 | [Ken 08/26/2017] Our son, Robby, tends to peg the Adventure-Meter every-once-in-a-while (a couple weeks ago he rode his bike to a wedding in Chicago – since he lives in Denver, he started in Toronto). It kinduv keeps Deb and I on edge, as we often hear of his daring-dos without notice. More than once we have nervously discovered his whereabouts by seeing posts on Instagram from Istanbul... and on another time, Dubai. So, when he offered to include us in one of his venturous afternoons, there was just a tad of apprehension in our acceptance. Today, he showed us how he climbs rock faces and cathedral-like spires. We met he and his roommate, Tim, at Montezuma’s Tower in Garden of the Gods Park near Colorado Springs. |
Montezuma’s Tower, Robby explained, is a two-pitch climb with a pot-hole about two-thirds of the way up. The sandstone climbing lane follows the north ridge to the top of a 150-foot precipice. Once they get to the top of the spine, he and his roommate will simply repel down the west face. No problem, right?
We were transfixed. At times, petrified. And praying a bit, I admit. But he and his roommate did fine. It was impressive to watch, but I sometimes wish he had become a chess mastermind or an actuary. Any hobby with a pocket-protector would be fine.
Click on any of the images below to see the full slide.
We were transfixed. At times, petrified. And praying a bit, I admit. But he and his roommate did fine. It was impressive to watch, but I sometimes wish he had become a chess mastermind or an actuary. Any hobby with a pocket-protector would be fine.
Click on any of the images below to see the full slide.
CLICK ON INDIVIDUAL IMAGES TO ENLARGE
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[Ken 08/25/2017] Deb and I are approaching one thousand nights in Faith, our motorhome. Having RV'ed so many nights, you would think that it might be difficult for us to name the prettiest camp site we have shared, or the one that offers the most scenic views. I guess I would have agreed with that, too,...
...Until we pulled into the RV park at The Navigators / Glen Eyrie campus in the foothills just west of Colorado Springs, Colorado.
We are surrounded on three sides by rock formations, and inside a scenic canyon, to boot. I guess this is what I should have expected since The Navigators' campus is immediately adjacent to the famous Garden of the Gods, -- known for its canyons and towering spires of red and white rock monoliths.
With scenery comes compromise, sometimes. In this case, we are so deep into this rock canyon that we have no Internet or cell phone service for the month. To make a phone call, we are told, we will have to drive into Colorado Springs; the closest cell signal is at the Loaf-N-Jug gas station (and that is where I write this post). Oh the sacrifices that we must make!
...Until we pulled into the RV park at The Navigators / Glen Eyrie campus in the foothills just west of Colorado Springs, Colorado.
We are surrounded on three sides by rock formations, and inside a scenic canyon, to boot. I guess this is what I should have expected since The Navigators' campus is immediately adjacent to the famous Garden of the Gods, -- known for its canyons and towering spires of red and white rock monoliths.
With scenery comes compromise, sometimes. In this case, we are so deep into this rock canyon that we have no Internet or cell phone service for the month. To make a phone call, we are told, we will have to drive into Colorado Springs; the closest cell signal is at the Loaf-N-Jug gas station (and that is where I write this post). Oh the sacrifices that we must make!
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[Deb 08/24/2017] We hadn’t seen our sweet granddaughter since April -- she was just getting steady on her feet and not so sure of who we were. A lot has changed in four months. But today we took Ellie to Belleview Park in Englewood, Colorado. There is a petting zoo, a train ride, a sleeping goat, a creek for splashing, and a playground. We never made it to the playground.
As we entered there were cages with parakeets, love birds, bunnies and guinea pigs. I held her up and with eyes wide open she peered into the cages and smiled with delight as she recognized and pointed. We were told not to pet the ducks or chickens and not to feed any of the animals. Once we got those instructions, Ellie was ready! She held my hand until our first encounter with a chicken and then she didn’t need my assuring hand any more. She trembled with glee as her senses came alive with the sounds and smells of a farm.
First stop was to see the duck. She wasn’t quite tall enough to see over the top so GB (GrandBumps, aka Ken) picked her up and let her lean on the railing. She wasn’t too sure about the railing, but she did say “quack, quack” once she got a good look.
Ken put her down and now she was on her own! As we followed her from one animal pen to another, we saw her excitement and delight. There was a pig in a muddy hole and Ellie said "I'm sorry." As she got closer she said the pig was "yucky." The sheep was gentle, but Ellie kept her distance. She checked on the sleeping goat several times. Running round and round looking, watching, smiling, and pointing. Oops, watch out for the puddle!
Ken put her down and now she was on her own! As we followed her from one animal pen to another, we saw her excitement and delight. There was a pig in a muddy hole and Ellie said "I'm sorry." As she got closer she said the pig was "yucky." The sheep was gentle, but Ellie kept her distance. She checked on the sleeping goat several times. Running round and round looking, watching, smiling, and pointing. Oops, watch out for the puddle!
Her favorite part of the farm was learning to open and close the gate into the cow display. No real cows were interrupted. She quickly learned how not to pinch her fingers and to give the gate enough swing so that it did not catch her rear end. A good fifteen minutes was spent mastering this new skill. I’ll bet she will use this new talent at home to open a baby gate.
After we exhausted all of the corners of the petting zoo we headed to the train station. A train on a real track with a whistle, a couple of trestles, and a tunnel. She sat next to GB and held onto his leg at first, after all her familiar car seat wasn’t there, but once the ride started her self-confidence kicked-in and she sat tall without holding tightly.
After we exhausted all of the corners of the petting zoo we headed to the train station. A train on a real track with a whistle, a couple of trestles, and a tunnel. She sat next to GB and held onto his leg at first, after all her familiar car seat wasn’t there, but once the ride started her self-confidence kicked-in and she sat tall without holding tightly.
Apparently, while we were on the train Ellie noticed a creek that runs through a small valley in the park. As soon as we got off the train she briskly headed across the bridge, down the grassy hill, on the path straight for the flowing water with Ken and I chasing behind.
At creekside, she pointed at her shoes telling Ken to take them off. Then she pointed to Ken’s shoes. Those shoes need to come off, too, GB! Bare feet exposed, they headed into the water. Ellie was first in, of course! They walked hand-in-hand back and forth over the slippery rocks. Ellie was surprisingly sure-footed; GB wasn’t far behind as they waded in the clear stream.
At creekside, she pointed at her shoes telling Ken to take them off. Then she pointed to Ken’s shoes. Those shoes need to come off, too, GB! Bare feet exposed, they headed into the water. Ellie was first in, of course! They walked hand-in-hand back and forth over the slippery rocks. Ellie was surprisingly sure-footed; GB wasn’t far behind as they waded in the clear stream.
| | After a while the two of them sat on the bank and dangled their feet in the cool water. Ellie discovered pebbles next to her and began dropping them into the water. Plop! The size of the stone did not matter. Pretty soon, GB was scooping the pebbles back out of the creek so that they could make another splash. Plop! Plop! Plop! We had a hard time keeping up with the demand! Ellie loves to toss rocks when they make funny sounds! |
After a hundred (or so) pebble plops we had to persuade Ellie that it was lunch time. She waved to the train one last time and climbed the hill back to the car. It was a wonderful day.
We made up for lost time and became fast friends today. I think we enjoyed it more than Ellie. I especially liked the moment when Ellie clung to Ken’s leg and the looked up at him and smiled.
My heart is full. Ellie knows Ami and GrandBumps! Hugs and kisses were shared by all when we said goodbye. Today was a precious day. Looking forward to more moments that can be just as special. Thank you, Lord!
We made up for lost time and became fast friends today. I think we enjoyed it more than Ellie. I especially liked the moment when Ellie clung to Ken’s leg and the looked up at him and smiled.
My heart is full. Ellie knows Ami and GrandBumps! Hugs and kisses were shared by all when we said goodbye. Today was a precious day. Looking forward to more moments that can be just as special. Thank you, Lord!
    Photo of sun (top image) courtesy of 9news.com | the great eclipse[Ken and Deb 08/21/2017] The reporter on TV called today's eclipse "the great eclipse." This was the second time we had seen a solar eclipse; I think we agree that today's eclipse was more "great" than the lesser "great" eclipse we remember seeing in 1979. Perhaps what made this "great" was weeks of [social] media hype that culminated in millions of anxious sky-gazers gathering in a country-wide swath of farm fields and small burgs that spanned the entire United States. This 70-mile-wide arc from Oregon to South Carolina was sensationalized as "The Path of Totality." "Come experience total darkness for two-and-a-half minutes in the middle of the day!", the pundits promised. For us, we enjoyed it from the deck at mom's house in Denver. Geoff made a cardboard and tin pin-hole camera and we watched the 91.8% eclipse project safely onto a piece of copy paper lying on the ground. Although it does not sound impressive, we were mesmerized by the small crescent image of our fading sun for about 45 minutes. Most amazing was the unexpected quietude from the bugs and birds during the partially darkened Denver day. And the noticeable drop in noon-time temperature. And for just a couple of minutes the colors of the world around us seemed to pale a bit. Written by someone from inside The Path of Totality, I saw this quote on David Crowder's Instagram page. It pretty much sums it up for us, too, "...Those two minutes when it goes TOTAL are AMAZING!!! It's SUDDENLY TOTALLY night. There's just a thin halo in the sky around the moon. And there are stars. The presence of the Holy Spirit. Goosebumps and tears welling. So beyond a partial eclipse. Praise God!" |
taking the lead?
| [Ken 08/18/2017] The sign over this 1876 mining town's cobblestone street said, "Welcome to Lead." In Colorado, this town name would be pronounced "Led." But in South Dakota, the name of this town is pronounced "Leed." I guess I can say that I finally got to Lead, huh? Even though the sign proclaims an elevation of 5280 feet, I think it is a bit high-handed for the town to call itself, "THE Mile High City." I guess that is what you get from a town full of Leaders, huh? |  |
[Ken 08/12/2017] It is easy to understand why this is a 'Hall of Fame' trail. The unique geology and the gorgeous scenery on this Black Hills, South Dakota, trail are absolutely captivating. For most of the hike we were surrounded on all sides by spell-binding grandeur (sorry about the hyperbole, but it WAS strikingly beautiful). There were times when I pointed my camera without looking because I knew I could get a great shot wherever I aimed. The spectacular scenery stood in front of us, behind us, and even loomed mightily skyward over us.
Our trail to the summit(s) required that we negotiate steep switchbacks, rock stairs, and even boulder-scrambling as we snaked our way through and trekked ever-higher into the needles region of the Black Hills National Forest. The needles are large granite and schist monoliths that stretch like cathedrals toward the heavens. Hundreds and hundreds of feet tall, some stand in groups and some stand solitary. At each turn of the trail there were photogenic shots of rock needles posed against a mature forest under a dramatic sky.
At the summit of Harney Peak stands an abandoned stone, fire tower. This is the highest point between the Colorado Rockies and the Pyrenees of western Europe. From this 7242 foot acme, we could see four states and a very small section of George Washington's nose on Mount Rushmore. The sky was hazed from forest fires in British Columbia and Montana, but it was still an awesome view. From the top we descended a bit, crossed a saddle, and bouldered our way to the top of "Little Devils Tower."
This is the most popular hiking trail in South Dakota. No motorized vehicles or bikes are allowed, only horse and foot traffic. We call the trail by its former name, as that is the way it is listed on most maps and on all of the trail signs in, Custer State Park, where the Harney Range is accessed. A couple years ago, the name of the mountain and the trail was changed to "Black Elk." What ever the name, this trail is definitely in the TOP TEN on the 'Adventures in Faith' list of trails we have hiked. Simply spectacular.
Our trail to the summit(s) required that we negotiate steep switchbacks, rock stairs, and even boulder-scrambling as we snaked our way through and trekked ever-higher into the needles region of the Black Hills National Forest. The needles are large granite and schist monoliths that stretch like cathedrals toward the heavens. Hundreds and hundreds of feet tall, some stand in groups and some stand solitary. At each turn of the trail there were photogenic shots of rock needles posed against a mature forest under a dramatic sky.
At the summit of Harney Peak stands an abandoned stone, fire tower. This is the highest point between the Colorado Rockies and the Pyrenees of western Europe. From this 7242 foot acme, we could see four states and a very small section of George Washington's nose on Mount Rushmore. The sky was hazed from forest fires in British Columbia and Montana, but it was still an awesome view. From the top we descended a bit, crossed a saddle, and bouldered our way to the top of "Little Devils Tower."
This is the most popular hiking trail in South Dakota. No motorized vehicles or bikes are allowed, only horse and foot traffic. We call the trail by its former name, as that is the way it is listed on most maps and on all of the trail signs in, Custer State Park, where the Harney Range is accessed. A couple years ago, the name of the mountain and the trail was changed to "Black Elk." What ever the name, this trail is definitely in the TOP TEN on the 'Adventures in Faith' list of trails we have hiked. Simply spectacular.
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IF YOU WANT TO HIKE THE HARNEY PEAK TRAIL
The trailhead for Trail #9 is on the north side of the Sylvan Lake day use parking lot in Custer State Park, SD. In our 3.5 mile trek to the stone tower at the summit, we gained 1110 vertical feet, most of it in the final ascent. After a brief rest at the summit, we back-tracked one-half mile to pick up Trail #3 to the northeast. After just a few hundred yards,we intersected Trail #4 (don't take Trail #7) which took us 1.8 miles south and to the intersection of the "Little Devils Tower" trail. From this point it is a one mile roundtrip to the top of "Little Devils Tower." Back on Trail #4, we continued for about two easy, downhill miles, returning on the south side of the Sylvan Lake day use parking lot. Including curious side trips for picture taking (there are several great spur trails), our hike was 9.4 miles. All trails were well-marked. They were labeled "moderate difficulty." Don't forget to take plenty of water.
can you find the profile of George's nose in this shot?HINT: George Washington is the left-most sculpture in the famous Mount Rushmore |  |
the black hills
have something
for everybody!
[Ken 08/01-18/2017] The Black Hills are an adventurer's paradise. This panoramic area is a beautifully rugged region in western South Dakota. Punctuated with rocky peaks, scenic drives, and thriving, historic towns, there is certainly a lot to see and do. During our time in the area, Sturgis was hosting their 77th motorcycle rally -- about 500,000 bikers came through! For the most part, we avoided the traffic by staying off-the-beaten-path; we enjoyed lakes, trails and bike paths, and even an abandoned railroad grade that led us into the spectacular interior of the Black Hills' wonderland. There is no way to blog about the vast region, so I'll use the "picture is worth a thousand words" writing style. What an impressive and varied countryside this is!
 Wyoming's unmistakable Devils Tower marks the official, northwest corner of the Black Hills' region.  Jewel Cave - the 3rd longest cave system in the world. Do you know what caves are longer?  Surrounded by Borglum-sized rock formations, Deb checks out a watery crevice while kayaking in Custer State Park.  Deb experiences first-hand the rugged Black Hills' scenery at Cathedral Rock -- here she shows off on a day hike.  Black Elk Mountain -- at 7242 feet in elevation, it is the highest peak in South Dakota. We could see four states from up there! |  Rapid City is The City of Presidents (there is a life-size statue on every downtown corner). James Madison insisted on wearing my Colorado hat.  The Needles region of the Black Hills features distinctive rock formations and picturesque mountain lakes.  The national treasure and iconic Mount Rushmore sits proudly on the outskirts of touristy Keystone, South Dakota.  The George S. Mickelson Trail follows streams and valleys through the heart of the Black Hills on an old railroad bed.  Many of the historic towns in the area offer fun entertainment. For our anniversary we enjoyed some chuckwagon grub and music at Fort Hays. |  Mountain biking at at Chuck Lien Park (aka "Cowboy Hill"). At the bottom of the Hill is Rapid Creek, namesake of Rapid City.  Art Alley. An entire Rapid City block where nothing has escaped the lively and coordinated artists' brush.  Perched atop some "bad land" at Badlands National Park on the eastern edge of Rapid City.  Hundreds of ICBMs were once hidden in underground silos throughout the Midwest. We got to see one at Minuteman Missile National Historic Site.  Ken investigates the uncommon shoreline of Sylvan Lake as he paddles by a bigger-than-life "beach pebble." |
