Pike's Peak and a Master's Degree from DU

Ryan finally graduated from DU with a master’s degree!! Whoo-hoo…on the weekends, I’ve been hanging out with the boys as Ryan was a busy bee at any library or any bookstore that had wi-fi.

Well, he finally completed his graduate studies and DU had a little reception on the back patio of a beautiful and regal building prior to the ceremony which was very nice. I was on my low-iodine diet (a two-week diet that one with thyroid cancer needs to adhere to prior to radiation treatment) so I couldn’t partake in any of the food.

So - the good news is that I have my husband back. YEAH!

Prior to his graduation, Funny Grandpa took us on another train trip as the Georgetown Loop one was so successful. We headed down to Manitou Springs (outside of Colorado Springs) to the base of Pike’s Peak to take the cog railway to the top. This is a long trip as it’s an hour and a half trip down, the train trip is three and a half hours (to go up and down), and then the road trip back home to Denver.

We met up at my father’s favorite haunt called “The Cracker Barrel” prior to going to the depot. Jack peed on the potty at the restaurant so the boys were rewarded with large orange swirly pops (that they could have upon our return home).

We went through the tony little town of Manitou Springs (I’m in love with the façade of the quaint and historic town), and found the train station without fail. We boarded the train for our three and a half hour adventure. The boys were very intrigued and loved all the varying views, new climates, and the stories that the conductor shared. I had to admit that the stories were fun and interesting, and the views were spectacular…from being in the foliage to looking out at magnificent vistas to being above the clouds…it was amazing. We saw a house that had a 17 mile driveway (imagine that drive if you forgot the milk at the store) as it was the caretaker’s house to a water treatment facility. We saw an old outpost (Windy Point) for those who used to hike to the top of Pike’s Peak back in the day and they maintained the exterior very well…overall it was beautiful! Many marveled at how the weather was so different at the bottom of the mountain versus the top but I knew that would happened so we were well prepared with multiple layers - - another key to our success of the day unlike other visitors to the train. We knew it would be cold….

At the top, Eban was very nervous unlike Jack. The role reversal was fun to see as Eban is usually my adventurer. We went into the store at the top of the mountain and had their world-famous donuts (they did - - I didn’t due to my lovely diet). Then we walked over to get a picture on the boulders, but Eban wanted no part of it as he was afraid that I was going to push him over the mountain. I felt so bad for his innate fear, but Jack was bragging and saying that he wasn’t afraid. Funny stuff.

So we took a picture at the ‘sign’ as the boulders near the edge were out of the question unless everyone and their parties wanted to hear Eban howl like mad. The boys also liked another part of the top of the mountain as there’s a little place where it honors America the Beautiful as it was written on the top of Pike’s Peak. Coming down the mountain was fun for the boys as they ate apples and gummy worms…what a treat! Grandpa enjoyed eating these things with the boys and they laughed and laughed. I’m sure the other riders appreciated this fact while they took in the sights. Oh well…at least we were laughing and not arguing.