“The best thing about memories…is making them.” -Author Unknown
In January we said good-bye to our home and our life in Port Lavaca and moved aboard Texas Pearl. It feels wonderful being free to come and go as we please with less responsibilities.
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Merry Christmas
“Not what we have, but what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance.” –Epicurus
Merry Christmas and Happy New year. After selling our home in January and taking a trip to Pennsylvania to see Kyle and his family we spent a quiet winter in Rockport enjoying Eric and his family. We finally broke loose of our Covid isolation practices when we headed north for the season. We visited with cruising friends and spent time in Charleston. It felt wonderful to be with friends and eat at some of our favorite places again. Things may not be exactly the same, but it’s getting there.
A Summer of Waterfalls
“There’s no better place to find yourself than sitting by a waterfall and listening to its music” ―Roland R Kemler
We spent a lot of time this summer exploring waterfalls. Ithaca and the surrounding Finger Lake region were carved out by glaciers that formed gorges millions of years ago…leaving over 150 waterfalls within 10 miles of Ithaca. The waterfalls are limitless in the Finger Lakes. After it rains they appear everywhere…you can spot them driving down the road or cruising on the lake. Not counting the ones that pop up after it rains, we explored 25 different waterfalls. Many had multiple falls so we actually saw more than 25.
Ithaca Falls is one of six falls on Fall Creek and is 150′ tall.
Manitou Springs Wrap Up
“If you don’t get out of the box you’ve been raised in, you won’t understand how much bigger the world is.” – Angelina Jolie
We had a wonderful time exploring the Pikes Peak region of Colorado. The appointment we had in Manitou Springs was perfectly located to all the things we wanted to do. It’s a very touristy town and we knew it would be, but I wouldn’t have stayed anywhere else. Everything we needed and wanted to do was only a few miles away. I have a feeling I might think differently during the summer, but fall is a great time to visit.
Nov. 3 – Red Rock Canyon Open Space
“Some beautiful paths can’t be discovered without getting lost.” – Erol Ozan
Since it was our last day in Manitou Springs and the weather was so wonderful we decided to do a little more exploring and hiking after lunch. We spent the afternoon at Red Rock Canyon Open Space.
Nov. 3 – Iron Mountain Trail
“The best views come after the hardest climbs.” – Author Unknown
We woke to a beautiful day and decided to hike a trail that would give us views of the area. We chose the Iron Mountain Trail that began on Crystal Park Road, just a few miles from our house.
Nov. 1 – Hiking in Cheyenne Cañon
“Climb the mountain so you can see the world, not so the world can see you.” ~David McCullough
There are hundreds of hiking trails in this area of Colorado, so picking just one to do was a little difficult. I did research on many hikes in North Cheyenne Cañon south of Manitou Springs. There were several we wanted to do, but the closure of the North Cheyenne Cañon Road left us only the Seven Bridges Trail we could get to. I guess being here in the off season means putting up with some inconveniences.
Manitou’s Mineral Springs
“Doing what you like is freedom, liking what you do is happiness.” ~Anonymous
The mineral springs in Manitou Springs are a vital part of what makes this area special. There are eight distinct naturally-carbonated mineral springs in town and each has a slightly different taste. While we wandered through town we looked for each one and had a little taste…I thought they all tasted about the same.
The source of these famous mineral waters lies deep underground in a system of cavernous aquifers. As the ancient water erodes the surrounding limestone, carbonic acid is created, which gives the Manitou springs their effervescence. This natural carbonation forces the water back to the surface through cracks in the rocks, where it absorbs high concentrations of sodium bicarbonate (soda) and other minerals, including Lithium!
Oct. 30 – Pikes Peak
“Every mountain top is within reach if you just keep climbing.” –Barry Finlay
Pikes Peak is one of the most beautiful landmarks in Colorado and the most visited mountain summit in North America. The views from the summit inspired the words to America the Beautiful. In 1803, Pikes Peak mountain became part of the United States as part of the vast Louisiana Purchase. Three years later in 1806, Lt. Zebulon Pike was sent to explore the borders of the new territory. On November 24, 1806, he set out from his stop near modern-day Pueblo, Colorado, to climb the mountain. He was forced back by a blizzard and declared that no man would ever reach the summit that now bears his name. Visitors now reach the summit by taking the cog train, hiking, biking or driving to the top.
Oct. 29 – Garden of the Gods
“Because when you stop and look around, this life is pretty amazing.” ~Anonymous
After our long drive from the east coast we decided to spend the day outside enjoying an amazing fall day. We spent the morning hiking at the Garden of the Gods. We hiked three short trails in the park that gave us a chance to get close to the largest rock formations and also provided us with wonderful views of the surrounding area. We hiked a total of 4.5 miles today.
