Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Friday, October 5, 2012

Pikes Peak, Colorado---Part II

If you missed Part I from our journey way UP Pikes Peak,  please click HERE.   Today I'll share more of our adventure. The picture above  shows the beautiful views from up there.  Can't believe that we were WAY down there near that lake only a short time before being here!!!!!




We finally made it to the  TOP  (over 14,000 feet).   Here you can see the visitor center (where we just HAD to have some hot chocolate and a famous Pikes Peak do-nut) on the left and the little train on the right.

I saw this same photo on another blog (from someone who had been here in August) --and it looked so different this time with snow on the ground.    LOVED it up there --but it was quite cold!!!!!   We obviously didn't linger outside for long! ha




Here is our view from the very top...   Beautiful, huh?




George just HAD to take a picture of the Girl who loves SNOW while we were on the summit...  Cold, you ask??????   YES---just a tad!!!!!! ha  (Temperature up there was in the 20's/30's with a stiff breeze.)



Now we are headed back down the mountain.   Didn't realize that I had gotten a bird in the photo --but I like it.  That's a pretty big guy!!!!  There's also a biker in front of us...  I'll bet he enjoys the ride DOWN better than he did the ride UP..... ha ha  (I cannot imagine being able to do that!  I could barely walk on the top without being out of breath.)




 Here's another photo of our road..... Can you imagine them building that road??????  Wow!!!!!!




We are almost back down... Here's another reflection photo which I like.  Oh--how I love seeing the yellow ASPEN trees in bloom.... We just got there at the perfect time!!!!




Finally,  this picture was taken from our motel in Colorado Springs.  Can you believe that we were up on the TOP of that mountain??????  Awesome experience!!!!! Hope you enjoyed it!

Have a wonderful weekend.  My son's wedding is tomorrow ---so we will be celebrating all weekend!!!!   See you on Monday!

Hugs,
Betsy

51 comments:

Farikica said...

Dear Betsy,

As always, very picturesque...:) If I ever go to US one day, your blog will be my ultimate reference...:)

P/s: very nice heading btw.. it's so autumn...

Sharon said...

That Pikes Peak highway is a once in a lifetime experience isn't it? Rather intimidating especially near the top. Bill, being afraid of heights, did not do so well. Needless to say, I was driving! Wouldn't it be fun if we could all put our Pike's Peak "brag" pic together and compare the dates?

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Ooooohhhhh, those hair pin curves get me every time. I've not been to Pike's Peak, but we were in the mountains of Spain with some hairy, turning roads with no guard rails. Very scary and we lost our brakes too. We got back on level ground and our brakes worked fine.

It is always worth it to see the views and yours were spectacular.

Thanks for sharing your experience with us.

FlowerLady

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Look at that view! So stunning!

Elizabeth Edwards said...

it is so fun to see others traveling to the same places at different times in the year. so wild. almost like a totally different place. to great!! love these views. so lovely. (:

Neal said...

Very beautiful. I wonder if they've gotten snow up there this year because we were up there in July of last year and the snow was gone.

Dorothy said...

Betsy, your pictures and your header are TERRIFIC! There was no snow up there. I know you and George had a blast! (We are in Branson but will be home soon)

Miss Debbie said...

You made it to the top...good for you! :-) I pray that the wedding goes well and that you are able to enjoy every minute...no stress!

MadSnapper said...

enjoy the wedding, that is some winding road and that tram looks a might scary for me, the chicken little fearful one

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

These photos took my breath away. And some of them made my knees weak. You must have had a perfect day to have had such clear views from the top. Just stunning. Really.

Nellie said...

Sending along good wishes for the week-end, Betsy! You have some exciting plans!

Nava said...

Hi--Betsy--thanks for taking us there. I have not been back since the boys were little.

Have a fu weekend with your family. :)



Janice K said...

Certainly a top of the world experience. Great pictures.

MTWaggin said...

Betsy, you look COLD! heehee Actually, many of the bikers (but not all) take the train to the top and ride down! :) Enjoy the wedding and you better share photos!

Susannah said...

Beautiful...but a tad scary for me. What memories you will have. Glad you got to see it and enjoy it. I hope you can go back someday.

Anonymous said...

Hey friend..I did not miss part 1 and am thrilled to take part 2 adventure also.
Wish I was on that curvy road right now.
Thanks for sharing another wonderful exciting adventure in blogland.
I sure appreciate the beautiful scenery!
Love this country!!
I want to travel down/up this road!!!

LV said...

It truly is an awesome place to visit. However, the height did not set well with me.

Ruth Hiebert said...

You really were on top of the world. Awesome views.

Sylvia K said...

That is a "top of the world" place!! Such breathtaking beauty and your captures are superb as always, Betsy! Looks as though you both had a fantastic time -- as always! Hope the two of you have a wonderful weekend!

Karin said...

What a lovely post on all those fabulous places you've been! Love that hair-pin road ---- NOT!! Great shot of it though!

Cheryl @ TFD said...

Gorgeous photos! I'm doing to have to go back and maybe drive next time. We took the train before and it was fun, too!
Best wishes to your son! Enjoy the wedding and weekend!

Cheryl @ TFD said...

Oops, sorry, I should proofread. That should be *going* not doing!

joy said...

i really enjoyed the trip:)
And I hope to see some pictures from the wedding. Have a nice time!

Grandma Bonnie said...

Congratulations to your son! Those are some breath taking photos! I love the snow pictures. I am a fan of snow and cold!

Ms. A said...

Girl, you should have packed some thermals in your little bag of tricks! Bet your legs were chilly.

Love that reflection shot!

Enjoy the wedding!

Out on the prairie said...

I have biked down this and walked up many times.I was in Manitou Springs and working out of Fort Carson.I could see the peak out my front window.

imac said...

Magnifico scenes Betsy.

happyone said...

I remember that road well!!!! : ) Really cool.

Terry and Linda said...

AND YOU GOT TO DO IT IN SNOW!!!!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com

Lady Di Tn said...

Like a kid I looked at the photos as I did not know how long I could sit here. Peace

Anonymous said...

Hi Betsy, Yes, the Aspen Trees in your pictures are beautiful! Glad you enjoyed Pike's Peak. I get altitude sickness after about 9,000 ft. so that trip is one I will do virtually. Have a wonderful coming weekend and watch for possible light frost maybe around Mon. AM or late Sun.

JDS said...

Awesome Betty. The sight of snow on the ground almost brings tears to my eyes down here in hot, hot Florida. There were flurries falling when I was on top of Pike's Peak in 1989 - and it was August!

Small City Scenes said...

Again super shots. So when are you coming to visit Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana??? haha
Bob and I have to get to Mt. Baker this year. PLEASE!!! MB

amy @ Life in Pink Hi-Tops said...

Love the picture of you in shorts in the snow!! What an awesome trip down the mountain.
Congrats on your son's wedding. Have fun this weekend!

Shug said...

I remember that little red train. We rode that thing several years ago and had a blast chugging our way to the top...such splendor!
Loving your photos!
Shug

Susie Swanson said...

Such a beautiful view..I can never get my fill.. Hugs, Susie

Cheqna said...

Hi Betsy,

congratulations on reaching the peak..can imagine drinking hot chocolate in the cold weather..hehe.

Lovely views, love the view of the lake from the top.

Waiting for next set of photos, in the meantime enjoy the wedding and congratutions to your son n bride, and to you too.

:-)

Ann said...

More amazing views Betsy. Totally awesome.

Gardener on Sherlock Street said...

I knew there would be a photo of you in the snow. I bike ride and cannot imagine that trip! Thanks for sharing.

Connie said...

Amazing pictures, Betsy! Beautiful, but it does look cold there. haha!

I hope the wedding goes well and you have a wonderful weekend.

Busy Bee Suz said...

The views are just amazing...love them all.
Mostly though, I love seeing you two out there enjoying life! Seeing the world is a great thing. I'm enjoying each photo that you share.
XOXO

Chatty Crone said...

How amazing that it was so hot here and you were there with snow on the ground drinking hot chocolate. Just a little bit away from each other. And the scenery and landscape is so unique and different! Love and enjoyed your photos.

Unknown said...

I love these photos. I just found your blog and it suits me well. I love journeying by looking at your photos. Thanks so much for sharing. God bless you and your family.

bike loan

Lynda said...

The picture I like best is where you are looking down at the hairpin curved road - - and that brilliant blue river is over in the distance. However, I do NOT like heights - - almost hate them. I would not have been happy that close to the edge - - - or maybe you used zoom - - -
Hope the wedding weekend was great fun.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

VAN, Thanks for coming to my blog. I can't find yours--if you have one. I saw your profile on Google+ but no blog was listed... Come back to my blog anytime.
Betsy

Serenity Cove said...

Loved the photos. Really like the one in the previous post with the reflection in the lake. Just beautiful!! I had to laugh at the photo of you in your shorts by the sign. I bet that was cold.Brr...I'm not ready for that just yet!!
I was at Pikes Peak when I was 16 years old. Wow...that was a long time ago:(

Jeevan said...

The views are just breathtaking and enchanting! The white snow with red train is photogenic... Hope it was memorable being on top of the world and I don’t believe could I sustain such height.

My greetings to your son and enjoy the occasion with love :)
Happy Sunday

Kelly said...

Wow! What an adventure!! I wanna go!! :-)

Catherine said...

Wow! So many lovely scenic photos!
I hope you are having a terrific weekend and everything is going well at the wedding!
xo Catherine

diane b said...

That must have been fun going up to the summit. I can't believe that you only had shorts on . I love the aspens and the lake with reflections. Beautiful scenery everywhere.

Andrea said...

OMG these are fabulous, I am full of envy!