Divide, Cripple Creek, and a Surprise in the Trees

June 11-12, 2016
Manitou Springs, CO

After Friday was so crowded, we stay home on Saturday. I didn't get out of my PJs all day. Bill puts additive in the Jeep's fuel tank and fills it with high octane gasoline. Hopefully this will make a difference. 

It rains lightly off and on while we putter and read and watch a movie. 

Bill uses GoogleEarth to figure out where the house he lived in is, and Sunday we drive back to Colorado Springs. I love these older neighborhoods, and the property where he lived is beautiful.

The wrap-around porch on the front house is huge

Bill and Stone in front of his little house in the back - 1979

The same little house looking very much the same - 2016

We drive around the city. The business district is nearly deserted while the surrounding areas are packed with folks enjoying the weekend outdoor market and filling all the local eateries. We head back to Manitou Springs and find The Dive has two stools open at the counter. Breakfast is delish!

Empty streets of a Sunday morning

Can't remember the last time I sat at a diner counter!

After our yummy meal we head west on Hwy 24 for the little town of Divide. His brother and family lived there for awhile as well so we have another house to look for.

We don't find the house, but do find a lot of beauty and a wonderful surprise.

The western slope of Pike's Peak

Aspen glow in the shifting sunlight

Interesting formations dot the landscape

Mueller State Park on Hwy 69 has a lovely campground in the trees. Electric at every site, water at some. Good spacing, expansive views from many of the pull-throughs along the perimeter. 

We stop at a pond on our way out. Bill's first cast nets him a nice trout so he's happy to spend some time here. Tessa and wander around in the green grass. I hear the distinct sound of a hawk high in a pine, and what sounds like babies (eyas is the correct term).

At the very top of this tree

What a surprise!! Mom and her two eyas in their nest

Feeding time

Waiting patiently for the next meal

What a great time at this little state park! We continue on Hwy 69, heading for the little town of Cripple Creek, CO.

Today's storm darkens the distant skies

while the sunshine overhead brightens the hillside

It is Sunday and the rodeo's in town so Cripple Creek's main street is very busy. It is a wonderful little town, proud of it's mining history. The gold mine was one of the largest in the country, and the many large and ornate buildings show us a little town that was very prosperous. Tourists looking for the real western experience seem to be keeping things going strong.

The distant storm catches up with us and unloads torrential rain blown sideways by high winds, and tosses in some hail for good measure. It follows us down the mountain for miles. Traffic comes to a standstill for the signal at Pike's Peak Highway and its like being parked in a river. Exciting stuff!

We consider stopping at the little cafe and doubling the population, but continue through the storm

The Jeep runs fine all day until the last ten miles. Oh well. Just west of Manitou Springs the rain lets up and by the time we reach home the skies have cleared.