As you can imagine, we had LOTS of time on our hands while
waiting for McCandless International Truck Center to diagnosis and subsequently
repair Big Boomer, the tow vehicle for our 5th wheel.When given lemons, we always try to make
lemonade.So, in between visiting my little friends near the Truck Center each day, we hopped on Maximus the
trike and began exploring the area.
This guy popped out daily to say hello to me.
The little Canada goslings look so cute--until they grow up! Then they become monsters, invading our lands, defecating all over God's green earth. Many never return to their Canadian homeland, instead settling throughout the United States. There were hundreds of geese residing in Gateway, the business park in Aurora where McCandless Truck Center is located.
The Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge in
Commerce City was our first stop.Land
that was used in the 1850s as prairie homesteads transitioned to a $50+
million arsenal built by the U.S. Army in 1942.Deadly chemical weapons, including napalm, mustard gas, and sarin, were
all manufactured and stored here for 2 decades.Thereafter, the U.S. Army leased the property to private companies
to manufacture pesticides.It was not
until the mid-1980s that the U.S. Army took action to measure the level of
ground/water contamination.(And we
wonder why and how people get cancer!) The arsenal was closed officially by the U.S. Army in 1992, and the property morphed into a National Wildlife Refuge.The Refuge has catch-and-release fishing (‘cause who be crazy enough to
actually eat what comes out of these waters!). Lots of burrowing prairie dogs
take up residence here, as does a healthy-sized bison herd.The property also has a variety of hiking
trails that connect with open space paths for the nearby new housing
complexes (yes, let’s build near a previously-designated Superfund site!)We traversed the Refuge trails on several
occasions to relieve our stress.The Visitor
Center at the Refuge is built to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design) specifications, mostly funded by the good old taxpayers through
President Obama’s Recovery Act.I was
deputized as a Junior Ranger here, having completed the required testing.Another badge to add to my heavily-laden hat.
Mom's two favorite "men" posing with a bison.
Notice the red-winged crow sitting on a reed in the foreground.
That there is one healthy herd.
This bunch of bucks were benevolent and permitted me to take their photo.
We visited Golden on several occasions.We didn’t take the Coors beer plant tour—Dad viewed the
plant B.M.M. (Before Married to Mom) and Mom/I had no interest.Instead, we popped in the Visitor Center,
toured the free-of-charge Golden History Museum, and walked Clear Creek Trail
to get a flavor for the town.I particularly
enjoyed the outdoor History Park along Clear Creek.It contains many structures that were once situated on the Thomas Pearce Ranch about 15 miles outside
Golden.Pearce immigrated to Golden from
England in 1878 at the age of 19 seeking a better life.He worked his tail off in the nearby mines.In 1900 he began homesteading land in nearby Golden
Gate Canyon, with his first “structure” just an earth berm home built into the
side of a hill.While still toiling in
the mines, he spent his “free” time raising livestock and farming.Back in the day, folks blazed their own way,
created their own destiny.They did not
expect any special accommodations or anyone to do it for them. Hence, through Pearce’s
perseverance and hard work over the next decade, he transformed his property
into one of the largest ranches in the area.
Mural depicting Golden in 1913
Downtown Golden 2022
Exhibit from Golden History Museum
Photo of Clear Creek taken from the Washington Avenue Bridge.
.
Structures within the History Park
Two of my favorites among the many bronze statues...
...on display in downtown Golden.
I also enjoyed visiting the Foothills Art Center in Golden, another interesting venue
with no entry fee.They had a cool
exhibit called The Beauty of Age.It demonstrated the wisdom and knowledge that come with age, yet the
carefree spirit of youth that never ceases to be.Every wrinkle and every scar tell a story.(I think this display made my parents feel a
little better about becoming old farts.)But what really grasped my attention at the Foothills Art Center was their
exhibit Samsara.I learned
through good old Merriam-Webster that samsara is “the indefinitely repeated
cycles of birth, misery, and death caused by karma.”Through incorporating paint, soil, and even
human hair into her photography, Artist Brooke Shaden depicts the cycle of life,
death, and, for some cultures, reincarnation.She explores death’s grief process in her piece called Redacted
Eulogies.By extracting only a few
words from an actual eulogy, a simpler, yet different perspective of a person shines
through. The artist challenges viewers to consider what their own eulogies
would say.The entire exhibit was dark, yet intriguing and
thought-provoking.Other than Bodies:
The Exhibition that I viewed in New York City in 2009, Samsara is
the most unique art display I have ever seen, earning my coveted Rambling RV Rat
5-cheese award for excellence.
The Foothills Arts Center building was once a church.
Entries in The Beauty of Age exhibit. Notice the biker dude is front and center...
...But this was my favorite portrait in the exhibit.
Just one sample of the dark yet thought-provoking Samsara exhibit.
Golden has TONS of open space and parks that offer
hiking/biking trails of all levels of difficulty.We hiked along the trails in South Table
Mountain Park, which culminated with panoramic views of Golden from the mesa top. Additionally,
we clocked 6+ miles at William F. Hayden Park on Green Mountain.We trudged straight up Green Mountain Trail,
incurring a 1,000-foot elevation change within the first mile.It was quite windy, too, but well worth it
for the magnificent views of Denver.
Table Mountain from afar.
Views from the ascent.
Panorama from the mesa top.
View of the Coors plant from the mesa top.
Green Mountain Trail in William F. Hayden Park.
Denver, the Mile High City, can be seen from the top of the Green Mountain Trail.
Right within Aurora is the Colorado Freedom Memorial.It is a touching tribute that includes glass tablets etched with the names of our ultimate
superheroes, members of our Armed Forces who sacrificed their lives protecting
the liberties so many now take for granted.It also recognizes those families who lost their loved ones in this
mission.With Memorial Day approaching,
we thought it fitting to pay a visit.Speaking of Memorial Day, we always seek out a way to pay our respects
to our fallen military personnel.Therefore,
we reached out to the Patriot Guard Riders of Colorado to assist with
flag-placing on graves within Fort Logan National Cemetery, where 150,000
service personnel and their family members are interred.We joined Jim, the State Captain of the
organization, and Wanda his wife, along with several other members in this
mission.What a great group of people, so warm and
welcoming!They invited us to join them again
the following day for breakfast before we all served on the honor flag line at
the Morrison Memorial Day Ceremony.About
10 days later we met with this fantastic group one final time for a Welcome
Home mission at Denver International Airport.We are so grateful to them for their kindness and friendship.They made us feel like part of their
family.In fact, member Gary and his
wife Ruth offered for us to stay with them on their property instead of in a
hotel.What a demonstration of
camaraderie and compassion!I would be
remiss if I also did not acknowledge the generosity of Barbara, one of our
buddies from Quartzsite dance, who invited us to stay in her home near Rocky
Mountain National Park or long-time RVing friends, Curtis and Stephanie, who
suggested we fly to Idaho to stay with them in their home while we awaited
repairs. We would never impose on folks, so we passed on all offers. But we feel so blessed to have such
caring, kind-hearted people in our lives!
We took a long motorcycle ride one day.We passed through Coal Creek Canyon and then
enjoyed a series of switchbacks in Pinecliffe, named appropriately for the
tree-lined topography.Soon we were in
Nederland, a typical mountain mining town, where we entered the 59-mile-long
Peak-to-Peak Highway.Lots of
snow-covered mountains towered above us.We viewed Longs Peak, the
tallest (14,255 feet) summit within Rocky Mountain National Park and Mt.
Meeker, which comes in at a respectable 13,911-foot elevation.Mt. Meeker is also the backdrop for picturesque
St. Catherine of Siena Chapel on the Rock, part of the Camp St. Mayo Heritage
Center grounds in Allenspark.I was disappointed that
I couldn’t go inside the Chapel due to an ongoing wedding, but I admired it
from afar.It never ceases to amaze me
the phenomenal real estate owned by the Catholic Church.Our route also took us past Lake Lilly and
the Twin Sisters peaks.By the time we
arrived in Estes Park, the wind picked up considerably and rain clouds were
accumulating.We took a quick tour of
Estes Park then headed back to Aurora.It
was a long, chilly and wet (yes, rain did catch up with us) day.But we were grateful to admire the Creator’s
masterful works and take our minds off our truck repair issues.
St. Catherine of Siena Chapel on the Rock in Allenspark
Statue of Jesus on the Mount at the Camp St. Mayo Heritage Center.
Long's Peak in the center.
Storm clouds rolling in..
...gonna get wet, but those clouds create some dramatic pictures.
One weekday we took a break from touring and went to see Top
Gun Maverick.Wanting to save some
of my cheese money, I suggested we go to the matinee on ½ price tickets.Mom, our household’s Chief Financial Officer,
jumped all over that suggestion!Afterwards, we dined at Coriander Flavors of India on North Tower
Road in Denver.During our 3 ½ week
layover in Aurora, this became our go-to restaurant.It had several vegan selections for Dad, all
of which he enjoyed.Mom and I always
chose the chicken biryani.It was a bit
spicy for our taste, but the meat so tender and the dish so flavorful, we
suffered through each time and ate the entire portion.Combining
their great food with pleasant, efficient service and reasonable prices and you
have one of my Rambling RV Rat 5-cheese award recipients!
We set out on a glorious Saturday morning for Boulder via
Maximus the trike. We hiked near Boulder Canyon leading us to a spectacular
view of the Boulder Waterfalls.Boulder
Creek sure was running at a healthy pace from the snow melt.Boulder, home to the University of Colorado,
is a typical college town. It is a blend
of historic and modernistic, with some structures of traditional
architectural designs and others with contemporary styles.We hiked along the Chautauqua and Loop Trails
to view the Flatirons, rock formations named by the early female settlers for the
rocks’ similar shape to the gadgets used to press/steam laundry.Though these trails are short in length, they
really get your heart pumping.These
trails are EXTREMELY busy on weekends. Furthermore, parking is difficult to find
and comes with a fee.We tucked into a
pay-for-parking space at the Chautauqua Historic Park.A Chautauqua is a summer social and
educational assembly for adults.The first
Chautauqua was organized by Methodists in Ohio in 1873.But the concept grew into a national movement
for cultural, spiritual, and educational enhancement. It was a way to introduce people to new ideas,
literature, and the arts.Speeches by
prominent preachers and politicians may also be included on the itinerary.Initially,
these gatherings were held in temporary structures like tents.However, as time went on, permanent cottages,
auditoriums, and dining halls emerged.Boulder’s
Chautauqua Park opened in 1898 as a summer school for teachers.Now 1 million visitors from all walks of life
are serviced by the venue each year.It
holds the distinction of being the only Chautauqua West of the Mississippi
River that has operated continuously with many of its original structures
intact.It is a gorgeous property that I
would have enjoyed exploring more thoroughly had it not been so darned crowded
with guests for on-site weddings and parties.
Boulder Waterfalls
Boulder Creek
The Flatirons view from the Chautauqua Trail.
View of the City of Boulder from the Loop Trail.
Chautauqua Park - Baseline Road Entrance.
Some quaint cottages...
...and Chautauqua structures.
Artists painting "en Plein Air", the French way of saying "outdoors".
With a population of approximately 386,000, Aurora is the 3rd
largest city within Colorado.Students
within their school system hail from 130 different countries and speak 150+
different languages. Colorado Community Church, where we attended
Sunday services, is representative of this multiculturalism.What a wonderful experience!How blessed we were to be welcomed by their
congregation and to hear the truly inspirational messages of God’s word through
Pastor Robert Gelinas.
On another day we toured Idaho Springs, home to the State’s
first substantial gold discovery in 1859.It was this discovery that triggered the Colorado Gold Rush, with
100,000 prospectors flocking to the Rocky Mountain area. “Pike’s Peak or bust,”
they chanted.While some proved to be
lucky, others went home with empty pockets.Idaho Springs has a quaint, historic district comprised mostly of
restaurants and taverns.It has somehow
managed to stay alive all these years and not succumb to ghost town status like
so many other mining towns.We took the 10-cent walking tour. Nothing going on this early in the morning except some big horn sheep foraging for breakfast way up yonder on the distant hills. We
visited the water wheel used in 1893 to power the stamp mill at the gold mining
operation of Charlie Taylor.Charlie was
a colorful character and probably the most notable resident of Idaho
Springs.He attributed his excellent
health to 2 factors:He never took baths
AND never kissed a woman. (IMHO, the latter factor was likely a direct result of the former!)
We
headed then to Mt. Evans, but we didn’t get far—we learned the Scenic Byway to
this 14er (a term for peaks of 14,000+ feet) was still closed due to
weather/road conditions.(The road to Mt. Evans did not open until June 10, just days before our departure from Colorado).
Oh well, plenty of other things to do, like the Buffalo
Bill Cody Museum and Gravesite on Lookout Mountain.Lookout
Mountain is part of the Denver Mountain Park System that was established in
1913, a few years earlier than the National Park System was conceived. The museum costs $5/adult, a very modest entry fee to journey through the life of the legendary Bill Cody.His father was killed by pro-slavery
proponents in 1857 when Bill was just an 11-year-old lad.Young Bill then became the bread winner for
his family.He was a jack of all trades
through the years, supposedly holding a variety of positions like messenger on
a wagon train, Pony Express rider, prospector, Union Army serviceman, and
civilian scout for the U.S. Army during the Indian Wars, to name a few.But it was his job as a bison hunter to
provide meat for the railroad’s construction workers that earned him the nickname
“Buffalo Bill”.Bill
watched as industrialization and sprawl began to change the West that he knew.So, he started Buffalo Bill’s Wild West,
a show that included cowboys and Indians.Though the Indians were a bit sensationalized in the show, Cody provided
them an opportunity to exhibit some of their culture and a way to participate
in the economy. In turn, the Indians taught Cody about their heritage and way
of life.As a result, Cody became a
great advocate for the Indian Nations.Cody practiced fairness and equality, incorporating women and an
ensemble of different ethnicities (Arabs, Mongolians, etc.) into what later was
known as Buffalo Bill’s Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders of the World
show.The riders displayed colorful
costumes representative of their native lands and performed feats of skill with
horse breeds of worldwide distinction.Cody’s shows toured throughout Europe as well as the U.S.As renowned and famous as he was, he rests in
a modest gravesite upon Lookout Mountain.
I want this lamp!
Yee Haa! Ride 'em, cowboy.
Gravesite of Buffalo Bill Cody
View from Lookout Mountain
View of Lariat Loop Scenic Byway from Lookout Mountain
View of Lariat Loop Scenic Byway from Lookout Mountain
We returned to the trike in the middle of a rainstorm. But we didn’t let no stinkin’ rain stop us!On to the Mother
Cabrini Shrine.Maria Frances Xavier (Francesca
Saverio in Italiano) Cabrini was the first U.S. citizen (she was naturalized) to
be canonized a saint by the Roman Catholic Church for her co-founding of and
extensive work with the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.She also established the Queen of Heaven
Orphanage in Denver. She would often bring the Orphanage children and staff for a picnic at
Mount Vernon Canyon, where the Shrine and Chapel are now located.What a magnificent property!We went inside the Chapel to say a prayer and
admire the beautiful stained-glass windows.While Dad stayed in the parking lot to monitor the weather radar, Mom
and I walked up the 373 steps known as the "Stairway to Prayer" to reach the Shrine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.It started to rain again while we were at the Shrine, so the crowds
left.But we remained for a few
minutes of solitude.Dad wasn’t too
happy with our decision.Our delay
resulted in traveling home on the trike amid a nasty thunder/lightning storm accompanied by frozen rain/sleet.
These are the current residents of the Mother Cabrini premises.
This building was once the summer camp dormitory for the girls from the Queen of Heaven Orphanage.
This cross sits at the first of the 373 steps that lead to the Shrine, collectively known as the "Stairway to Prayer".
Shrine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
View from the Shrine. You can see Denver in the background.
We could not be in this part of Colorado without visiting
Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP).The
Park has instituted a timed entry protocol.There are 2 option plans for timed entry.We selected Option 2 that included access to
the Bear Lake Road Corridor.Our time slot for entry was 10 a.m.–12
p.m. The early morning temps during our 2 hour trike ride were brisk, to say the least. Our commute to the Park took longer than anticipated because vehicle accidents created
traffic re-routing.We stopped briefly
at the Beaver Meadow Visitor Center outside the Park to watch the film, peruse
the displays, and pick up my Junior Ranger booklet.At 11:05 a.m., we approached the Park’s main
gate, but waited more than 30 minutes to gain entry.And this was well before peak season!We headed immediately to Bear Lake Road, where
we found ourselves at another entry checkpoint, wasting even more time idling among
a line of vehicles. By the time we were granted access, we had only 7 minutes left on our timed entry. Personally, I found
this a very ineffective way to handle crowds, especially since the system itself
caused backlogs and traffic jams.Anyhow, we parked the trike at Bear Lake and started to hike around the
heavily-populated loop.To avoid crowds,
we segued onto the trail for Bierstadt Lake.It started to snow shower just as we reached a ridge that still had a deep
snow covering, so we opted to turn around and finish the rest of the loop
around Bear Lake, where I enjoyed the antics of chipmunks, golden-mantled
squirrels, and stellar jays.
Bear Lake
Trail to Bierstadt Lake
Part of the snow-covered ridge
View from Bierstadt Trail
View from the other side of Bear Lake
This little guy entertained me.
We then had a quiet picnic at Hidden Valley before traversing its interpretive trail.Once a through route for Paleo-Indians, the area most recently was a commercial ski operation.Upon the closing of the ski lift in 1992, the area has been returned to the boreal forest.Hidden Valley is a gem, peaceful and serene.And as I became mesmerized by the flows of the nearby stream, I spotted 2 bull elk and 1 cow enjoying a late lunch.Life is good.
We returned to Maximus and rode along Trail Ridge Road, the
highest continuous paved highway in North America. Come along for a short ride:
The Many Parks Curve and Rainbow Curve pull-offs provide gorgeous vistas. When we arrived at Forest Canyon Overlook in the alpine tundra ecosystem, we were at nearly a 12,000-foot elevation.But one thing about Colorado:no matter how high a summit you climb, there are so many more peaks towering above you!There was lots of snow alongside Trail Ridge Road during our visit.And with temperatures dropping, we were experiencing snow showers as we continued upward.But this is not unusual; it snows up here even in July/August, and winds can get to 100 miles per hour.No wonder the few trees that survive here look like an army of pencils standing at attention.
View from Many Parks
View from Many Parks
View from Rainbow Curve
View from Rainbow Curve
View from Forest Canyon Overlook in the tundra
My parents freezing their butts off in the tundra.
The trees are scarce in the tundra.
Since the Alpine Visitor Center was closed yet for the winter season and it was late afternoon, we decided to turn around and take the shorter route back to the entrance gate.After all, I had to return to Beaver Meadow Visitor Center to become a bona fide Junior Ranger.We still had a 2-hour drive back to our hotel, too.Brrr!
There are many positive aspects to the nomadic lifestyle.The one we treasure most is that people we meet randomly
along the road turn into great friends.We first engaged with Kate/John at the Marfa Ghost Lights Visitor Center
in TX.They had just begun full timing,
were admiring our setup, and we all enjoyed a lengthy conversation, culminating
in the exchange of contact info.Our
paths crossed again in Quartzsite, AZ, where we shared several fun times
together.What do you know—a visit with
family now brings them through these parts of Colorado.So, we got together for lunch one day.They were kind enough to try Meta Burger, an
all plant-based eatery.No “real” meat
on the menu AT ALL.Mom/I had a fake
steak sandwich.As a carnivore, I must
admit, the food was quite tasty.Maybe
because they make all their own “meats” in house.
Our final sight-seeing trip was to Colorado Springs.We pulled off at the airfield parking lot to watch the maneuvers being conducted by the U.S. Air Force Academy.Then we arrived at the Garden of the Gods.Advertised as a “National Natural Landmark”,
it is owned and operated by the City of Colorado Springs.All I cared about was that it was teeming
with tourists.My parents failed to
remember that it was now mid-June, with many kids already out of school and
family vacations ensuing.It didn’t help
that there was major construction on the road right outside the Visitor Center,
affecting parking and traffic flow.Entry to the Garden and Visitor Center is free.However, there is a $6/adult charge to see
the film, which is only about 12 minutes long.What really roiled this Rambling RV Rat was me having to delve into my
cheese money to PURCHASE a Junior Ranger booklet.A travesty, I say!
U.S. Air Force Academy airfield with view of Pike's Peak
We perused the Visitor Center displays and exhibits and
viewed Pike’s Peak from the outdoor balcony.Due to the number of visitors, our ride along Juniper Way Loop and then Garden
Drive was a very slow one.We passed
Scotsman Picnic Area, which was jam-packed.But surprise, Spring Canyon Picnic Area further down Garden
Drive was empty. Guess most folks found it to be too far from the Rock Gardens.Not us--we found it perfect for eating lunch
in quiet and solitude.We decided to
leave Maximus the trike parked at the Picnic Area and hike from there.We selected Scotsman Loop and Strausenback
Trail.Both were paths less traveled, just
the way we like it.In fact, the only
other users we encountered were horseback riders.We connected with Perkins Central Garden
Trail, named for the family who donated these lands for public use.This trail gave us access to all the
magnificent rock formations.I was
suffering anxiety just watching the climbers scale the rocks!It was tough to get good pics within the Rock
Gardens with the magnitude of visitors, but I did my best to chronicle my
visit.
View of Pike's Peak from Visitor Center
We were going to drive up to the top of Pike’s Peak but
nixed the idea when we learned that the powers-that-be instituted a timed reservation
system on May 27, 2022.After the fiasco
we encountered recently at RMNP, this stuffed rat wanted nothing to do with
timed entry.And when we learned driving
to the summit would also cost $15/person (or $10/person if a carload of 5), my
family unanimously nixed the idea.With
the exorbitant chunk of cheese money Big Boomer’s healthcare cost us, we are
being more judicious in our spending.
We sure made the most of our unintended 3.5-week respite
from RVing.But with Big Boomer discharged from the truck
hospital after a successful surgery, we returned to the road.Our destination: Marcell, MN for an 8-week
volunteer gig at Edge of the Wilderness Discovery Center.
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