Aurora Denver to Montrose

At last we have all our luggage. It arrived 10pm last night and now we can leave any stress behind.

We set off at 8am and made our way up into the mountains. We have done this route 9 years ago in April and then the ski stations were open and snow on mountains. In August the scenery is very different with green trees and gentle lakes. Aspin trees and pines. Not frozen water and gushing rivers this time as it’s late summer

we travelled through mining towns calledCopper, climax,leadville, granite ,buena vista where they were celebrating the gold rush with fairs and stalls.We travelled along wide valleys through 14000+ feet mountains at either side.Ruby mountain, Trump supporters all along here

then we climbed towards gunnison over the monarch pass …..wow It’s the great divide between Atlantic and pacific over 11000 feet in perfect visibility I found Smoky again!Down the other side was great fun. As you can imagine.

By the time we got to gunnison we were in wide wide valley’s with ranches horses and cattle.Next was more mountains beaver creek was beautiful with fishing swimming boats and gorges.We followed round and along the long lake and cars were being escorted over road works in convoys so we had to wait in a queue.The sun was beating down. We have found the hot weather at last

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Pikes Peak and cog railway

In the middle of the night one suitcase was delivered. The other is in Denver but arriving tonight.

Today we had booked the 12 noon cog railway from Manitou.

The weather was perfect blue skies and sunshine. We could see all the mountain tops. So different from yesterday.

It took just over an hour to reach Manitou Colorado. 

The train ride was a fantastic experience and the views were phenomenal 

We took photos and the cog train climbed up 9 miles from 6320 feet to 14,115 feet. We saw mountain sheep and marmots. There are mountain lions and brown bears living up there but we did not see any.

At the top vince took more photos than me I was feeling the altitude and a bit dizzy which was a shame. The views from the top were breathtaking literally! We felt like we were on top of the world. It’s the highest we have ever been above sea level 

We chatted to a couple from Indiana who where sitting opposite to us all the way up and down …and had a good laugh about life together.

At the top there were many cars that had driven all the way up on hairpin bends.

I don’t think our nerves could have taken that drive!

On the way down the clouds darkened and it was rain and lightning storms.

Do you like this little humming bird I managed to photo on my phone. They are soooo tiny. 

We are pleased to leave “city driving” and all the cars.

So tomorrow we go on to Montrose.

We are more used to the time difference now.

USA travels

This is our golden anniversary travels

Starting in Denver….

Last night we did excellently arriving at Denver airport half an hour early. We very smoothly got through customs.

THEN

A crowd of people from our flight waited by baggage turntables for our luggage 

After almost 2 hours we all had to queue to report our cases had not arrived

82 cases were left at Heathrow 

It took another hour to register this!

Next Avis car rental a snag here took another hour and eventually we got to our hotel with only cameras and laptops 

We checked in and dashed to Walmart to buy toiletries and a few clothes 

BA will have to refund this 

Today BA services are down grrr so still no cases

We decided to go to the garden of the gods south of Denver

It was drizzling rain clouds all the time and not good visibility but we got these photos 

It is granite outcrops and very impressive 

At the visitor centre we took these fun photos 

Do you like” the hairy man of the mountain cowboy” I found today?

Although we are panicking about our luggage we found its now in denver airport and should arrive at our hotel tomorrow

we did have a good day and some good fun too at the Garden of the Gods