Spring Treffen - The Broadmoor at Colorado Springs

 This year the Porsche Club of America Spring Treffen was held at the Broadmoor Luxury Resort in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Jeff and I caravanned with another couple from South Carolina to Colorado Springs. Driving straight through St. Louis Missouri and stayed with friends of theirs in Princeton, Kentucky.

If you love open, flat, wind swept prairies then the scenery between St. Louis and our next stop in Salina, Kansas is for you.  I think I slept through most of that day.

But this,

this was our first real glimpse of the mountains from near Peyton, Colorado.  It's been at least 20 years since I was in Colorado.  Believe me, I let out a big sigh when I saw them. It's not the best photo but it still makes my heart sing!  The mountains there just touch something in my soul.  

The Broadmoor Resort is beautifully situated with stunning views of Pikes Peak over it small lake.

The Staff is Top Notch! Every single employee was gracious, polite, helpful, happy.  

There were walking paths all around the Resort and plenty of outdoor seating for just relaxing over a coffee.  Several deer wander through on their morning and evening forage.

This is a blurry, drive by photo of  Pulpit Rock as seen from I-25. It is located practically downtown Colorado Springs in the "Austin Bluff Open Space".  At over 6,000 feet in elevation, we as near Flatlanders, were in no condition for that hike or any other for that matter.

We took advantage of our one day early arrival to take in the Garden of the Gods.

Wow. Just WOW!

I was literally left speechless.

Just amazing.

The photo below is of the White Buffalo rock formation.

See it?

We had dinner at the Golden Bee, a short walk from the main building at the Resort. Great casual atmosphere and delicious, reasonably priced food. 

From the website...

"THE MOST AUTHENTIC GASTROPUB IN COLORADO SPRINGS

You’ll feel transported right to jolly old England at the Golden Bee, The Broadmoor’s 19th century British Pub. The pub was actually transferred to The Broadmoor panel by panel, directly from the United Kingdom. While our Fish & Chips have stood the test of time, the menu embraces some Pub Style favorites such as the Colossal Pretzel Twist, a Classic Reuben Sandwich, or Beer and Chorizo Steamed Mussels. A great way to end your pub dining experience is to enjoy our famous Sticky Toffee Pudding.

Enjoy nightly sing-along piano and wet your whistle with our extensive British Beer selection and half yards of ale. Cheers!"

The next day we drove up Pike's Peak.  

The Pike's Peak Highway has a 30mph speed limit and very very few guardrails.  

This is Hubby's nervous face, LOL!

"Don't look down, don't look, don't look, don't look!  Just watch the guy in front of you."

I on the other hand was twisting in my seat and leaning out the window looking down, up, back, snapping pictures left and right. Naive? Stupid? or Fearless?  I prefer Fearless.  Plus I have complete confidence in my driver💕

We were only able to drive up to Mile 16, The Devil's Playground. There the Park Rangers were stationed at the road closure due to snow.  

The Devil's Playground is so named because of the way lightning will bounce around the rocky areas.  It is one of the top areas for ground lightning strikes in the U. S.

This area is just over 13,000ft and for this relative Flatlander (current home is at 2,100ft) the air is thin, thin, thin.  Just walking up to where that couple is in the photo had me out of breath and feeling dizzy.

Two days before we arrived they received 20 inches of snow up here. With Spring daytime high temps reaching in the mid 50'sF it can be a slow melt.

On Saturday we took a Mountain Roads Tour.  We started at the World Arena Ice Hall, U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training site. Drove out Route 24 thru Manitou Springs and Deckers.  There, in Douglas County we saw the devastation that still exists TWENTY YEARS after the Hayman Fire burned over 138,000 acres in 2002.  Unbelievable.

We continued up Route 126 thru Pine Junction Area, Conifer, Deer Creek, Bluejay Gulch, past Chatfield Dog Park in Littleton, down into Castle Rock where we had a delightful lunch at Danielle's Scratch Kitchen.  Food was good and the Staff was wonderful! 

 Then back to the Broadmoor thru Perry Park, Palmer Lake and Monument. Great drive for a sportscar!

We checked out early Sunday morning and drove up to Divide, Colorado to the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center.  They are a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to Conservation, Education and Preservation.  They have several Tours that allow you to enter the enclosures with a Wildlife employee and photographer!  This was the one thing I really wanted to do.  And Hubby made it happen.

This is Keyni (Key-nigh).  He was born in a Florida sanctuary in 2013 and adopted as a pup into the CWWC.  He has been a sort of Ambassador.   

There were eight other people in the enclosure plus the CWWC employee & photographer.

She gave us excellent information and instructions before entering and while in the enclosure.

Keyni would paw at you not to ask you to 'shake' those hand sized paws of his. No, he wanted armpit scratching!  LOL!  I could have obliged him all day.

Looking into his eyes...This was probably one of the best experiences of my life.  

If you are ever in the proximity of Divide, Colorado go visit the Wolves, Foxes, and Coyotes at Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center.