Upstairs to the Peak

     North bound to Colorado Springs which for our liking is way too populated and sprawled out but is surrounded by mountains and the weather is pretty ideal, although a bit hot during the day but in the 60s and 50 at night.  Got a campground about 12 minutes from my daughters' house which makes going back and forth easy. Monday was spent shopping and stocking up on supplies, Tuesday a bit of rock scrambling with the kids at Palmer Park and a visit to Angletech Bicycles to visit and talk with Calvin.  He also stocks and sells mainly recumbents and trikes.
     Wednesday was a day for play and a trip to Manitou Springs and a climb up the Manitou Incline.  This is a stairway made of RR ties straight up a mountain for a mile, gaining over 2000 ft. of elevation going to 8000 some ft. Gotta say I was pretty proud of Cindy and I for making it to the top as there were much younger people huffing and puffing on the way up. Running down with  Ethan and Ryan  was a blast and a great pay off for the climb.

     Thursday was checking off a bucket list thing, taking a fly fishing lesson. Very informative and makes me want to try my hand at it.  Ethan got a good handle on it, Ryan maybe too young yet. Cindy and daughter Shannon caught on very well. Maybe something to do in the future or later on in this trip.

     Son in law Paul took off of work Friday for a trip up Pikes Peak, a drive to 14,110 or 14,115 depending on which sign you're reading. Regardless the oxygen is rare, but no ill effects even climbing around on the rocks  and over to actually walk in snow, something I haven't done for years.  The views were stunning until a rain and hail storm moved in.  I really wanted to ride my trike on the way up or down but no shoulders and hair pin turns and drivers looking at scenery persuaded me from doing so.
     Last night we made a drive to Garden of the Gods for a sunset but the Gods had other ideas and a storm ensued  but not before we got a good look at these ancient rock formations,

    Did you see the mt. goat in the 3rd picture?
A new week, new adventures to come.

Finding time

     Sorry for the delayed post but finding time is tough with all the activities we've been doing with daughter Shannon and the grand kids. 
     So to catch up in order lets start 0n 7/12 when we left Olathe KS. and stopped over night at Water Sports CG in Dodge City.  No water that I see for any kind of water sports, and the AC in the camper hasn't turned off since we got here. Left the next morning and stopped to visit Jerrel at Rans Bicycles in Montezuma KS.  I like where he is taking this fine line of recumbents and pedal forward bikes.
     Arrived in Alamosa CO. a couple days early, our destination for the train ride on the Rio Grande RR.  Elevation is @ 6600 ft. surrounded by the Sangre De Cristo Mts. to the East and San Juans to the West. Got to play a round of disc golf while Cindy did a bit of bird watching.Different hazards here in Co.

     The family arrived from Colorado Springs on the 15th so we headed for the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Zapata falls.  Being the largest sand dunes in the country made us feel like we were in the Sahara Desert.  Boy did that sand get hot. Pictures from a phone can't get the scope of the size of these dunes so maybe if interested go online and goggle the park. 
     Zapata falls was the opposite in as far as temperature goes with the ice cold mountain water on bare feet. Fun rock hopping with Ethan and Ryan.

                                                                                                  7/18/15
     As mentioned earlier in this post the main reason for the stop in Alamosa was the train ride, but not just any train ride.  This is a ride on the former train form the Illinois Central Line, the City Of New Orleans and in the club car "Mardi Gras" which was the car Steve Goodman wrote the song while traveling on the line in 1971. Not only is this special but add to this the band Trout Fishing in America is on the same car on the way to a concert at Fir Mt. concert venue. It was about a 2 hour scenic ride up the mountain and a fabulous concert featuring Trout Fishing's Ezra and Keith and opening act Ann Hills. Icing on the cake was the ride back to Alamosa and jamming with the musicians.

     North to Colorado Springs where we're settled in at Falcon Meadows CG for 2 weeks visiting the family.  Made a side trip while here to visit Calvin at Angle Tech Bicycles and see his operation. 

     More to come as photos get up loaded.   So far aside from a sudden thunder and hail storm the weather has been great. Not missing the Florida heat at all.
                                                                                    

Sad beginning happy ending

     The news of Dennis Cooper's death was a shock to say the least but a nice memorial and celebration of life that followed was up lifting.
     We now sit in the Watersports campground, don't let your mind go to the gutter as mine would do, in Dodge City, KS, around 102 degrees no shade to speak of and our little AC on the roof cranking away. Brings memories of Needles CA.
     While in Olathe KS, Cindy's hometown known for the LARGE amount of trains passing through  one at least every 9 minutes or less being the crossing of the Santa Fe', California, and Oregon trails and a main RR line from Los Angeles  to Chicago we parked in brother in law's driveway about 150 feet from the tracks. However a newly enacted "quiet zone" helped with the previously endless amount of train whistles all day and night.
     While here we delivered to Cindy's great niece her first bicycle.
Right away a neighbor girl came over with her bicycle to ride with Celeste. Here is dad Rus doing what is one of a dad's finest moments of parenting.
     As the title says sad beginning happy ending, we also attended the wedding of Cindy's beautiful niece Brianna to a fine handsome gentleman Ben Grise', whom should now be on  honeymoon in Cancun. Sorry the picture was from an i phone in motion.

      Something I have never seen before is a finger print tree instead of signing a registration book. Maybe in case someone makes off with the wedding gifts, LOL.
     The wedding was held in the restored Vox Theater which went through several transformations from silent movie theater, to talkie, to auto garage to event hall.  Cindy's mom used to go to movies here when she was a teen. The wedding ceremony was a joyous occasion as the dance floor was never empty and everyone had a grand time.

     We also went to a Trout Fishing in America concert while in Olathe and now on the way to see them again in Alamosa Co. on the Rio Grande RR concert train.  Ezra and Keith will think we're stocking them. Hey, I've never followed Fish so I guess I'll follow Trout.
     Now waiting for a bit of a cool down before riding into Dodge City on our bikes.  Oh, there are sand spurs here in KS by the way.
    

      Left Florida on a hot sunny Sunday June 21, 2015 at 8:45 AM, the Summer Solstice and longest day of the year, heading first for Gainsville Trader Joe's to stock up on provisions then North bound on I-75 to get through Atlanta hoping traffic is lighter on a Sunday. Hope the Braves aren't playing. Destination, Leisure Time RV park, Adairsville Ga. Well the Braves were playing and the traffic was not light but persevere we did and got to the campground after 10 1/2 hours driving. Ended up at the Good Sam park next door to Leisure Time called Harvest Moon. Nice clean well maintained park at $36. per/nite and free pop corn, wifi, cable TV , and a pool and game room both closed by the tie we got there.  Getting about 10.5 MPG out of the van and it seems to pull well.
      Next morning cooked breakfast and got on the road to one of our favorite camp grounds, Whittington Woods in Ill.  No trouble getting through Chattanooga and Nashville.  Gas prices are running anywhere from a high of 2.46 to 2.89.  I usually stop at Flying J or Pilot since I have a rewards card and get .3 per/gal off.  Planning to stay for two nights at Whittington Woods and ride the Rend lake trail but plans have a way of being changed by unforeseen events.  On the way Cindy got a call from her dad that her brother died of a massive stroke at the age 63. So tomorrow we drag up and hit the road for Olathe KS.  Things will get better as we both found 4 leaf clovers and we saw some old friends who started us on our towing with a van instead of a pick up thing, better to carry bikes with.  Sorry no pictures yet but nothing spectacular to shoot.  As Willy Nelson sings, "On the Road Again".

Catrike Folding 26"

     Finally arrived and ready for test rides is the new Catrike 559 the folding 26' wheeled  
trike from the Orlando factory.  Think of an offspring of an Expedition and a Trail if trikes could do that sort of thing, then you'll have an idea of the 559. It's got the padded seat cushion like the Trail and a 26" rear wheel of an Expedition and folds up like a Trail. So come on over and give it a ride.   

Kickoff Party....let the fun begin.

Oh My Goodness, I forgot to mention the Kickoff Party for the Floral City Strawberry Festival.  It is Friday March 6th from 6-9pm. We will have Music, BBQ, Beer, Wine and of course Strawberry Shortcake. It will be taking place at the town center here in Floral City. Hope to see lots of you there!

CATRIKE RALLY

Can you believe it's already time to start planning to attend the 11th annual Catrike Rally on Sat. March 7.  This year we will not be able to attend the Rally in Orlando but we are planning to host a ride on Sunday March 8 on the Withlacoochee Trail. This year we will be riding to Inverness and going to the Pine St. Pub. We will need anyone who plans to attend  our ride to RSVP at least a week in advance. You can call or send us an email.  You can come early and have coffee and treats with us around 9am or arrive around 10am,  we hope to leave our shop around 11am. It is only about 7 miles to Inverness. We look forward to seeing lots of folks here, it will be lots of Fun! Floral City will also be having their annual Strawberry Festival at Floral Park if you are looking for other things to do in the area.
SEE YA!