Pikes Peak

We ventured to the beautiful state of Colorado on our July vacation with friends. We love riding this wonderful country and seeing the sights with those who share a common interest of riding and exploring all that this great country of ours has to offer. If I could retire with the wealth of winning a big lotto, I'd spend what days I have left trying to see as much of this place as I could. I must admit though, this was a for sure one time thing for me in this picture. That thin air is hard to deal with at my age.

The view from the Cog Railway to the top is breathtaking and even moreso as you get closer to the peak... literally! This shot is looking towards Colorado Springs. It was a toasty 39 degrees on the top the day we went up.

The ride down was really good, especially when we got below the 12,000 level. I was able to actually take a good breath by then. These trains are incredible. Simple design and they have operated for many years without a single accident.

Did someone say waterfalls?

It wouldn't be Colorado if there were not at least one waterfall and we saw several from the train. These were small but there's no such thing as an ugly waterfall to me. I love them all. The snow runoff was still going even in July. Probably ran through August too.

Some of us were really whipped after that high altitude and the ride up from Dodge City Kansas. Mike was catching 20 winks on the way down. Can't say that I blame him. I was pretty whipped too. Next time I want to soar with the eagles, I think I'll just go to Philidelphia and wear some green.

Then capping the day with a little ride through the Garden of the Gods before stopping for a great dinner at the Mason Jar and on to our hotel for a good night's sleep before continuing our adventure in this beautiful state.

And saying good night under a full Colorado moon on a clear Colorado night is something you just have to experience for yourself. It's a Rocky Mountain High.

Oklahoma City National Memorial

On July 4, 2009, we were very fortunate to visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial with some dear friends. The site is very awe inspiring. The reflecting pool shown here is absolutely beautiful. Visiting this site will take you back to that fateful day when domestic terrorism struck the heartland of our country.

We spent about 4 hours at the site and going through the museum. The empty chairs will make you think. Most of us will never know what the survivors have gone through and many are still suffering today. The untold horror of what took place will forever be a shadow over our country and a testament to the uselessness of this sort of violence. This one desperate act did not change what took place at Waco or Ruby Ridge. It could not. However, the perpetrator(s) of this horrific act only proved that they were guilty of innocent blood and if vengeance was the motive, it certainly did not avenge a single life. The sadness and solemnity of this site is a bleak reminder that not all enemies of our country are from foreign shores. The mis-guided, mis-informed and ignorant acts of desperate people present a very real and present danger.

If you are anywhere near Oklahoma City, put this one on your must see list. Let us never forget those who were victimized that day. We all will carry the scars but none more than the survivors of this despicable act of treason.

The fence on the side of the Memorial that leads to the Museum is decorated with memorials from relatives of the victims and visitors to this site in honor of those who perished. They are placed in the chain link fence that was erected at the site while the work was being done and because of these, the fence was never taken down.