Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

The next couple of Scenic Sunday posts will be exploring the incredible Aerial Tramway near Palm Springs, California, which climbs near the top of San Jacinto Mountain. I rode this with my son back in March, but my wife refused to go because it was too steep and high!

As shown above, the tram itself is large, holding up to 80 people. The floor rotates, ensuring that everyone gets different views as it ascends or descends.

At times it's high above the ground and it certainly is steep - I can understand why my wife was nervous!

It rises 5,920 feet (1,804 meters), with the top station at an elevation of 8,516 feet (2,596 m) above sea level.

The rotating trams were installed in 2001 as replacements for these original tram cars.

If you can handle the heights, this is the must-see attraction in the Palm Springs area. Next week I'll show you some shots taken while on the tramway.

Annular Solar Eclipse

We happened to be driving to Albuquerque on Sunday (more on this brief but long road trip later), and of course I had to pull off the road to see the annular solar eclipse, which was fully visible from our location. I don't have the right equipment to get worthwhile photos but I did manage to get a couple that I want to post.

This was one of the most amazing natural things I've ever seen in my life, and I wish my photographs did it justice. And it's an obvious choice for my Skywatch Friday post.

Julie Penrose Fountain

Tina's PicStory theme this week is Round. So here are some photos of the Julie Penrose Fountain at America the Beautiful Park, near downtown Colorado Springs.

Spencer and Julie Penrose are two of the most famous people in the history of our city, known for their philanthropy.

The above shots were taken before the fountain was turned on; in the next one you can see the water flowing.

Originally the city tried to keep people away from the fountain. But it was just too attractive to hot children on the sunny summer days that are so common here, so they gave up and hired a lifeguard instead.

I can only imagine how refreshing it must be, but I didn't get wet!

And it's a part of Our World Tuesday.

Korean Temple View

After climbing the steps in last week's Vintage Weekly post and walking a little way, this is the view you'll see.

I think the rain and mist add some beauty to the photos, but they didn't add any beauty to the walking back in 1998 when we were there!

Greenwood Park Ruins

Here are the last of my photos from last summer's hike to the ghost town Of Greenwood Park. It's not too old, as they had electricity at one point!

 I couldn't tell what this old machinery was.

 Here's the inside of a ruined cabin.

 Here's some kind of rotunda.

 And a view out from one of the windows!

 It's not easy to find, but it's interesting when you do. And that's this week's Scenic Sunday entry.

Grey Skies & Lightpole

We had a rare grey sky day last Friday, and of course it was when my daughter was graduating from university. But I decided to get a photo of one of the huge poles that hold the lights for the stadium with those dreary skies behind it, just for Skywatch Friday.

In most of the places I've lived this would be a common sky, but here in Colorado it's unusual as we get 300 sunny days a year. So we'll enjoy the grey skies and rain when we can!

CU Boulder Graduation

My daughter graduated from the University of Colorado in Boulder on Friday! Can you spot her among the graduates in the stadium?

After the main speakers in the stadium,there was a smaller ceremony where each individual graduate in her major was recognized. I liked the theater in which it was held - here's a detail of a window.

And that's my contribution to Our World Tuesday this week.