2022 Aug 21 – Pueblo, CO to Denver, CO- Kelly

State Count – still 10

The first stop of the day was Colorado Springs and The Garden of the Gods. Wow! Descriptions won’t do it justice, so just take a peak at the pictures below. It’s nestled right into and amidst the community and neighborhoods. If you lived there, you’d see it when were out running errands – “let’s see, gas, groceries, oh and there’s a glimpse of something fabulous!” I had figured that it got its name from a poetic Native American translation, but that’s not the case. Instead, In 1859, two surveyors started out from Denver City to begin a townsite, soon to be called Colorado City. While exploring nearby locations, they came upon a beautiful area of sandstone formations. One of them said this would be a “capital place for a Biergarten”. His companion exclaimed back, “Biergarten! Why it is a fit place for the Gods to assemble. We will call it the Garden of the Gods.” Later, a railroad baron came to own it, but then donated the entire park to the community, based on four conditions: (1) it had to be free to the public, (2) no buildings could ever be erected in the park, (3) it had to be well-maintained, and (4) ironically, no alcohol could be consumed on parkland. Gods NOT excepted!

Sometimes – especially after you’ve been on the road for a week with your wife and dog – you just need to have a beer and smoke a cigar with your brother, so we pulled into Denver and spent a fun, normal evening with Jim’s youngest brother and his family. Bonus: I learned to can peaches, too!