San Antonio continued.

The purpose of the trip to San Antonio was to meet up with my brother! Yes that is right.

I learned several years ago that my biological father had an entire family that I was unaware of. It turns out that the other family was unaware of me also. So I had begun to talk with one of the brothers a couple of years ago.

Yesterday afternoon we got together at his daughter's house for some good "old Fashioned" family talk. I knew some things, they new some things and together we pieced together what happened 60+ years ago. Since all the parents are deceased, we all felt it was time for us to find out what happened. I enjoyed meeting Phil and family and hopefully he did too. Somewhat awkward at first, but not for long.

San Antonio

Well the second trip to San Antonio was eventful also!

In 2008 when we were driving here, a CB antenna off a truck punctured a tire on the RV causing a blowout. This time we are driving into town and following a truck that was pulling half of a modular structure as a "wide load". We saw a wheel come off the trailer and head our way.... Jim did an evasive move and the tire glanced off the RV. We weren't sure where we had damage so we had to stop. Luckily it hit the panel door behind the door. It missed the exhaust pipe, wheel, and all other critical parts on that side. Later we saw the trailer off on a side road, but we had no access to get to them, Of course the name on the truck was in micro type! Thank goodness for insurance. It got 3 of the 4 colors on the RV!.

Trip to Dallas

Well all cool things must come to an end and so we headed to Texas! WOW heat with a capital H.

The sunrise was spectacular as we were driving to Dallas.

In our RV park we pull in to find that the Thursday before we arrived there was a propane fire which destroyed 3 trailers and fifth wheels. Evidently the newer style tanks, have a problem getting connected to older connections. No one hurt but lots of damage to the units.

We reconnected with a friend from the 70's in California. We used to camp with them in Wyntoon Park on Trinity Lake in Northern California. Connie was the same as ever. We were able to see the kids who were small back then. What a great pot of Gumbo as a bonus!

Great Sand Dunes National Park

What an interesting park. sand blown up against the mountains for thousands of years. We could not resist a hike up the dunes to High Dune. Jim and David made it to the top. Sherry and I did not. we made it up 1.9 miles and then turned back. Hiking UP on soft sand is very hard. We were also surprised to see beautiful flowers. Here is a Colorado Bee Flower.

We also went to a State Park, Zapada Falls. Here we hiked UP into a slot canyon to be rewarded with a great waterfall. We hike throught the water to get up to see it.

Last day in Buena Vista

What to do??? Well lets go on another dirt road and see a Ghost town. So off we went to Clear Creek and the Old city of Winfield. More dust and dirt on the car, more pretty mountains, and of course more Aspen Groves.

This city should be on everyone's "bucket list". Why, because there is so much to see and do around here!

Arrowhead Point RV Park is the best. Host's Kathy and Joe make the place special. A hat's off to all the work campers also. We will miss everyone and the scenery. A special place.

Lost Canyon 4X4 drive

With nothing to do today, we decided that we would drive the Lost Canyon road. a group of Jeep people recommended it to us. Well .....Off we go to Granite and then off road! What a trip! Up until we were out of the trees. Then the mountains were surrounding us, blue sky and snow, and us. we found a working mine (the Gold Basin Mine). Streams and old cabins. Jim and I think one is right for remodeling. What views, However the old miner is buried up there.

Then we found out that on last Saturday, there were 1700 bicyclists who raced up that mountain and back down. Were we humbled. we could hardly breathe up at the 12000 ft elevation while walking. It got so rocky that we left the Escape parked and walked the last mile or two.

We would really recommend the Colorado Backroads and 4-wheel-drive trail book. Some great trips in there.

Pictures courtesy of Sherry, I forgot my camera today!

Buena Vista, Colorado Gold Rush Days

Gold Rush Days are the big celebration in Buena Vista. Today we watched the Burro Race and saw a woman win the race and the Triple Crown of racing. She won all three Burro races in this area.

Fun day and then we saw the Ducky race also. Unfortunately rain dampened the day. It was our fourtieth wedding anniversary. A great day in the son and the rain.

Maroon Bells

It has been several years since we have been to the "Bells". Last time Jim was here he was with the guys. They were camping in the wilderness and he broke his arm. I was here with some woman friends and the clouds covered the mountains.

So early this am we headed out to beat the crowd and to be able to drive our car up to the parking lot.

When we first got there the wind was blowing, so no reflection. Wild flowers in the fore ground make a nice picture also. We took a hike around the loop trail for 2 miles and what do you know, the wind died down. Nice picture with reflection.

Then it was into town where the other three went up the Gondola. I read in town. Home again over Independence Pass.

A wonderful day.

Adventures continued.

The trip to the Garden of the Gods was disappointing, but here is at least a picture.

Then we went to The US Olympic Training Center. Had a nice tour of the facilities and were impressed. Saw some of the wrestlers getting ready to train. Jim found out that his wing span is almost as long as Michael Phelps and Jim is shorter than he is.

After that it was off to the US Airforce Academy. We heard you have to go there and visit the Cadet Chapel. We were not disappointed what a magnificent place. Almost worth joining up just to be able to get married there or to study there.

A side trip to see a Bicycle Store run by a friend of our's son. Trip to Sam's Club- this is a big city after all.

Dinner at Black-eyed Peas with a classmate of David's from high school and it was time for the 90 minute drive home.

The adventure into Colorado Springs

Up at 6am and driving at 6:30am we are off to Colorado Springs. Around 9:30am we paid our $40.00 per car and started up. To say this road is steep and scary is an understatement.

Pikes Peak is 14,115 ft high. The road runs around it in many steep sharp switchbacks to finally reach the summit about 90 minutes later. Of course they are doing construction on the road, paving it, so flag man delays occur. Temperature at the bottom was nice at 68 at the top not so nice 38 with wind chill of 27 degrees. Add to it the lack of oxygen up there and you have 4 dizzy flatlanders! After purchasing coffee and the special donuts made up there, It was time to head down. We watched the Cog Railroad leave and head down the mountain. We also wanted to beat the bicyclists that were going to ride down Pikes Peak, Yikes, and some of the were kids.

Next stop was Garden of the Gods. Here we discovered that the City of Colorado Springs has a park that looks like all the areas that have Red Rock formations with one big exception....too many people. It is like Disney of the red rock wilderness. We had a picnic and visited the Trading Post and off we went. Next stop the Olympic Training Center.

Rest day and a hike to Bald Mountain

We all needed a rest after the busy trip to Marble and elsewhere. We had a campfire and were rewarded with a beautiful sunset.

The next day we all needed a walk to get some exercise. We found a trip in Buena Vista that was close, was on a road and gave us a view of Mt Princeton. So off we go. The hike was described as an easy hike to Bald Mountain where we would be rewarded with great views of Mt Princeton, one of the "fourteeners" in the area. With hiking sticks in hand we start. Up and up we went. We hadn't checked to see how far it was going to be, but it was on a road, a rocky, dirt one, but a road. Lots of switchbacks and finally we reach the summit. It was 2.56 miles one way and about a 1800 ft increase in elevation to the top (we found out after getting back). It was a good thing we didn't attempt this earlier in our stay here.

Marble, Crystal and the Continental Divide at Independence Pass

Our day started in Carbondale, Co. We had booked a tour of the Crystal Mill with Crystal Jeeps out of Marble. Marble claims to be the place where the worlds largest marble quarry is. In fact, we saw them bring out two 40,000# chunks of perfectly white marble while we were there.

Our Jeep driver Steve, a retired postman, was very good as the road was darn near impossible to drive. It was very narrow, rocky and even in his Jeep we scraped bottom several times. The "road" ran right next to the river, as you can see in the picture. We saw a marmot, deer and a black racer snake on our tour.

Our objective was a picture of the Crystal Mill. Hope you enjoy the fruits of our three hour very bumpy ride to get the photo.

On the way home we drove through Aspen and over the Continental Divide again. This time through Independence Pass. Snow was still on the ground here and the 360 degree view was breath taking.

See our picture as we are being blown over the edge of the pass!

Black Canyon of the Gunnison

We stopped at every point of interest in the Canyon. We also had a chance to view solar spots thru a telescope aimed at the sun. We even saw solar flares. Some of the points of interest in the Black Canyon were magnificent. The canyon is the deepest and also the most narrow of the major canyons. Hense the name black canyon since the bottom is always dark. Taking the pictures is difficult due to the transition of sky and dark canyon below. We drove the East Portal to the bottom of the canyon a mere 16% grade road. At the bottom we were rewarded with rain to drive back up into. However at the top we saw a rainbow over the canyon. The picture probably doesn't due it justice, but all in all a great day.

We stayed overnight in Montrose so thatwe could visit Crystal Mill the next day.

Ouray and Black Canyon of the Gunnison

Bright and early one morning we got in the car and headed west. We ate breakfast in Crested Butte at the Paradise Cafe. We stopped in Ouray hiked to Crystal Falls and the Box Canyon. Here Jim and I are at the Crystal Falls.

Traveling in Colorado

A trip to other points of interest led us to head west on Highway 50. What a beautiful drive. We had breakfast in Crested Butte at the Paradise Cafe, then on towards the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. We went threw the Curecanti National Recreational area and saw the Dillon Pinnacles. They are the last picture here.

Then onto the canyon where mother nature rewarded us with a rainbow after we drove through the park and up the road called the East Portal. (second picture)

Then we went to Ouray and hiked to Cascade Falls and Box Canyon and ended by driving The Million Dollar highway towards Silverton (first picture)

Another great day. Tonight we are in Carbondale and tomorrow Marble.

Golfing at 10,000 ft and Fly Fishing

Jim and David have completed some activities on their wish lists for the area. They have tried their hand at golf at the highest golf course in the US. It is in Leadville, Co

They have also fished the Arkansas River testing out some of their new technics for Fly Fishing. Of course that means more equipment for the play!

Zip line and more

Well the "Bucket List" is getting shorter. Captain Zipline trips helped on this trip. Sherry, Jim and David did the Zip lines, I provided photographic proof. You have to be able to pick both legs up to Zip and I can't do that, so I didn't have to resort to I have a "fear of heights" to get me out of it. We have also taken every road that can be traveled by a 4-wheel drive car in the area.

We even found time to take in the Chaffee County Rodeo. Fourteen brave bull riders plus all the other rodeo events.

186 mile circle tour of area

Early this am we got up to drive over the Continental divide and go to see the old Alpine tunnel. We had tried to hike into the tunnel a couple of days ago, but didn't have the correct information to do so. Today we drove a "road" that was mostly rocks and in some areas not wide enough for anything wider than the escape. In fact there were mostly ATV's on the road! We did make it. It took us over 8 hours to drive and photograph the area. Magnificent!

Trip to St Elmo's and Agnes Vaille Falls

David, Sherry, Jim and I ventured out for a drive to St Elmo"s and along the way to Agnes Falls. The hike to the falls said it was 1/2 mile, however the starting elevation was over 10000 ft and the falls were above that. Our "flatlander lungs are still not quite ready for elevation. We also drove on rocky dirt roads to Hancock and were going to hike to the Alpine Tunnel, however by now we were in need of more water than we brought and food. So we left that to another day and came down and explored Buena Vista.

Buena Vista, Colorado

Here we are on the road to the campground. Route 285 is a highway with 3 passes to go over, two of them 10,000 ft and the other a measly 9000. Here is what we see driving down the road. It can be very scary when the fan comes on to cool the overworking transmission. But we made it!

Staying at Arrowhead Point Camping Resort just north of Buena Vista. Friends from California almost here and another camping couple from North Carolina are also here.