Run, Work, Hike, Repeat...

Our week in Rocky Mountain National Park was the end of the "tourist" portion of our summer trip.  We spent the first half of our vacation going to new places to see and experience.  Since RMNP we have moved to Cheyenne Mountain State Park - just outside of Colorado Springs - to start the "camping" portion of our trip.  That means (to me anyway) that instead of sightseeing, we have been just hanging out at camp.  It has been a wonderful change of pace!! Our daily agenda has been to wake up, go for a run (we are following the couch to 5K model), come back to camp and work in our shaded shelter, then hike one of the many hikes located directly in the park.

 I don't know if it is because I am so happy to be out of that RV park, but I am really loving it at this state park. It is really close to Colorado Springs (and directly next to Fort Carson) - in fact we can see the entire city from up here on the side of the mountain - which is normally a negative for me, but I am actually really enjoying the views.  It is especially pretty at night with all the city lights.

Kora watching a bunny

Enjoying a fire.

View out the back of our site at night.

Even though we are really close to civilization we saw a ton of wildlife.  On my very first run (through beautiful thick fog) I came around a corner and was face to face with a deer.  So far we have seen a large snake (gopher snake?), prairie dogs, tons of bun buns (rabbits), birds, and some super large (like 2 inches long) beetle.

Our site is great - private and we are backed up to the edge of the cliff so we have great views out the back of the city and farmlands.  Our spot is huge - definitely big enough for us - with a concrete pad that was already level. Plus we have full hook ups here AND even a laundry facilities! And, we are only 2 miles from a Safeway so it was a piece of cake to get groceries.

View out the back of our campsite.

Tomorrow we are leaving and heading to our last big destination before heading back home and getting back to reality.  We are staying at another state park that is in the woods with NO cell or internet service.  So if you don't hear from us for 10 days or so, you know why.  It will be interesting to stay for so long without any phone or internet, but I am ready for the challenge!  I am super excited about some more "real" camping before having to head back to reality!!