A SUNRISE GOODBYE
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I woke up early and looked out the window. It was getting close to sunrise. I was too tired from the past few weeks to get my camera, so I used my phone instead.
The summit of Pikes Peak was obscured by clouds, but the pink glow over the mountain range was beautiful. I took a few photos before packing up and checking out.
A STARBUCKS TREAT AND A MISSED SHOPPING OPPORTUNITY
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I stopped at Starbucks on my way out. I hadn't seen one since leaving home, so this was a little treat.
Starbucks Colorado
My first Starbucks since leaving home, and it came with Colorado charm.
I also noticed a Fjällräven shop. I love their hiking pants and wished I'd explored the shops the previous day. Unfortunately, it was around 7 a.m., and the store didn't open until 10. I couldn't wait because I wanted to visit Garden of the Gods.
Oh well. Maybe next time.
GARDEN OF THE GODS
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Garden of the Gods was only about 15 minutes away. The sky was cloudy, and the lighting wasn't great, but the rock formations were still impressive.
There were a few people around, yet parking was limited in some areas. I visited Balanced Rock and some of the other formations before heading toward the visitor center.
But the one thing I absolutely loved about this place was the “No excessive noise” rule posted on the board. For the most part, people respected it. It made the whole place feel so peaceful.
I arrived too early for the visitor center, which didn't open until 9 a.m., so I stood around and people-watched for a while. Once it opened, I went inside to look at the exhibits and gift shop and bought a few souvenirs. There was a café as well, but I didn't check it out.
THE DRIVE UP PIKES PEAK
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After Garden of the Gods, I wasn't sure what to do next. I remembered Pikes Peak and decided to give it a try, even though the mountain was cloudy and appeared to be socked in. I wasn't sure how much I'd be able to see.
At the entrance kiosk, I asked the man about the conditions. He told me, “The winds are blowing at 50 mph, but the rangers up top say it’s dying down. Also, be sure to use low gear as you're coming down the mountain.”
I paid the $20 fee, thanked him, and started the drive up.
The road wasn't too bad at first as I drove among the trees. Then the road began to narrow and climbed steeply through some very tight hairpin turns. As someone who experiences vertigo, driving along the edge of a mountain with steep drop-offs was not my idea of fun.
Bigfoot Crossing
As if the drive up wasn’t nerve-wracking enough.
I was nervous enough that I felt sick to my stomach, although I wasn't quite at the point of throwing up. The road kept climbing, the turns kept coming, and there weren't many good places to turn around. The pullouts were small, so I kept going.
As I continued up the road, there was a Jeep in front of me. Then, suddenly, it was gone.
I thought it had gone right off the cliff.
What the #@%!?
I couldn’t figure out what I’d just seen. It turned out the Jeep had turned onto an off-road trail called Elk Peak trailhead.
It hadn’t gone over the edge after all!
The wind hadn't died down, either. My car rocked back and forth as I navigated the hairpin turns.
At that point, I wasn't interested in stopping for photographs. I just wanted to make it to the top in one piece.
As I got closer to the summit, there was a pickup in front of me with a cover over the truck bed. The wind was so strong that the cover started lifting.
Uh-oh. That doesn’t look good.
Sure enough, as we arrived at the top, the entire cover, metal rods and all, blew right off.
MADE IT TO THE SUMMIT
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When I finally reached the visitor center parking lot, I was relieved. The wind was howling with gusts close to 40 mph, and it was a balmy 43 degrees and overcast. I walked around, took some photos, and found the marker for a selfie.
After spending some time outside, I went into the visitor center to warm up and browse the gift shop. I could smell donuts, which Pikes Peak is known for, but I'm not a donut person, so I passed.
I went back outside to take a few more photos. But I tried to talk but I was beginning to slur my words. Most likely from the cold air.
You can see Garden of the Gods down below.
That's when I started developing a headache and feeling nauseated and dizzy.
Oh, no. Altitude sickness was kicking in. Not now!
I still had to get back down the mountain safely. I returned to the car, but I couldn’t get the door open because it was so windy. I was finally able to quickly jump in and I closed my eyes and took some deep breaths. I felt a little better, but I knew I needed to start the descent.
THE DESCENT
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I drove slowly down the steep road, carefully navigating the hairpin turns. I needed to stay alert and get down safely.
One of the many hairpin turns. Now imagine it with 50 mph winds. At least this one had generous “bumpers” along the sides.
Then I smelled it.
My brakes were overheating.
I knew I was supposed to use low gear, but the rental car's shifter didn't have the familiar setup I was used to. I wasn't sure how to switch into low gear, so I continued cautiously.
After about 15 minutes, I reached the mandatory brake-temperature-check kiosk.
The ranger checked my brakes.
364 degrees.
That’s 64 degrees above the 300-degree maximum!
I was instructed to pull over for 10 minutes to let them cool.
I asked the ranger, “This may be a stupid question, but this is a rental and I have no idea how to put this car in low gear.”
He replied, “Now don't feel stupid when I tell you. We just got a fleet of these and wondered the same thing. It's this button right here on the steering wheel.”
What the...
I couldn’t believe it. All that time, it was right there in front of me! I drive a vehicle that has low gear in the shifter, so this was quite the rude awakening.
I laughed at myself, pulled into one of the parking spaces, and sat for a while to let the brakes cool.
A BREAK IN THE CLOUDS
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Once I started down again, I pulled over at a larger turnout. The clouds were beginning to part.
View along Pikes Peak Hwy
Why couldn't you have done that while I was up on the peak?
A couple approached me and asked if I'd been feeling sick. I told them what had happened. The man said he'd started feeling sick at the last hairpin turn before reaching the summit and wasn't sure he was going to make it. They'd gone up only a couple of minutes before deciding to turn around because they couldn't handle the altitude. He was still feeling sick while they stood at the turnout.
Thankfully, I was feeling much better by then.
I continued down the mountain, glad to be back at ground level.
ONWARD TO ALAMOSA
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I stopped at a nearby gas station to top off the tank before continuing toward Alamosa.
As I drove, I thought about what I'd just done and how I'd managed to get through it.
If the skies had been clear and there hadn't been any wind, what kind of story would that have been? A boring and uneventful one?
The drive to my next rental accommodations, near Alamosa, Colorado, would take about two and a half hours. I'd be staying there for the next four nights. I was excited to settle in, but it was also bittersweet knowing my three-week road trip was coming to an end.
The drive took me through a long pass in the Sangre de Cristo Range. The views were gorgeous, but rain clouds were gathering, and I really didn't want to drive through the pass in the rain. I'd already experienced my share of anxiety for the day. Thankfully, I stayed dry the entire way. That was a bonus!
PICKING UP THE SAND SLED
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I arrived in Blanca around 2 p.m. and stopped at Spindrift Sandboards to pick up the sled I'd reserved for my visit to Great Sand Dunes National Park.
Spindrift Sandboards
Where I signed my life away for a day on the dunes.
I wanted to pick it up that afternoon because the shop was about 30 minutes from the park, and I didn't want to make the drive there the following morning just to get the sled.
The woman working there was nice enough to let me pick it up early. After signing my life away, I got back on the road to find my accommodations.
WHERE IS THIS PLACE?
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The road to the rental was gravelly dirt, with a posted speed limit of 55 mph.
How on earth was anyone supposed to drive that fast? There were so many divots in the road!
I found the general area but couldn't figure out which house was mine. I started to panic, thinking about all those rental horror stories I'd heard. I texted the owner, who confirmed I was in the right place, although I thought the house was supposed to be blue. Not sure why I thought that.
Oh, they have a horse! He’s all by himself. He needs a buddy.
Or I think it was a girl. I can’t remember now.
Never mind. He answered that question for me.
I called the owner, who talked me through getting inside.
A SURPRISING LITTLE RETREAT
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I was still skeptical about my stay. The photos looked so nice, and I wasn't sure what to expect. I entered a huge garage and immediately felt jealous. I could park a Class C RV in there!
Umm... where are the living quarters?
The owner had told me to go toward the back, where I'd find the stairs. I followed the instructions, went inside, and discovered that the place looked just like the photos.
It was cozy and comfortable. From the outside, it looked like an equipment shed, but inside was a fully functional living space.
The Sangre de Cristo mountain range and sand dunes were visible in the distance, and the location offered and more mountain views on the other. I was looking forward to spending the next few days there.
A QUICK VISIT TO MONTE VISTA
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I still had some time before dark, so I decided to visit Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge.
Before heading there, I stopped at a gas station to top off the tank. A couple of people were there asking for money, and I felt uncomfortable. One was holding a sign, while another approached me and asked for change because he and his wife hadn't eaten.
I didn't have any cash and told him so. Thankfully, he let me be.
I followed the map toward the refuge, wondering where on earth Apple Maps was taking me.
Is this the long route? Goodness.
I was hoping to find some Canada geese, but I couldn't find any at first. I knew it was still early for migration, but I figured I'd give it a shot anyway.
I was disappointed until I finally spotted some geese floating around in a small pond. The lighting wasn't great because of the clouds, but I took some photos anyway.
I'd originally planned to return for sunrise, but after the experience at the gas station, I changed my mind. I just didn't feel safe for some reason.
CALLING IT A DAY
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As I was driving back to my accommodations, I encountered some more animals. A goat and an amazing swarm of birds dancing before the day ended.
I returned to the rental before dark. The sun was getting ready to set, but clouds were everywhere. At this point, I was convinced they were following me!
I took a few sunset photos and settled in for the night, looking forward to the next day's adventure at Great Sand Dunes National Park. And if you’re wondering if the clouds were actually that orange in color, yes they were!
