Eagle Lake Campground and "High Tea" at the castle

Eagle Lake Campground

This was the "extra gift" to Glen Eyrie.

300 acres as a gift - as long as they would use it for a youth camp.

It's fun to sit and relax and see the games and activities they have up here.

A new zip line is being installed for next year's camp.

These cabins sleep 7 campers and a counsellor.

Can you imagine the youngsters with no heat, electricity, or wi-fi??

Many games and steep terrain at the 9,000 foot level keep the kids active.

The view from the Infirmary

They think that this is the original hunting cabin of General Palmer.

If we come here to serve next year, Lou will enjoy fishing.

They say that all the fish are 18"-22" and the fishing vehicles are provided!

HIGH TEA at THE CASTLE

Our "tea" menu includes one item from each of the 3 trays.

Bottom

Egg salad sandwich, Goat cheese sandwich, Canapé with shrimp and cucumber.

Middle

Strawberry scone, strawberry butter spread.

Top

Honey-lavender mouse, Pistachio macaroon

For a small amount of food, it was very filling.

(Probably won't do that one again)

 

End of our SOWERS work 'month' at Glen Eyrie, Colorado

 

The Castle is the most famous centerpiece.

Our large group of happy campers 

Front row: 

John and Julie Weideman, Steve and Diane Hahn (GL's), Joel and Darlene Pitts.

Back Row:

Leroy and Donna Pease, Earl and Judy DeVries, Lou and Linda Scheideman, Jean and Marlyn and Jean Netsch.

Such lovely gardens --they need lots of weeding!

The first week all ladies are on task.

--and having a wonderful time.

Lou is repairing stair railings at the plant.

Earl is cleaning out the drainage ditch.

Other steps and railings getting repaired and painted.

All the men worked on repainting this cabin.

A job well done, Steve, Lou and Marlyn

This is the "sewing SOWERS" crew for weeks 2 and 3.

Jeanie, Judy ( the cheerleader) and Linda

We are working on Madrigal Costumes for the Christmas event at The Glen.

This is serious business!

Especially when the directions for a skirt turned out to be kinda large!

A perfect end to a wonderful week and a great crew.

Rudy's Texas style BBQ.

And such wonderful scenery.

God's beautiful handiwork.

Pikes Peak or Bust!

 

The drive up is pretty fun!

This stopping place is at 12,000 feet.

The Rest Room and Coffee signs are important!

This is where they stop you on the way down to check your brakes.

Lou was relieved to find out that "He knew how to drive on mountain roads!"

 A little entertaining history on the way up.

Thrill seekers, fund raisers and publicity hounds have been attracted to Pikes Peak for decades.

Julia Holmes walked from Kansas to Colorado then became the “first documented white woman to reach the summit of Pikes Peak.

In 1929 a Texan pushed a peanut to the summit with his nose.

A piano was pushed to the summit in 1995.

The drive is not for the 'faint of heart'

I just love lookin down on those switchbacks.

 

The summit has a new visitor center, and the "must do" thing is to get the 

"high altitude donut".

If you can't read the ticket

it says:

$8.40

(yes they were good)

1873 and 2021

There is a walk around the entire top - with gorgeous views in all directions.

This is so named because so many have died from lightening strikes from the frequent thunder storms.

If you go, make sure to go in the morning.

There are always so many people that you have to get a 'Timed Entry Ticket"

and not stay at the top for more than 2 hours.

Glen Eyrie. - The Castle Tour

 

The Castle

Built by General William Jackson Palmer for a residence for his family in 1871.

They traveled to Europe to help furnish the castle,

and the finest quality materials were used to build.

This might be the first "Home School"

General Palmer was concerned that his 5 year old daughter might be kidnapped, so he build her a school on property.

The Palmer's later opened the first Colorado Springs schools. 

There were many guests and the tunnels were build to transport the large luggage and trunks for the guests from the carriage house to their rooms, while the guests were getting a tour of the 800 acre estate.

The weather in Colorado Springs has lots of snow and hail, so the tunnels were a big help.

The archways are common throughout the castle.

This is the front entrance.

Most of the fireplaces in the castle came from Europe,

but the knight in armor came from Spain.

General Palmer was safety conscious, so the benches at the sides and front of the fireplace were "Skirt Protectors" ( think of the ladies skirts in those days)

Speaking of safety - he had his own reservoirs of water in the mountains and he installed fire hoses near all the fireplaces because the earlier version of the house had burnt down.

This picture shows how this particular fireplace was constructed first - as a free standing structure, then the building was added.

The metal at the top of the opening is from the Civil War.

The Great Hall holds 250 people for the major important events and parties.

Back to the hummingbirds--

It is fun to see the babies growing.

I guess they will be gone pretty soon. The nest is on the chain of a swing so easy for us to get pictures.