08/03/2023 - Day 49 Colorado Springs, CO USAF ACADEMY PEREGRINE PINES FAMCAMP

It’s Thursday and we’re in Colorado Springs, CO! 

I’ve been singing this song as we drive through these mountains and grasslands for the past few weeks.  Guess where we went today? Yep, Pikes Peak!  I have to insert this caveat, this is our 3rd time here! (Yes, I know we are BLESSED!) And, instead of the old “Pikes Peak” sign, the above pic of America the Beautiful was there! It is beautiful, and, I didn’t see anyone standing there taking their “selfie” LOL!  (Below photo was taken back in 2015 on “The Great Adventure) If you look on my Facebook page, photo albums “The Great Adventure” you’ll see lots of pics from that trip. (I have no idea who the lady is, I just snapped the pic)   But…..I did see this sign on our way back down:  
  (So I guess all’s not lost)  Mr C took a chance and made his way inside to find the men’s room. Bad Idea! The altitude is over 14,000 feet high, which already causes a problem breathing until you can get your body acclimated. (Thank God he carried his oxygen can in with him!). Well, once he got inside, he found out the bathrooms & everything else is DOWNSTAIRS! It used to be all on one level, so all the “changes” they’ve made since our last visit (when it was under construction) made us thankful we saw it back then. Now, it’s all rocks, glass building and very “modern” looking. He went downstairs, made it to the bathroom, came back upstairs, and then saw there was an elevator! He barely made it back to the truck and just sat for awhile catching his breath. I had taken the dogs to walk but there was no grass for them to pee! (Good thing we took them before we went up). I loaded them back up and went inside myself.   I don’t know where the cog train went (I think they still run it) and, we didn’t see any wildlife all the way up. I guess all the construction caused them to go into the deep woods. But….I did take lots of pics heading up (and down) so…..here they are:      This was the only wildlife we saw other than little Pikas. We got back, saw the flag waving at the USAF Academy gate and realized even they’re under construction, so their nice big sign was gone.  
   Mr Charleys kids had gotten him a new RV map when he got his new rig. It was filled for all his states (minus ND). Well, the stickers were peeling off, so we ordered a new one. I finally got all of them placed and Mr C found his Clemson sticker to add. (I think he needs a “God Bless America” flag sticker to add) Here’s a pic he took of the beautiful blue sky and puffy white clouds.  

Have a good one everybody.