Country Roads

Last week, my hubby and I headed to Colorado for a short trip to get away from the heat. We had a good time but when we went to view the Royal Gorge, I chickened out walking out to the bridge to view down into the canyon below, as my semi-fear of heights seemed to kick in. Hubby, not being the least bit afraid of heights went to see the bridge and view as I remained checking out the Visitor’s Center. My thrill was taking the train ride down in the canyon the day before. I was able to look up to see the bridge above. The train went along the Arkansas River and the ride was topped off by enjoying our supper served aboard the train.

Though there were many other enjoyable sites seen and viewed on the trip, there was one that brought back some great memories. We decided to stop for supper along Highway 24, in the Old Historical Colorado Springs area. It drew our attention because the café was in a large log cabin building. There were several cars there which usually means it gets a lot of business which could mean the food is good. As we pulled into the parking lot, my view went to the nearby log cabins set along side a creek where water was flowing in front. It all looked so familiar. Then I remembered this is where my parents used to take my sisters and me on our annual Labor Day Weekend vacation. We stayed two nights at this quaint, rustic motel and enjoyed swimming, walking along the creek and staying in the log cabins. As I looked at the large ranch like posts over the motel’s drive way welcoming many a visitor to the motel, a sign read the motel was closed for remodeling. Then I remembered the large log cabin that now housed the café, was once the motel’s office and living quarters for the motel owners. I shared my memories with my hubby. We thought the next trip here, maybe this motel would again be open and we would surely stay there.

When we went into the café, we asked the waitress if she knew how long the motel had been closed and if it would open again. She said they had closed it last year, but she had heard it would open when the remodeling work was finished.

My family’s annual vacation trip was planned around farming duties. Mother never liked to be away from home long, so the trip meant leaving Friday evening after Dad finished the chores and being home again Labor Day evening. Mother later told me also it was planned that way so my sisters and I would sleep most of the way out. I’m sure our sleeping quarters would not be approved by today’s safety standards. Blankets and pillows were placed on the back seat of the car, on the floor board and next to the back window. Sometimes my youngest sister would alternate between the back window and in the front seat between Dad and Mom. My other sister and I took turns on the floor board and on the back seat. I can’t imagine how tired Dad must have been that first day in Colorado after working all day on the farm and then driving seven to eight hours. We’d tour the Seven Falls, Garden Of the Gods, a museum or two, but Mother never wanted to go into the mountains. So we admired the mountains from below. Then it was the trip back home knowing we would start school the next day.