Some Dreams Really Do Come True, Part 6

 

So, to continue from the last story, how did we manage to walk ourselves into a spectacular view of sunset over Nipple Mountain, while wandering around in the Pueblo downtown?

Well, after exploring Garden of the Gods and touring Glen Eyrie Castle, we headed to Cave of the Winds Adventure Park. The first agenda was to take some pictures from the parking lot, because the view was still as breathtaking as ever.

Step two of the adventure was to do some rock wall climbing, Geronimo's leap, and a high ropes course. But wouldn't you know it, an afternoon thunderstorm rolled in, closing all the attractions right before we started. So we strolled around inside the visitor center, looking at the gift shop, watching the rain and lightning, and talking about life, till the storm finally blew over and we stepped out on a balcony to take pictures of the canyon below us while waiting for the attractions to re-open.

Thirty minutes after the last lightning, the adventure park activities finally re-opened. The climbing wall was a bit tricky my first time up. It had color-coded rocks to designate three different difficulty levels, and I used rocks from all three. But then I decided to challenge myself and go a second time, using only the most difficult color. I made it!

The high ropes course was relatively small, but it was intimidating, because half of it hung out over the canyon, making for a very, VERY long way down. Not that I'm afraid of heights. I'm climbing on high stuff all the time. But walking around at that height with nothing but a little steel cable attaching me to safety? A bit intimidating.

Then there is Geronimo's leap. An ascending spiral of pillars that are climbed like a spiral staircase, while strapped to a cable. With very careful balance, the goal is to reach the highest point, jump, and ride the cable back to the ground. Climbing heights is no issue for me. Jumping off of high things is a bit more sketchy, especially when the drop is greater than eight feet, and especially when the drop ends in solid ground. But sometimes, you just have to close your eyes, count to three, and take the leap of faith, trusting the cable to lead you home because it is the only way down.

Having conquered the adventure park, we still managed to have some time to kill before our cave tour. So we decided to do a thing called a Bat-A-Pault, a 1200 foot cable ride at up to 40mph over the canyon. But they hadn't yet re-opened the ride since the storm. So while we waited at the launch point, I started eyeing this large wooden structure with two little doorways. It kind of looked like a massive crate, and the sign said that it was a maze designed to simulate spelunking. Crawling through tight corners, bending and twisting, all pretty much slithering on your belly.

The sign also said recommended height was... Much shorter than six foot, one and a quarter inches...

But who am I to question suggested heights?

Yep, that's right. I'm usually the first in line to question such suggestions. But I made it out.

A staff member finally opened the Bat-A-Pault, it was a really fun ride, and we were right on perfect timing to make it to the designated gathering point for the cave tour.

However, right on time seemed to be a bit early. We were the first people to assemble. So we wandered a short distance away to take yet more pictures of the mountains around us.

Finally, we navigated the cave. It was dark. It was chilly. My photos did not turn out super great because of poor lighting.

With the adventure complete, it was still fairly early in the evening. After taking the photo that I used at the beginning of this post, the decision was made to take a spontaneous trip to the Pueblo Downtown. We headed to the historic Union Depot, we climbed up on a massive old steam train, we watched freight trains roll by on the active rails beside us. It was a beautiful evening.

 

As darkness overtook us, we wandered a short distance to a local oddity known as Neon Alley. Here, some guy has hung a large private collection of old neon signs for the community to enjoy. My camera exposure was up a bit too high... Kinda made a cool effect, though.

The other camera in the group was far superior.

Once we decided the lights felt a bit overwhelming, we started aimlessly wandering. We passed a restaurant with a small outdoor fountain.

And then we saw it. Through a narrow street, we could see all the way out of town, looking toward the San Isabel mountain range. And just in time to behold the last rays of sunlight setting over what I later learned was Nipple Mountain.

I dropped to my stomach on the sidewalk, using the ground to stabilize my phone for the shot. Both photographers did. You can tell the Galaxy S22 is far superior to my Kyocera Duraforce. Although my phone takes the cake in indestructibility.

We continued hanging there on the sidewalk for quite a while, just talking about life. But finally, we heard sounds that we could not determine whether they were fireworks or gunshots. So we decided it was a good time to end the night.

I think Monday was easily the busiest day of the entire trip. Certainly, it was the day I took the most pictures. And despite the storm and the chilly air, I think Monday was the most breathtakingly gorgeous day.

But Monday also carried a heavy burden. My adventure had only just begun in some ways, and yet, tomorrow would be my final day before my farewells. I was not sure I was ready for this.

Next time, the final chapter...