Click on a photo to enlarge it.
Nestled at the foot of Pikes Peak, just west of Colorado Springs, Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Centre is one of the top photo destinations in this area. This free city park (donated in 1909) covers 1,367 acres and has numerous red sandstone formations with 15 miles of paved and unpaved trails and a driving tour loop.
We spent 3 hours walking around on various trails and Kirsten took lots of photos! We saw some young magpies who couldn't yet fly and had managed to find their way onto the trail. Mom was not happy and was squawking away at us! We also came across a deer who didn't let us disturb his meal as he chomped his way through the local flora. There were also lots of ladybirds who only have a 4 week life cycle.
Deer munching away in the Garden Of The Gods.
The next day we went back to do the driving tour and to walk other trails. Afterwards we went to the US Olympic Training Center and went on one of their tours around the complex. This is one of three training centres in the US and it costs $25,000 per athlete per year. The funding comes from private donations and only the top 10% to 15% athletes in each sport can go and their ages range from 15 to 40 years old although the female gymnasts are younger as they are at their peak at 13 to 14 years of age! The wrestlers were currently in residence and we could see them training. Superstars like Michael Phelps wouldn't be there for another few weeks. This training centre is preferred due to its higher altitude which is an advantage to train here when the Games are held at lower altitudes.
We spent two hours there and went hunting for the German and British flags after the tour but couldn't find the British one. When we asked at the reception we were told that the British flag was at the main entrance as the Olympic games would be held in London next month and therefore had pride of place!
Helen then took centre stage when she demonstrated how weight lifting should be done. The video is below.
Helen wins the gold medal in weight lifting.
Helen even got a round of applause from the people waiting for the next tour and one said "You might not get a Gold medal for this but definitely an Oscar!" It's a wonder she could even do it seeing as it must be at least 15 years or more since she has seen weight lifting on TV!
The next day we drove out to the United States Air Force Academy where around 4,000 cadets between 17 – 23 years old go through a four year programme of officer training and a degree, graduating as 2nd Lieutenants. It was opened in 1958 and female cadets were allowed in 1976. Only the elite get a place here and most graduates go on to become astronauts and top athletes.
A week earlier President Obama was here for this years graduation parade but a number of cadets moving into their rooms. There is also the 17 spired cadet chapel that is multi denominational and includes a protestant and catholic church, a Jewish synagogue and a Buddhist temple.
Approx 1.5 million people a year visit the Academy and the visitor centre is very informative. There is also a B-52 bomber, a planetarium, a football stadium and a daily noon parade for the visitors to see.
On the way back into Colorado Springs we got caught in heavy rainfall with thunder and lightning and took shelter under a partial roof at a petrol station.
Heavy storm over Colorado Springs.
The following morning we drove back to the Garden of the Gods and then went for a three mile walk at Red Canyon.
We headed south west and stopped at Royal Gorge Bridge - a suspension bridge across the Arkansas River built in 1929 that is 938 feet high and 1260 feet long. Up until 2001 it was the highest bridge in the world. It costs $26 per person to get into the park around the bridge but we settled for the free overlook for photos!
