RV Ramblin's ...: COLORADO

Leaving New Mexico and entering Colorado brought us through the lower Rocky Mountains. Not only did we increase altitude again and gain cooler weather, we also encountered some hail as we headed toward Colorado Springs. The scenery was amazing as we headed north!

We spent several days with our dear friends who moved here two years ago from our home state. She and I co-coached a robotics team the first year the boys were involved in First Lego League, and her son was also on the team. It was a blessing to get to know them, and we were so sad when they moved away. While visiting them on our trip, we also had the opportunity to make new friends who also were visiting them at the same time. The men, women, and kids all had a wonderful time hanging out together over the holiday weekend.

It was a blessing to reunite after three years, have fun with our friends again, and to receive such loving hospitality. (Thank you, friend! :) )

The boys even attended a Civil Air Patrol meeting with their friend and are now interested in joining this organization when we return to our home state for the school year.

Colorado Springs is a city nestled along the Rocky Mountains. The weather changed regularly as the clouds rolled over the mountains. When the mountains were clear, we had an awesome view of Pike's Peak. (Can you see it blended in with the clouds?)

We spent one day visiting some popular tourist attractions of the area. The U.S. Air Force Academy was right down the road; so as a military family, we were interested in checking it out.

This chapel is uniquely structured to represent aviation (inside and outside):

After a delicious Mexican lunch, we took in the scenery at Garden of the Gods . It was very busy there since it was Memorial Day, and parking was difficult for three cars in one lot. However, we found a location deeper in the park and was able to hike a small trail to observe some breathtaking views. We weren't dressed for hiking, but most of it was on gravel-like trails until we made it to the pinnacle of that area.

At the pinnacle, we were on some rocks that afforded some incredible scenery.

While the temperatures were higher that day and were considered warm for the locals, it was still chillier than I was used to, which is why I am zipped up in all the pictures!

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After leaving our friends' home, we headed back south (where it was slightly warmer)and west. We had to travel across the Rockies to the other side. Increasing altitude brought popping ears, chilly temperatures, and snow on the ground. We stopped to take some snow pictures and found that we were at the Continental Divide! :)

While taking a break on the downward side of the mountains, the Poodle was watching the boys outside. She loves when we are rolling down the road, so this picture captures her eagerness to get a move on:

Imagine the sound of a horn … and her bark exclaiming, “Let’s go, guys!” ;-)

While traveling, we just happened to pass our first amazing-rock-formation sighting … Chimney Rock … on the Pueblo Indian Reservation. While we didn't visit the rock itself, we stopped nearby for a scenic lunch.

We continued westward to visit the Great Sand Dunes. Arriving at the Great Sand Dunes was exciting! We had no idea what view was in store for us until we arrived there: sand dunes along the base of mountains!

In addition, water typically flows through the base of the dunes at this time of year, so the boys enjoyed a hasty walk across the flowing water towards the other side. We would have stayed longer to allow them to actually climb the dunes on the other side, but a thunderstorm was heading in. It was a short visit but one that will truly be remembered for its visual impact!

Last stop in Colorado (almost … next post will explain why) was Mesa Verde. This was not what we expected. We thought it was going to be a scenic stop, but it turned out to be more of an educational visit. Located on part of the Ute Indian reservation, we had to drive 20 miles on switchback roads up to the top of the mesa to see the ruins of Indian homes. We traveled up the mesa for almost an hour to the best-preserved one called Spruce House. Once there, we took a ¼-mile hike down into the canyon to the site.