| GYPSY FEET |
| The Chronicles of Moby Who? |
© 2008 Gail Hunter
| Go To Pete's |
| September Page 2 |
| Note: Click all photos to enlarge. Click the back arrow to return to page. Looking for a specific topic - try the Topic Index |
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| Pike's Peak - no bust - it was spectacular |
| Next: On to Santa Fe - Los Campos RV Park and Old Santa Fe; Albuquerque Balloon Festival the first week of October - sheer serendipity. |
The terrain between Colorado Springs and New Mexico became quite undulating and far more
interesting than the front range. The further south we drove, the deeper the valleys. There were
several hilly populated areas with stunning houses perched on ridges. This appeared to be
horse country - medium sized fenced-in spreads with tidy barns.
interesting than the front range. The further south we drove, the deeper the valleys. There were
several hilly populated areas with stunning houses perched on ridges. This appeared to be
horse country - medium sized fenced-in spreads with tidy barns.
Even while climbing, there were several descents; down one, up three - for 19
miles - a total of 38 miles round trip. I think it was 2 hours up, time at the top to
recover, and 2 hours down. But maybe it was one each way. We didn't stop at
any of the gift shops along the way. Here, we came across a road crew on a bend.
We were told it costs a million dollars a mile to maintain the roadway and that most of the
money comes from those who use it - visitors like us. Therefor, our National Parks Access Pass was
not accepted - No matter, we paid the $10 per person gladly.
miles - a total of 38 miles round trip. I think it was 2 hours up, time at the top to
recover, and 2 hours down. But maybe it was one each way. We didn't stop at
any of the gift shops along the way. Here, we came across a road crew on a bend.
We were told it costs a million dollars a mile to maintain the roadway and that most of the
money comes from those who use it - visitors like us. Therefor, our National Parks Access Pass was
not accepted - No matter, we paid the $10 per person gladly.
We had no idea what we were in for by climbing Pike's Peak. Happiness
was having a rental car - not wrecking our transmission or brakes! At the
entrance to the highway, we were advised to use 2nd gear going up to
keep the engine from overheating. As it turned out, that speed was just
about perfect when we got to the switchbacks, forget the engine, it was
our lives we cared about! Our first pull-out was a picnic trail somewhere
around mile 3 - see right. The road is well marked for frequent pull-outs
by the mile number.
was having a rental car - not wrecking our transmission or brakes! At the
entrance to the highway, we were advised to use 2nd gear going up to
keep the engine from overheating. As it turned out, that speed was just
about perfect when we got to the switchbacks, forget the engine, it was
our lives we cared about! Our first pull-out was a picnic trail somewhere
around mile 3 - see right. The road is well marked for frequent pull-outs
by the mile number.
The change in trees as we move up the Peak...Notice the spindly firs in the middle, all the branches
reaching south as the north wind convinces them to grow that way. And finally, before you reach
the tree line, smaller trees, crouching behind the rocks, hoping the wind and cold will go away.
reaching south as the north wind convinces them to grow that way. And finally, before you reach
the tree line, smaller trees, crouching behind the rocks, hoping the wind and cold will go away.
Soon, we reach the interesting rock formations (dentils?) followed by The Top! We exit the car, try
to take a deep breath, but Where's The Air? Not much at this altitude - 14,110 feet. Gail
stumbles into the snack bar at the summit, gasping for breath, and sinks down in a booth while Cor
goes to the counter to buy some of the much-touted doughnuts served there. The only good
thing you can say about them is that they are fried. Small and greasy, they don't even make the
bottom of our list. To date, the leaders are, in no special order, Duck Doughnuts in Duck, NC;
Yanna's Country Cupboard in Jeffersonville, VT and, bless them, Price Choppers in South
Burlington, VT. We may end up buying a Fry Daddy and making our own; using Fannie Farmer's
Boston School of Cooking Cook Book. Both Cor and I inherited one; thanks to our mothers!
to take a deep breath, but Where's The Air? Not much at this altitude - 14,110 feet. Gail
stumbles into the snack bar at the summit, gasping for breath, and sinks down in a booth while Cor
goes to the counter to buy some of the much-touted doughnuts served there. The only good
thing you can say about them is that they are fried. Small and greasy, they don't even make the
bottom of our list. To date, the leaders are, in no special order, Duck Doughnuts in Duck, NC;
Yanna's Country Cupboard in Jeffersonville, VT and, bless them, Price Choppers in South
Burlington, VT. We may end up buying a Fry Daddy and making our own; using Fannie Farmer's
Boston School of Cooking Cook Book. Both Cor and I inherited one; thanks to our mothers!
Down,
Down,
Down,
What goes up, must.......
and Down We Go!
Down,
Down,
What goes up, must.......
and Down We Go!
Part way down, we stop to take a photo of one of the reservoirs; I think this was
Crystal Lake. Then, Oh! How we envy this cyclist! Top of the world, glorious day,
wind at his back and downhill all the way. I'd say this guy has it made! Notice the
figure 8 in the roadway and the lack of land at the back of the turn. This was one
of many. I drove as I was too nervous to sit on the outside. Cor did very well; only
a few "Whews" and "Oh, MGs." I must admit, until I saw an approaching car, I
straddled the yellow center line. Better to drive scared, then not be around to know
what happened.
Crystal Lake. Then, Oh! How we envy this cyclist! Top of the world, glorious day,
wind at his back and downhill all the way. I'd say this guy has it made! Notice the
figure 8 in the roadway and the lack of land at the back of the turn. This was one
of many. I drove as I was too nervous to sit on the outside. Cor did very well; only
a few "Whews" and "Oh, MGs." I must admit, until I saw an approaching car, I
straddled the yellow center line. Better to drive scared, then not be around to know
what happened.
We have just added a Guest Book to
our website, hoping you will check in. If
you read that we may be anywhere
near you, let us know - and stop by for
a, what else? Cinnamon Doughnut. We
may have learned to perfect them by
then!
our website, hoping you will check in. If
you read that we may be anywhere
near you, let us know - and stop by for
a, what else? Cinnamon Doughnut. We
may have learned to perfect them by
then!
Sometimes, we thought it would be safer to get out and push the car
around the bend. At least on the boat, we had life jackets.
around the bend. At least on the boat, we had life jackets.
At last we could see the valley where Moby Who awaited us. The
trip to the top of Pike's Peak was not-to-be-missed, but I must admit
the drive required so much diligence I was exhausted. Or - it may
have been the altitude. Whatever, I slept extremely well that night.
trip to the top of Pike's Peak was not-to-be-missed, but I must admit
the drive required so much diligence I was exhausted. Or - it may
have been the altitude. Whatever, I slept extremely well that night.
| Day 2 in Colorado Springs - a short drive west on US-24 to The Garden of the Gods |
The Garden of the Gods was so overwhelming,
we ended up taking well over 100 photos.
Around every corner we came upon a formation
so unearthly we couldn't resist, not one but three
views of the same rock.
I have only uploaded a few here, in small
thumbnail to save space. The yellow one was an
experiment to see if I could snap through my
"storm glasses" - polarized Varnets that
dramatize the clouds - worked great on the boat
as a weather warning.
we ended up taking well over 100 photos.
Around every corner we came upon a formation
so unearthly we couldn't resist, not one but three
views of the same rock.
I have only uploaded a few here, in small
thumbnail to save space. The yellow one was an
experiment to see if I could snap through my
"storm glasses" - polarized Varnets that
dramatize the clouds - worked great on the boat
as a weather warning.
| Day 3 - Quite a long drive up I-25 to visit the Airforce Academy |
far left - Falcon's nest, where the
airforce has been successfully
protecting falcons (their mascot.)
Other views are of the area near
the Chapel - we wanted to see it,
but the walk was too far for me.
Tuskegee Airman statue honoring
their service during WWII
airforce has been successfully
protecting falcons (their mascot.)
Other views are of the area near
the Chapel - we wanted to see it,
but the walk was too far for me.
Tuskegee Airman statue honoring
their service during WWII
Left: Cor standing next to a model of a P-51 Mustang from
WWII. Gerry Clough, Cor's friend in Springfield, MA from
age 1 thru high school, was a Captain in the US Airforce
and named his plane "Corky-Anne" after Cor and his wife,
who had been a WRAF (British Royal Air Force.)
WWII. Gerry Clough, Cor's friend in Springfield, MA from
age 1 thru high school, was a Captain in the US Airforce
and named his plane "Corky-Anne" after Cor and his wife,
who had been a WRAF (British Royal Air Force.)
On our final morning with a car in Colorado Springs, we drove the two blocks to the historic section
of town and had breakfast at Bon Ton's, a charming breakfast/lunch spot, complete with outdoor
patio. We opted for inside as the morning air hovers around 55 degrees here.
of town and had breakfast at Bon Ton's, a charming breakfast/lunch spot, complete with outdoor
patio. We opted for inside as the morning air hovers around 55 degrees here.
The next morning, we drove to Pike's Peak Traveland to have the new "cold unit" installed on our
refrigerator. Thrifty came and got their car and we settled in, ready to head south after the new
unit was tested the following morning. Guess What? They had no unit. The one that was
supposedly following us, got lost somewhere. They contacted all the warehouses, but the only
word on our refrigerator part was still "back ordered."
We were re-tested at Pike's Peak to confirm the "bad unit" diagnosis. It was correct, so with no
assurance of time, they arranged for us to move on and hope to pick one up in Albuquerque, the
nearest Route 66 dealer to Santa Fe, our next stop.
And so it goes, and so, we went.
refrigerator. Thrifty came and got their car and we settled in, ready to head south after the new
unit was tested the following morning. Guess What? They had no unit. The one that was
supposedly following us, got lost somewhere. They contacted all the warehouses, but the only
word on our refrigerator part was still "back ordered."
We were re-tested at Pike's Peak to confirm the "bad unit" diagnosis. It was correct, so with no
assurance of time, they arranged for us to move on and hope to pick one up in Albuquerque, the
nearest Route 66 dealer to Santa Fe, our next stop.
And so it goes, and so, we went.