U.S Air Force Academy

For all of our followers that was waiting for Gina to ride that horse well, your going to have to wait one more day. Due to the weather it was changed from yesterday to today. I’m glad too since it rained here yesterday during the same time we would have been riding. Come back tomorrow and I’ll have pictures.

It snowed on Pikes Peak last night

We decided to move campgrounds after Mom & Pop’s left and we found out that our trail ride was moved to Saturday. We got everything loaded up and were pulling out of the campground at 10:30. We moved our home to the campground at the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Welcome to the U.S. Air Force Academy

We headed out to the visitor’s center once we got our home set up to find out what we could tour on the base. This has to be one of the nicest visitor’s center we have every seen. From there we walked over to the courtyard by the chapel. We enjoyed walking and reading all of statues. We then toured the Protestant Chapel. What an amazing structure.
The cadet chapel took five years to design and an additional four years to build. Construction began in 1959 and was completed in 1963 at a cost of $3.5 million. This cost was just for the framework alone. All furnishings within the chapel were financed by members of the Air Force or private donations. Quite impressive!! Here's a few picture and if you would like to see more just click this link: online photo album.

Rear view of the Chapel

Front view of the Chapel

Looking through the entrance

Looking toward the rear

Close up view of the Pipe Organ

largest pipe is 32 feet and the smallest is 5 inches

It decided to rain on us while we were doing our walking tour. However, we didn’t get too wet. We had pretty much seen what we wanted to so back to the truck we went. We then drove over to the Base Exchange and Commissary to look around. Gina did find a few items she couldn’t live without. We finally made it back home around 6:15 and soon after we were enjoying a steak and baked potato for dinner.

We’re in a hurry this morning since the Air Force has a home football game and all roads will be one way coming on the base to the stadium. Gina said, “I’m not missing my horse ride today because of a football game”. I just laughed. Looking forward to a wonderful day in the “Garden of the Gods”.


Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.

Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame

Around ten o’clock we left with Mom & Pop’s to take a tour of the Pro Rodeo Hall Of Fame. However, we stopped at Costco to shop a little. I bought a new weather station since our old one hasn't been working right.

Another view of the mountains here in Colorado Springs

We were greeted at the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame with a larger than life bronze statue of Casey Tibbs riding the famed bucking horse Necktie.

Casey Tibbs riding Necktie

It was fascinating to see and learn about all aspects of the rodeo and the history of all the champions. Here's a little trivia.  The first name was CTA (Cowboy's Turtle Association) then it became RCA (Rodeo Cowboy Association) until 1975 when it became known as PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association).  I believe Pop’s was in second heaven. There were a lot champions that he both knew and had competed against in the arena during his cowboy days. After spending over three hours there it was time to head back home. Here are a few pictures of the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame.

Mom & Pop's having a good time

Pop's explaining the in's and out's of calf roping

Pop's pretending, Where's the bull??

There are over a hundred displays like this one

Once we arrived home I checked our email and read that our friends Mike & Leslie were in town. I called Leslie and found out they were less than a mile from us eating a late lunch. I invited them to stop by after they finished their lunch.  They arrived around three o'clock and after hugs we all sat outside enjoying the beautiful weather.  We had a great time catching up with them and just enjoyed a great visit with them.

Sitting outside enjoying good friends

Mike & Leslie

Here's our wildlife picture for the day, a Black Squirrel

(we had never seen one before)

Around six o’clock we told them “see ya down the road” as they needed to do laundry and we had a potluck tonight with the Foretravel club. We made dirty rice for the potluck and had a great time visiting with everyone. We enjoyed another wonderful day here Colorado. 

I’m running a little behind this morning on posting since we just told Mom & Pop’s bye. They just pulled out of the campground on their way to Hutchinson, Kansas. We’ll miss them for a few days but we’ll catch back up to them early next week.

The big news today is Gina excitement.  She is finally getting her wish of riding a horse.  We plan on spending the day horseback riding through the “Garden of the Gods”.  Should be a fantastic day, just hope the weather cooperates.


Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.

Visiting with Jack & Danielle, Sightseeing & Shopping in Manitou Springs

Gina and I woke up to another beautiful morning here in the Colorado Mountains. We left this morning at 9:30 on our way to see Jack & Danielle at Diamond Campground located in Woodland Park, Colorado.  They are just completing their fifth summer of running the campground there.

Entrance Sign to Diamond Campround

Jack & Danielle

After we arrived they gave us a tour of their custom built New Horizon fifth wheel. Their home is beautiful and I highly recommend you check out New Horizons if you're looking for a custom fifth wheel.  Around lunchtime Jack grilled hamburgers and hot dogs for lunch while Danielle provided pasta salad and potato salad. After we ate it started to rain so we said goodbye. We’ll see them again in a few days in Hutchinson, Kansas at the Big Truck Rally.

Here are a few pictures of the scenery as we drove up to Woodland Park.

Once we made it back home Gina and I decided to drive to downtown Manitou Springs. They have a small historic shopping district and we enjoyed walking through all of the small shops.

Nice Archway as you enter Manitou Springs

One of the original steam engines that went up to Pikes Peak

I couldn't pass up this old stage coach

We didn't see any wildlife, but we did see this beautiful flower

We decided to find the Hobby Lobby that Gina had seen when we arrived here on Monday. We found it with no problems and Gina enjoyed looking around. There was a Walmart next door so off we went. We found the few items that we needed and then headed home.

Once we arrived back home we settled in for a quite night after enjoying a wonderful day with friends and sightseeing through Manitou Springs. We’re not sure what Thursday will bring so stay tuned as we continue our adventure here in Colorado Springs.


Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.