Leaving Colorado

We woke up the next morning and started to load up the van.  We snapped a family picture and said our farewells.  The Oregon Harts had 1400 miles to go to get back home while we were heading south to new territory - taking the long way home (also a total of 1400 miles).

We had a wonderful time together and loved that the kids were able to get to spend some time with Grandma & Grandpa as well as Uncle John.  This trip has memories that will last them a lifetime!

After saying our goodbyes, we headed south towards New Mexico.  It was another beautiful drive with the mountains always off in the West.  Up until Friday night @ midnight, Matt & I hadn't decided how we were going to go home.  We had at least 5 options rolling around in our head(s) and couldn't decide on one over the other.  We finally put the options "on the table" and compromised.  I was able to secure hotels for the next two nights (we already had a hotel booked in Des Moines for the end of our trip).  For the planner that I am, this really pushed my limits!

Just when I thought we would have to forego our "picture with a Butte Sign", we saw this from the interstate and pulled off for a picture!!

We excited the interstate at Rye, Co to find some letterboxes and explore "Bishop's Castle".

Bishop's Castle was (and is continued to be) built by one person - Jim Bishop.  Per the website, "Today's visitors to the Bishop Castle will find an impressively monumental statue in stone and iron that cries loud testament to the beauty and glory of not only Having a Dream, but Sticking with your Dream no matter what, and most importantly, that if you do believe in yourself and strive to maintain that belief, anything can happen! Three full stories of interior rooms complete with a Grand Ballroom, soaring towers and bridges with vistas of a hundred miles, and a Fire-Breathing Dragon make the Bishop Castle quite the unforgettable experience!"

Maddie and I stayed low to the ground.  We did venture up to the second floor (the grand ballroom).  Maddie later went up with Matt too.  The other three went up to the third floor.  Alex and Will went all the way to the top spire!

Alex in the Globe

It's hard to believe this was ALL built by one person!

We ended our time in Colorado and hit the New Mexico border...

Blue Hole in Santa Rosa, NM

Will's New Mexico Souvenir!

We arrived at our hotel that night and got settled in.  While having dinner in town, the skies grew black and I thought for sure we would need to take cover in the back kitchen!  God protected us and it went south of us!  Once back at the hotel, we watched a lightning show from the balcony outside our room. The breeze was refreshing too!  We went to bed, ready to hit Texas & Oklahoma the next day.

Colorado Vacation - Garden of the Gods & Pike's Peak

Our final day with Ken, Connie & John was Friday.  I think it is safe to say that (in hindsight) we saved the best things for last!  After the super long day of sightseeing and driving up north on Thursday, we were all happy to sleep in a bit and stay close to the Springs area to visit Garden of the Gods and Pike's Peak.

Friday was the first day that we woke up to the sun shining!  We looked out our hotel window to see Pikes Peak!  Up until then, we had no clue that there was a view out our window!

Unfortunately, since the day was beautiful, we had to share the parks with lots of other people.  Our first stop was at the Garden of the Gods.

I couldn't get over the fact that this park was right in the middle of Colorado Springs residential area!  Another amazing park with beautiful rocks and scenery!

We stopped to spend some time at Balanced Rock.  The kids (and Grandma & Uncle John) loved showing how strong they were to hold up the big boulder! 

 We spent some time in the Trading Post while Matt found a letterbox.  We went to find another letterbox but the park was so busy that we couldn't find a space to park in any of the smaller parking lots (to the trailhead for that box). It was nearing lunch time anyways, so we decided to forego the box and finish driving the loop of the park to the entrance.

After lunch, we started our trek up Pike's Peak. 

Our first stop was at this Big Foot warning.  The kids tried to find him with no luck...

Our second stop was at Crystal Reservoir. The water was beautiful! We pulled in beside a vehicle with Wisconsin plates and a Iowa Hawkeye sticker.  We compared notes and found out he lives just up the river from us.  Small world!

The engineering of mountain roads always amazed me.  To look down the mountain and see all the switchbacks and zig-zags - it is something to behold!

Once at the top of Pike's Peak, we enjoyed the view and tried not to get blown away.  We went from a warm 86° at the foot of the mountain to a slightly overcast, windy 48° at the top! We made it - all 14,115 feet!!!

At the summit, there was a monument with a few plaques to commemorate the writing of America the Beautiful by Katharine Lee Bates in 1893.  After visiting Pike's Peak, she penned the song that night while in Colorado Springs.  She "was inspired by the majestic background of the Rocky Mountains and the vast western plains".  After seeing it myself, I understand the words all the more.

Our view of Colorado Springs from the summit.  It you look in the middle of the picture, you will see Garden of the Gods. 

Marmot on the tracks!

We were told by several people to make sure to try the Summit House donuts.  They made it to our photo scavenger hunt.  We were also told to eat them while at the top because they would lose their flavor as we drove down the mountain (change in elevation).

The kids had fun finding treasures in the gift shop...

Unfortunately, this is the only mountain goat we saw during our time in Colorado.  We were very excited when we pulled into Pike's Peak and saw signs (at the admission's gate) that stated that there were mother & baby goats/sheep on the road above the treeline.  We thought for sure that we would get to see some, but no luck.

donation box

One of our favorite Photos to take for the scavenger hunt - "Can you find us?" Uncle John joined in on this one.  It is really hard to see Will and Alex...

Starting down the mountain, we found this pull off to snap a family picture. 

At this pull off (next 2 pictures below), the kids got out and explored for a while.  Grandma, Uncle John & Matt joined them. 

 Again, we found 4 dead squirrels!!

 I took this picture as we started down the mountain again.  This family drove to the top and then RODE their bikes all the way down.  The kid couldn't have been older than Maddie & Will (9 years).  As a mom, I don't think I could ever let my kids do that...especially so young!

 We made two pit stops on the way down to let our brakes cool.  We found lots of wildlife, including a Bear, A Cougar and Big Foot!!  Will tried to tickle his toes...

I guess Big Foot is aptly named!

Pike's Peak from the bottom...

We found a fun covered wagon on the way back to the hotel. 

We finished our day with dinner and swimming at the hotel.  After getting the kids to bed, Matt went out to find more letterboxes while I started packing for the drive home.