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Day 13: Sun Aug 3, 1997

 Yesterday's rain made me decide against backpacking up Pikes Peak. We had already done our camping in the rain and I didn't want to have to dry everything out again, we didn't have a good place to do that. So we decided to visit Garden of the Gods for some good pictures in the morning before the afternoon storms, then head north to Boulder. We got stuff together for breakfast, packed the car and checked out. The family that runs the Travel Inn there in Colorado Springs (512 S. Nevada) has been there about 2 years and are from Poland. They really worked hard and kept the place very nice. Everything worked well, and the new rooms were especially nice. The dog, Dozer, a red setter, is very friendly and while packing the car I gave him a cup of water. He drank it, then carried if off a bit and chewed it up. Zofia, the girl that first showed us a room, was behind the desk when we checked out and had to give us both hugs when we left, we were there 5 nights. While I was packing the car an odd looking character asked for some money, Dozer enjoyed sniffing him.

We drove back to King Sooper, got the film, then headed off to the Broadmoor, a large and famous hotel. We were looking for a train engine with a coal car on display inside a fence. Never did find it. My dad said he and a friend slept there when they were in the army and then hiked up Pikes Peak the next day. I asked if they used the Barr Trail but he had never heard of it and said they went straight up the rocks, 7.5 hours up, 2 down.

From the Broadmoor we went back to the Garden of the Gods to find a nice place to eat breakfast. I had remembered a family trip many years ago, 1968, where we walked on some rocks that formed an elevated pathway. It had several small rock towers on it and I remember being put on one for a picture. I thought this was very near Steamship Rock but the rocks there didn't fit the memories. But while looking around Steamship Rock I saw a likely candidate not too far away and we hiked to it. There was another ship-shaped rock, with a long elevated rock pathway extending from it, just like I remembered. And it had a couple small rock towers on it. This was the place. We walked to the far rock tower and had breakfast in its shadow, with our feet hanging over the side of the rock which dropped off maybe 15 feet or so.

Here is a cross-eyed stereo view of these rocks for those of you that can view such images:

After breakfast we walked back to the car which was parked near Steamship Rock and Balanced Rock.

Then we drove around trying to find the most photographed view of Pikes Peak as seen from Garden of the Gods. From some angles the rock formations looked like rock needles.

We found the place we were looking for and parked the car to walk to it. The roads and trails have changed since we were here last. Along the trail we came on a wedding, they were getting started on the rocks, or at least in the rocks.

I try my best to avoid weddings (too much hurry up and wait, and most expect a suit and tie) so we moved along and found the view I was looking for. Unfortunately it's a morning view and this was afternoon so the lighting was bad. Plus the exact position is no longer accessible due to revegetation. I suggest they put in a well marked viewing spot.

Pikes Peak is well seen from Garden of the Gods. The streak up the mountain is some kind of abandoned inclined railway or something. A view from it may be found on the Aug 01 page as part of our hike on the Barr Trail (here it is).

After Garden of the Gods we headed north on I-25 to Boulder. Looked for a motel for quite awhile, finally stayed at the Holiday Inn. Had a lot of trouble getting a good computer connection, the worst trouble on the trip. Never did get in faster than 9600. That's pretty bad. But I did check my email and we went off to eat. We looked for places on the web, but the first place was now a bank so we went to an Indian restaurant and took our shoes off and sat on pillows. When we got back to the motel I searched for ice, finally found it hidden far away. I also didn't appreciate the flimsy single bar of soap in the room. Plus the pool hours indicated it was closed when we got back from the restaurant, although people were in it much later. We'll find another place for tomorrow night.

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