THEY WERE IN A HURRY.
FRIDAY - Today we have two train rides scheduled, one in the morning and then another in the late afteroon.
The only thing they have in common is that they are both in Colorado, but they are entirely different. Stick around and you'll see what I mean.
PIKES PEAK COG RAILWAY
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Before we get on the cog train, let's talk about the Manitou Incline. It's 2,744 stairs that climb 2011' in elevation in just .88-miles.
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The trail starts at 6500' and ends around 8500' with grades averaging 45% and the steepest point has grades of 68%. The locals use it as an exercise track and it starts right across the street from the Cog Train Depot.
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We have no interest in doing the Incline, we're here for the Cog Train.
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The train windows are large and great for watching all the scenery go by, but if you're trying to take photos they are highly relective when the sun is shining directly on them.
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All of that to say we don't have many photos to share.
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We did capture this short video of a herd of Bighorn Sheep strolling across the frozen tundra near the top of Pikes Peak.
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There were two Bighorn Rams in this small herd.
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The stairstep looking area in the right center of the photo is a gold mine that's still pulling nearly $2,000,000 (that's millions) worth of gold out of the ground EVERY SINGLE DAY.
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We are nearly at the summit now. I remember driving that road just two days ago.
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The tradition states that you must sample the donuts and coffee once you reach the summit. As with most traditions, it's not as satisfying as it sounds. THEY WERE VERY DRY!
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With a near perfect weather day today the parking lot was very crowded.
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Here we are enjoying our visit to Pikes Peak Summit.
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Here I am inspecting my future car purchase.
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Isn't she a beauty for being 56-years old, just like Tricia.
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With clear skies today we can see a lot more of the Colorado countryside.
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I heard those three quick train whistles. That's the 10-minute warning that our train is leaving with or without us.
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The thrill seekers must cross the train tracks and then stand on the edge of the cliff.
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Apparently most people have better sense.
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With just a slight haze in the air you could see for miles today.
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Time to start heading back down the track and return to the depot.
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We are slowly descending back down below the treeline.
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It looks like the fall colors are being reflected into the rocks.
As soon as we returned to the train depot we departed one train, jumped into ROVER, then drove 43-miles south to arrive with just 20-minutes to spare before we were boarding our second train tour of the day.
This tour will gain less than 100' elevation, but we will be traveling through a narrow, winding and twisting gorge with steep cliff walls on both sides of the train.
ROYAL GORGE ROUTE
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The front car is obviously an engine, there's one on each end by the way, but the second car is a large electric generator to power the diesel electric motors.
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This is one of the skydome cars like the one we'll be riding in.
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The train will be following the course of the Arkansas River through the Royal Gorge.
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This pipeline used to bring fresh water into the town of Cañon City and surrounding areas.
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There were a couple of side canyons that looked interesting.
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The canyon is definitely getting narrower.
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Our car was near the front so we could see most of the train behind us on the curves.
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The Royal Gorge Bridge is for pedestrians only.
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They also offer a gondola ride across the gorge.
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Remnants of the pipeline that was constructed using prison labor in the late 1800s.
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Stunning!
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No dynamite was allowed in the construction so the tunnels were all dug by hand.
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I suspect maintaining the pipeline was just as arduous as the construction. With rocks falling from the steep slopes being the main destructive force or possibly rising water.
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The open air cars were available to everyone, but they were always full.
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Here's a turbulent section of the river.
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We are reaching the end of the gorge.
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This is the pipeline's caretaker home, seems to be in the same shape as the pipeline.
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Surprisingly at the end of the gorge was a resort offering overnight rentals in an a Airstream.
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The gorge opened up into this wide flat plateau.
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I guess when the engineer spots the America flag it's his cue to reverse the engines. This is where we stopped and began heading back through the gorge to the depot.
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The next train is loaded up and ready to leave on another trip through the gorge.
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Even during the 1/4-mile walk from the overflow parking lot to the Visitor Center
Pikes Peak is hidden behind that puffy white cloud on the right.
Still walking and not on the Trolley Tour just yet.
Now we're on the tour! That is called Grey Rock because it's not as red as the others.
This city of Colorado Springs Park is free to enter. You can drive through the park
The white rock was entirely different from anything else in the park.
There are several parking lots to get out and explore from.
See the sky peaking through the hole at the top?
I don't know about you? This looks like a camel kissing a frogs butt.
This large rock is the only place off limits to the rock climbers.
Those look like they might be fun to climb, but not for me.
This one looked like a pregnant woman with her hands atop her bulging belly.
Here the route travels between Steamboat Rock and Balanced Rock.
This is a much better photo of Balanced Rock.
Our route circled around and we got to enjoy the view for a second time.
Pikes Peak is really socked in behind the clouds now.
These are called Giant Footprints, but I'm not seeing it from this angle.
That scar on the mountian is a set of stairs that some use as an exercise course.
After the tour was over we went up to the cafe on the second floor for some lunch.
I hesitate to mention this because we don't talk about religion or politics on this site.
A few years ago a local man chiseled out the "S"'s on all seven of the parks beautiful signs.
By 12:30PM we were at the Entrance Gate for Cheyenne Mountain State Park.
We've got a long back-in site that we easily fit in.
I'm not sure why the water spigot is so far away,
We've got a high berm behind our campsite, so no neighbors in that direction.
We do have neighbors across the street,
A couple hours after we got set up this big eared mule deer stuck their head out of the bushes.
After the mama deer came out we noticed she was being followed by a little one.
Yeah, you're just a cute as your mama.
The little one was a lot more skittish than the larger deer.
They finally got close enough together that we could get them in the same shot.
2-1/2 hours later three young men came out of the same break in the woods.
They all three crossed from right to left behind our trailer.
An hour later the first two came back through our site going left to right this time.
Before we get on the cog train, let's talk about the Manitou Incline.
The trail starts at 6500' and ends around 8500' with grades averaging 45%
We have no interest in doing the Incline, we're here for the Cog Train.
The train windows are large and great for watching all the scenery go by, but if you're trying to take photos they are highly relective when the sun is shining directly on them.
All of that to say we don't have many photos to share.
There were two Bighorn Rams in this small herd.
The stairstep looking area in the right center of the photo is a gold mine that's still pulling
We are nearly at the summit now. I remember driving that road just two days ago.
The tradition states that you must sample the donuts and coffee once you reach the summit.
With a near perfect weather day today the parking lot was very crowded.
Here we are enjoying our visit to Pikes Peak Summit.
Here I am inspecting my future car purchase.
Isn't she a beauty for being 56-years old, just like Tricia.
With clear skies today we can see a lot more of the Colorado countryside.
I heard those three quick train whistles.
The thrill seekers must cross the train tracks and then stand on the edge of the cliff.
Apparently most people have better sense.
With just a slight haze in the air you could see for miles today.
Time to start heading back down the track and return to the depot.
We are slowly descending back down below the treeline.
It looks like the fall colors are being reflected into the rocks.
The front car is obviously an engine, there's one on each end by the way,
This is one of the skydome cars like the one we'll be riding in.
The train will be following the course of the Arkansas River through the Royal Gorge.
This pipeline used to bring fresh water into the town of Cañon City and surrounding areas.
There were a couple of side canyons that looked interesting.
The canyon is definitely getting narrower.
Our car was near the front so we could see most of the train behind us on the curves.
The Royal Gorge Bridge is for pedestrians only.
They also offer a gondola ride across the gorge.
Remnants of the pipeline that was constructed using prison labor in the late 1800s.
Stunning!
No dynamite was allowed in the construction so the tunnels were all dug by hand.
I suspect maintaining the pipeline was just as arduous as the construction.
The open air cars were available to everyone, but they were always full.
Here's a turbulent section of the river.
We are reaching the end of the gorge.
This is the pipeline's caretaker home, seems to be in the same shape as the pipeline.
Surprisingly at the end of the gorge was a resort offering overnight rentals in an a Airstream.
The gorge opened up into this wide flat plateau.
I guess when the engineer spots the America flag it's his cue to reverse the engines.
The next train is loaded up and ready to leave on another trip through the gorge.
