After spending a couple of days in Iowa with my sister and her husband I drove out to Elizabeth, Colorado to meet Shelley at a church convention. It was interesting as the big fires were in progress. Pike's Peak should have been seen from the grounds but all we could see was smoke. Tuesday night they thought we might have to leave the area but the wind changed and all cleared around us and we could stay put. After the 4 day convention things were clearing and fires put out so we could do some sight seeing\ We had a few days to tour Colorado Springs and the surrounding area before returning Shelley to Wichita, Kansas. She showed me some of the scenery around Wichita as well.
This is a sign over the roads near Kearney, Nebraska.
Beginning of the West
Dinning area and parking lot
Ladies' sleeping area
Meeting shed and parking lot
After the convention was over we started for Colorado Springs and some sight seeing.
A few pictures of the scenes between Elizabeth and Colorado Springs.
Most of the fires were out by Sunday and the attractions started to open. By Monday all were open except for a couple of dude ranches which we were not interested in visiting.
Our little excursion around started with us going to Colorado Springs and spending the night at Comfort Inn.
View from our window.
Smoke in the mountains
A helicopter is bringing water in to dump on the fire. When they dump this there is fertilizer in the water to help with the growth when the fire is over. A friend was out there a couple of months later and said the grass was growing back already,
Our first stop was Seven Falls. This is one of the most scenic drives in the area. Some curves are so sharp that we are to honk when going around them so an oncoming car driver knows that we are there. I tried to take pictures as Shelley was driving. A fee is charged to enter after that things like the elevator to the top of the falls is free.
Entrance to the park.
Looks like someone did not get all the way to Pike's Peak.
Devil's Needle
Visiting the gift shop area
Seven Falls from the bottom
Quite a climb but we cheated and took the elevator.
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From Seven Falls we went to Garden of the Gods.
Kissing Camels
Balancing Rock
Crows having a meeting
It was a beautiful day, there is still smoke in the air
so makes it look cloudy or hazy.
On to Pike's Peak
Train Station for the cog train to the top of Pike's Peak
Rock formation along the route
The track we just traveled over
A home the workers lived in while working on the railroad
Summit
A little cool up there. It was in the 90's when we left Colorado Springs
42 degrees here with a windchill of 34.
Continental Divide
The train we rode
View from the top
Stayed at the same hotel in Colorado Springs Monday night.
After breakfast at the hotel we drove to Canon City and Royal Gorge.
A few scenses along the way.
That heavy cloud on the left turned into rain for our trip through the Royal Gorge. The rain made odd scenes on the windows of the train. The lights were on in the train making additional marks on the pictures. Very enjoyable ride and views.
Riding the rapids
The high bridge, 1053 feet above the Arkansas River.
Tuesday night was spent in Pueblo, CO. In the morning we started for Kansas.
These are our last view of the mountains.
As we both love the mountains it was a sad moment.
Some very common sights in Kansas
Prairie lands
P
The very necessry watering hole.
Flint Rocks
Sunflowers, their state flower
Milo
Oil Wells
Windmills
and warm temps,
Back to my sister's home in Churdan, Iowa for a couple of days and then home to get ready for another trip.
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