Be A Tourist At Home

Our adventure of being tourists at home has come to an end. We decided to try out this wacky idea because soon, after 27 years minus one semester, Colorado will no longer be my home and also because we are a little nerdy.

Yesterday was a great example of a "tourist at home" day. We drove down to Manitou Springs and rode the train up to the top of Pikes Peak. Right now is pretty much the end of the high country wildflower season and we saw plenty right from the train's windows. We also saw a herd of Rocky Mountain Bighorn sheep and a flock of Arctic ravens. Although I am a native Coloradan I have some issues with altitude above 13,000 feet so I got a little loopy up on the 14,110 foot peak. High altitude sickness is actually a little fun once you get past the nauseous part. I usually feel like I'm stoned for awhile and then euphoric. Yeah, it's a good time.

Next we visited the Cave of the Winds, a tourist attraction in Colorado Springs. My mom tells me I used to love going here when I was little. Apparently I would attach myself to the guide and ask endless questions. When I declared geology as my major she would tell this story - a lot. Anyway, the caves aren't nearly so cool as I remember them but it was still a nice little tour. Stalagmites, stalactites - you know, the usual.