Miramont Castle, Manitou Springs, CO

Miramont Castle

We drove up to see Tom and Mary Ann who had moved up to Manitou Springs for a week before moving on to the northwest. We loved driving through the area called "Old Colorado City" which is a historic district in Colorado Springs. It was an artsy looking area with cute outside cafes. It looks a lot like Manitou Springs just not as crowded. I want to come back here and spend a day just walking and seeing the sights. 

 I had read about the Miramont Castle online and wanted to see it. Lo and behold, an old friend is the manager there, small world! It was great seeing Donita again and the castle was interesting and has been restored beautifully. The Castle has a colorful history so it was great getting to see it. Tom and Mary Ann fixed us a wonderful spaghetti lunch and a relaxing time visiting with them before heading back to Canon City. 

As we were leaving Garden of the Gods RV Park I noticed what appeared to be smoke over Pike's Peak and as we drove down 115 the smoke became more obvious. After getting home we found out that there is a new wild fire at Lake George on 24 west of Colorado Springs. Praying for the firefighters and the people with homes and businesses in the area!

Looking north on 50 just west of Canon City at the smoke.

Wolf Kisses - Rocky Mountain Wildlife Foundation, Guffey, CO

Another early day of fun with Tom and Mary Ann! We rode up to Guffey, CO with them at 8:00 am, and those you you that know me know I don't do mornings :-)  We met a couple of interns, Mandy and Sandrine, from Rocky Mountain Wildlife Foundation at Rita's Cafe in Guffey, CO. They had a presentation about the history of the Foundation while we ate a wonderful breakfast. We then followed them a couple of miles to the sanctuary to meet the wolves and wolfdogs.
What a wonderful experience!! It is a wolf and wolfdog rescue sanctuary I highly recommend a visit if you are ever in the area. They require visits by appointment only and it is free admission (they gladly accept donations). You get up close to most of the wolves and wolfdogs, even getting licks from them and then they want a belly rub. It is very sad that several of these came from an abuse home but Mark Johnson rescued them and bringing them back to health, both phyically and mentally. It was also interesting to learn about "imprinting". Two of the four wolves that were in a litter were removed from their mother before they opened their eyes so that the first thing they would see would be a human. This makes them be able to interact with us without fear. The 2 that imprinted with their mother are very nervous around humans, not knowing how to respond. 
This is definitely something to put on your bucket list!

Kathy getting kisses from "Momma" an abused wolfdog

Bruce getting accepted by Momma

They love to be loved on.

 

A wolfdog with one blue and one amber eye

Lakota is a little standoffish but beautiful

Tom and Mary Ann with Lakota

Lakota letting me know I'm accepted by her

The black wolf was imprinted with her mom so she just watches

Chowing down on a 40 lb chunky of horse meat

I think this is Apache, but she loves her belly rubbed.

The 2 wonderful interns, Brandy (from New Jersey) and Sandrine (from France). 

Florence, CO and Bishop's Castle

Fun, Fun day with our friends, Tom and Mary Ann! We started our day at 8:00 am with breakfast at Big Daddy's Diner in Canon City, CO. This is our 3rd time there to eat and great food and service! From there we drove to Florence, CO for the opening day of their Farmer's Market. We did buy some nice looking tomatoes and got to meet this beauties!

   

Rocky Mountain Wildlife Foundation  had brought a couple of their wolves, Apache and Cherokee, to demonstrate that they can be tame if they do not imprint with their mother. This occurs by them not seeing their mother the first thing upon opening their eyes. It was very interesting and they have a sanctuary in Guffey, CO that I hope we can go visit. These are pictures of them that I borrowed from their website.

We strolled through all the antique shops in Florence and went to the ACE Hardware just to use their restrooms. We all ended up buying a couple of outdoor rocking chairs that were so comfortable and collapsible for easy travel. They made us one heck of a deal. Guess that will teach that antique store to not let me use her bathroom. LOL.
Our next stop was lunch at Maverick's in Silver Cliff, CO. Food was just as good as the first time but the serve was not. That was too bad since our first time there we had such a personable waiter. They do have a very interesting hamburger bun that we never seen before - a Pretzel Bun. It is a good place to eat, just do not be in a hurry!
We then drove over to Bishop's Castle. A very scenic drive but don't rush on the road! There were 3 cows walking out in the road and it is a very curvy road! Bishop's Castle is very hard to describe and I highly recommend if you are ever in the area just go see if for yourself. The story that I was told was that this guy, Jim Bishop, decided to build with rock that had fallen along the sides of the roads but that once the State of Colorado found out he was taking rock from the right of ways he was told to stop. He didn't like this so the battle began. He has built a "Castle" of rock and it is impressive yet a bit scary too. The walkways are welded metal grates that are a bit shaky in some places. One of the railings was missing so a wooden ladder was strapped in it's place. There are beautiful stained glass windows and impressive sky lights. Jim Bishop was there working on a new project, not sure what it is but my guess is that it was a moat. Will be interesting to see what it ends up being.

Bishop's Castle

His Proclamation

Steep, skinny steps!

Beautiful windows!

 

Interesting architecture throughout the castle

After we got back to the RV park, we grilled some steaks, had salad and a potato salad (which was very good Mary Ann!). I think I'll have to fast tomorrow, we ate so much today!  A few games of Corn Hole to round out a great day.

Mary Ann beating Kathy at a game of Corn Hole.

Bruce's Birthday and 50's Flashback in Canon City

May 18th, Bruce turned...another year older. Haha, thought I was going to tell his age weren't you? We went out for the evening with our friends, Steve, Linda and their daughter, Angie. Since we were on a 50's theme, we went to Big Daddy's Diner for dinner then to downtown Canon City for the Flashback. There was a car show and supposed to be a sock hop with the band Flash and the Cadillacs.  There were some nice cars in the show but the little bit of music we stayed to listen to was not 50s so we headed back to the RV so Bruce could watch the Oklahoma City Thunder basketball game.

Someone did a little decorating...

and some more decorating...

and there she is! Thanks Linda and Steve!!

Car was parked in front of Big Daddy's Diner

Hard to read but it says "Retired Chaffee County Law Enforcement"

The "Sockhop" 

Special year - Born in 56, is 56, with a 56 Chevy

Cripple Creek and Victor, Colorado trip

We took a drive up to Cripple Creek and Victor. Such beautiful country! Went up Highway 9 and thought about coming back via Phantom Canyon Rd but called Steve to get his opinion since they had driven it...NOT! He said it would not be a good drive in my SLK, very bumpy and gravel for about 30 miles. Glad I called! The drive back on 9 was just a scenic since we were seeing the country side from the other direction. Of course we had to give our luck a try at one of the casinos...we are $40 poorer but like Bruce says, it's entertainment, not a lose. Like that positive spin on it :-)

Steam rising off the road

One of the mines between Cripple Creek and Victor

Cute little mule deer

Garden of the gods - Colorado Springs, CO

We took a day trip with our friends Linda and Steve to Garden of the gods in Colorado Springs. We went up via Highway 9 which is a very nice drive. We came across this odd little display along the way...

Bruce needs to come up with a funny caption for this one!

 Not sure if these are Llama's or Alpaca but I just love the expressions on their faces!

After a nice lunch in Manitou Springs we drove through Garden of the gods. Anxious to go back to do some trails when our kids, Stacy, Gary and Owen get here next month!

Oh my! I really need to get rid of that shirt! It's
in pictures every year for I don't know how long!

Steve and Linda

Two camels kissing

Postcard perfection!

Balancing Rock

Goof!

Colorado Springs is a sad place for me to visit. My parents went there in 1991 for their 34 anniversary and my mother was killed in a car accident the day after they had visited Pike's Peak. This is my second time there since the accident...it doesn't get any easier.

A Scenic Driive - Westcliffe, Silver Cliff, Florence Loop

We took a drive that was a loop through the towns of Westcliffe, Silver Cliff and Florence, CO. Stopped at Mavericks in Silvercliffe for lunch, good food, friendly service! 

Me and Mable 

Had quite a Facebook challenge with friends telling us what
 these were and I've forgotten what the outcome was :-)

One of the views from the drive