Air Force Academy & Chapel

Since dad is retired Air Force he wanted to go check out the Air Force Base.  I'm glad we did.

The chapel they have on base is BEAUTIFUL.  It houses various chapels for different religions.

The main floor was a Protestant chapel. 

This is the ceiling view

Pipe Organ in choir loft

Altar area

I loved this picture, it is not a painting, but made of wood inlay

The other chapels were downstairs.  We were able to tour the Catholic, Jewish & Buddist chapels.  This is the Catholic Chapel

The stations of the cross were made of marble

Then we could view the Jewish Chapel

The Buddist Chapel.  We couldn't enter, only look through the door.  It was pretty nice too.

Another angle of the chapel from the other side

If you have NEVER seen an 80 year old man run.....well here is a picture of one!

We are headed to Seven Falls tomorrow, then off to Denver.  Dain wants to go visit Mile High Stadium & get a hat. 

Pikes Peak - 14,110 ft elevation. 41 degrees with windchill of 29

(Just a note in case you are not familiar with looking at blogs, you can click on the pictures for a larger view)
The journey up to Pike's Peak was AWESOME.  We rode the Cog Railway.  But first we saw this staircase going up a peak, it is called Manitou Incline, 2000 feet of elevation within a mile.  Learn more about this awesome workout here: http://www.manitouincline.net/main.htm

I put my zoom lens on & took this from parking lot

It is truly spring here, there are so many lilac bushes everywhere.  They smell wonderful.  Here we are in front of one of those bushes.

It's time to board the train & head up over 7000 feet.  Here's the train we are riding.

We had to stop at this point to let the other train pass us, the train coming down has the right of way.  They named this right - it was windy & the COLD began.

The views from the top were breathtaking (literally).  They sell oxygen at the depot.... Mom bought some just in case.  She didn't need it Thank GOD!.

Lakes everywhere I looked

Really Dain - shorts????

This is as close to the edge as I would get

This is how close knucklehead gets!

Me trying to take "fancy" pics

6' of snow

Me - just to document I actually was there

Here are some folks that enjoyed the Peak in their own ways.



Hiker Guy - I think it's Kent !?!



This couple made it up in 5 hrs.  They were EXCITED!

Down Hillers ONLY

Skis really? At least they have helmets!

So these folks have inspired me to add a hike of Pike's Peak onto my bucket list!  As well as climbing those stairs!  Life is truly an adventure.  Here's more info on the railroad: http://www.cograilway.com/

762.1 Miles Logged - Currently in Colorado Springs, CO

We stopped in Las Vegas, New Mexico today to fuel, and came along this beautiful old hotel.  It was called Hotel Castaneda.  It must have been grand at one time.  It sits right off the railroad tracks.  We could just image how the train travelers would get off the train and come to this grand beauty.  It is of course closed down now, but what great architecture it was.

Mom sure loves flowers!

Ok enough looking around - time to get to Colorado!

We got to Colorado Springs this afternoon.  Had a nice dinner & went for a drive.  We are headed to the Pike's Peak Cog Railway tomorrow.  We will ride the cog train up to the top of  Pikes Peak (scarey).  As far as critters we have seen - antelope and deer.  We were in Colorado about 5 minutes and saw the deer!

This is how much "crap" we are lugging around!

Day 2 - 426.5 miles traveled so far

We've stopped at Santa Fe for the day.  Here's a few places we visited on way to Santa Fe.

Quemado NM.  A beautiful little adobe church & an old time cementary.

Then we went through the narrows and saw this amazing natural arch

Then off to Santa Fe - Plaza.  Mom & Dad told us about this mission with a staircase made w/o any nails, but there was a wedding being held so the mission was closed.  Here's a few photos of the outside though.

Since the mission was closed we visited St. Frances church & just happened to make it in time for Saturday evening mass.  What a beautiful church it was.

Beautiful ceiling paintings

Original Chapel from the 1600's

Original ceiling beams, etched with carvings

Tomorrow's destination is Colorado Springs, CO.  We are going to Pikes Peak Cog Railway, the Air Force Academy and HOPEFULLY a bike ride (ditch the parents).  We plan on staying in Colorado Springs a few days at least!  We'll give Dain (our driver) a rest/break.