Mom & Dad visit + CO road trip

Mom and Dad paid a visit to their slacker son here in The West, so we went for a good trek in the Rockies. They loved it. Admittedly and appreciatively, it's my folks who introduced me to the mountains, to traveling, to exploring and being adventurous. As a youngster, I saw the gleam in their road-yearning eyes and took some lessons, that desire to move and see. They took me to a ton of new places in this world! I can't begin to grasp the fortitude it would require to drag 2 kids into a camper/van for weeks on the road. It's a safe bet that I'd leave the kids at the first encounter of a Rest Stop. Thanks to my folks for instilling that yearning for new territory...

I'd composed a tentative itinerary for us to follow on a 4 day Colorado road trip, seeing some of my favorite places and a couple on my own personal list of  'gotta see CO' locales. Little did I know, as we traversed the state, they'd actually been to most of these places, canyons, scenic drives already... some before my days and some that I already coursed through as a boy in the back seat of the van. Due to an approaching storm system, we elected to refrain from heading further west and trending north instead. Even though they'd once seen these places years ago, they still love it. I like it too; that's why I'm still here in Colorado.

First stop on the roadtrip is the Air Force Academy in CO Springs, which is extremely angular:

Next we made it to the legendary Bishop's Castle, which is exquisitely organic. Unbelievably, this 160ft tall castle is a one-man effort begun in 1969 by Jim Bishop and is still growing and evolving. This place is equal parts amazing, awe-inspiring and potentially deadly. I highly recommend it without hesitation, although you will experience hesitation when you crawl out upon its catwalks....

After a walkabout in various little mountain towns, we drove over the Continental Divide in a mild snow shower and got to Glenwood Springs for the 2nd night. Here now, is the adventuresome spirit I've come to know, my parents. A snowy drive in a Honda Civic brings a pretty sunrise.... 

The next day we headed southwest into Aspen... and to an utterly deserted drive back to the Maroon Belles. Sadly the two Belles themselves were socked in with clouds, but the essence back there was sublime. It mattered not that we didn't capture the postcard photo of the the ridged sedimentary mud peaks... Mom loved being amongst the mountains with her family. [and alas, we should go backpacking together next year]