Another day, another surprise. "Garden of the Gods". Never heard of it. Well you wouldn't would you unless you were a local. No signs off Interstate 25, and as it is not a national park it doesn't appear in any of their literature either. "Gifted" by one Charles Elliot Perkins, President of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, to the city of Colorado Springs. But was it really his to gift? - he had bought it, but from whom? And wasn't it Native American land in the first place, appropriated by white settlers? Anyway, having made his money on the railroad, he bought 480 acres of spectacular landscape just to the west of Colorado Springs and then gave it to the city on condition it remained free of charge to visit, it will forever be known as "Garden of the Gods" (I'm guessing he was religious), there be no buildings in the park, and no alcohol be sold in the park - of course not!
Whatever the history it is another spectacular landscape we had the good fortune to find, visit and wander around for a couple of hours. Cue silly selfies, and as usual in American parks you don't have to go that far from the car to virtually get the place to yourself. So here are the pictures. Apparently Nareesa's hair was not cooperating!
Me trying to be arty. Probably says more about me but it looks a bit rude somehow!
Off the beaten track at the "Siamese Twins"
Holding up "Balanced Rock"
About to be crushed by it?
Not much more to say about yesterday. We cut the journey slightly short as the weather forecast was predicting snow in Wyoming and in a two wheel drive car is not where we wanted to be in a snowstorm. We have been here in the past when these things have struck west of the Rockies, and best advice is to stay home. That not being an option, we decided to stay in Colorado, in the relative warmth and stop for the night in Fort Collins. At least we found the perfect place to eat! (We didn't as it happens, I couldn't eat a dog). We did however find a great Italian a ten minute walk from our hotel. We were of course the only people who walked to it.
As it turned out the reports of snow were greatly exaggerated and we probably could have headed on to Cheyenne. But better safe than sorry. We have left ourselves a longer drive today to Custer in South Dakota, but it is mostly a driving day anyway with little planned in the way of stops. But we often say that and find the most fabulous places we never expected. Coffee in Cheyenne is a must of course! There is always coffee.
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