After a stop at Wall, SD we headed for Colorado

Wall Drug is a must stop place

Ranger Rick

Really! American Indians of the area have known about the opening to Wind Cave and the winds that move in and out of it for centuries. It is a sacred place for many tribes. In 1881 Jesse and Tom Bingham were also attracted to the cave by the whistling noise of the air coming out of the cave. As the story goes, wind was blowing out of the cave entrance with such force that it blew off Tom's hat. A few days later when Jesse returned to show this phenomenon to some friends, he was surprised to find the wind had switched directions and his hat was sucked into the cave. Today, we understand that the movement of the wind is related to the difference in atmospheric pressure between the cave and the surface.

A hidden world beneath the prairie

Bison, elk, and other wildlife roam the rolling prairie grasslands and forested hillsides of one of America's oldest national parks. Below the remnant island of intact prairie sits Wind Cave, one of the longest and most complex caves in the world. Named for barometric winds at its entrance, this maze of passages is home to boxwork, a unique formation rarely found elsewhere.

Boxwork formations

Wind Cave NP, SD

http://www.nps.gov/wica/learn/historyculture/learning-about-the-park.htm

Caves are tough subjects

Well, you get the idea- dark, damp, rocks

Cache La Poudre

CO 2015

Poudre Canyon - Cache le Poudre River 2005/2011

Hwy 14 - the 1st leg is always worth the effort. In 2014 it was under repair from the spring floods so we had to detour and missed much of the route. Who wouldn't like to return here as often as possible?

Poudre Canyon The road will be open this year

Hwy 14 - Poudre Canyon route takes 3-5 hours to enjoy fully and I will. The best route to Steamboat from Minnesota

Colorado Color Teaser

2015 Hwy 14

Marilyn's Friendly Moose

Moose Visitor Center- State Forest SP, CO

Rabbit Ears Pass

Hwy 14 & 40 -always colorful in September

Yampa River

Steamboat Springs, CO - walking off lunch Coming soon; Yampa River Promenade will be a City Owned 16 to 24 foot wide continuous landscaped, well lit promenade along the river side of Yampa Street, connecting a series of public parks providing permanent river access and a signature location for Steamboat to host year round festivals and events.

Yampa River

Steamboat Springs, CO is a regular stop for us on our way through Colorado.

Marble for lunch

Slow Groovin' BBQ is one of the best hidden gems gems you will find between Glenwood, Aspen, Mcclure Pass and points in between. I won't give up all of our secret places up here in and around the gorgeous area of Marble, Colorado, but I will give you this: Marble's Slow Groovin' BBQ. Mmmmmm. Lots of BBQ places are around, but it is how you cook and how you flavor the meats that separates the men and women from the boys and girls. The sauces and spices that Slow Groovin' has are fantastic. Bonus: you can buy them and take them home with you.

Marble, CO

Known for its marble mines, this town has furnished marble for the likes of the Lincoln Memorial, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Municipal buildings in New York and San Fransisco, and more. This was said to have been the largest marble mine in the world. There is still plenty left today. Two other towns, Yule Creek and Clarence started out nearby Marble and eventually grew into Marble.

Marble, CO

poses nicely for photos

Paonia SP

Unscheduled stop for hwy repair on 133

Black Canyon of the Gunnison

Hwy 92 - North side is the long way around to Durango