More from Colorado Springs 9/15/12

After visiting Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods on 9/14,   since we were still in Colorado Springs on 9/15,   we visited the Air Force Academy Chapel,  Seven Falls and the South Cheyenne Canyon,  Helen Hunt Falls and the North Cheyenne Canyon,  Silver Cascade Falls,  and the Royal Gorge.... It was GO GO GO all day long --and we loved it.

Today I will share some of our day with you that beautiful Fall day in Colorado.   The picture above is of the beautiful CHAPEL at the AIR FORCE ACADEMY.  I had always seen pictures of this gorgeous place ---but seeing it up close and personal was AWESOME.  Be sure to click on the photos for enlargements. 

As gorgeous as the outside of that chapel is,  let me tell you that the inside (all of the colors) is even more beautiful...  Here is only one photo (of many which I took) from inside that chapel...  Isn't it amazing?

After leaving the academy,  we headed to Seven Falls.   In order to get there,  we had to drive through the SOUTH CHEYENNE CANYON...  Wow--what a neat place!!!!

Here is a picture of SEVEN FALLS.  Seven Falls is just what it says that it is:  it is seven different waterfalls (all with their own names).  In this picture,  you can see FIVE of the SEVEN.  There is a small one (named SHORTY FALLS) hidden from your view in the middle,  and there is another drop at the top --to the left (also out of view)...

For your information,  here are the names of the SEVEN falls (from bottom to top):  Hill Falls,  Weimer Falls,  Hull Falls,  Shorty Falls,  Bridal Veil Falls,  Feather Falls,  and Romona Falls.  If you'd like more information as to how these falls got their names,   click HERE .

Look at this photo ---and find the OVERLOOK  'way' up there!!!!  See it?   NOW---go back to the previous photo... The overlook is where we were when we took the photo of Seven Falls, in the previous photo.   Interesting, huh?

Here is a picture of us taken at that overlook shown previously.   We really enjoyed being at SEVEN FALLS.

I took this picture from the bottom of Seven Falls --looking up!!!!!  You can see all of the steps that we climbed, much better in this picture.  

I took this picture of George --as we were climbing those steps....Pant Pant!!!! You can see the bottom drop (Hill Falls) to the left in the picture.   (In order to see the top waterfall,  we 'had' to climb up those steps!!!!  YES---the climb was worth it!)

After leaving Seven Falls,   we traveled in the NORTH CHEYENNE CANYON area... This canyon is also marvelous!!!!  I took this picture of a cute little cabin we passed... Neat,  isn't it???? 

Here is a picture of HELEN HUNT FALLS.  This waterfall was named after local Colorado writer,  Helen Hunt Jackson.  There is a little bridge above the waterfall where you can walk and then eventually get to another waterfall,  Silver Cascade Falls.  There was not much water up there this time of year.

This picture is out of order---but I saved my favorite photo 'til last!!!!!   Every once in awhile,  a photo comes along which "I" took that just blows me away...  This one did it for me...  I LOVE LOVE LOVE it.... Be sure to enlarge this one!!!!!

To me,  this is the PERFECT reflection photo straight out of the camera!!!!!  This was taken at Seven Falls ---and I am looking back toward the visitor center on the left.   The reflection makes the visitor center appear as if it is built on a big rock or cliff hanging out over the water....   It's NOT ---but wow--what a picture!!!! Hope you like it as much as I do.  Pictures like this make photography SO SO SO much fun!!!!!

Hope you have a great weekend.  I will see you on Monday.

Hugs,
Betsy

GARDEN of the GODS, Colorado

Today,  I will share more from our western trip in September.  Charles Elliott Perkins purchased two-hundred and forty acres in the Garden of the Gods for a summer home in 1879.  He later added to the property, but never built on it, preferring to leave his wonderland in its natural state for the enjoyment of the public.  Perkins died in 1907 before he made arrangements for the land to become a public park, although it had been open to the public for years.

In 1909, Perkins' children, knowing their father's feeling for the Garden of the Gods, conveyed his 480 acres to the City of Colorado Springs.  It would be known forever as the Garden of the Gods "where it shall remain FREE to the public, where no intoxicating liquors shall be manufactured, sold, or dispensed,  where no building shall be erected except those necessary to properly care for, protect, and maintain the area as a public park". 

If you want to read more information about the Garden of the Gods,  click HERE.   We had a fabulous visit there --so I wanted to share more photos with you today.  Sorry that the picture above and the last one below are not very good. It was almost dark when we took them.  Be sure to click on the photos to see enlargements.

We had a perfect day to be there... Isn't that a gorgeous sky?

These rock formations are amazing....  I just walked around with my mouth hanging open!!!!!!   I was in AWE of the area!

There are gorgeous walkways all around the area.  We enjoyed walking around with Sally and Jim.  (If you missed my blog about Sally and Jim,  check HERE.)

These rock climbers were amazing... I could never do that ---nor would I EVER try.... Yipes!!!!

Sally talked quite a bit about the big WHITE rocks.  Most people --including us--photograph the brown rocks, but don't stop to enjoy the white ones also. Isn't that a beauty?

There are many interesting birds in Colorado.   The top two are what are called Rock Doves... The one on the bottom --which you cannot see well is a White-throated Swift.  I also saw some Black-billed Magpies while there --but didn't get any good photos.

Sally took this photo of George and me while at the Garden of the Gods. As you can tell,  the temperatures warmed up some ---so we were able to shed our jackets.

George and I walked up to the top of a hill --and took some pictures looking down on the park.

Finally,  this is not a good picture since it was almost DARK.   Sally and Jim had told us where to drive to look down on the Garden of the Gods.  BUT--by the time we got there,  the sun had gone down behind that mountain.   You can get an idea of the total area though.   This place would be a fabulous place to get a photo with the sun shining on those big rocks.   We'll have to go back sometime.   WOW!!!!

We truly enjoyed our visit here.  Thanks again, Sally and Jim, for taking us to this beautiful place.  We are still re-living our wonderful trip through our photos.  Hope you are enjoying them too.

Prayers for ALL who had damage and/or lost so much in Hurricane Sandy...  Thank Goodness for Facebook and email ---as I worked hard to keep up with friends/family in the path of that storm.   God Bless ALL.

We never did get any snow (nor rain) here --but it has been COLD and WINDY.   Have a great day!

Hugs,
Betsy