Great Sand Dunes of Southern Coloroda

As we made our way from Colorado Springs to Albuquerque New Mexico where we had rented a Condo in the down town area we came across a sign that pointed out a National Park. We  then redirected out GPS and we ended up at the Great Sand Dunes National Park . We were elated that we had taken this out of the way excursion.

The Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve was established in 2004 by President Obama. It is to protect the entire natural system of the Great Sand Dunes and their high elevation watersheds. The Sand dunes itself is over 755 ft high at the highest point and is only a part of the whole National Park there at Mosca CO. The Great Sand Dunes Preserve is approx. 41000 acres of the total 149000 acres with in the Great Sand Dunes boundaries, and contains ecosystems ranging from mixed conifers forests to alpine tundra, up to 13000 ft in elevation in the mountain range within the National Park.

There is a visitors center where one can spend a considerable amount of time learning about the Park. Activities available Range from hiking (at all levels) to sand boarding, fishing, backing packing, lodging,  camping  and just exploring nature. For more information about the Great Sand Dunes one can go to the website http://www.nps.gov/grsa.

Some of our pictures are as follows.

Long range view as we approached the large Sand Dunes

The Medano River that begins high in the Mt and carries  sand particles down and deposits then in the valley

People hiking on the Sand Dune

  

Broardmoor Museum in Colorado Springs

During the month of June we spent at Colorado Springs we had several locals tell us we needed to visit the Broadmoor Penrose Museum as well as Art displays around the Broodmoor Hotel. Hearing those things we begin to gather an appetite to go and take a look around the facility. Then we begin to hear about the running of the Annual Pikes Peak race. Well for me that was all it took to peak my interest.
The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb took place while we were there. It is the second oldest motor sports race in America and a long-standing tradition in Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Region. First competed in 1916 and this year marks the 100th Anniversary & 94th Running of the “Race to the Clouds.” It was started by the owner and developer of the Broodmoor, Spencer Penrose. He was as wealth gentleman who had a great vision.
The race is run on a 12.42 mile course with 156 turns that begins at 9,390 feet and finishes at the 14,115 foot summit of America’s Mountain; Pikes Peak! As the drivers climb toward the summit, the thin air slows reflexes and saps muscle strength. The thin air also robs engines of 30% of their power at the summit. Competitors and vehicles must be in top shape simply to finish…let alone win!
The current record is 08:13.878 and was set by Sebastien Loeb in 2013.

Below are some of the pictures of the Museum as well as of the Broodmoor 5 Star Hotel ant the area around and in the Broodmoor. Some but some how I did not save many of the pictures I took of the old impressive carriages used from the time the Broodmoor was built until the automobile was introduced. 

Statue of Spencer Penrose who started most of the Broodmoor developments

Front side of the Broodmoor

Front lawn of Broadmoor

The Broadmoor was built around a lake. One of the great attractions of the Hotel

The Museum has two areas. One represents the time from when the Broadmoor was first built. Example of some of the old cars displayed there

Old carriage used at the Broadmoor

And old car from one of the races

Another car from former racing of the Pikes Peak climb

Over all view of the Racing Museum

 

United States Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs CO.)

For me one of the high lights of our trip to Colorado Spring was to visit the Air Force Academy. Through the years I have had the privilege to assist students from the schools I have worked at to attend this Academy.  I have had the privilege to visit all of the US Academies except this one. As a result it was on my Bucket List.

Below I have shared some of the high lights of our visit. I would suggest if you ever are in Colorado Springs and have the time visit the Academy (a must are the Visitors Center and the Chapel).

Mountain view from parking lot at visitor center

The visitors center is located in the back part of the Academy close to the Mountains.

Cadet parade are with dorms in back ground, Located in front of Chapel

Track facilities

Chapel that has several different areas that represent different Religions for cadets to worshop

Inside one of the worship centers of the Chapel

Close up of  Pulpit area

Broodmoor COG Train to top of Pikes Peak

   One of the definite high lights of our excursions was our trip buy COG train to the top of Pikes Peak. The first talk of building a Railroad to the Summit begin in 1883 and over the years many different types and styles of trains were used  by several developers before becoming what it is today. The COG means using a gear like wheel to engage teeth in the center rail to move the train car along. This system was first used in Switzerland. It can move the train along an incline as much as  25 feet for every 100 feet with not much effort but at a slow pace. Pikes Peak is 14115 feet high and requires a 7500 feet climb to get to the top.  At the top you can look East and see as far as Kansas and look South and see the Mountains of Northern New Mexico.

Depot were we got on board the COG Train and headed up the Summit of Pikes Peak



Our Captain or engineer

Fixing to meet a train that is on its way down from the Summit



View of Colorado Springs for the Summit

Passing another of the 4 different trains running up and down at the same time.



Water falls along the way up to the Pike

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Our COG Train Car at the Top or Summit of Pikes Peak

Gold mine in the back ground near Cripple Creek

Third week adventures in Colorado Springs

More adventures in Colorado and Surrounding area. While we were here they were having record setting temperatures (some days in triple digit). Even thought several afternoons we had  popup shower many were of the type that we did not want (Hail some as big as Golf balls). We did manage to stay out of the way of the big ones however. A few times it would be white for a few minutes after a heavy down pour of hail. There were some areas remained so dry that fire was a great danger. Some times we would wake up and the valley would be hazy with smoke from the fires in southern Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona.

I live old Church building so when one catches my eye I have to stop and get a picture or two. This is an Old Catholic church down town Colorado Springs  

We also like Old neon signs from what we call the Route 66  days. This is an example of one located on Nevada street

Another interest we have is unique Murals we find that depicts history of the area   .

Another Old Small Church building in Manitou Springs  

Old Marshalls office in Green Mt Falls



Small community in town center of Green Mt. Falls

Church in the Wildwood, located in a valley town ja few miles North of Manitou Springs called Green Mt Falls 

Some of our adventures in the second week in Colorado Springs

After we settled in we begin to explore Colorado Springs and the surrounding area. Our routine each day consisted of doing a workout in the big swimming pool at our Condo. Then we would identify one of the many unique eating places we had picked out from Tripadvisor and go have lunch. After that we would tour one of the many areas we had found on Tripadvisor of places to see or things to do. Below are some picture of places we visited the second of our stay.

One of the eating places we found and eat at that was on the TV show Diners Drive in and Dives

A better picture of the front of the Restaurant. And as Guy said it was special. Located in Old Town Colorado Springs  

Broadmoor 5 star hotel. We were very intrigued with the influence that developer had on this area of Colorado Springs. We will follow up with better pictures of this place and later blog. Great place to visit.  

High up in the Mountain behind the Broadmoor Hotel in the City Zoo is a this memorial to Will Rogers  

We love to visit Historical districts in the town we visit and look at the great architecture of some of the old houses.  This and the pictures below are an example of some that we say. 

Regroup and heading to the next adventure on JD/Sharon Hawkins Rambling Journey

   After arriving back in Springfield Missouri Sharon I set out to get our belonging that we  had left at my younger brothers house at Nixa MO. That consisted of our mini van and all out tots of traveling gear. Sharon was not feeling good from having had the Shingles for a few weeks as well as she had contacted a cool virus during the last few days of our cruise. So we decided to spend a couple more days at Joe's house in Nixa before we headed to Tracy Nelson, our daughters house in Lebanon MO for a couple of days before we  started west for our next phase of our rambling travel adventure. As we left Nixa on the 7th we decided to stop by a walk in clinic in Springfield MO so Sharon might get some medical attention for her cool and the shingles. We then did spent a couple of days at Randy and Tracy's  house and had a little family gathering with all of there family members (married daughters and their kids). We also took time to attend some of her kids ball games.

Ethan (Randy and Tracy son) baseball game 9th from left

Grace (Randy Tracy youngest daughter) Volleyball game, Her front and center

Randy and Tracy Farm house near Lebanon MO



   On the 9th we loaded up and headed to Colorado Springs were we had pre rented a condo for a month. The first night we traveled to Dodge City Kansas and stayed all night. Since we are Western (Cowboy buffs) we wanted to stop and spend the evening in Dodge to see  the commercialism built around the TV show Gunsmoke. LOL! Crazy is it not!

City Street in Dodge City

   We arrived in Colorado Springs in the afternoon of the 10th of June and checked into our rented condo and settled in for the next month. When we travel and reach our destination Sharon calls up Tripadvisor on her IPhone and we look at  "things to do", and "places to see", as well  as places to eat. A great resource when traveling. We either drive around and locate places we are interested in or if the city has a trolley system that hits some of these places we will take it. Here because the city is so well laid out and easy to get around we decided to take the first few days and drive around and see what the city was all about and had to offer to a visitor.  We also usually look for visitors center or Chamber of commerce to talk to locals about what they recommend for visitors to see while in town. We also will pick up brochures and other information that we might have an interest......

View out our Condo window: Note Rocky Mt. in back ground.

Some of the high lights of things to do or places to visit here in Colorado Springs were "The Broadmoor museum", "Broadmoor Pikes Cog Railroad", "Broadmoor Seven Falls", "Cheyenne Mt Zoo", "Garden of the Gods", "Historical Manitou Springs", "Historical Old Colorado City", "Manitou Cliff Dwellings", "Air Force Academy", and much more. We often look up and visit TV host Guy Fieri  "Diner Drive in and Dives" places he has visited and done a show from. That is if we like the type of food they offer. We have found that they are always unique facilities and most are
pretty good places to eat.

Below are some pictures we took the first week while we were in Colorado Springs.

Picture taken at the Garden of the Gods with Pikes Peak in Back ground

Another view of Garden of the Gods

Balanced Rocks in Garden of the Gods (road runs between the 2 rocks

Mt Sheep in Garden of the Gods

Thought this guy was to friendly (not as it appeared I zoomed in and I was in my Van

Farmers Market in Old Town Colorado Springs. One of the first things we do when we get to a new location is look up Farmers Markets.