After getting setup in our site here at the Elks Lodge in Colorado Springs we got in touch with our friend Brandy Haskins. Brandy was one of the bartenders at the Sunflower Resort in Surprise, AZ when Joyce and I were volunteers there and we have remained friends ever since.
Later in the day she came over to the lodge for a cocktail before we went out to dinner at the Texas T-Bone Steakhouse. It was great seeing her again and we made plans to do some more things while we are here.
September 28, 2017
It’s been raining since we got to Colorado Springs accompanied with low clouds that are hiding the mountains. Last night I don’t think that it stopped raining all night.
Even tough the weather is terrible Joyce and I went out to tour the U. S. Air Force Academy anyway. Our first stop was at the Visitors Center where we saw a short film about the Academy. We then took the short hike out to the Cadet Chapel. This iconic building is scheduled for renovation next year and is scheduled to be closed for three years. Read more about the chapel here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Force_Academy_Cadet_Chapel. We then walked back to the visitors center where we viewed the exhibits and the walked through the gift shop.
The Protestant Chapel.
The Catholic Chapel.
Arnold Hall.
On Thursday Brandy came over and picked us up for a day of sight seeing. Joyce had made reservations for us to tour the Glen Eyrie Castle. Built in 1871 by the founder of Colorado City General William Jackson Palmer, this Tudor-style home is a must see when visiting this area. The castle and all of the grounds is now owned by The Navigators, a religious organization established in 1933.
The roof tiles we taken from a building in Europe and shipped to the U.S. These are some of the original.
Every castle needs a dragon. This one is in one of the fireplaces.
Our next stop on the tour was at the Garden of the Gods. Although it was very cloudy with some rain we still enjoyed the beauty here.
Next Brandy took us to the Broadmoor Hotel and Resort where she works in the tours and zip line department. What an amazing place.
When building the resort they wanted an authentic Irish pub. So they bought one in Ireland, dismantled the darned thing and had it shipped to the U.S.
The attention to detail is amazing.
Just one of several bars. This one has one of the largest collection of bourbon I have seen.
These are all over the building. And, the work.
During prohibition these all the alcohol was stored in the walls. During a renovation they were discovered and put in these display cases. There are 30 cases.
October 4, 2017
We reluctantly left Colorado Springs on Friday the 29th and headed south the Las Vegas, NM, arriving at the Elks Lodge there about 2 PM. There was no one in at the lodge so we picked one of the four RV sites and hooked up to their full hookup sites.
We then took a drive into town to look around. There isn’t too much going on in Las Vegas but we did have a drink at the Plaza Hotel. On a recommendation from the bartender we had a quick supper at Dick’s Pub and Grill.
After supper we went back to the Elks and had a couple of drinks in the lounge. Very friendly folks and the lodge bought our second drink.
We had planed to go down to Kirtland AFB on Saturday but after Joyce talked to the camp host there and learning that the Famcamp was full we went to Plan B. We hooked up and headed down to San Felipe Hollywood Casino in Algodones. They have a huge gravel parking lot with 30/50 amp power in each site. There are no water or sewer hookups but they do provide water filling and dump stations.
Later in the afternoon a couple of thunderstorms rolled through the area one of which came right over the top of the park. We got hammered with strong winds, very heavy rain and even some hail.
When we got up on Sunday morning Joyce called the Doreene (the camp host) at Kirtland and found out there were a couple of sites coming open and that she had four folks on the waiting list. We decided to head down that way anticipating having to dry camp for a day or so.
We got to the park about 8:15 and waited until Doreene came in at 9:00. She arrived exactly at 9:00 and started the roll call process. She took care of a couple of folks and then told Joyce that she had a cancellation so it looked like we would get a site. Doreene called another name of someone on the list to but the person didn’t show up for roll call allowing us to get a full hookup site.
October 6, 2017
We have been here at Kirtland for a few days now, just hanging out and relaxing. Joyce has been walking with the next door neighbor every morning, then doing some more walking when talking to her friend Marcia on the phone.
Yesterday be decided to drive up to Los Alamos, NM, the birthplace of the first atomic bomb. The town has grown a lot since World War II and pretty much is there now to support the Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Our first stop was at the Visitor Center where we got information about the town, a map and directions to a place to get some lunch. The lady there directed us to Ruby K’s Bagel Cafe where we had delicious sandwiches.
Our next stop on the tour was The Los Alamos History Museum. This campus once was the home of the Los Alamos Ranch School, a boarding school for boys. In 1942 the school was purchased by the United States Army's Manhattan Engineering District for support of the making of the atomic bomb.
"The Gadget" as it was called.
After our tour of Los Alamos we headed over to the Bandelier National Monument. After showing our National Parks Access Pass, getting another stamp in our National Parks Passport book and getting a trail map we headed out on the 1.25 mile trail that leads up to the cliff dwellings. This is really beautiful park with amazing history.
On the way back to Kirtland we stopped at Bumble Bee’s Baja Grill in Santa Fe for a quick supper. Nothing fancy here but some of the best authentic Mexican food you can get anywhere. Put this place on your list when you visit Santa Fe.
Barry and Joyce
