Colorado, Caverns & Coasters

Today was a day off road for us - no driving, just playing. Gary and Taryn started off the day with a 3.5 mile run/roller blade down a trail that follows the Colorado River. It was an ambitious endeavor Gary realized after the first 1.5 miles was all downhill. That meant they saved the best for last! Home was all uphill.

We then took a shuttle into Glenwood Springs to go to Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. To get there you take a tram up to the top of the mountain. It was a beautiful ride up. The Colorado sky is the most beautifully intense shade of blue I think I have ever seen. The town of Glenwood Springs is nestled in a cozy valley along with the Colorado River. As for the Adventure Park - well, let's just say that Gary & I thot it was really quite lame, but the twelve year old loved it! ...and that's what matters.

We took their cavern tour. When you've seen Carlsbad and the Lewis & Clark Caverns this didn't seem like much to us, but it was the first time Taryn has ever been in a cave so for her it was a real experience. She saw the formations of cavern, smelled the smell of caverns, she felt the cool of caverns, and when all the lights were turned off she saw the very dark of caverns, so it was worth it for her.

The rest of the "adventure" parts were not too great, with one exception - their Alpine Coaster. Tucked along the mountain side was this amazing course that sends you screaming thru the trees and around banked curves. You have a hand brake and can control your own speed, but it is capable of running the track without using the break, which Gary did. You could potentially reach speeds of 50 mps. This was a great ride and worth doing. One hint: go on it at least twice. The first time is about becoming familiar with it and the second is all about going for it!

We had looked forward to going to a chuckwagon dinner and western show tonite, but it was cancelled. Just not enough tourists in town yet.

The next stop for us was the famous Glenwood Canyon Hot Springs which has the world's largest hot springs pool - larger than a football field! It was completed in 1888 and contains 1,071,000 gallons of water. It has a fascinating history which we enjoyed reading about. We spent the rest of our day there. And guess what...it has really taken everything out of us and we are going to bed early tonite. Back on the road tomorrow.