Gypsy & The Navigator

On To Oregon..............First A Visit With Friends

It was mid-morning when we left Boise taking I84 to the Oregon border and then connecting with  US 20 West. 

I found out that US 20 is the longest road in America.  It stretches from Boston, MA to Newport, OR.

It passes miles and miles of farmland.

The rolling hills of the high desert were nice and green. 

We stopped overnight at Burns, OR and were treated to a dazzling sunset.   

 

The next morning we continued west through the high desert.  I was captivated by these clouds.  They look like they had been squeezed out of a tube...............just like a churro. 

A first glimpse of those snow covered Oregon mountains.  We were soon in Terrebonne (about 25 miles north of Bend) to spend a few days with Saxon and Don.  Were we ever spoiled.  Gypsy was parked and connected to water and electric in their front yard and the Navigator didn't even get unhooked.  They were great tour guides and Saxon cooked the most delicious meals.  What a treat!

 After a delightful evening visiting the next morning they took us to The Cove Palisades State Park.

The Billy Chinook Lake is surrounded by towering basalt lava cliffs.

 Don explained that the reservoir is made up of the Crooked, Deschutes and Metolius rivers. ( I hope I got that right.)

 Woo Hoo!   Don took us for a boat ride. 

What fun.  Walt and I couldn't remember the last time we had been on a boat on a lake.  

The skies were clear and blue and the air warm but not hot.

The massive rock walls and ever changing colors of the water kept me taking photo after photo.

That is the dam that holds it all together.

Unusual cliffs and here the water was a pretty shade of green.

Thanks Don for a really fun time on the water.  

But, the boat wasn't done yet.  We were joined for the day by Saxon and Don's daughter, April, and the two grandchildren, Chelsea and Nate.  What a fun pair of kids.  Lots of good natured teasing. 

Chelsea waterskiing.  Both she and Nate flew by us on skis. 

 Nate loves to fish.  He came prepared with 3 fishing poles.  He explained that they each have a specific purpose.  Must be why Walt never catches fish.  He doesn't have the right pole. 

 

On our way back from the lake we stopped at the Crooked River High Bridge.  

Stunning view down the 300 foot canyon.  This is the railroad bridge west of the pedestrian and roadway bridges.

When the new bridge was completed in 2000 the old  bridge that was built in 1926 was opened for pedestrian traffic with a nice park along the cliff edges.   The bridges are quite close together. The green one is the old bridge and the terra cotta arch is the new one. 

Lots of greenery way down there.  Another great meal shared and a good nights sleep and more to do the next day.

 The next day we went to the High Desert Museum.  

 It is a wonderful museum just south of Bend that has something for everyone.  It has history, animals and art.

Chelsea and Nate played with the hoops.   Just like the pioneer kids did.

Not sure if there was a winner. 

I am glad this poisonous green vine snake was behind glass.  He was constantly moving, winding his way in and out of the plants. 

The museum is on 135 forested acres.  We attended the Raptors of the Desert Sky show.

It was quite a thrill to see the birds flying free overhead and landing nearby.   Isn't this barn owl gorgeous?  Owls hunt at night but she seemed happy to come out in the daytime.

The lady giving the talk about the birds told us that a Common Barn Owl can locate a mouse in zero light – for example, in pitch darkness using only its hearing to locate and catch the moving mouse.

The turkey vulture has a face that probably only a mother could love.

They are possibly the commonest raptors in the Americas.  Their main diet is dead animals and serve as the clean up crew of the land. 

   

If my memory serves correctly this is Kestral falcon.  Speedy little bird darted around the area and hardly stopped on the perches.  Then it was time for a Peregrine falcon.  It flew in and flew off..............no participation in the show today for it. Higher and higher, distracted by all the wild birds in the air.  The handlers weren't worried.  They say they usually come back and if not they have trackers on them so they can find them.  What a great exhibit.  We really enjoyed it.

Everyone had to wait for me as I lingered and lingered watching the River Otters.

What busy little animals.  In and out of the water entertaining all who watched.  From the museum we went to lunch at a really great Chinese Restaurant.  

All too soon it was time to leave our generous host and hostess and head further west.  Thank you Saxon and Don for your hospitality and the good times.  

A Whirlwind Day In Boise.......Part 2

The tour continued with a stop at Boise State to see the home of the Broncos. 

Then on for a drive through Julia Davis Park.  Remembering the times the kids rode those paddle boats. 

On to Ann Morrison Park.  Many an evening was spent there taking the children to feed the ducks. Rob especially requested that. 

Boise had recently hosted The Basque Soccer Friendly, an international professional soccer match between Athletic Bilbao and Club Tijuana.  For that event the normally blue field at Boise State University was covered with lush green grass.  The 85,000 square feet of turf was then donated to the Idaho Youth Soccer Association to be installed on fields at Ann Morrison Park for both youth and adults to play on.  The work was well underway while we were there.

The Boise River weaves its way right through the middle of the city.

Floating down the Boise River on an inner tube is an ideal way to spend a summer afternoon.

Then it was time for a home tour.  This was the first house we bought.  It was brand, spanking new.

$15,300 with a down payment of $500 in November 1969.   Buying a house was so simple then. House payment was less than $130.  

The yard was much prettier when we had this one.  ( Not sure what that trellis thing is doing.) See those huge trees in the back.  We planted them.

This one needs some yard help too.   I wonder if it still has all that wild wallpaper that it had when we lived there. 

This one looks amazingly unchanged.  It was such a nice house.  That concludes the house tour for today.  Others did not get a drive by this time.  We did live in a lot of different houses in Boise.  

Not sure if it still is but the Boise Train Depot used to be the most photographed building in Boise. 

It is still one of my favorites and it was on my list for the day.  It was a whirlwind but I think everything got checked off.

 How did we finish out the day?  Dinner at the Big Bun and then meeting Kevin and Kim and their family for yogurt.  It was so nice to see them.  When they head back to Arizona it will be back to school time for Isaac and Sammie.  Bailey has awhile before she moves to Tucson to go to the University of Arizona.  

 

Leaving with food for thought. 

 

 Carnivorous plants at the Idaho Botanical Garden.  They eat meat!  No vegetarians here.

Passive-Aggressive, Green and Very Hungry!

 

 

 

A Whirlwind Day In Boise

We started early and finished late.  They say the best way to get things done is to begin so that is what we did.

We met Kevin early for breakfast in downtown Boise before he went into the office. Yes, he works when he is in Boise.  It was the nicest way to start the day.

I had a list of places I wanted to go on our one day in Boise.  A bit of our history to record but Kevin told us what a great place the Idaho Botanical Garden is.  It was just being created when we had moved in the 80's.  

It wasn't on our list but mention a garden to me and I am there.

The Idaho Botanical Garden is a private, non-profit corporation existing without state or federal funding. The garden is completely dependent on tax-deductible contributions from community-minded citizens, corporations, foundations, and site rental.

The most unique thing to me about the garden is where it is located. It is located on land once known as #2 Yard of what was once Idaho’s Territorial Prison and later the first Idaho State Penitentiary. 

The prison serves as a backdrop to the gardens and  many of the prison structures are used throughout the property.

There are fourteen specialty gardens.  This is an entrance to the English Garden.

There are several water features that attract wildlife like this dragonfly.  

When I first walked by this water feature I took a photo of this vibrantly colored water lily. 

A few minutes later I walked by and the water was splashing and this petal was all that remained of the water lily.  See the culprit............hiding under the lily pad with a full tummy. 

The majority of plants growing in the Garden are donated by generous industry and corporate partners throughout Oregon and Idaho. 

The garden is planned that from spring through fall there are always many flowers blooming.

 

There are beautiful fir and pine trees that will offer winter interest.  Kevin says that during the Christmas Holidays that the area is lit with thousands of Christmas lights. 

It is a beautiful place to be.

So many places to linger.

Just like the white rabbit in Alice in Wonderland there was no more time to spend.  

 

We headed back into downtown Boise along Warm Springs Avenue.  When we lived in Boise we would drive down Warm Springs and look at the beautiful homes.  We each had our favorite.  This one is mine. And I still think it is pretty special.

 This is Walt's.  It is a different color now but just as pretty.  Walt noticed that the cleaning lady must have been there.  See the bucket and mop on the front step.  

 There is a new castle on the Avenue.  I have seen it on HGTV and the Discovery Channel but it was fun to see it for real.  A 5800 square foot castle with all the modern amenities on the inside.  Utilities will be low....................like all the homes on Warm Springs Avenue it is heated by the hot water that runs below the property.  Most of the stone that it is built from was quarried at Table Rock, just outside Boise.  Rumor has it that it will be up for sale this fall so if you are interested I am sure any Boise Real Estate firm could help.

 We drove by St. Luke's Hospital.  That is where Kevin and Cynthia were born.  

Next stop.  The Idaho State Capitol.   The construction of the building began in 1906 and was completed  in stages with occupants moving into their offices in  1912.   In 1919 expansion took place adding the east and west wings. 

It was built at a cost of just over $2 million.

The exterior is composed of locally quarried stone from Table Rock.  (Just like the castle house.)

We have been in the Idaho Capitol over the years with children on school tours and the like and it was just as beautiful as I had remembered. 

It gives such a sense of serenity.

Way up in the dome center are 13 large stars representing the original 13 colonies and 43 smaller stars indicating that Idaho was the 43rd state to enter the union. 

Four types of marble were used for the Capitol's interior:  red from Georgia, gray from Alaska, green from Vermont and black from Italy.  

Over 50,000 square feet of artistically-carved marble exists in the building.

 The Idaho Capitol building is heated by geothermal water. The hot water is tapped and pumped from a source 3,000 feet underground.  The same water that heats the houses on Warm Springs Avenue.

 On the floor is a compass rose medallion using the gray, black and red marble. 

 The Senate meets in the west wing.

The color scheme in the Senate is red.

The House of Representatives meets in the east wing.  Each wing has a beautiful dome of its own.

The color scheme in the House is blue. 

Underground tunnels connect the Capitol Building to the Supreme Court building and other government buildings on Capitol Mall to the east. Used daily by government employees, these tunnels are not accessible to the public, and could serve as bomb shelters to protect the governor and other public officials.

 Walt says that the Idaho capitol is his favorite.  Could be he is a bit prejudice since he is from Idaho. 

There is a new project going up in downtown Boise.  The design is unique and futuristic.

It is JUMP..............Jack's Urban Meeting Place.  The project is funded by the J.R. (Jack) Simplot family. It will feature, a five story slide, a community kitchen, dance studios, a makers studio (building crafts, wood working and metal working) anteaters, walking paths and a lot (110) of J.R. Simplot's collection of tractors.  Along the outside of the property will be the Simplot Corporate offices that will result in 900 more employees being in the heart of downtown everyday. It has event space, but it's not a convention center. People will teach classes and hold activities in studios, but JUMP isn't a school. It's not a museum, either, though it will feature the historic tractors that Idaho agriculture giant J.R. Simplot bought in the late 1990s. It is a collection of boxes and circles that, when the project' is finished, will have a collection of bold colors to contrast the beige blocks that dominate most of downtown Boise architecture.  A return trip is in store to see the completed project. 

This is getting very long and our day has only begun..................A Whirlwind Day In Boise will continue. 

 

A Night Of Soccer And Then On To Idaho

On our last evening in Utah we went to a "Real" Salt Lake soccer game.

We watch professional soccer on TV but had never been able to attend a game and since the team was in town while we were there we bought tickets.  We have loved soccer ever since Rob started playing when he was 4.  He played high school and competitive soccer and we loved attending all of his games.

We got there early so we could walk around Rio Tinto Stadium.  What a great facility.

The whole atmosphere is like one giant party.  WalletHub.com did a poll of the best soccer cities in the U.S. and Salt Lake City won.  I can see why.  The Stadium is really nice, ticket prices are reasonable, they have free parking with a shuttle that drops you off at the door and the fans LOVE their team.

Flags were waving in every part of the Stadium. 

Leo the Lion is the teams mascot.

We have watched professionals play quite a bit on TV but when you see them in person you are awestruck by how fast they are and how adept they are at dribbling and passing.  Wow!  Frequently we are told by people that they think soccer is a boring game.  They must never have watched a game beyond the PeeWee level.  It is a constant adrenalin rush of up and down the field (pitch) with shots on goal that make you hold your breath.  

They played Houston ( in white) and it was non-stop action.

The stadium holds just over 20,000 and by game time the stands were almost full.

This is not a place that you sit quietly and watch a ball game.  You are frequently on your feet from kickoff  to corner kicks to shots on goal. 

And when they score a goal let the celebration begin.  Their Official Anthem is sung and streamers fly. The Anthem is sung at the start of the game, when RSL needs to rally and when a goal is scored.  I loved it.  I think I remember it.  "If you believe then just stand up on your feet and shout it loud "Real."
Here at the riot the battle hymn's begun.  We're here for RSL."  

Salt Lake won 2-0.  What a fun night.  I would go again any time we are close to a professional soccer team. 

Bright and early the next morning we headed to Boise.  Just as windmills speak Texas to me mills speak Utah to me.

Much of the terrain as you head into Idaho is wide open with rolling hills.

There is frequent evidence of the farming that goes on in the area.

While we were on the road we got a text from Kevin saying he and Kim and family were on their way to Boise.  Kim's family lives there so they were going to spend a week in Boise.  Yay!  We will get to see them.

We arrived in Boise early enough that we could have dinner at one of those iconic places that you remember from ever so long ago that are still cranking out that same old food that makes your mouth water.

Yes, it has been on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives.  Look at that menu.  How do you choose?

Westside Drive In has been in business since 1957.

I think the speakers have been there since 1957!
 

For Walt there was no decision to be made.  Finger Steaks it is.  (Not sure when the inclusion of fortune cookies started.)

I had the loaded potato.  After all we are in Idaho.  And I had an Iron Port to drink.   I had forgotten how sweet it was but darn good. 

No, we didn't have the ice cream potato this time. It is vanilla ice cream pressed into a russet potato mold, rolled in cocoa, topped with whipped cream which looks like sour cream, and served on a plate of chocolate syrup. 

Some things change and some things stay the same.  This place is pretty much the same except for the prices.  

Kevin got into Boise around 9 p.m. & stopped by to see us for a few minutes.  Nice way to end our day.

“Wake up with determination, go to bed with satisfaction”

 

Around Salt Lake City And A Family Reunion

We left Starvation State Park for a leisurely drive into Salt Lake City with beautiful scenes along the way.

 Many of the mountains in Utah are really rugged and some still have snow on them.

Even though we have lived in Utah and visited Utah frequently we had never been to Park City so a trip there was in order.

It is one of those cities that the tourists exceed the number of permanent residents.

It has 3 major ski resorts.

The Park City and Deer Valley ski resorts were the major locations for ski and snowboarding events at the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Park City is the main location of the United States' largest independent film festival, the Sundance Film Festival.

In the summertime it is a favorite location for residents of the Salt Lake Valley to escape the high temperatures. 

There is a myriad of shops and restaurants for your shopping and eating pleasure.

The streets are filled with colorful pots of blooming plants.

And the little city is surrounded by the tree covered mountains and blue skies.  We enjoyed our lunch there and our stroll through the shops.

 Our return trip to the Valley was through Provo Canyon.

We stopped at Bridal Veil Falls.

Bridal Veil Falls is a 607-foot-tall double cataract waterfall.

The water cascades into the Provo River.

Hikers climb up in the summer to enjoy the cooling spray.  In the winter, an icefall just to the right of the falls, called Stairway to Heaven, attracts experienced ice climbers from around the world. 

The surrounding mountains deserve some recognition too.  They are gorgeous. 

What a beautiful sight so easily accessible off Highway 189.

The Wasatch Mountains are not as high compared to the Colorado Rockies but are every bit as beautiful.

We did a quick spin through downtown Salt Lake.  This trip we didn't have time to stop in at the capitol.  Next time.

Change is not always for the better.  I think that is true of downtown Salt Lake City.  It is now so congested and full of massive, towering buildings.  

It was so nice to spend a couple days visiting with Walt's family at their Harper Family Reunion.  Even though we don't see each other often it is so good when we do.  Catching up on what is going on in their families and I love hearing them reminiscing about the past.  

The reunion is held every other year at different locations.  Walt has kind, caring brothers and sisters and each of them have great families that are continuing to grow. 
 

This year youngest brother, Sam, was unable to attend and he was missed.  Aren't they a great looking group? 

A Circle of Strength and Love

Our Family, 
Founded on Faith,  

Joined in Love
Kept by God
Together Forever

Starvation State Park, Utah

We left Steamboat Springs continuing on US 40 heading west.

It wasn't long before there was a dramatic change in scenery.

It was a nice drive with hardly any other cars on the road.

The colors on the hills were ever changing.  Seems there was something different around every curve.

It seemed that every small town was competing to see who could have the largest profusion of petunias. 

We try to only drive 200 to 225 miles at a time and Starvation State Park was right at 225 miles.

We had no idea what to expect.  We were happily surprised.

Great view of the reservoir, lots of grass and hardly anybody there.

 We were in the Mountain View portion of the campsites.

The Beach portion of the campsites had more campers than the Mountain View area.  We liked the quiet and it was just a short hike to get down to the beach area.

 Water activity was high in the Beach area.

 I thought this looked like fun.  At least for the kids.

There are several versions of how the area got its name.  One is that fur trappers stranded in harsh winter conditions survived by stealing a local Native American cache of food that caused the Native Americans to starve.  Another tells the opposite story that the Native Americans stole the trappers food causing the trappers to starve.  A third story is that a local rancher attempted to graze livestock in the area and the cattle starved.  Fourth and most likely is how difficult it was for the settlers in the area in the 1900's to manage to survive.   These settlers dealt with near-starvation in a hostile environment. Winters in the area are long and cold, and their livestock often died. The area's short growing season was hindered by floods, hail, early frost and other problems. These settlers nicknamed the area Starvation.

The pleasant day ended with a spectacular sunset.  Next up Salt Lake City for Walt's family reunion. 

“The blue of daylight
fades and chills as the sun sinks
beneath clouds of fire.” 
― Richelle E. Goodrich

Steamboat Springs..........Absolutely Beautiful

 

We took US 40 from Golden to Steamboat Springs.

The road over Berthoud Pass has a number of switchbacks (both going up and coming down) and is steeper than anything you will find on the other route to Steamboat Springs.

The road is four lane and the scenery is wonderful.

Even though it is July there is still snow on the highest mountains.

Along the way you go through three passes.  Berthoud Pass (11,307ft), Muddy Pass (8772ft) and Rabbit Ears Pass (9426ft). Yes, they are high but the Navigator had no problem pulling Gypsy up and over. 

Once through all the passes the road starts to level out before you come into Steamboat Springs.

The closer we came we were amazed at the brilliant green everywhere.

I was hooked.  This is it!  The most beautiful place ever.  (Well, until the next one.)

The RV Park had most things on Walt's wish list.  It was level, great restrooms, and strong internet signal.  

It had everything on mine.  Beauty everywhere you looked.  And a great story about the bridge on the hill.  Long story short, due to a bureaucratic blunder the owner of the RV Park and the farmland above was able to save a historic bridge in the area and place it on the hill so curious people like us can ask what a bridge is doing where there is no water. 

Steamboat Springs is home to natural hot springs that are located throughout the area.

Upon first hearing a chugging sound, early trappers believed that a steamboat was coming down the river. When the trappers saw that there was no steamboat, and that the sound was coming from a hot spring, they decided to name it Steamboat Springs.

Our hike to Fish Creek Falls was through green and leafy foliage.

Wildflowers and ferns.  Heavenly!

Fish Creek Falls has a height of 283 feet.

They say that this is the waterfall that is on the front of the Coors can. 

The creek runs from several small lakes in the Rabbit Ears Range and it was really roaring down the falls.

One of the information signs stated that in this area the snow can pile up to 14 feet deep.  That will be a lot of water.

They say that the falls are a great place for ice climbing in the winter.  Not I sport I would have ever wanted to try. 

That was a really nice afternoon hike and we were back down and headed to the car before a few raindrops started.

We spent some time strolling the streets of Steamboat Springs.  I especially loved the Sit-By-Me statues of artist Gary Price.  This one is "Ever the Twain Shall Meet" with Mark Twain talking with Tom Sawyer while Becky listens.

Benjamin Franklin is wearing one of his most famous inventions, bifocals, with Poor Richards Almanac on his knee.

Abraham Lincoln has a slight smile but I think he looks a little weary.  Maybe he was reflecting on all he had accomplished.

These beautiful horses live not in a pasture but in their owners yard.  The house was close to the RV Park and each time we passed we would stop and enjoy seeing them.  Walt said that if he had horses this pretty he would let them live in his yard too.  Good thing we don't have a yard.

 Steamboat Springs is really a feast for the eyes.  Hard to roll on down the road from there.

“You don't need to climb a mountain to know that it's high.” 
― Paulo Coelho, Aleph

This And That In Denver

While we were in Denver it seemed each day had some clouds and some rain.  But, each day had some sunshine too.

When the sun would come out so would we.

When we explored downtown Denver I had to see the 40 foot blue bear ( I See What You Mean ) that is peeking into the Convention Center.   Isn't he great? 

I'll be honest..........didn't quite get "East 2 West Source Point Sculpture" better known as Plumb Bob Brain.   Maybe it will come to me later.

We walked the 16th Street Mall.

I am sure the city spent a fortune rerouting traffic and setting up the Free Mall Ride Buses.

Not to mention putting in the hundreds of leafy green tree and pot after pot of colorful flowers.

I was OK with the "Hare Krishnas" and the street preachers.

However,  the homeless people panhandling made me awfully sad.  I have never seen so many in one concentrated area.  They were on every block on both sides of the walkway.

What happens to them when winter comes?  I can't imagine what they do when it starts freezing. I am sorry that the 16th Street Mall wasn't a place I wanted to linger. 

Colfax Ave. was the best route getting into downtown Denver from the RV Park we were staying in in Golden.  We kept seeing this pink tower and since the sign said Casa Bonita we felt that it was a Mexican Restaurant.

One night we were looking for somewhere to have dinner and Walt headed there to see what they had to offer.

It was certainly not what we expected.

 

It was like a combination of Rain Forest Cafe, Las Vegas, and Chuck E Cheese with some Mexican food thrown in.  FYI..........don't go for the food.

We asked for a table by the waterfall.  Best seat in the house because the cliff diver comes to the rocks by you for some of the dives. 

The huge interior is designed to have the look of a nighttime Mexican village. 

At one time there were three other locations in Oklahoma City, Fort Worth and Little Rock.  Now this is the only one that remains open.

The place is huge, filled with nooks and crannies.

When you first walk in, you get in line to order your food. They give you a receipt that you take to the food line, they give you your food and they send you to a hostess who refers you to another person who walks you to your table.  A process to handle crowds but we were there on a week night so it was not crowded so each step seemed a little funny. 

While we were there we saw cliff diving, a pirate show,  a western shoot out, and they had a puppet show going on down a level in the puppet theatre.

This young lady that was diving was so pleasant and she seemed to love her job. 

She told us that the pool below was 14 feet deep so no problem there.

After we finished our so-so food we walked around and found every nook and cranny had something interesting to see.

It is a three story maze of rooms and rooms depicting various themes.

It is definitely geared for children but it made us old folks smile.  

After being a bit lost we found the exit and were glad we had taken this "once in a lifetime experience" because I doubt we will be back.

We went to a Colorado Rockies baseball game.  Very nice field and the grass was perfect.

They played the Atlanta Braves and the Rockies came away with the win. 5-3.

 

The stands were full and we were surprised to see there were quite a number of Atlanta fans there. Lots of Braves shirts and hats. 

A very pleasant night of baseball and a nice way to end our Denver visit.  When we left the ball park heading to our car light raindrops greeted us so timing was perfect.  

"Every day, the sun comes out and the sky's always blue. That's what I miss about Denver."

Dikembe Motombo

 

The Capitol of Colorado

We made the short trip from Colorado Springs to Denver.  After we set Gypsy up in the RV Park we headed to downtown Denver and toured the Capitol Building.

 It was a very overcast day so the outside photos are pretty dreary.  But, that distinctive gold dome still managed to sparkle.  That brilliant gold is copper covered with gold leaf.  The gold commemorates the Colorado Gold Rush.

If you stand on the 13th step leading into the building you are at 5280 feet...........a mile high. 

The building was constructed in the 1890s from Colorado white granite, and opened for use in November 1894. 

The building uses Colorado materials inside and out.

The inside uses extensive amounts of Colorado Rose Onyx from a quarry near Beulah, Colorado.  The amount used in the building consumed the entire known supply.

White Yule Marble from the quarries near Marble, Colorado was used for the floors. 

The cutting, polishing, and installing of the marble took 6 years.  

The amount of brass used is unbelievable.  We talked to one of the janitors polishing it...........can you imagine a job that you polish brass for your entire shift? 

Even all the water fountains are brass.

The dome towers 180 feet above the floor.  The blue stained glass circles are depictions of the original 16 founders of the city of Denver.

Much of the art is brilliantly colored stained glass of historical characters.

The colors are very vivid.

There is extensive renovations taking place restoring all of the rooms back to their original state.  We were told that in the 1950's much of the original ceilings and walls were covered up in the House and Senate meeting rooms. 

All of the building is very ornate.   The Colorado State Capitol building is the first state capitol in the country to be cooled by geothermal power.  A portion of the building is also heated by geothermal power.  Not sure the mile high city needs a lot of air conditioning but I know that heat is needed in the winter. 

No, you are not seeing things.  The dome color does not match the rest of the building. The dome was refurbished last year and the cast iron structure of the dome is a darker, bluer shade of gray than the granite building below it.  This was done on purpose because extensive research was done that indicates that is what it looked like more than 100 years ago.   Always love seeing the Capitol's in each state.

And the Piece de resistance of the day.   Voodoo Doughnuts!  I thought I was going to have to wait until we got to Portland next month for a Voodoo Doughnut but they opened a location in Denver last year.

We were lucky and found a parking spot right out front after only circling the block one time.  The line was amazingly short.  We only stood in it for about 1/2 hour. 

An apple fritter, a chocolate coconut doughnut and 2 Memphis Mafia doughnuts..........banana fritter with cinnamon glazed with chocolate frosting topped with peanut butter, peanuts and chocolate chips. Oh yes, they are very good.   FYI........if anyone is interested they perform Legal Weddings with doughnuts thrown in.  

"People will travel anywhere for good food - it's crazy."

Rene Redzepi

Garden Of The Gods........Wonderful Natural Beauty

The Garden of the Gods is such a beautiful place in Colorado Springs that we went there three times.

In 1879 Charles Elliott Perkins, a friend of General Palmer the founder of Colorado Springs, purchased 480 acres of land that included a portion of the present Garden of the Gods. 

 

Upon Perkins' death, his family gave the land to the City of Colorado Springs in 1909, with the provision that it would be a free public park.

The city of Colorado Springs purchased additional surrounding land and the park now covers 1364 acres. 

Pikes Peak forms a back drop for much of the park.

There is all kinds of information given that explains how the formations came to be.  We spent time talking with a couple in the RV Park that we were staying in.  He was very interested in the geology of the area and was excited to gain more information about it.  His delightful wife made me feel so much better when she said "I tell him I just don't care.  I just love how beautiful it is and I don't care how it got that way."  Glad that I am not the only one that just wants to enjoy the beauty.

It is a very popular park.  The main parking lot where the main trail is is always full.  You just circle and circle until someone leaves and you can park.

There are more than 15 miles of trails in the park. 

The main trail in the park, Perkins Central Garden Trail, is a paved 1.1-mile trail through the heart of  the park.  

People hike, rock climb, bike and horseback ride on the trails around the formations. 

They say it attracts more than two million visitors per year.  I wonder if we got counted three times.

It is such a gift that the park is free to all visitors.  It is very well maintained and the visitor center and gift shop are really nice. 

This is Balanced Rock.   The area was full of kids climbing and parents taking pictures.

This is the Kissing Camels.  Appropriately named.

Not only are the rock formations spectacular the grasses, bushes and trees are lush and in every shade of green.

And on a hot summer day there is lots of shade to cool you off.  I remember when we were here in 1963 but I can honestly say that I do not recall how absolutely grand it is. 

Climbing the steep formations is by permit only.  This couple had made it to the top and were enjoying some time WAY up there.

Look who was waiting patiently for them to come back down. 

I loved all the balanced rocks in this formation.  Amazing that they landed that way in whatever upheaval took place.

The contrast of the white rocks and the green foliage is absolutely gorgeous.

Words can't really describe its beauty..............A True Garden Of The Gods.

"Mother Nature is the ultimate truth of the show must go on." ~Terri Guillemets

Broadmoor..........Ice Rink No More

The Broadmoor is an exquisite hotel and resort in Colorado Springs.

The main building of the resort was built in 1918.

When our senior class came to Colorado Springs in 1963 we came to the Broadmoor to ice skate. The Broadmoor Ice Palace, an Olympic training center, opened on January 1, 1938 on the resort grounds. 

It was renamed the Broadmoor World Arena in 1961.

I am sure that for most of us that was the first time we had ever put on ice skates.

Some had no problem gliding around the arena.  Others not so much.

I just remember it was a time filled with squeals and laughter.

But, in 1994  the arena was closed to make way for resort expansion.

In 1998 the new Broadmoor World Arena opened. It is located in town just off the I25. It has a main arena and two practice arenas and is the home training center for many elite figure skaters. 

We spent a great deal of time wandering around the gorgeous resort.

The attention to detail was astonishing.  Even though they were very busy everything was perfect.

Embellishments were everywhere, floor, walls, ceilings.   Amazing.

The resort has had a 5 star ranking by Forbes for 54 years as of 2015.  This is the longest period of time of any establishment in the United States.

So if we feel Gyspy needs a break from us we can book a room for a mere $300 per night. 

I haven't mentioned the flowers.  They were lush and colorful all around the resort.

The place is in a league of its own.

What a beautiful place.  So happy I got to bring back some memories and learn more about The Broadmoor.

And, if you choose to stay permanently you can purchase one of the Broadmoor's Brownstone Townhouses.  4 levels but it has an elevator.  Just over $2 million. 

Many restaurants to choose from right on the property as well.  Knock my socks off perfection. 

"The great advantage of a hotel is that it's a great refuge from home life."

George Bernard Shaw

Colorado Springs.............At The Foot Of Pikes Peak

Pikes Peak looms over the city of Colorado Springs topping out at 14,114 feet.  You can hike up, drive up or take the Pikes Peak Cog Railway.  We did not go up.  Walt was feeling so much better after the altitude got to him on our stay in Durango that we just viewed the mountain from below.  Walt talked to some people who had gone up a few days before and some of them really had a difficult time and it was taking several days for them to recover.  But, what there is at the foot of that mountain makes up for anything we might have missed. 

Colorado Springs lies in a high desert with the Southern Rocky Mountains to the west.  The scenery in the entire area is spectacular.

We drove out to the Air Force Academy.  Most are out for the summer period right now. Air Force plays Boise State on November 20th at Boise.  I am sure that there will be less snow in Boise than Colorado Springs on that date. 

We also drove by Miramont Castle. The Castle was originally built in 1895 as a private home for Father Jean Baptist Francolon, a French-born Catholic priest. He was the son of a wealthy, aristocratic family. He lived there with his mother until they left for France unexpectedly in 1900, taking valuable artwork with them but leaving their furniture, and Madam Francolon died within a few months. Father Francolon spent his last ten years in New York and died December 4, 1922.

The house and grounds went through several owners and uses until the Manitou Springs Historical Society purchased it in 1976 and started restoration and opened the museum. 

This beautiful old stone bridge was built by John Blair who was the landscape gardner for General Palmers Glen Eyrie Castle.  General Palmer was the founder of Colorado Springs.

General Palmer and his wife, Queen, built Glen Eyrie Castle as their dream house. Originally it was a 22 room frame house but in 1881 it was remodeled to include a tower and additional rooms, and made to resemble a stone castle reminiscent of those native to England.

The Castle is in the northwest foothills north of the Garden of the Gods Park.  It is situated in a gorgeous box canyon.

I had been there in 1963 on my high school senior trip.  I had remembered how beautiful I thought it was then so I was anxious to see it again.

The Castle is now owned by The Navigators, an international Christian Ministry.  They do offer guided tours by appointment, afternoon teas, and you can book a castle room to stay in. 

I just wanted to get a photo of the castle to see if it was what I remembered.  We drove up to the gate and were given a 15 minute pass with the admonition we were not to get out of the car while we drove through the grounds.  Wonder what would have happened if we hadn't obeyed!

Yes, it is still a wonderful piece of architecture but I came away so disappointed.  Why on earth would you put window air conditioners in a castle?  And why oh why is your laundry drying behind the castle wall?

It was with great relief that I saw this side.  Pristine as the original. 

Despite my silly complaints it is still an awesome piece of architecture and Colorado history. 

We followed instructions and were back out the gate within the allotted 15 minute time frame. 

Clematis vines are abundant in Colorado Springs.  I hadn't seen one since my yard in Wheatland, CA.

We had breakfast at Bon Ton's Cafe one morning and they had pretty little flower gardens surrounding their outdoor eating area.  There is much to enjoy in Colorado Springs.  More to come!

“I must have flowers, always, and always.” 
― Claude Monet

Pagosa Springs And On To Colorado Springs

We left Durango for the short drive to Pagosa Springs.  There was a slow down for livestock on the road.  Round up under way.

The San Juan River runs through the middle of Pagosa Springs.

Pagosa Springs is a pretty little town built around it's claim to fame.  "The World's Deepest Geothermal Hot Spring."  

We had a very delicious lunch at Tequila's right on the river.  We spent quite awhile just watching the activity on the river and taking in the scenes from the Mineral Springs across the river where we would spend the afternoon.

Tubing is very popular here.  The river was full of people enjoying the ride. 

There are several places to soak in the mineral waters in Pagosa Springs.  I chose The Springs.

They have 23 pools to soak in.  You can go into the river from there too.

The temperatures range from 94 degrees to a whopping 114 degrees.  I barely stuck my toe in the 114 degree tub.

The formations from all the mineral build up made natural walls around some areas. 

We spent several hours soaking in the tubs and soaking up the sunshine.

It is a beautiful facility filled not only with the pools but perfect landscaping, a snack bar, and lots of areas to get out of the sun.  Another day seeking the fountain of youth. 

After several hours of gorgeous sunshine the clouds rolled in and raindrops started to fall.  We decided it was time to go.  By the time we got to the parking lot it was hailing so hard that the ground was white and the wind was blowing really hard.  Gypsy was parked at an RV Park 9 miles out of Pagosa Springs on the Blanco River.  The ground there was pretty moist from prior storms and Walt had to work pretty hard getting her level and she was propped pretty high on blocks on one side.  I was so worried that the hail and wind may have wreaked havoc there.  We drove as quickly as possible but actually had to stop under a tree for awhile to wait until we could even see the road.  But, by the time that we turned on the road that led to the RV Park we were out of the storm.  Actually there were blue skies out there.  These mountain storms can be isolated to very small areas.  What a crazy weather day.   

When we left Pagosa Springs we headed toward Colorado Springs.  ( I think Colorado must have the most towns with Springs in the name.)  

The road takes us up toward Wolf Creek Pass.

We stopped at Treasure Falls.  It is very pretty but the sun was right behind the falls so there wasn't a good photo shot to be had.  Treasure Falls is named after the area folklore that a chest of gold was buried somewhere on the mountain nearby.

At least the lower area of the creek was good for a photo.  The falls cascade runs nearly year round.

 Wintertime brings this area the MOST snow in Colorado.

When you reach the summit you are on top of the Continental Divide at 11,904 feet.  

The scenery is breathtaking for most of the journey.

But there is a grim reality for much of the trip.  Bark beetles have gone on a rampage and killed many of the centuries-old spruce trees. The destruction has been going on for years starting with the drought years 2002-2004.  The ski area and the forest service are working together to get rid of the damage. 

As we came down off the mountain into the valley there were miles and miles of snow fences.  Glad we are here in July.  Now on to explore Colorado Springs. 

"I still have a Gypsy sense of adventure. I don't think I have slept in the same bed for more than three or four months my whole life. I am always planting vegetables that I never get to eat and flowers that I never see flower. I have always moved around the world."

Helen Mirren

 

 

 

Mesa Verde National Park..............Far Off The Beaten Path

While staying in Durango, CO Mesa Verde National Park was a place we wanted to go.

It is about 40 miles from the RV Park we were staying in.  It was a bright, sunny day with the promise of being hot.

Our first stop was the Visitor Center.  

It had some lovely pieces of art.

 

Great information too.  The cliff dwellings are about a 1/2 hour drive from the Visitor Center.

There are several pull outs along the way with wonderful views and information about the area. This is called Knife Edge and part of the original road into Mesa Verde went along here.  It was very precarious and dangerous.  There were many accidents on the road in the 1920's.

We stopped at Park Point.  If you hike up to the top of the trail you have a 360 degree view of the four states in the area.

Since it was such a bright day it was pretty hazy but it was so beautiful.

Saw this snake on the way back down the trail.  Someone said they thought it was a Western Striped Racer.  

While those of us on the trail were watching the snake this guy kept peeking over the rocks as if to say "What is all the fuss about?  I am here too."  He hung around until the snake disappeared in the grass.

Mesa Verde National Park was established in 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt.

I hiked down to Spruce Tree House.

The altitude was bothering Walt.  He was short of breath and had no energy so he elected to sit in the shade at this observation point and watch me go down and up.

   

Pretty easy going down the series of switchbacks but I was aware that I had to come back up those same switchbacks.

Spruce Tree House is the third largest dwelling in Mesa Verde.

It was constructed between A.D. 1211 and 1278 by the ancestors of the Puebloan peoples of the Southwest. 

The dwelling contains about 130 rooms and 8 kivas built into the natural alcove.

It is thought to have been home for about 60 to 80 people.

I am so impressed with their ability to build and amazed at what good shape they are still in.

Look at this one.  Smooth enough they could put some stucco on it and it would look like a new build.

Due to the protection of the overhanging cliff, Spruce Tree House had deteriorated very little through the years.

They have installed a trough to help with water runoff to prevent further damage.  Walt heard a man tell his wife that it was a diving board and that there is a pool below.  Wonder if she believed him.

 

Time to make my way back up.  It really wasn't that hard.  Just hot.  It had really warmed up and in the sun it was definitely felt.

The shady spots were much appreciated.

 Mesa Verde is unique because it has so many examples of archeological sites.  There are over 4700 sites including cliff dwellings, pit houses, mesa top pueblos, farming terraces, towers, reservoirs, and check dams.  Above is the remains of a pit house. 

There was a Kiva near the pit house.  The upper walls of the structures were built aboveground on a timber frame. Four sturdy posts set into the floor of the main chamber supported the roof, and smaller posts set into an earthen "bench" around the edges of the main chamber formed the walls. Both the roof and the walls were covered with smaller branches and brush, and the entire exterior of the house was sealed with a thick layer of adobe. People entered and exited the pithouse via a ladder that rested against the roof hatch in the antechamber, the smokehole in the main chamber, or both.

Cliff Palace is the largest cliff dwelling in North America. It is estimated that around 100 people inhabited Cliff Palace during its time of use. "It is thought that Cliff Palace was a social, administrative site with high ceremonial usage" per archeologists. 

The only way to visit Cliff Palace is on a ranger led tour and look at what you have to climb down and up to see it.  Nope, not me!

This is a split level village that takes advantage of the natural alcoves. 

This is a close up of the hand and toe trail that connected the two levels.  I would hope that they had a ladder too.  

The Sun Temple was perplexing to me.  It was built on the mesa above the cliff dwellings.

This is a drawing of the construction.  Because no roof beams were found it is believed it was never completed.  But as it stands there are no windows, doors or fire pits so it must have been planned as something other than living quarters.  They surmise it must have been ceremonial but it remains a mystery.

There have been many forest fires in the area but this part on the mesa above the cliff dwellings looked especially eerie. 

The day was drawing to a close by the time we left the Park.  There is so much to see that there is no way it can be done in one day.   But, we gave it a good try.

Back in the valley the farmer was still at work in his emerald green field.

Back at Gypsy just in time for a soft sunset after an amazing day looking into the past.

"Weave for us a garment of brightness;  may the warp be the white light of morning; may the weft be the red light of evening; may the fringe be the falling rain; may the border be the standing rainbow.    Tewa Song

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad - Problem Solved

While we waited to determine what the solution to the problem would be to the engine break down on train number two it gave us more time to enjoy the high mountain town of Silverton.

While I never want to live again where snow flies we are constantly reminded here what a blessing snow is.  The vegetation is lush, the rivers and creeks are full and madly rushing downstream.  Wildlife is fat and happy.

This store is called the Orange Crate.  All dolled up in Blue & Orange.  Thought it would be perfect for Boise State but once inside it was clear.................Denver Bronco's everywhere.  After all this is Colorado.

We found a spot in the shade to sit and wait for resolution on our return trip.

Sitting in a crowd is always a good time to people watch and people listen.

Today's people listening was full of grumbling and whining about being delayed getting back to Durango.  I wanted to yell "Aren't you on vacation?  When you are on vacation what does time matter? Or do you have your vacation so scheduled that you can't just enjoy the moment?"  

 But, I didn't.  I just smiled to myself thinking how the delay has not bothered us at all. 

The delay was only 1 and 1/2 hours.  They took the engine from the train we came up on and used it to go back down to get train number 2.  Train #3 quickly followed and all three trains were in Silverton.

The engine was hooked back up to our train and train #2 & 3 were going to be brought back down by one engine. Much easier going down!

They helicoptered the part in but it was going to take some time to make the repair.

Since the locomotives are almost 100 years old they can't just order parts from Amazon.  They have a machine shop that actually makes the replacement parts.

Getting there was half the fun.  Going down was every bit as good.

I remember as a 17 year old girl riding the bus between Silverton and Durango and being overwhelmed by the beauty.  I have carried that memory ever since and I was not disappointed when I got to see the area again.

Some of the scenery is sharp and rugged.

Other places are smoother and filled with greenery.

Many of the high valleys still had snow.  That will keep the creeks and the Animas River roaring.

The lush meadows were knee deep in green, green, grass.

The views were overwhelming and I really didn't want the ride to end.

There was quite a line up for the zip line.  What a shame to zip through that beauty so fast.  Oh, they are doing it for the excitement not the view!  

On the way up we were on the wrong side of the car to see the deep drop to the river below. 

I will admit it was a little unnerving to be looking straight down from the high cliff edge straight into the roaring river.

Much less scary when the rain curves and gives a view with a little more room on the edge.

Money well spent for the most amazing day.

One last release of steam and we were getting close to Durango.  I will miss the clickety-clack but all good things must come to an end.

A day filled with beauty that seemed almost unreal.  We have seen so many amazing things in our travels so far but I think this has to rate way up there.

"I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes."

E. E. Cummings

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

We arrived at the Train Depot at 7:30 a.m. for our 8:00 a.m. departure time and we were not the first ones there.

That gave a few minutes to walk around and take a few pictures before they called "All Aboard."

When I walked down to take a picture of the engine a little boy jumping up and down said "Mom, it's a real steam engine.  Look at the smoke."  I knew how he felt. There is something about the real thing.

Our departure was delayed a bit because they had to add on a caboose to carry the packs of a Boy Scout Troop that was riding up to the Elk Park stop and then getting off to hike 50 miles down. 

Then the "All Aboard" was called and we were on the way.

A few minutes later we were chugging through the RV Park we were staying in.  Gypsy is back behind the Airstream. 

 

When I was making reservations for the train trip I decided that I wanted to be on an open car so that I could stand up and take photos.  The covered cars had seating facing forward and you would sit side by side. I knew even if I was on the window side I would want to be standing up and would be terribly annoying to others around me.

By being on an open car the seats face out and you can stand up without interfering with anyone else.

I am sure that I stood 90% of the trip.  There was so much to see and I guess I was afraid I might miss something.

There were incredible view of the Animas River.  It really roars down the mountain.

Very frequently the tracks are really close to the edge of the river or the cliffs. 

That engine had to really work to get up the mountain.  Being in an open car and quite close to the engine we did get a lot of cinders.  None were hot but Walt had a nice covering of black dust on his hat and our faces felt pretty gritty.  Made us realize what it would have been like riding trains in the 1800's. 

I didn't get a picture of it but a water car follows the train to put out fires that the train starts.  We were told that the trains usually start several fires a day and the water cars put them out before any real damage can be done.

 I loved the rocking, swaying,  and jerking motion of the train.  One gentlemen we spoke with said it was making him car sick.  That could really ruin the trip.  

The trip is 45.2 miles each way and the train averages 18 miles per hour.  The trip takes about 3 & 1/2 hours if there are no problems. 

For a round trip to Silverton a fireman shovels about six tons of coal per day! On a round trip, ten thousand gallons of water are used to produce the steam to power the locomotive!

 

The locomotives used for daily service now were built between 1923 and 1925.

The Denver & Rio Grande Railroad arrived in Durango in August, 1881. In November of that same year crews began building the tracks to Silverton. The tracks were completed in July 1882.

The route was opened  to transport silver and gold ore mined in the San Juan Mountains.

The line from Durango to Silverton has run continuously since 1881, and it is now a tourist and heritage line hauling passengers, and is one of the few places in the U.S. which has seen continuous use of  steam locomotives. 

The tracks cross the Animas River five times.  Each one was exciting to me.

You start at an elevation of  6,512 feet at Durango and the elevation at Silverton is 9,305 feet.  Quite a climb.

 We had been warned that it could be considerably cooler when we got higher and we took our jackets but never needed them.  As a matter of fact it was HOT when we were out in the sun. 

We made sure to keep our sunglasses on to prevent any of those flying cinders from getting into our eyes.

There was evidence of mining along the way. 

We stop occasionally to pick up passengers or take on water.  And sometimes for reasons we do not know. 

We were on time when we pulled into Silverton.  

 Silverton is an old mining camp that now relies mainly on tourism for it's economy.

In 2002 an extreme ski mountain, Silverton Mountain, opened near the town that adds to the economy as well.

Our first order of business was lunch.  There were numerous places to choose from but Three Pitts Again won.  Very good BarBQue and the battered onion rings may be the best we have ever had.

After lunch we found that we still had 45 minutes until the train was supposed to go back so we walked around the town.

Who would have thought that I would come to Silverton, Colorado to get my flower fix.

While we were strolling down the street a lady from one of the shops stopped me and said " The second train broke down and the third train is right behind so it looks like your departure will be delayed."

We weren't quite sure what this meant for us exactly so we headed back toward the station to get the real story.

Yes, it was true.  The engine on the second train had broken down.  The third train was right behind it and there is only one track so until they get the second and third trains up to Silverton it will be impossible for us to get back down.  

To be continued...................the outcome next time.  

“If a problem is fixable, if a situation is such that you can do something about it, then there is no need to worry. If it's not fixable, then there is no help in worrying. There is no benefit in worrying whatsoever.” 
― Dalai Lama XIV