Wednesday was recovery day and we just hung out at the lovely house, though we did go to Breck to get a cuppa at Clint's. Wednesday night we had an inch of snow, so that gave me a chance to try out my new Sonny A55 camera, my first venture into the world of SLR photography.
Thursday afternoon we explored Fairplay and had cup of coffee/tea in one of the many cafes and did a bit of shopping in the local Food Market store.
Friday we took a trip across the Boreas Pass route from Como into Breckenridge. It is a washboard road trail which is full of the history of the area, mining, ghost towns and railroads. As well as having breathtaking views of the Continental Divide, which it crosses at the Boreas Pass. At one time this route was the only way to get into the Breck, Vail, Leadville area, so was very important. It is now largely abandoned, with just a few bits preserved. This was a round about way to get us into Breckenridge to meet Sarah and Brianna for tea at Erics Downstairs, which was fun.
On Saturday we all went Ready Steady Fire to paint some pottery, that was great fun and needed a lot of patience and concentration.
On Sunday we decided to make a day of it and went to Pike's Peak, near Colorado Springs, to take a ride in the cog train which goes right to the top. 14,170 ft, with magnificent views all around of the Continental Divide to the West, New Mexico to the South, the plains to the East and Denver to the North. Fabulous, but cold. On the way in the train we got a good view of that fascinating but rare plant - The Bristle cone Pine. The one we saw by the railroad was said to be 2000 years old.
Monday saw us take a trip up to Silverthorne to give Sally a fix in Carters.
That was our week in Colorado, for a quiet week to start our vacation it seems to have been quite busy. We had a great time.
Trip 9 - California Dreamin'
On this trip we set out to immerse ourselves in the culture and the nature of California. To discover its textures and see some of its natural wonders. We discover that California is very big. It is not a state that you can just pass through, it is, more than any other place we have visited, more like another country. It is a land dominated by mountains, the spaces between and like nowhere else, water.
Our start in the heavily populated area to the East of Los Angeles, known as the Inland Empire, is crowded into the lowlands surrounded by magnificent mountains. The feeling is of a cauldron which is trying to boil over the mountains to the fresh air of the rest of the state.
To the South is a band of Desert, which is the buffer to Mexico, which we did not explore on this trip.
We travelled North through the mountains (everywhere in California you can see mountains) to the desert, and on again to the huge Central Valley, mile after mile of intensive agriculture. Culture here is dominated by food, flatness, low income and trying to impact on the 'sameness' of the flat lands through music and festival. It is the communication and administrative corridor that links all other areas of California.
To the East is the huge mountain chain of the Sierra Nevada which clearly demonstrates the magnificence of the natural world, both in its geology and nature, reflected in the pysche and pride of most Californians. It is Eldorado, dominated by Gold!
To the West of the Central Valley are the coastal mountains, San Francisco and the magnificent coast. More isolated cultures, from mixed resources, communities seperated by mountains.
To the North of the Central Valley more mountains and a culture which looks more North towards Oregon than South to Sacremento.
This blog details our journey through California, where we pick and choose, or just scratch the surface, of this diverse and beautiful state.
Our start in the heavily populated area to the East of Los Angeles, known as the Inland Empire, is crowded into the lowlands surrounded by magnificent mountains. The feeling is of a cauldron which is trying to boil over the mountains to the fresh air of the rest of the state.
To the South is a band of Desert, which is the buffer to Mexico, which we did not explore on this trip.
We travelled North through the mountains (everywhere in California you can see mountains) to the desert, and on again to the huge Central Valley, mile after mile of intensive agriculture. Culture here is dominated by food, flatness, low income and trying to impact on the 'sameness' of the flat lands through music and festival. It is the communication and administrative corridor that links all other areas of California.
To the East is the huge mountain chain of the Sierra Nevada which clearly demonstrates the magnificence of the natural world, both in its geology and nature, reflected in the pysche and pride of most Californians. It is Eldorado, dominated by Gold!
To the West of the Central Valley are the coastal mountains, San Francisco and the magnificent coast. More isolated cultures, from mixed resources, communities seperated by mountains.
To the North of the Central Valley more mountains and a culture which looks more North towards Oregon than South to Sacremento.
This blog details our journey through California, where we pick and choose, or just scratch the surface, of this diverse and beautiful state.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
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Terry & Sally,
ReplyDeleteIt was a delightful trip up Pike's Peak, and on the way down an equally delightful chat with you (Sally) about your travels...you are living a dream of many. Praying your travels are inspiring, and mechanically uneventful! I will check the blog occasionally, and contact you via e-mail about visiting...
Tip for the day from the Ranch: Three things dictate a cowboys' outfit--work, weather, and vanity...
Safety first, KC (fireman from CA)