Leah and I arrived in Colorado Springs, where we liaised with Leah’s daughter, Carrie and her clan to enjoy a camping adventure together during the Independence Day holiday weekend, and it was action-packed.

Hiking one mile into Guffey Gorge…

brought us to Paradise Cove, a swimming hole popular among local adolescents who come to cool off from the 100^oF heat and flex their courage muscles by cliff jumping into deep water.

Risk-takers were scrambling up the terrain to pick their “launch” position on the rocks, and prove to themselves and others that they had “The Right Stuff.”

We were happy eating our lunch while watching the derring-do entertainment.

But Colorado Springs has so much more to offer. For starters, the interactive U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum offered the perfect opportunity to celebrate athletic excellence;

to mock-compete in several sports categories by testing memory, reflexes and endurance;

and provide exhibition space for thousands of Olympic artifacts collected over the years.

After capturing a clever montage from the digital mural in the building foyer,

it was time to watch the Colorado Springs Switchbacks take the pitch at Weidner Field against Monterey Bay, but not until after the cloudburst,

when the unexpected hail finally had a chance to melt.

While Carrie and clan cruised to nearby Cañon City to view the Royal Gorge (our destination in 2 weeks,

Leah and I returned to Garden of the Gods,

before continuing to Manitou Springs to visit the urban fauna…

and flora.

Ironically, we’ve recently visited Carrie and clan at home in Cedar Crest, NM after 7 weeks of subsequent travel to dozens of different destinations…

which is a sore reminder of how far behind I am in chronicling this summer adventure, whether it’s because of inconsistent internet on the road or enjoying myself too much to stay current.

It may be time to discontinue continuity.