Day 12, Journey to Garden of the Gods.

  View from the Visitor Center.

From Denver, we drive south on I25 towards Colorado Springs. The traffic is heavy, the speed limit 65mph. Lots of road works, switching lanes, lower speed limits with double fines, but only I drop my speed and all but get rear ended. We pass under a spaghetti bowl, two bridges cross in opposite directions above us. Time for breakfast.

We leave the interstate at a sign for the Air Force Academy, planning to visit the chapel. As we approach the entrance, cars back up to be stopped at the guard post. The road has concrete blocks across it through which we drive in a zigzag. We are waved on. A sign reads ‘Straight on for Events. Left to quarters.’ “Hey, Jan, we are in luck, must be something good.” We are in the middle of a long line driving steadily forward. They all turn left into a soccer field. Spectators! The road ahead is blocked.

We pull over and see two ladies by a golf cart, so we figure they are staff. “Can we see the Chapel?”

“Sorry, no. This site is closed to the public since 9-11. Do you have military ID? No? Then you should not have been allowed in.”

We high tail it out! “Glad we did not turn left to the Quarters…….”

Back on I25, we turn towards the Garden of the Gods and stop at the visitor center. It is a large and beautiful building which reminds me of Frank Lloyd Wright’s style. We watch a short film describing the geological events which resulted in the unique rock formations. The park was donated to the City of Colorado Springs. There is no admission fee. We stop at the main car park.