Colorado Springs, CO – March 15, 2017
It was quite unusual for us not to be up and on the road at the crack of dawn. On this particular trip from Fruita, Colorado to Colorado Springs, we decided a 08:30 departure time was just fine. The 300-mile journey usually takes about five and one-half hours. That may sound like a long time, but it is such a beautiful drive and the time goes by quickly.
The roads were clear for the entire route. However, on some mountain passes, where there was still a tremendous amount of snow, there were some wet patches. The snow was beginning its spring melt. As we crested the Continental Divide at Hoosier Pass (11,539 feet – 3,517 meters), I remarked at how amazing it is that the droplets of snowmelt on either side of the pass end up in different oceans. The snow on the east side melts and drains into the Mississippi River, then the Gulf of Mexico, and finally mixes with the Atlantic Ocean. The snow on the west side melts and flows into the Colorado River, then the Gulf of California, and finally mixes with the Pacific Ocean.
Our norm for the trip had been stopping for lunch at the Pizza Hutt in Fairplay. That was especially true when our children were young and accompanied us on our trips back and forth. Leslie and I were excited to stop there for lunch, relax a little, and reminisce about previous family trips. That would not be the case on this trip.
As I turned to approach the Pizza Hutt, I saw a large for sale sign. The Pizza Hutt was just an empty building now. We were still hungry. I turned around and drove back about one-half mile to the Subway in the gas station. We ordered our subs and sat there to eat. We were both still stinging from the disappointment.
On the way out of the gas station, we bought some bottles of water. We mentioned our disappointment regarding the Pizza Hutt affair. She shared that her boyfriend had worked there. The owner of the franchise shut it down because of employee embezzlement. Armed with that knowledge, we got back in the car and completed our journey.
Every time I travel to Colorado Springs, my trip is not complete unless I visit the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. During our visit, we saw several art students on the upper floor; each of them sketching what they saw. We struck up a conversation with one of the young men. We discovered his father is a professor at Colorado College. His name is Andrew Ramiro Tirado. He made the piece “Lacuna.” A photograph of that piece appears here, followed by some of my other favorites.
While I was in Colorado Springs, I went on a photo trek with two good friends, Ron Krom and James Harris. James has a website showcasing his photographs. One can find that at James Harris Photography.
The site we selected was Helen Hunt Falls. That waterfall is in Cheyenne Canyon on the southwest side of Colorado Springs. I always enjoy photo treks because I always learn something new. I used my new knowledge to try to improve my photography skills.
