Denver and Colorado Springs

After my visit in Kansas, I headed west to Denver for the Memorial Day weekend with my kids and grandson.

A friend let me park in his driveway.  It was so convenient, only 5 miles from the kids house.

Joshua got his drivers license last week and also this 1995 Jeep.  It's the same age as he is.  And yes, it has a lift kit and no running boards.  You should have seen me trying to get in and out.  It wasn't funny!

On Memorial Day I headed south to Colorado Springs, where I was meeting up with my girlfriends for some R&R in Manitou.

We were able to catch the last day of the Territorial Days Street Festival in Old Colorado City.

This is the Cliff House Inn.  The early Cliff House was smaller, cube shaped and built prior to 1874, but by 1887 it had been modified and electrified.  By 1913 it was the largest and finest hotel in town. It is one of the few surviving frame constructed buildings in the area.  After being left vacant for 15 years, it was remodeled and reopened in 1999.
 Manitou Springs derives its name from the over 2 dozen mineral springs found in the area.  In the early 1900s it was noted as a popular health destination for people suffering from tuberculosis.

The Wheeler Spring sits across the street from the Cliff House Inn.  And yes, that is my finger in the upper right hand corner.
Around town you will find deco sculptures of bicycles.  

  

Someone chained their own bicycle to the artwork.

Personally, this was my favorite.

I believe this is Cheyenne Spring.  You can drink out of any of the springs which are flowing.  The unique characteristic of Manitou's springs are there natural carbonation.

Navajo Spring.

The Barker House Apartments, was built in 1872.  It also houses BJs Bistro.

I liked this colorful sidewalk bench, found in downtown Manitou Springs.

We also visited Seven Falls.  You can climb the 200+ stairs to get to the top, and then go visit the memorial site of Helen Hunt, an author.  She loved this place and asked to be buried here.  Once her husband could no longer navigate the route to her grave, her remains were relocated down to Evergreen Cemetery, but he left a Memorial for her on top of her beloved mountain.
But the best view is actually the 14 stories through the mountain in the elevator.  You can then overlook the entire set of falls.  There wasn't much water since it has been such a dry winter.

I just couldn't resist.

In the canyon next to Seven Falls in the Cheyenne Canon Park and Helen Hunt Falls.  The park is a public park and not so touristy, but has many more hiking trails and is a lot more fun.

I think we checked out every little shop located in downtown Manitou Springs and we ate at several really good restaurants.  Many of the restaurants are organic, gluten-free, vegetarian and very interesting.  I even had gluten free crepes at a gluten free French restaurant.  They even grind their own flour.

We said goodbye as they headed to Oklahoma and I headed back to Denver.

As I was packing up I noticed a leak at my rear tire, so I called a workhorse chassis service center.  Luckily it was just an axle flange seal which needed to be replaced, but they said it had been leaking for a while and if it hadn't been fixed I could have blown my rear axle.  Boy am I glad I got it fixed.  I was on my way again within an hour.