9,009.2 Miles Round Trip

Our Trip is done and we are home with lots of unpacking to do! We had a fantastic time and have great memories of this grand american road trip we got to take! We learned a few things for future camping road trips and we realize just how diverse our country is in it's people, geography and pace of life. Our advice: Take time to smell the roses and see the country you live in; you won't regret it!

Moon rising over Carlyle Lake

Budweiser & Arch: Great Combo in St. Louis

Our day visit to St. Louis was a lot of fun. We went and saw the famous Arch and rode up to the top in a metal pea pod tram contraption that fit 5 people per car! Interesting ride with strangers and wonderful views up top of St. Louis and the near by court building which was very stately looking. Just a short drive from the Arch was the Budweiser Brewery; one of many across the nation. The tour was FREE ~! and yes, you do get two free glasses of beer at the end of the tour! The brewery had some interesting architecture which was a surprise and of course, seeing the clydsdale horses was a treat! Here are some photos that were taken with a link to the full gallery at the end!

Vintage Budweiser

Bottling floor

Some Advertising: They are entitled- Tour was free!

One of many Budweiser's Clydsdale

Arch

Top Viewing windows of the Arch

Arch is a state park

Link: St. Louis Photo Gallery

Carlyle Lake, Illinois

We are camping at Carlyle Lake in Illinois which is 50 miles east of St. Louis, Missouri. It is a beautiful man-made lake and very well maintained campgrounds. Our campsite is lakeside so there are high hopes of good fishing. We plan on driving into St. Louis tomorrow to see the Gateway Arch and other touristy things the city has to offer. We are here 3 nights so we hope to have some nice down time as well. Added perks that we did not know would be here are: showers, laundry facilities, and yes.... WiFi from the near by marina!

Picture of a Deer taken on our hike at Seven Falls

Seven Falls and Garden of the Gods: Colorado Springs

Our three day stay in Colorado Springs was fabulous! We enjoyed spending a couple of evenings with friends Sonny and Brian and Lori and Bob. Wonderful company with great food equals the best of times! We also got to visit Pikes Peak, Seven Falls and Garden of the Gods. Our stay in Colorado has given us great memories and has left a lasting impression on us. Here are a few pictures with a link to the rest of Monty's beautiful pictures of our stay in Colorado.

Do not mess with us. We take our tourism seriously!

View of Highland Lake from Pike's Peak

View of two other lakes from Pike's Peak

A portion of Seven Falls

Garden of the Gods

Link for Colorado Picture Gallery

Mule Deer Fawn trapped in Buena Vista

Monty shot this quiet animal drama while I was shopping in a wonderful yarn shop in Buena Vista, Colorado named Serendipity. A mother Mule deer and her weeks old fawn were grazing between homes when the fawn got trapped behind a fence. Mom heeding the calls of her fawn kept going around the fenced area trying to reach her fawn. Eventually, the frawn figured out how to crawl under the fence which was probably how it got in there to begin with, rejoined Mom, got a snack and was happy once again!

Taylor River Canyon, Colorado

View of the Rocky Mountains from a lookout on the Cottonwood Pass that runs between

the Taylor River Canyon and the town of Buena Vista.

The Taylor River in Taylor River Canyon

This is Me rock climbing: NOT!!

My fly fisherman caught a trout in the Taylor River! It is catch and release but he has a cell phone picture to prove his catch! Yeah for cell phone cameras!

Our days spent in the Taylor River Canyon with the gorgeous Taylor River that runs through it was fantastic. Fly fishermen sprinkled along the river with hopes of catching the rainbow trouts they can see in the river! The One Mile campgrounds was quiet with plenty of forest and we could easily have stayed there a week! The near by town of Gunnison, the Taylor River Reseviour, rock climbing, white water rafting, fly fishing balanced the quiet with plenty to do if you chose to! On our way to Colorado Springs we took the Cottonwood Pass which is closed during the winter time but open at this time. We got great views of the Rocky Mountains as well as cut a lot of travel time to Colorado Springs!