I have traveled to the mountains of Colorado scores of times, but I will always wonder: Could I ever get tired of seeing this beauty? I don’t think I will.

To post pictures seems too mundane, almost a sacrilegious attempt to share this wonder of the natural world. Most readers have seen it themselves, and we all know pictures do the mountains no justice. Yet, that is what I am about to do. Again.

First, it is most important to state that this was a sister trip, but with only one of my sisters. Suzanne had just been to the Balloon Festival in Colorado Springs a few weeks ago, so she stayed back and trusted Gail and me to make it on our own again. We did, but it is never the same without her.

Alas, we soldiered on, but kept her in our thoughts, making sure she got a souvenir that matched ours.

By the way, the Hospitality House is, hands down, the best place to stay in Cripple Creek, should you need our recommendations.

We got a close-up view of the gold mining excavation process,

and took a train trip deeper into the mountains, beholding even more splendor:

We visited a local art installation by the world renowned artist and activist Thomas Dambo. Rita the Rock Planter is but one of the 62 troll sculptures made of recycled materials and local resources this Danish artist has created worldwide, in his valiant effort to increase awareness of our endangered natural resources.

We visited friends we have made in our 20-plus travels there, and Gail even came out of her shell a bit and made more new friends at the blackjack tables.

Judy and Bonnie came along, as they do when Gail and I travel together. They are two sisters I found at a garage sale who bear an uncanny resemblance to Gail and me in our younger years…and the proprietors are certain to welcome us with our framed picture waiting in our room upon our arrival. They are the best!

We dined well and relaxed well, but mostly enjoyed the splendor of the surroundings and each other’s company.

Local law enforcement posts warned motorists to use increased caution on the roads, as leaf peepers were out in full force, traveling into the higher elevations to see the golden aspens as they were showing off their autumn yellow. We just happened to plan our trip on what was likely the best weekend to take our own peeps at those golden leaves.

The trip home is always longer than the trip out, but it is always good to be back in Kansas.

Our home state has it’s own beauty we must never consider lesser than Colorado’s mountains, only different in its equal splendor. I challenge anyone in the mountains to find a sunrise or sunset like what we enjoy here.

Wherever you are in the world, I challenge you to find the beauty in nature all around you. In some form or another, it’s always there. And if you have a sister/sisters, take them along!

One of our earliest recorded trips to the Hospitality House together.