Cool red rocks were the theme today. Rob planned two hikes in Garden of the Gods. It is a public park designated as a National Landmark donated to the city of Colorado Springs, and we've been wanting to visit here for many years.
We ate breakfast in our apartment, packed up our cooler with our lunch we bought from our dinner restaurant last night, and leisurely made our way over to the park. There was construction in town and near the park, so we had to make a few adjustments to the route for the detours. The ride to the park took about 15 minutes. Traffic was busy and we arrived at the Visitor Center a bit after 10am. We parked, shed our riding gear and put on our hiking shoes. At this point Rob looked at the hiking map and realized we needed to be across the highway! The Visitor Center is about a half mile walk from the most popular trail with many of the red rocks. So we geared back up and rode across the street.
The parking area for the Central Garden Trail was packed! We decided instead to start with hike #2. The whole park is a one way drive loop, so we drove around to Parking Lot #16 at the Spring Canyon South Picnic Area. There were plenty of open spots. We arrived there at 10:45am. The loop Rob planned for us was a custom combination of several trails to be about 2.3 miles. First we took the out and back route to Balanced Rock Trail. It was a popular area.
After pictures we walked back to begin the Cabin Canyon Trail, then the Siamese Twins Trail. We also saw Pike's Peak in the distance in several areas.
Next was the Palmer Trail, connecting to the Columbia Trail and then the Strausenback Trail. At times we were the only people on the trail until we came to popular rock outcroppings and formations.
We finished our loop at 12:45 and were ready for our picnic lunch. We had a nice picnic table right next to the Wing. We were amused by an older couple with a grumpy man, and a few dopes in a truck that drove into the parking lot, backed up into the oncoming traffic, and proceeded to drive the wrong way on the one way road. They came upon a car coming at them not too far down the road and turned around. Then a huge family showed up and were asking us about the trailer. One man asked if we were just married since our trailer's license plate is Hitched. Rob replied, "Not newly married, but still married."
Our morning was sunny and mid to upper 80s. We drank a lot of water and concluded we probably needed more for the second hike, which was the Central Garden Trail of about 1.3 miles mostly paved. After lunch, we stopped in the nearby Trading Post and got a few more bottles. Then we suited up and rode back up to park near the Central Garden Trail. Rob scoped out three possible parking areas near the hiking spot. The first two were not ideal for our long vehicle, but the third was just fine and right near one of the trail heads. The Central Garden Trail is really a walk, not so much a hike. It is paved and accessible. There is one gravel trail, the Upper Loop Trail, that goes to a higher elevation and requires some rock scrambling. This is the view from there, not that we rock scrambled up these!
We enjoyed walking around this one mile loop and took our time taking pictures, looking at birds, and watching the rock climbers. Before 4pm we suited back up to head back to our apartment. As we were heading out, a lady asked Michele if she was suiting up to go rock climbing. No, riding the bike is enough adventure!
We made a stop at Safeway to pick up produce and meat to make soft tacos for dinner tonight, get more drinks and buy a few items for lunch tomorrow. It was busy there but we got what we needed for a few days. We got back to the apartment around 4:45pm. Rob parked the bike at the top of the driveway hill, then walked down and swept up the dried mud debris that thankfully dried from yesterday so he could more easily pull the Wing and trailer under our portico.
Our hosts left us a bottle of wine when we arrived so we opened that and enjoyed a healthy homemade meal. At dinner last night our server, Nicole from Boston, gave us free chips, salsa and guac since she was busy with other customers. We weren't in a rush and didn't mind at all, so it was really sweet of her to do that. The chips complimented our soft taco dinner.
Today was a lot of fun and filled with scenery at every turn. We saw birds, deer and lucky people on a horseback ride.
Tomorrow we will take a longer hike around the park and visit the Visitor's Center exhibits.
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