10/3/20 

We are heading to Colorado Springs: Colorado Springs, at an elevation of 6,035 ft. A city in Colorado at the eastern foot of the Rocky Mountains. It lies near glacier-carved Pikes Peak, a landmark in Pike National Forest with hiking trails and a cog railway leading to its 14,114-ft. summit. The city's Garden of the Gods park features iconic red-sandstone formations and mountain views.

                Below - entrance to Garden of the Gods RV Resort - oh boy!

Tight Spots

Our room with a view - teehee

                       No need to hang around the park so lets go do what we do best > Go Exploring!   We found 'Old Stage Road',  the only link to the Gold Camp Road and then into Cripple Creek mining district from Colorado Springs.

 The route began as a simple trail called the Cheyenne Mountain Trail - traveling to the west flank of Pikes Peak.
 

 The trail grew into a lumber road before gold was discovered in Cripple Creek

Sheared rocks

Oh my gosh - - who's coming around the corner??

I love driving these narrow trails in the mountains! The beauty is overwhelming and the stories of their construction is just amazing...what these men did to create them...WOW!!

The Beauty just kept coming on every turn...

Just look at this spectacle of God's creation!

Old Stage Rd. was a toll road in the 1800's

Like viewing the clouds ~ do you see the bear below?

 Old Stage Road is best as a driving exploration.  Hiking and biking are discouraged due to the steep grade and the traffic you may encounter on this dirt road.

Welcome to Victor -

The City of Gold Mines - is located at nearly 10,000' elevation on the southwest side of Pikes Peak

The cute children of Victor......

Say Hi to Ed.....   He had us laughing so hard I couldn't hold the camera still!

Excited about my new Merrells - just admiring while sipping on a beer

And Scott was busy placing a square peg in a round hole..    Hahahaha

And, see Hershel Greene from the Walking Dead on the bar!

Peaceful & Colorful Town

Tires for the equipment used at the Gold Mines.

5 casinos in this little town of Cripple Creek - a wee bit crowded for us so we traveled on

Featuring canyon walls and twisty turns lying on top of what was once a powerhouse railroad (the Florence and Cripple Creek Railroad) connecting the lucrative 1800s mining districts.

Beautiful Fall Colors

Look close & you will spot climbers
                                            

From 1894 to 1912 - imagine the hiss & whistle of a steam locomotive passing these spots carrying rich gold ore out of the mining districts.

Our road ~

Jackpot spot.......

The fall colors on the Aspens were simply amazing!

 Joan not being able to get enough of these fabulous Aspen's

Incredible beauty in the Colorado Aspens

I mean, really???!!!

A Pig Farm With a View

In 1892 Shelf Road opened transforming an untraveled wilderness into a major route for stagecoaches & freight wagons

Twists & Turns

Passersby with a friendly wave ~

Day 2 - yup, a lot of exploring on day 1 but today will be short.  Let's check out the Air Force Academy

Love this shot!

The Garden of the Gods' red rock formations were created during a geological upheaval along a natural fault line millions of years ago.   The Garden of the Gods Park is popular for hiking, technical rock climbing, road and mountain biking and horseback riding. It attracts more than two million visitors a year, making it the city's most visited park. 

Do you see the fish?

So, where to next?????