Colorful Colorado

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July 13th 2012

Published: July 14th 2012

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Shirley R

Tour Owners

Kathy Ruble, Manager, Dale Worden, Driver

We were off on a nine-day tour of Colorado with Adventure Tours. Our tour manager was Kathy Ruble and our driver Dale Worden. Near Fort Collins, we encountered a forest fire that forced us to take a detour to Denver. Later we learned this was the Hyde Park Forest Fire that would consume 118,000 square miles and 346 buildings. The devastation was caused by a lightning strike during a drought.

After we reached Denver, we toured the beautiful State Capitol building with a gold dome. Then we went to the Air Force Academy near Colorado Springs. Built in 1955, the Academy is famous for its inspiring Chapel. The Protestant Chapel holds 1200 people. There are Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and All-Faith Chapels as well. Our self-guided tour took us into the gift shop, classrooms, and airplanes from WWII bombers to modern fighter planes.

Our trip included a 3-night stay at Glen Eyrie Castle in Colorado Springs. Glen Eyrie means Valley of the Golden Eagle. It was founded by William Palmer around 1872 when he moved to Colorado to build railroads. The grounds are a wildlife preserve and we enjoyed seeing herds of Bighorn Sheep and deer, eagles and ravens. Palmer

Hyde Park Forest Fire

We had to detour around Ft. Collins

dedicated nearby Garden of the Gods to the public and stipulated that the admission would always be free.

The next day our journey took us to 60-year old Flying W Ranch owned by the Wilson family. What a popular place with cowboys teaching youngsters how to rope calves, shoe horses, and cook biscuits over a campfire! Visiting Cripple Creek came as a big surprise when we learned it is one of three active gold mines in the United States. Owned by the largest gold mine in the world, located in South Africa, the town of Cripple Creek enjoys excellent streets, lights, renovated casinos, and the only herd of donkeys permitted within city limits in the country! A few miles away are the Manitou Cliff Dwellings built by the Anasaza Indians 900 years ago. The tribe disappeared for unknown reasons. One speculation is they did not survive years of draught.

What an exciting day we had at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs! Covering 37 acres, the $564 million complex is sponsored by private donors. Some of the well-known benefactors are Visa, McDonalds, All-State Insurance, and Nike. Our guide, Austin, took us into the Sports Performance building where

Denver, Colorado

Note gold dome on Capitol

gymnasts practice in the morning hours. Seven-gold-medal winner Michael Phelps was working out in the Olympic swimming pool. We learned that he eats 12,000 calories a day when he is not swimming. The athletes' housing and cafeteria feature the highest quality service in the world. Hilton Hotels provides the best beds, sound system, and sleep masks while the cafeteria serves 5-star meals where every calorie is listed on the menu.

As we left Colorado Springs for Montrose, Colorado, we stopped at the Pro-Rodeo Hall of Fame. Founded by the American Cowboy Association, the museum honors cowboys who ride bucking horses and steers, rope and tie calves. I was happy to see a rancher from my home-town, Wick Peth of Bow, Washington, recognized as a seven-time Hall of Fame Rodeo Clown.

It was a real highlight to take a two-hour ride on the Royal Gorge Railroad in Canon City, Colorado. An open-air car allowed us to take pictures of rafters and kayakers on the Alabama River. A thousand feet overhead, small dots (people) waved as we passed below them on the floor of the canyon.

What an exciting trip we had through Colorado with more places to see