Rocky Mountain High

Just got back from Colorado. The trip was so much better than I expected it to be.

Summit of Pikes Peak

We went horseback riding in Garden of the Gods, took a train ride at Cripple Creek through old and abandoned mining country, toured the Manitou Cliff Dwellings, drove to the summit of Pikes Peak, hiked Red Mountain and the Manitou Incline, and I even ate sushi in Colorado Springs.

Horseback riding. Awesome.

The altitude is incredible. It's 900 feet above sea level where I live, and Manitou is around 6,000. Colorado's state motto (or something) of "Got Oxygen?" has a new meaning for me (because I didn't "got oxygen" most of the time up there). I really appreciated our Subaru Outback, too. There's a reason it's the unofficial state car of Colorado. I think I've found the place I want to be.

...Also, there were no mosquitoes (bonus points!).

  After we left Manitou Springs, we headed towards South Dakota and visited Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, and the Badlands before heading home.

The Badlands.

Going to Manitou

 So in a few days I will be leaving with some family to visit some other family in Colorado. Although the weather says it's supposed to be raining there, I still think we're going to have a blast, rain or shine. Here are some pictures of the area.

The view of Pikes Peak from Manitou Avenue.

Manitou Incline...unfortunately as of right now it's illegal to hike on it. Hopefully that'll change soon. Like right now soon.

Apparently they have coffin races. Unfortunately I won't be there for that, since it's in October.
Shucks.

The Manitou Incline once again.

Balancing Rock in Garden of the Gods (just watch, I'll unbalance it)

Manitou Springs with what I'm assuming is Pikes Peak in the background.

I don't know what this is. (Yes I do, I just choose not to tell you)
(You could probably guess it)

Colorado Railway (not actually in Manitou Springs)

Colorado, here I come!



Thankfully I am getting a new camera (well really it's the same model of my old one but it's a new camera so I guess it counts as a new camera...) so I will be able to take hundreds and hundreds of pictures as you will soon see I am very capable of doing.  Toodles.

end of day

Guess what, people. I did have a boring day.

Now look at this picture.

I'm off to watch Tangled.

Good night. Hopefully tomorrow will be more eventful. Or not. 'Eventful' doesn't always mean 'good'. I'll see if my camera works...I miss it. A lot. A lot a lot.