Our travel group of 34 wanderlusts sought out unfamiliar cultures, met new people and friends, and experienced life beyond our normal surroundings.
We embarked on a motor-coach trip to Colorado Springs, Garden of the Gods, the Royal Gorge, and multiple stops in between. Our professional, but comedic driver entertained us while she expertly navigated a 40-45 feet motor-coach on the roadways.
Our capable group leaders with BJ’s People on the Go, ensured we were comfortable, entertained, and “well-fed” as we prayed, slept, and sung across “America the Beautiful.”
The journey was not only fun, but educational. On the way, we explored the interactive Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum on the campus of The University of Kansas. We looked at past and present life on earth. In that area of Lawrence, Kansas, the streets are named after U.S. States in the exact order after they joined the union.
After spending two nights in motels on the road, we arrived in beautiful Manitou Springs Colorado. This eccentric mountain town is located at the foot of Pikes Peak and is known for its natural mineral springs, historic landmarks, and quirky annual events. Native Americans considered the mineral water sacred. Our guide made sure we had time to sample the healing waters.
Our next stop was Garden of the Gods. Before it was a park, geological features began to form. I
It all begins in the Pleistocene Ice Age, which resulted in the erosion and glaciation of the rock, creating the present rock formations. The ancient sea remains of mountain ranges, alluvial fans, sandy beaches, and sand dune fields can all be found in the rock. The outstanding geological features of the park are the highly visible sedimentary rock formations. These rocks were created as ancient mountains eroded and were buried in their own sediments. Massive sand dunes moved across the land, and shallow seas and deeper oceans encroached and retreated.
Each environment left behind gravel, sand, and ocean deposits that formed horizontal layers over millions of years. The multiple formations were then uplifted and slowly brought to the surface by a series of mountain-building events. The park was purchased by Railroad Magnet Charles Elliot Perkins and dedicated to Colorado Springs under the strict conditions that it “remains forever free to the public.” Some members of our group, including me, were brave enough to climb the beautiful red rocks.
Pikes Peak or America’s Mountain has an elevation of 14, 115 feet above sea level. The song “America the Beautiful” has been associated with Pikes Pike. In 1893, Katherine Lee Bates taught summer courses in western Colorado. She was inspired this beautiful song after scaling to the mountain’s summit.
Stay tuned for additional adventures in Colorado!
Francie Mae. September 12, 2026