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Published: October 4th 2013
With Gayle Blue-Keyes and Anthony
Met Gayle in 2002 in special DOD program and have stayed in touch. It was a joy to visit them at their home just outside the US Air Force Academy.The drive from Bent's Old Fort to the US Air Force Academy was easy. We had advance warning of construction at the North Gate, so went in South Gate, and after a cursory glance at the sticker on the window of the RV and my Retired Civilian Marine card, got waved in. We got to the campground and the staff had everything ready for us. We had a lovely pull through site at the back with trees around us and a great view of the mountains.
Check in was very smooth, except for a bit of consternation on my part. I was asked if we had pets....Yes, a cat.....Oh, well I guess she stays inside?...No, she goes out, but usually stays under the coach or close by. Why?....Well, we have coyotes in the area.....That's OK, we have them at home and if she smells or hears them, she won't go out.....Hmmm, well, we also have reports of a mama bear with a cub trying to get in the dumpsters.....OK, we'll be careful. (No bear could catch the cat if she is under the coach, I'm thinking.)....AND, we have reports of a 6 foot mountain lion in the area. Well, THAT
Ant(tony) grilling yakitori
We took Gayle a special jar of teriyaki sauce from Japan and she quickly got some chicken and make chicken on a stick on a grill (yakitori) for everyone, finishing it with the Sanzokuyaki sauce. Yummmmm! could be an issue. Cat stayed out only a bit and never at night. We never heard nor saw any evidence of coyote, bear or mountain lion. But nice to know the staff was concerned for us.
We called Gayle Blue-Keys once we were set up and she promised to stop over. I met Gayle in 2002 when we were both in an Executive Leadership Development Program with DoD. We spent close to a year meeting with a group of 50 other potential leaders and traveling all over the world for a week every month and learning how DoD operates and more importantly, learning what the warriors in the various services do and how they serve us all. Gayle came over after work and we had a great time catching up, then she led us to her house in a beautiful development just outside the North Gate of the Academy.
Gayle and her husband Antony have a lovely home in a nice subdivision with views of the Front Range and the AF Academy as well as the plains out to the east. Their youngest daughter, Jazzy, was fixing ribs for dinner and when we ate, they were awesome!
Cliff Dwellings
It was amazing to see the dwellings up close and be able to understand more about how these folks lived. She wants to be a chef and she is well on her way. After great talking and eating, we finally headed back to the campsite and some sleep.
Saturday noon we went back to Gayle's and took our Garmin GPS with us. We had gone out in the morning for some shopping and bought a micro-SD card to update the GPS. Seems we don't have enough memory to load ALL the maps for the US. So from the Mississippi west, we had little information and at times seemed to be driving blind. After a call to Garmin, we were advised to add the chip and then update the machine. Antony, being more computer savvy than I, agreed to help. Glad he was there and able to help. After a 3.5 hour reboot, I had ALL the maps and info we needed.
We had taken a hostess gift of homemade teriyaki sauce from a famous Japanese restaurant. Gayle decided to have some chicken and use the sauce on it for dinner. This time Ant grilled the chicken and then we brushed the sauce on it. There was a small amount of leftover ribs and we brushed some sauce on
Trish standing by the DOOR
People were obviously smaller back then. But they also had small doors to make it easier to close with a large rock slab from the inside to keep out animals and keep it warmer in winter. that, too. After more good talking and some dessert, we headed back to the campsite and saw scores of folks pouring in for the Air Force-Wyoming football game. We could hear the roar of the fans and the loud speaker from the campground, but it got pitifully quiet later. If you know the score or how AF played, you will understand. Heard many fans left at half time.
Sunday we went with Gayle to the Colorado Springs Camping World to show her various types of RVs. She had expressed interest in maybe buying one for camping when she retired. We told her to look now, explore, get a used one and try. Do it while they still had some of the kids at home and see if they really enjoy. Well, at the store, we could not look at ANY RVs. Seems there is a "Blue" law on the books that prohibits not only selling but any LOOKING at cars or RVs on a Sunday. So all auto dealers and RV showrooms (boats as well) are closed on Sundays. It seemed crazy to us. But having lived in New England where Blue Laws originated (in this country), I took
This buffalo ain't roamin'!
Yep, a 1/3 lb buffalo burger. It was tasty, sweet, and very filling. Buffalo meat is actually better than beef! it in stride.....until I noticed a Liquor store selling beer and wine on a Sunday.
We went back "home" and relaxed in the afternoon and left Gayle to have some time with her girls and husband.
Monday Gayle went to work and we headed to Manitou Springs to look at the old town, ancient cliff dwellings, and see the "springs". To be honest, I wasn't expecting much at the cliff dwellings; probably a touristy re-creation or such. WOW! I was wrong. These were real and had been there for ages. Mostly left alone, in the early 1900's the property changed hands several times and finally ended up with someone who cared and tried to protect them. Yes, they did digs and research and yes, the techniques may have damaged items. But the first computers we had were far from perfect also. They did the best with what they had and knew. What really impressed us was that you could go in and walk around buildings, get the feel for size of rooms, the small doors, and some of the culture and living conditions of these ancient ones. It was all very impressive and educational. Highly recommend it for anyone
Air Force Academy
We camped on the grounds, not far from the stadium. Scenery was magnificent and the Cadet Chapel is always inspiring. who will be in the area. As to the rest of Manitou Springs...we weren't so impressed.
We drove into town and ordered burgers in a local pub and they were great. The buffalo burger was really tasty and filling. These were 1/3 pound burgers and with chips made a full meal. After lunch we walked in the town and were very disappointed. It was very honky-tonk touristy. Oh, there were neat shops, but usually over-priced goods and one can only buy so many tee-shirts with a mountain on it. We hiked to one of the actual springs they advertised, where you are advised to taste the water and see how each is different. Finally found it and it was turned off...no water flowing. Disgusted, Trish opted to head back to the campsite.
Tuesday we put away gear and got ready to head out. Gayle came by to say farewell and after hugs all around, we headed south to Pueblo. A dear friend from high school was going to be in Pueblo for a doctor's visit and then we would follow her and her husband to their home in Alamosa, where we would visit for a few days. Julie
Geno's breakfast
Before we started our journey to the dunes, Geno fixed a wonderful breakfast. He shredded the potatoes, fried the eggs, and made toast. It was filling and wonderful, giving us the energy needed to hike and explore. Moss Herrera, and husband Geno, met us in the parking lot of the hospital after her appointment and we had lunch and then headed to their house. We told Geno to go on ahead as we drove slower over mountain roads. We climbed up North La Veta Pass (9400 ft) and managed to not drop below @ 40mph. On the way down, we saw antelope in a field. Yes, deer and antelope DO play here. Geno actually passed us at one point; they had stopped for gas and we apparently had been doing quite well. When we got to their house, we hooked up the RV in their side yard and had water and electric for comfort. They live in the middle of the San Luis Valley and it is a huge area where the primary industry is agriculture with potatoes, barley, and wheat the prime produce. Standing on the back steps, we could see the Great Sand Dunes off in the distance. We would be headed there the next day.
Julie and I were classmates in high school; we reconnected through Facebook. In addition to teaching and being a school librarian, Julie is a storyteller--http://www.storiesbyjulie.com/ So we were
Great Sand Dunes National Park
This is only 45 minutes from Julie's home and you can see it from their back porch. It was cool and windy, so we did very little hiking on the dunes. But it would be fun to come back with kids (Autumn, Drew, Xander) and have them roll down the dunes. treated to several stories while there and heard of her experiences in China on a tour with a group of story tellers. Unfortunately, while attending an event near West Point, NY, Julie fell down some stairs at night and seriously hurt herself. She is in a walking cast and thus, the reason we met them in Pueblo at a hospital. On Wednesday Julie was to meet with her Physical Therapist for further assessment (about 2 hours) while Trish and I went off to Great Sand Dunes National Park.
The dunes were impressive, to say the least. They are the highest dunes in North America. (Note, it did not say largest.) We walked out to the dunes, but were not prepared to climb them. First, it was cool and very windy. Second, knees are not what they used to be. Finally, even in this late part of the season, a small stream was still flowing (in spring and summer it is a river) and we would have had to take off shoes to cross through wet, cold mud OR we would have had very muddy shoes. But we walked along the edge of the stream, watching some youngsters play and
Old Storefront
We stopped to see the oldest church in Colorado, but were also intrigued by this old storefront in Antonito, near the New Mexico border. make mud castles while off in the distance folks were rolling and sliding down the dunes. We decided it would be more fun to be here with grandchildren and watch them have fun. So maybe we'll do it again someday. The history of the park and the geology of the dunes are fascinating. There is an almost closed loop system whereby the streams flow around the dunes, thus anchoring them to an extent and then the streams disappear underground into the aquifer. In spring and summer, the water flows so forcefully that there are actual pulsing waves in the rivers! Makes me want to come back and see them at that time of year.
When we got back to Julie, she had good news; the PT had cleared her to go out of the house. Before that visit, under Medicare rules, she could only leave the house for doctors, church, and beauty parlor. Huh? Not shopping? Nope, someone else could do that. So now she can travel which means she would go with us the next day to Taos, New Mexico.
After another wonderful breakfast from Geno, we hopped in their car for our journey to Taos. We
Back of old store fronts
Not sure if they are still used or if the whole building is open. But looking at the old adobe building was really great. Architecture is wonderful in the Southwest. stopped along the way to see the oldest church in Colorado, a beautiful Catholic chapel in Antonito. (We did not stop in Manassa, home of he Manassa Mauler....aka Jack Dempsey. Yep, he was born and raised in southern Colorado. Thought my Dad might like to know that.) As we continued into New Mexico, we came to the Rio Grande Gorge. I was told that it would be fun to walk out on the bridge to see the gorge. Well, being fearful of heights, I hesitated, but decided to be bold. The walk out was ok (don't look down, don't look out, keep walking) but when an 18 wheeler crossed and the bridge kinda bounced up and down, I was not so happy. Geno accompanied me, but he had not qualms. It was a great view and since the government shut down has closed national parks, we were at least able to get a "hint" of what we might be missing at the Grand Canyon. Yeah, a small hint. Then on to the Earthships.
If you are not familiar with them,Earthships started in the 1970s.
Mike Reynolds wanted to create a home that would do three things; first, it
Cumbres and Toltec Railroad
Near Antonito, this scenic railroad starts. They weren't using this train, but have the "Grey Goose" which is smaller and more efficient. Very interesting. Our grandson is very interested in trains and we've seen lots this trip so far. would use local materials as well as recycled materials wherever possible. Second, homes would rely on natural energy sources and be independent from the "grid". Finally, it would be economically feasible for the average person with no specialized construction skills to be able to create. Trish has books on this and has been fascinated ever since she some some on Planet Green in 2005/06. We went to the center of the trade and toured a model home then drove around and saw a huge subdivision of these homes. They were all different styles, but all bore the characteristics of the plan--earth sheltered, low maintenance, and off grid. When Julie casually mentioned a friend lived in one, and we could see it, Trish was really excited. The technology and approach to the building is so simple, it's a wonder more places aren't doing this.
We then went into Taos, had lunch, and after lunch toured and shopped at the central plaza in town. It was calm, quaint, and quite pleasant. On the way home, we stopped in the oldest town in Colorado and visited a beautiful Greek style chapel on a hill with wonderful statues. Then, just before getting home,
Earthship HQ constuction
Earthships got their start in Taos, NM. This building will become part of the training center where people can go and learn how. Note the Sustainability. we made a swing to a small museum/gift shop to see a LIVE buffalo, in a cage. They took us here because of comments that the title of this particular blog might be misleading. So we have seen a live buffalo as well as tasted one.
On the last day with Julie and Geno, they took us up to Creede to "Where the River Begins." This is from the move
The Lone Ranger and Johnny Depp was actually here filming. It was rainy, drizzly and and cool. But the scenery was wonderful. We drove through the town up a gravel road and there, in front, was the mine shaft from the movie with the mountains towering over. OK, the river doesn't really begin here, but the filming areas were all around. This was a major silver mining operation and town and was very interesting. We decided not to travel further on the wet, loose roads so stopped at the local museum and toured the mine shaft. It is NOT a real, former working mine. Instead they have built a replica and provide each visitor with an MP-3 player on headsets and you have a "self-guided" tour of the history
Completed Earthship
There was a subdivision of over 300 acres with many residences already built. They are as varied as the people building them. But they are highly energy efficient, comfortable, and fun to see and live in. of silver mining. The walk through was educational, interesting and fun. This is a trip we would recommend to everyone coming to this part of Colorado.
When we got back to Julie's, we rested a bit then headed to her friend Rose's house to see their honest-to-goodness Earthship. They have been living in it for about 5 years, but have added several other variations, including garage/workshop and guest house/quilting room. It was great to see someone actually living in one and hearing their experiences. We are so grateful that Julie arranged this and Rose and Mike were very gracious to open their doors and let us in. We learned about new technology being used (tire "bales" instead of filling them with sand and pounding in tight) and heard of the particular issues in Colorado where they are not allowed to recycle waste water, but must let it go back to the aquifer so the farmers can pull it out for crops. Their home was cozy, warm and welcoming, just like they were. Great experience!
We then took Geno and Julie to dinner at a super Chinese restaurant and after stuffing ourselves, headed home to get some sleep. Next
Rio Grande Gorge, north of Taos
There is a bridge crossing this gorge and I felt compelled to walk 1/2 way out to get this picture. Big 18 wheelers made the bridge bounce. Geno, former Airborne, was not bothered; I was highly bothered. day we were heading up over the Continental Divide at Wolfcreek Pass and on to Durango.
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Deborah Chamberlain
non-member comment
Hello!
As usual I enjoyed the blob and am always able to visualize you in your travels! The Earthships sound fascinating......I bet you'd enjoy Arcosanti in Arizona! We definately need to take a drive up Mt. Charleston while you are in Las Vegas.