A new day

 We showed up a few years too late for the cool black and white photo op.

 While this was sort of small

 it was big enough to have lots of fun

Secret passages

photo ops and windows to crawl out

 go ahead, no you, no you....

 finally a leader took charge

We gave

those who needed it a class on ladder climbing

 after we mastered that, we learned of faster ways to get up

 I'm smiling because Mom said something about a gift shop.

Snakes !

why does it have to be snakes?  Oh never mind, I love these snakes

At lunch I was happy to see this favorite from Texas made it to Colorado.  Yum

After the Cog Rail Road

it was lunch time

 We thought this would be fun, and we were right.

 it was larger, and more fun than expected.

 it had lots of old games with old prices.  How cool is that?

Dance Dance

as it turned out, this game was pretty new compaired to the rest.

I found out later

his favorite game was the origional Tron

more fun

She's still cute, no matter what

 It was cool that all the old machines were working.

 "You will go far.....   and I hope soon"

A good time was had by all

was that bang or pop

 Unlike his cousins, coins were not always required to have mega fun.

 but the yellow digger did rate two bits.

 I wonder what they are watching.

The Thinker

Today's adventure

Pikes Peak from our back yard.  Let's go there.

 Yea, we made it.  But I get ahead of myself.

 We were told to go in the morning, as it often rains in the afternoons, so we did.  It was a great, clear day.  Here comes our Cog Railroad train now.  We were also told the temp at the top can be 30 to 50 degrees cooler than at the bottom, so we all brought jackets.

 Wow, the big rocks are close to the tracks.

Getting high

There were several 25% grade climbs.

 Who put that lake here?  Bye bye trees.

 Hey, wait for me.

more cog action

 An inch on the horizon is about 38 miles.

 Old weather station

Made it

The height of the mountain is now listed at 14,115 vs 14,110.  The pressure was 18.15 inches of mercury.  The thin air effected us differently.  It made some take a bunch of photos, some to stand on the edge of the cliff, some to buy souvenirs, and some to buy some yucky high altitude donuts.

 What a crew.

 Good thing the train had brakes.

 With over 100 switch backs, I am so glad I chose not to drive up.  However, we could have used a little more time on the top.

I guess I should add a few

animal photos before we leave the zoo.

 This mountain goat, or big horn sheep as they call them (I wonder which is correct).  Anyway, speaking of mountains......

but I have

After leaving the zoo, we drove up another 1,000 feet to 8,000.  The barometric pressure was  22.90  inches of mercury.

To check out the Will Rogers temple of the sun.

 great views from up here