Today we travelled the 160km ish to Manitou Springs, leaving beautiful Breckenridge behind. We travelled through a few remote old looking towns, where the populations were probably around the 1000 mark. Stopped for an early lunch before heading up to Pike's Peak at 14000 ish feet.
The road has been sealed since we were here 8 years ago so it is a much smoother ride. HOWEVER, the guard rails are largely non existent and so the view is very unnerving at times (well for me anyway). From the bottom we could see that there was a dark cloud heading for the peak, and the ranger at the gate told us that there was some electrical activity up there, and that if "it starts poppin' about yer feet then you'd better get back in there that car or run inside the building". As we climbed higher it appeared that it was beginning to rain BUT it was actually SNOW!!!!! We were very excited that it was snowing, and hoped that our snow shorts and Haviana snow shoes would keep us warm.
We picked up four hitchhikers who had been hiking up the Peak for 6 hours and had still a while to go, but were unprepared for the change of weather. They were four of a group of 22 women (these four would have been in their late 40's/early 50's) who were on an altitude practise for a charity hike in January up Mt Kilamanjaro.
At the top the snow was steady, lovely light little balls that looked like what you put in your beanbag, and even though our snow clothes didn't keep us toastie warm we still spent a bit of time making snow balls.
Unfortunately we had to get back in the car to come down, and experience those massive drop offs a second time. I think I might have held my breath most of the way down as the edge was just far too close most of the time!
We spent a little time next at The Gardens of the Gods, a park with amazing rock formations which you are allowed to climb on. I'm sure they have great geological significance, but personally I don't have a clue!
Checked into the motel and the kids spent a good couple of hours in the pool (about 25 deg here today) before we went out for a Mexican dinner.
Zac watched the highlights of the Geel vs Coll game this morningand informed us of the score, lovely to see Coll get beaten!
Hope all are well.
Jo
xx
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