We arrived at Colorado Springs, Co on the 22nd and stayed for 2 nights. We visited the Olympic Village there. It is where future Olympians go to train. They can stay there from 3-6 years. All expenses are paid during their stay. They can apply as long as they are between 15-23 yrs old and unmarried. They finish their education while they train here. They have to train for a minimum of 4 hrs a day, plus do their school work and have to do intramural sports as well. Doesn't leave much time for sleep. They compete against each other as well as other schools and colleges while there also. It was a pretty impressive place. I got all choked up just seeing what they go through to try to win a medal. They definitely have to be focused and that is their whole life. Pretty amazing. One of the coaches was telling us how lucky the Americans are to have all of this available to them. Other countries have to do this all on their own with no help from their government.
We then went to Garden of the Gods outside of Colorado Springs (Manitou). It is an area of unique towering rock formations. They are made of Sandstone. Many towering spires have openings all the way to the top that go right through the rock. Jesse is standing in one of those openings in one of the pictures. There are also rocks that are balancing on top of other rocks. It is amazing how they just stay there and not fall over.
While on our way to Denver, Co. we stopped for a few hours to see the Air Force Academy. It is a huge place where future Air Force Officers go to train. They do 4 years of college and they can drop out anytime between the 1st 2 years. Once they start their 3rd year, they have to commit to become Air Force Officers. In addition to their college classes they need to go through all the military training to prepare them for military life. When they graduate, they are 2nd Lt in the Air Force.
There was a beautiful chapel here (pictures are enclosed). Jesse did his best to capture the beauty of it but it is something you really need to see in person.
Next stop,,,,,Denver, Co
CHASING OUR DREAMS
Friday, August 27, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
8/14/2010---The Grand Tetons, Wy
We have arrived at the Grand Tetons. They are so beautiful. We are staying here for 3 days. We went into Jackson today. It is a beautiful town that looks like an old western town. Walked around for a while and had lunch at a great tavern. I can't describe how beautiful it is here. Everywhere you look there are mountains. The Tetons have glaciers on them. They took pictures in 1878 of them with the glacier and it still looks the same in our pictures all these years later.
We took a drive to see Jenny Lake. It is so beautiful and clear. You can see the rocks at the bottom of the lake it is so clean and the backdrop of the mountains is just gorgeous.
We also spent the afternoon Monday on a raft tour on the Snake River. They provided lunch in the woods near the shore before we boarded our raft. We got to see eagles in the trees. Not much other wildlife around though,,,,a little dissapointed. The 2 1/2 hr river ride was great though. We hit a few showers and some lightning bolts. The river guides said not to worry though because we were riding on rubber and the mountains all around us would take the lightning hits and not us. Was glad it happened towards the very end of the trip. When we got back to the motorhome it started to pour. We just made it through. Glad we didn't decide to go later in the day.
Left the Tetons on Tuesday the 17th and headed for Casper, Wy to have some work done on our slide-out awning. With that fixed, we headed to Cheyenne, Wy on the 19th for one night stay.
Today is the 20th and we are at a campground in Colorado Springs, Co. Tomorrow we are going to see the Olympic Village where they train the athletes heading for the Olympics. It should be very interesting. Not sure what else we will do as there is lots to do around here. We will be moving north of here about n70 miles on Sunday and will stay there for a week to tour the area. We will be right outside of Denver, Co. Will update you on what we have seen in a few days.
Posted a few more pictures for those who are interested.
http://picasaweb.google.com/motorhome234
We took a drive to see Jenny Lake. It is so beautiful and clear. You can see the rocks at the bottom of the lake it is so clean and the backdrop of the mountains is just gorgeous.
We also spent the afternoon Monday on a raft tour on the Snake River. They provided lunch in the woods near the shore before we boarded our raft. We got to see eagles in the trees. Not much other wildlife around though,,,,a little dissapointed. The 2 1/2 hr river ride was great though. We hit a few showers and some lightning bolts. The river guides said not to worry though because we were riding on rubber and the mountains all around us would take the lightning hits and not us. Was glad it happened towards the very end of the trip. When we got back to the motorhome it started to pour. We just made it through. Glad we didn't decide to go later in the day.
Left the Tetons on Tuesday the 17th and headed for Casper, Wy to have some work done on our slide-out awning. With that fixed, we headed to Cheyenne, Wy on the 19th for one night stay.
Today is the 20th and we are at a campground in Colorado Springs, Co. Tomorrow we are going to see the Olympic Village where they train the athletes heading for the Olympics. It should be very interesting. Not sure what else we will do as there is lots to do around here. We will be moving north of here about n70 miles on Sunday and will stay there for a week to tour the area. We will be right outside of Denver, Co. Will update you on what we have seen in a few days.
Posted a few more pictures for those who are interested.
http://picasaweb.google.com/motorhome234
Sunday, August 15, 2010
8/14/10----Arrived at Grand Tetons National Park, Wy
We spent from Monday through Thursday doing the loops of Yellowstone National Park. Each area is so different from the other but all beautiful in their own way. We saw and hiked to many waterfalls and saw many thermal areas with the waters being so hot they were boiling and all you could hear was the gurgling of boiling water and mud. We saw geysers and of course Old Faithful. It is hard to explain what Yellowstone is like. It is huge. We spent 3 twelve hour days just trying to cover it all. We have posted pictures from lots of the loops and hope you won't be bored looking at them. I tried to put captions under a lot of the pictures for a better explanation.
On Friday we took a ride in Montana to 2 old cities that existed in the 1800's. Most of the buildings there were original buildings from that era. Most of them looked like the owners walked out and locked the doors and left all the interiors and shelves completedly stocked. It was amazing to see. You felt like you were in the 1800's in an old West town.
We also visited the Madison River area where a 7.5 magnitude earthquake occured on 8/17/1959 at 11:30 PM. Not that long ago. It was the 4th biggest earthquake in the U.S. at that time. We went to the visitor center there and the man who did the talk on the Earthquake actually lived through it. He was 15 yrs old at the time and camping on the river with his parents. It was so interesting to hear what happened by someone who actually lived through it. There were 300 people in the area at the time the earthquake hit. 28 people died. 19 were never found. The earthquake hit on the Madison River. Earthquake Lake was formed by the boulders that fell from the mountainside during the earthquake blocking the Madison River and creating the lake. He told us so much that happened that night that it is too much to write about here. It was an incredible story. We thought we would stop by the visitor center and spend a 1/2 hr but it was so interesting we ended up spending a few hours there. This was a great day and an unexpected find.
Today is Saturday the 14th. We left Yellowstone Park this morning and are now at the Grand Tetons. The mountains here are amazing. We rode around a little bit this afternoon and ended up going to a small little chapel for evening mass. It was a log cabin chapel (very pretty). We'll be going out tomorrow to tour the area and will update once we have done a little bit of sight seeing.
Having a great time. What a beautiful country we have.
pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/motorhome234
On Friday we took a ride in Montana to 2 old cities that existed in the 1800's. Most of the buildings there were original buildings from that era. Most of them looked like the owners walked out and locked the doors and left all the interiors and shelves completedly stocked. It was amazing to see. You felt like you were in the 1800's in an old West town.
We also visited the Madison River area where a 7.5 magnitude earthquake occured on 8/17/1959 at 11:30 PM. Not that long ago. It was the 4th biggest earthquake in the U.S. at that time. We went to the visitor center there and the man who did the talk on the Earthquake actually lived through it. He was 15 yrs old at the time and camping on the river with his parents. It was so interesting to hear what happened by someone who actually lived through it. There were 300 people in the area at the time the earthquake hit. 28 people died. 19 were never found. The earthquake hit on the Madison River. Earthquake Lake was formed by the boulders that fell from the mountainside during the earthquake blocking the Madison River and creating the lake. He told us so much that happened that night that it is too much to write about here. It was an incredible story. We thought we would stop by the visitor center and spend a 1/2 hr but it was so interesting we ended up spending a few hours there. This was a great day and an unexpected find.
Today is Saturday the 14th. We left Yellowstone Park this morning and are now at the Grand Tetons. The mountains here are amazing. We rode around a little bit this afternoon and ended up going to a small little chapel for evening mass. It was a log cabin chapel (very pretty). We'll be going out tomorrow to tour the area and will update once we have done a little bit of sight seeing.
Having a great time. What a beautiful country we have.
pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/motorhome234
Friday, August 13, 2010
Yellowstone National Park 8/11/10
We arrived at Yellowstone on Monday, Aug 9th. We are staying at the Gallatin National Forest in West Yellowstone, Montana. We are about 3 miles from the west entrance to Yellowstone National Park. I was a little concerned when we drove in and the first thing I saw was a sign saying Grizzly Bears have been found in this area. As of yet, we haven't seen one anywhere. Cannot leave any food out and the tenters have to put their food in metal storage containers provided by the campground or put their food in bags high up in the trees. Glad we're not in a tent,,,yikes.
Yellowstone National Park is huge. It sprawls across volcanic plateaus. It contains more than 2 million acres of steaming geysers, crystalline lakes, thundering waterfalls and panoramic vistas. It was formed by volcanoes and glacial ice over 2 million years ago. The Yellowstone River was formed from glaciers that capped the region. The ice was so thick if covered Mt. Washburn which is 10,243 feet high with ice the thickness of about 4000 ft. All of Yellowstone lies on top of a volcano. It is also on one of the largest faults, therefore, the ground moves daily here from the earthquakes far below the ground. Pretty scary when you stop to think about it. It is hard to imagine that this whole area was formed because of volcanoes and glaciers.
We've managed to see a few animals (pictures) but we only saw 1 bear and it was too far away to take a picture. Haven't seen any wolves, coyotes or Bighorn sheep. Lots of Bison though.
We took a hike (which was a tough one) to see the Yellowstone River Lower Falls. It was worth doing the hike. When we got to the bottom we were standing right over the spot where the falls dropped over. It was so beautiful. The hike back up was a long, steep hike. Thought we'd never get back to the top. This area is called the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. We have put some pictures of the falls and the canyon for you to see. Everything is so awesome here. The Yellowstone River is one of the few rivers that flows in a northerly direction.
pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/motorhome234
Yellowstone National Park is huge. It sprawls across volcanic plateaus. It contains more than 2 million acres of steaming geysers, crystalline lakes, thundering waterfalls and panoramic vistas. It was formed by volcanoes and glacial ice over 2 million years ago. The Yellowstone River was formed from glaciers that capped the region. The ice was so thick if covered Mt. Washburn which is 10,243 feet high with ice the thickness of about 4000 ft. All of Yellowstone lies on top of a volcano. It is also on one of the largest faults, therefore, the ground moves daily here from the earthquakes far below the ground. Pretty scary when you stop to think about it. It is hard to imagine that this whole area was formed because of volcanoes and glaciers.
We've managed to see a few animals (pictures) but we only saw 1 bear and it was too far away to take a picture. Haven't seen any wolves, coyotes or Bighorn sheep. Lots of Bison though.
We took a hike (which was a tough one) to see the Yellowstone River Lower Falls. It was worth doing the hike. When we got to the bottom we were standing right over the spot where the falls dropped over. It was so beautiful. The hike back up was a long, steep hike. Thought we'd never get back to the top. This area is called the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. We have put some pictures of the falls and the canyon for you to see. Everything is so awesome here. The Yellowstone River is one of the few rivers that flows in a northerly direction.
pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/motorhome234
Thursday, August 5, 2010
8/4/2010- Cody, Wy
Finally made it to Cody. We have booked a campground here until Sunday. Lots to do here. We got here around 3:30 today so not much time to see anything this afternoon. We settled in and had supper. Then we got tickets to the rodeo. We had great seats. Box seats in the 1st row in the center. I don't know how anyone can ride these bulls,,,,,it is scary to watch them. They had all kind of rodeo performances. They even had boys 12 and under,,,,,,a few of them were 6 yrs old riding bulls. Oh my word, all I could think of is how can they let these little ones do this. They did have helmets on but boy when they fall off (which they all do rather quickly) it is a long way to the ground with the bulls still bucking all over the place. They also had girls on horses doing the barrel maneuvers. They even had one little 5 yr old in the competition. Unbelievable. It was a great night.
Today we went for a long ride to do the Beartooth Highway. The scenery was unbelievable. At one point we were over 10,000 feet up. I wish our pictures could do it justice. We left at 9:30 this morning and didn't get back until 6:15 tonight. There are so many places to stop and see the scenery. When we got to the top there was snow,,,,a few kids were having a snowball fight. The whole highway was full of switchbacks which probably shows in one of the pictures. I am sure glad we went with the car and not the motorhome. At the end of the beartooth highway was a town call Redlodge. We stopped there and walked around a bit. Very nice little western towns. We drove 214 miles today to do this scenic drive. It was the most beautiful scenic drive we have done so far.
Headed back to Cody and walked around the town there. Lots of little shops and bars and restaurants. Had a bite to eat and came back to the motorhome.
Another great day.
http://picasaweb.google.com/motorhome234
Today we went for a long ride to do the Beartooth Highway. The scenery was unbelievable. At one point we were over 10,000 feet up. I wish our pictures could do it justice. We left at 9:30 this morning and didn't get back until 6:15 tonight. There are so many places to stop and see the scenery. When we got to the top there was snow,,,,a few kids were having a snowball fight. The whole highway was full of switchbacks which probably shows in one of the pictures. I am sure glad we went with the car and not the motorhome. At the end of the beartooth highway was a town call Redlodge. We stopped there and walked around a bit. Very nice little western towns. We drove 214 miles today to do this scenic drive. It was the most beautiful scenic drive we have done so far.
Headed back to Cody and walked around the town there. Lots of little shops and bars and restaurants. Had a bite to eat and came back to the motorhome.
Another great day.
http://picasaweb.google.com/motorhome234
8/3/2010------Thermopolis, Wy
We left Buffalo this morning anticipating going to Cody but was unable to get a campsite for the night so we decided to go south a little to a small town called Thermopolis. This was a great place. They have hot springs there and a bathhouse that is available to anyone. We settled into the campground and put on our bathing suits and headed for the bathhouse. They have an indoor pool and outdoor pool with hot mineral spring waters. So soothing. No charge for it either. This land originally was owned by the indians and when they gave the white man a small corner of the land it had the mineral springs in it. They made the whiteman sign a treaty saying the mineral spring waters would be available for free to everyone forever. There was a nice walk through where the springs were diverted into the pools. There was also a long suspension bridge going over the Big Horn River. The hot springs spurt out from the ground and form large mineral deposits (looks like huge rocks) and the water then drops into the river. (see pictures). The formation that Jesse is standing next to started out as just a pipe put into the mineral springs. The water then burst up through the pipe and over time made this huge formation. Jesse is holding his hand and feeling the drippings coming out from the top. It was nice and warm. When we got out of the baths we felt so relaxed. People we talk to who live here go there twice a day and say it has helped with arthritis and back pain and many other ailments. One lady said it was her fountain of youth. Boy wish we had one of these at homes. The only drawback was that it had a strong sulphur smell.
The next morning before we headed out of town we went to their town museum. This was an awesome museum. We thought we would be there at an hour at the most and ended up spending several hours there. They had 5 buildings. One of them was an old school room and the both of us remarked how it made us feel like we were back in 2nd grade. It brought back lots of memories (we must be getting old).
Heading to Cody, Wy.
http://picasaweb.google.com/motorhome234
The next morning before we headed out of town we went to their town museum. This was an awesome museum. We thought we would be there at an hour at the most and ended up spending several hours there. They had 5 buildings. One of them was an old school room and the both of us remarked how it made us feel like we were back in 2nd grade. It brought back lots of memories (we must be getting old).
Heading to Cody, Wy.
http://picasaweb.google.com/motorhome234
8/2/2010------Wyoming
Left Rapid City this morning and stopped in Sundance, WY. This is where the Sundance Kid was held in jail for stealing horses and robbing banks. We went to the Sundance Museum. It was small but interesting. It had all the courtroom furniture used during his trial and 18 month sentence.
We then went to Devils Tower. That was unbelievable. In 1906 President Teddy Roosevelt designated Devils Tower as the nations first national monument. It is a core of a volcano exposed after millions of years of erosion brought on the Belle Fourche River and the weather. The tower stands 865 feet high. It was the tower that was in the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind. We did the hike around the perimeter of the tower. It was 1 1/4 miles. Doesn't sound like much but it took us about 1 1/2 hrs,,,,,it's all up and down. Nice hike though. We spent several hours at this place. (see pictures)
We drove another few hours and stopped in Buffalo, Wy for the night.
http://picasaweb.google.com/motorhome234
We then went to Devils Tower. That was unbelievable. In 1906 President Teddy Roosevelt designated Devils Tower as the nations first national monument. It is a core of a volcano exposed after millions of years of erosion brought on the Belle Fourche River and the weather. The tower stands 865 feet high. It was the tower that was in the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind. We did the hike around the perimeter of the tower. It was 1 1/4 miles. Doesn't sound like much but it took us about 1 1/2 hrs,,,,,it's all up and down. Nice hike though. We spent several hours at this place. (see pictures)
We drove another few hours and stopped in Buffalo, Wy for the night.
http://picasaweb.google.com/motorhome234
7/25-8/1/2010 Rapid City, SD
We moved out of the campground in Rapid City, SD this morning. While we were in Rapid City we took a trolley and did a tour of the city. They have bronze statues of the Presidents on every corner of the downtown area. We also went to a Chapel in the Hills. It is a replica of the famous 850 yr old Borgund Stavkirke located near Laerdal, Norway. The craftsmanship on this chapel was amazing. (Pictures).
We spent a day doing a scenic ride at the Spearfish Canyon. So Dakota is so beautiful. Another day we went to Deadwood. That was fun. We went to a saloon where they had a re-inactment of the card game played by Wild Bill Hickok in which he was shot to death. After the card game we walked down the street a little ways to find a western shoot out in the middle of the street.
We also took a drive through Sturgis (where the annual motorcycle rally is). Bikers are starting to arrive. Their bike rally begins the weekend of the 8th. Wasn't as busy there as we thought it would be,,,,guess they are out sightseeing in the daytime also. They are expecting 6 to 800,000 bikers for the rally.
Moving on to Wyoming tomorrow.
pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/motorhome234
We spent a day doing a scenic ride at the Spearfish Canyon. So Dakota is so beautiful. Another day we went to Deadwood. That was fun. We went to a saloon where they had a re-inactment of the card game played by Wild Bill Hickok in which he was shot to death. After the card game we walked down the street a little ways to find a western shoot out in the middle of the street.
We also took a drive through Sturgis (where the annual motorcycle rally is). Bikers are starting to arrive. Their bike rally begins the weekend of the 8th. Wasn't as busy there as we thought it would be,,,,guess they are out sightseeing in the daytime also. They are expecting 6 to 800,000 bikers for the rally.
Moving on to Wyoming tomorrow.
pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/motorhome234
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