Day 4 - Pueblo, Colorado

The day dawned cloudy and cool, so I was a little worried that my planned excursion for the day would not happen - but while I was having breakfast the sun put in an appearance and the clouds (mostly) melted away. So off I went, heading north, to drive up Pikes Peak - 14,100 ft above sea level is probably the highest I have ever been in my life (and almost halfway to the summit of Everest ;-) ).

It's extraordinary that there is actually a road right up to the top of this beautiful mountain - the views all the way up are breathtaking (and not good for anyone who suffers from vertigo). It was a little hazy at the top, very windy, and 46degF (it was 75 at the bottom), so my pictures are not as good as I would like, but let me assure you that as well as being able to see a great swathe of the Rockies to the south, west and north, the view of the plains to the east (which don't end until you get to the Appalachians on the other side of the country) is astounding.

The air is definitely thin up there, and by the time I had walked all the way around the summit, taking in the amazing scene before me, I was quite breathless and a little giddy - so I had to have a coffee and a special Pikes Peak donut to recover!

Driving back down is just as spectacular, and there's even a brake check a few miles down - if your brakes are too hot they make you wait 30 minutes before you can continue.

After getting my breath back down on the high plains at Manitou Springs (pretty!) I drove on to Seven Falls, a lovely set of waterfalls in South Cheyenne Canyon, falling from 7,200 ft to 6,400 ft. The top of the falls is accessible by a 224-step staircase, which I duly climbed (today's exercise), and was rewarded with fantastic views, more breathlessness, and a sense of self-satisfaction!

Happy day ...