Day two with the Coles started with a walking tour of downtown Colorado Springs, taking in all the history and art of the city. Actually the history is pretty interesting starting in 1871 when General William Jackson Palmer, Civil War hero and railroad magnate was deeded the land to start a new town dedicated to attracting long term residents and families in contrast to all the other mining and railroad towns that sprang up one day and died very quickly. General Palmer was hoping that the springs nearby would attract people trying to recuperate from TB and encourage them to stay. The town was initially 2 square miles that he meticulously planned with large parks and open spaces as part of his healthy lifestyle theme. Today this city is 200 square miles.
Another influential founding father was Spencer Penrose who built the zoo, Will Rogers Shrine, Broadmoor Hotel and much more. An interesting story we heard was that when he and his wife had passed on and they were cleaning out the house, they found several glass eyes in a drawer. Everyone knew he had lost an eye in an accident and wore a glass replacement, but they were surprised when they found not only hazel glass eyes to match his good one but blood shot glass eyes to match his good eye on the days he had a hangover.
The downtown area is filled with pieces of bronze statues and one dancing couple are actually spinning on pedestal. Unfortunately, like many big cities, there are also lots of people living homeless.
Looking down Pike’s Peak Blvd inn Colorado Springs, bare mountain top is Pike’s Peak
It was now around 11 a.m. and the cool mountain temperature had turned into hot summer sun and we were on our way to the Garden of the Gods to do some hiking and climbing. For weeks now, Ralph had been texting me messages about how cool it was where he was and how hot it was in Ocala, but the minute we got here so did a heatwave!
Garden of the Gods started as a 480 acre city park deeded to the city as long as it always remained free to the public.
Entrance to Garden of the Gods
Today, the park is 1,367 acres including some of the most beautiful sandstone formations and geological wonders seen by an estimated six million visitors per year. There are many trails and formations suitable for hiking and climbing by ordinary people like us with no skills but Jim and Ralph managed to exercise the mountain goat in them to get the best pictures.
People climbing on rocks had to have permit 
MG trying to climb 
Ralph at top of one of the formations 
Balance Rock 
MG trying to keep the rock from falling
Just an observation, but it seemed to me that the average visitor to this park is at least 30 years younger than me and much better shape. The heat and the sun finally won and we gave up for the day.
Coming back from dinner at night, there were three deer walking down the middle of the street in the neighborhood and Kandie told us that happens all the time. It must be true, because they were not intimidated by the cars at long and just kept strolling along.
Tomorrow we leave for Page, Arizona.
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