Colorado

If anyone should see the Verizon guy, tell him "I Can't Hear Him Now!" I don't know where he is but he sure isn't on this trip with us. Cell service is sparse and Broadband is worse. We will be at Boyd Lake State Park for a couple nights before heading into Rocky Mountain National Park through the weekend. It's dry camping at it's best. No water, no electric, that probably means no communication. We have stayed at many State Parks and really like the solitude but every now and then we come back to civilization.

We have been in the Colorado Springs area for a couple days. Checked out Royal Gorge before taking a very scenic road known as route 67, for over 40 miles, 22 of which was a narrow dirt road to the town of Cripple Creek. This historic gold mining town is home to many small casinos with names like "The Brass Ass' and "Buffalo Bills".

Another day was spent climbing the Pikes Peak Hwy to the summit.

The 38 mile round trip drive was at time, very intense. It took us about 3 hours. The temp at the gate was in the mid 80's, at the summit it was 56 with a stiff wind and a bit chilly. Rigley thought he went to Heaven, he has been so hot and now he could play in the snow.

The mountain was preparing for next weeks Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. The 12.42 mile race starts at the 6 1/2 mile mark. Course record was set in 2007, 10 min. 1 sec. Holy crap! We were white knuckling it in certain sections at 15 mph. Took us at least 45 minutes to cover that distance.

Next stop was at Garden of the Gods , a registered National Natural Landmark with dramatic towering sandstone rock formations . This was a great place to hike and climb if only it were cooler and we were in our 20's.