AIR FORCE ACADEMY, COLORADO SPRINGS JUNE 15, 2009

On our "day out" today, we took a tour of the United States Air Force Academy just north of Colorado Springs. It sits on over 18,000 acres on the east side of the Rampart Range of the Rocky Mountains. The AFA is the youngest of the service academies having graduated its first class in 1959. It is also one of the largest tourist attractions in Colorado attracting more than 1 million visitors each year.

Our first stop was the visitors center where there were many exhibits telling the history of the Academy. The Air Force Academy mission is to educate, train, and inspire men and women to become officers of character, motivated to lead the U.S. Air Force in service to our nation. Of the approximately 1400 new cadets each year, less than 1000 will graduate.





Probably the most awe inspiring building on campus is it's unusual seventeen spired Cadet Chapel. The subject of controversy when it was first built, it is now considered one of the most beautiful examples of modern American academic architecture. Designed by architect Walter Netsch, it was completed in 1962. The chapel is 150' high, 280' long, and 84' wide.

The main buildings in the Cadet area are set around a large, square pavilion know as the Terrazzo. This is Sijon Hall (dorm) and, like other buildings around the Terrazzo, it is designed in a distinct modernist style and made of the extensive use of aluminum on building exteriors suggesting the outer skin of aircraft or spacecraft.

Other buildings around the Terrazzo are Vandenberh Hall, one of the largest dorms in the U.S., Mitchell Hall (dining facility), and Fairchild Hall, the main academic building.

Inside the chapel the windows contain over 24,000 pieces of stained glass. It is stunning from the inside when the sun is shinning.

The Cadet Chapel was designed to house 3 distinct worship areas, Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish. The Protestant area is on the main floor and can seat 1200 people.

The nave measures 64' by 168' and soars to 94' at the highest point. I took this picture sitting in a pew and looking straight up at the ceiling.

At the rear is the choir balcony and organ. The organ was designed by Walter Holtkamp of Holtkamp Organ Company and built by P.M. Moller Company of Hagerstown, Maryland. The organ has 83 ranks, 67 stops controlling 4334 pipes, the smallest the size of a pencil and the largest the size of a basketball!

Each of the 3 worship areas has its own entrance. This is the front of the Catholic chapel. It is situated below the Protestant chapel and seats about 500 people. The alter is Italian white marble mounted on a cone shaped marble pedestal.

Along the side walls of the chapel are the 14 stations of the cross carved from 4" marble slabs.

The classic pipe organ in the 100 seat choir loft was also designed by Holtkamp and made by the Moller Company. It features 36 ranks and 29 stops controlling its 1950 pipes.

The Jewish chapel is also on the lower level seating 100 in its circular shape with a diameter of 42 feet. The floor is paved with Jerusalem brownstone donated by the Israeli Defence Forces. The paintings (9) displayed on the circular walls were done by Shlomo Katz in 1985 and 1986 depict Biblical stories. They are divided into groups of three, brotherhood, flight (in honor of the Air Force), and justice. These paintings were painted on gold leaf and are valued at over 1 million dollars EACH.

Also on the lower level are All Faith rooms, designed as worship areas for smaller religious groups.

We spent four hours here and still didn't see everything. There are memorials, the Air Field, the Falcon football stadium and the atheletic buildings that are open to the public. That will give us another reason to revisit this beautiful campus at the foot of the Rocky Mountains.

God bless our armed forces and God bless America!

Golden, Buffalo Bill, Coors June 7, 2009

On Sunday, June 7 we headed to Golden, Colorado, via Morrison and Evergreen. The road between Morrison and Evergreen is the usual winding mountain road following a stream flowing down out of the mountains. The scenery is breathtaking. We went to Buffalo Bill Cody's grave, high up on Lookout Mountain.

When Buffalo Bill visited the top of Lookout Mountain he was so inspired by the majesty of the view that he requested this site for his final resting place. There is a museum with exhibits about William "Buffalo Bill" Cody's life as hero and visionary of the American West.

The view from Lookout Mountain overlooks the city of Golden, Colorado. There are two huge mesa to the west of the city. You can also see the Coors Brewery, the light spot in the right-center of the picture. I'm sure Buffalo Bill didn't envision the city as it is today, but it is still a beautiful view.

The road down Lookout Mountain was quite a challenge. I couldn't begin to count the number of signs like this one that were on the descent.

The views were gorgeous on the way down the mountain. Here you can see the two mesas in the background, the Coors Brewery, and the football stadium of the "Colorado School of Mines" which is located in Golden. Notice the housing developments creeping up the sides of the mesas.

In several areas down the mountain, I could see up to 4 levels of roads out of my window. I couldn't believe the number of bicyclists going up and down this road!

Bill, standing outside the world famous Coors Brewing Company, the largest single-site brewery in the world. Coors has called Golden it's home since its establishment in 1873 by German immigrants Adolph Coors and Jacob Schueler. In 1880, Coors bought out his partner. It is said to take its flavor from the pure water of the Rocky Mountains.

Coors offers free, self guided tours. Using a handheld recorder, you simply push the number of the station where you are and listen to the description of that area. It was very informative and you could take as long as you wanted in each area. These copper tanks hold the mash.

In 1959, Coors became the first American brewer to use all aluminum, 2 piece beverage cans. Coors currently operates the largest aluminum can producing plant in the world.

In 2005 the company merged with Molson to become the Molson Coors Brewing Company.

Royal Gorge Railroad, May 31, 2009

After leaving Buckskin Joe we went for a ride on the Royal Gorge Scenic Railway which offers breathtaking scenery from the upper rim of the Gorge.

Since 1958 this "Little Train with a Big View" has been treating visitors to the fantastic scenery that surrounds the Royal Gorge Region.

The climax of the 3 mile trip is the best view of the Royal Gorge and bridge from Point Alta Vista. Hanging 1,053 feet above the wild Arkansas River, the Royal Gorge Bridge is the world's highest suspension bridge, and a legendary feat of engineering renowned the world over. Built in 1929 for $350,000, the cost today would exceed $15 million.

As we left Point Alta Vista, there was a storm brewing in the mountains to the west. We managed to get back to the station without getting wet but the lightning was almost continuous all the way back to Colorado Springs, where the storm finally caught up with us.

One last goodbye to the little train with the great view.

BUCKSKIN JOE'S, CO MAY 31, 2009

May, 31, 2009 We started our journey today with a stop at Rosie's Diner in Monument, CO for breakfast. What a neat place! Started in 1946 as the Silver Dollar Diner in New Jersey, Rosie's gained national acclaim and took on its current name in 1971 when the bounty paper towels "quicker picker upper" TV commercial made the diner and waitress Rosie (a.k.a the late actress Nancy Walker) household icons. Now with an established diner in Monument, Rosie's continues to be a national dining destination. There are juke boxes at every booth, 50's music is playing, there are 50's car posters on the walls, chrome bar stools at the counter, and the menu is great! You can almost see "the Fonze" and the gang from Happy Days here.

Just before Colorado Springs, we stopped at this scenic overlook. That's the US Air Academy and Pike's Peak in the background.

The plaque is in honor of Jasper Ackerman, soldier, rancher, banker and great supporter of the Air Force Academy.

We arrived at our destination - Buckskin Joe Town at Royal Gorge, Colorado. Established in 1958, it is a step back in time to an 1860's authentic western town.

Just had to get someone to snap our picture here.

Designed to replicate its namesake, Buckskin Joe is a town right out of the 1860's Colorado Frontier. Overgrown ruminants are all that remain of the original town, about 2 miles from Alma, CO. Luckily the builders of Buckskin Joe saved the only salvageable building and one of the main buildings from the original town, the H.A.W Tabor General Merchandise store from ruin.

All of the buildings are authentic buildings from the mid to late 1800 Colorado Frontier. Each building was taken apart, marked piece by piece and reconstructed in the current location.

Many western movies used Buckskin Joe town including Cat Balou (Lee Marvin), The Cowboys with John Wayne and Conager (Sam Elliot and Katherine Ross). You may recognize this bath tub where John Wayne and Lee Marvin took baths in their movies. It is reported to be the most photographed bathtub in the west!

Of course, no western town is complete without a gunfight! This cast of actors put on a show about every 2 hours during the day, some funny and some serious.

In between gunfights there is a magic show that is held 4 times a day featuring Las Vegas magician Christian Augustine. This is a picture of his wife, "a magician in training". The show features illusion, mystique, and humor and is suitable for the whole family.







Joseph Higgenbottom, known for his eccentricity and the buckskin clothing he wore discovered the "Buckskin Joe Diggings" in 1859. Thus the common name of the boom town formed around the area was "Buckskin Joe".








You may recognize the Sackett House from some of the western movies you have seen.

Bill, with the Rocky Mountains in the background.









This was our trolley driver. He took us for a ride around town in the wagon pulled by a team of Belgium draft horses.











Bill decided he need some money so he tried panning for gold. All he got was a few little flecks.

Next he decided to try the bank for money.

Evidently they didn't like his withdrawal method and he ended up in jail!

So I had to find "Mayor Donkey" and get Bill out of jail. "Donkey" is about 30 years old. He was originally used to give rides to children. One day he absolutely refused to give any more rides so the owner of Buckskin Joe's retired him and made him the Mayor. Now he just wanders around town. You might find him anywhere. He was in the trolley office when I found him. But he's been seen in the gift shop and various other buildings in town. What a happy ending for the little guy!

After all the excitement of getting Bill out of jail we decided to get a bite to eat at the Golden Nugget Restaurant and dined on, what else, buffalo burgers, quesadillas. and sarsasparilla.

One last look down the street before we leave.

What a great day! Now back to the 21st century.

CELESTIAL SEASONINGS, NEDERLAND, AND BLACK HAWK, CO

Celestial Seasonings is a tea company based in Boulder, Colorado that specializes in herbal teas, but also sell black, green, white, and oolong teas. They account for over $100,000,000. in herbal tea blend sales in the U.S. annually. All of their teas are certified kosher and all natural, and many are certified organic as well. Celestial Seasonings founders started gathering herbs and flowers in the mountains surrounding Boulder and started selling them to local health food stores in 1969 and were selling internationally by 1977.

Celestial Seasonings uses over 500,000 pounds of peppermint and spearmint in their popular herb teas each year. Their bagging machines are capable of bagging 1,000 bags per minute and seal each bag with an adhesive applied at 150 degrees C. By manufacturing their teabags without string, tags, or overwrap, they are able to eliminate over 3,617,000 pounds of waste each year.

We enjoyed sampling several new flavors of tea while waiting for our tour to begin. My favorite was Sleepytime Vanilla. Each box is illustrated with often whimsical drawings or paintings, a different image for each flavor intended to represent the feeling the tea produces to the consumer. There is, of course, a wonderful gift shop at the end of the tour where you can purchase teas and accessories.

After leaving Boulder, we headed northwest on Route 36 to Lyons, then Route 7 through the Roosevelt National Forest. It was a gorgeous drive through steep hills and following a mountain stream that ran along side the road.

We picked up Rout2 72, which, from Estes Park to Black Hawk is know as the Peak to Peak Drive. This route brings you up close and parallel with the Continental Divide.

There are several 14,000 foot peaks (known as 14ers) along this drive. The scenery is outstanding and the aspen are just starting to leaf out.

It was getting close to 5 PM and we couldn't resist stopping at this overlook and having a "tail gate" picnic supper that I had packed before we left. It was like being on top of the world.








You could see for miles down through the valleys. But what I appreciated most was -- listen--- QUIET. All you could hear was the sound of the wind rustling through the aspens. I could stay here in this peaceful place forever. It gives you a sense of appreciation for nature and all that God has given us to enjoy. What a wonderful world!

Bill setting the "table" for our picnic supper.

One last picture before we head to Nederland.







Nederland, population 1337, is located about 17 miles west of Boulder and is a quirky little town in three parts: the funky, the one block old town, and a new shopping center. This town hall is in part of the funky area,along with several bars and eating places.

The street going between these two buildings is the old town area which includes a natural foods store, gift shop, and a couple of cafes.

This pedestrian covered bridge crosses over a gurgling mountain stream and connects the old part of town and the new shopping center.

Each August they have NedFest, a three day outdoor music, microbrew, and camping event. located on the shore of Barker Reservoir in the mountains of Nederland.

Leaving Nederland at 8228 feet on Route 72 south we followed the winding road down the mountain past more 14ers.

The last little town we went through was Black Hawk with a population of 118 making it the least populous city in Colorado. Once a historic mining settlement founded in 1859, the town declined during the 20th century, but has been revived in recent years after the establishment of casino gambling in 1991.