Retired and Trippin

 We actually set alarms this morning so we could be on the road by 8:00 AM. It wasn't quite as cold this morning (39 degrees). Our plan was to make an invasion on Aspen, CO but we knew it might be a problem due to some pre-planning with Google maps. Our departure was delayed when Mel found a low tire. Fortunately the cabin out-building had a compressor so he was able to air it back up. Highways 285 and 24 north to 82 west took us through the Twin Lakes area. We saw some pretty aspens but they were not as colorful as we've seen here before.  Some of the trees already lost their leaves. It was still worth the drive. We continued west to Independence pass. Parking was available at the pass but traffic could go no further west so Aspen was off the table. We enjoyed the views. From Independence Pass we drove back east to Twin Lakes. In the town there is a sheriff's car parked along the road with a masked up dummy in the driver's seat. It's good speed control for those wh

 Our first morning at the cabin. We all woke up at our convenience and ate a leisurely breakfast. A group of four deer wandered behind the cabin. It was 31 degrees when we woke up. Then we were off to Cottonwood Pass west of Buena Vista. It was a beautiful drive to the pass and the views from the pass were fantastic. We took a walk/climb to a scenic view point, which seemed much longer than advertised. Chris was proud she made it. It was in the low 50's at the pass. From Cottonwood Pass we drove back into Buena Vista for lunch at the Rooster Crows and then we visited a city park on the banks of the Arkansas River. Later in the day Mel, Trish, Chris and I went to the Mount Princeton Hot Springs just down the road from our cabin. We enjoyed a relaxing soak in the hot water. After dinner Chris and I were taught how to play pitch and the girls played against the boys. I'm embarrassed to admit that the game came down to show-down of sorts between Chris and I. She kicked my butt. To

On Sunday September 27th we visited with my cousin, Deb, and her husband, Jim, in Colorado Springs. The only photo taken this day was of Pikes Peak from our hotel. On Monday September 28th, after taking another photo of Pikes Peak, we left the Springs for Victor and Cripple Creek to see some aspen. We hit the jackpot with beautiful shimmering gold aspens. We also saw an old mine and the results of current mining near Victor. You’ll also see some downtown photos from both Victor and Cripple Creek. Then we were off to Buena Vista, where ate lunch and bought some groceries for the next four days at a cabin near Nathrop, CO. To see all the photos taken today click on the following link:  Days 3&4 Pics

On September 25th, Chris and I drove 440 miles from home to Burlington, CO  - headed to the mountains. We tried to eat at the Iron Skillet, a truck stop in Salina, KS but it was closed down, probably a victim of the Rona. So we had a lunch at Popeye’s Chicken instead. We arrived in Burlington at about 3:45, mountain time. On September 26th we made it to Colorado Springs, where we visited Helen Hunt Falls. We forgot how busy things are on weekends. We drove past the falls and up the canyon a ways finding no parking space. We turned around to go back down and right there by the falls was an empty parking spot. This is the falls where, as a young man, my father dropped his camera, went to retrieve it and went down the falls breaking a foot, ankle or something. Today we avoided injury. We tried to go to Seven Falls but the line waiting for the shuttle was way to long. We wanted to walk through Garden of the Gods but it was also packed with people. So we went to our hotel and had a nap and