tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26035517203038750272024-03-27T01:38:05.112-05:00Wandering His WondersDenisa and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870900598225088990noreply@blogger.comBlogger1721125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603551720303875027.post-67388381339036186622024-02-02T18:21:00.000-06:002024-02-02T18:21:36.371-06:00How is life in a sticks and brick house? Our Three-Months-After-Closing Report<p><span style="font-size: large;">Over nine years ago we bought the motor home that we have lived in since then. Full-time RVers call a stationary house a "sticks and bricks" home, to differentiate it from our RV that was our home for almost a decade. Now it's been several months since we signed the final closing papers where we officially became the owners of a house without wheels. After the closing costs were finished, we still had plenty of major purchases to furnish it. But because we purchased this house "as is" it had lots of things inside. Some of those things we wanted and needed, and some things we did not. For example, the kitchen was almost completely equipped, but we had to buy new flatware. We hadn't picked out forks and spoons since the bridal registry 43 years ago! But it had most of the things necessary to fix meals and bake cookies. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsbeh7PdOtXkCWcehiNwHm1rkBKJx8fzrJWGf24tTmjJ7sJDzNyRNFLGGZKcRrwz9J8skGVzbiQNcAJG1KkrI7qlgHmELOXaGNpVfvg7Xg51KfuUksoHzzEdNPZB8gKMqa-TO795olWtC67rJAZ6fgHYTYQDfvSs0aHR36cB97kQI_7A09m1c-a6Br7f4/s2643/37.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2643" data-original-width="2288" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsbeh7PdOtXkCWcehiNwHm1rkBKJx8fzrJWGf24tTmjJ7sJDzNyRNFLGGZKcRrwz9J8skGVzbiQNcAJG1KkrI7qlgHmELOXaGNpVfvg7Xg51KfuUksoHzzEdNPZB8gKMqa-TO795olWtC67rJAZ6fgHYTYQDfvSs0aHR36cB97kQI_7A09m1c-a6Br7f4/w554-h640/37.jpg" width="554" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We have a second kitchen in this house. It's in the basement and it is child-size. We have the wooden stove and cabinets that Denisa's father made for his three little girls over sixty years ago. It's been used by children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren over those years. In this three-months-after-closing report we can verify that another generation is still happy to play with it.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfox_zq8-B7JfX3TSkURKDkIXObMDf0ydBID4AXRNZWi5lxbrODae8jeKOSV0sJAKyFIH3IVml-f8zVXS2O5xAQ8f01HUaYOPj9Rof0HC3W9ceG8QZlxi6SVDR-dhXC0bUfbbtB350-JysHiVgnUGGxyVqnEkENd1LQ39B7bJkfdwAGanWZJBXiOBDVt8/s3376/D%20(42).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2860" data-original-width="3376" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfox_zq8-B7JfX3TSkURKDkIXObMDf0ydBID4AXRNZWi5lxbrODae8jeKOSV0sJAKyFIH3IVml-f8zVXS2O5xAQ8f01HUaYOPj9Rof0HC3W9ceG8QZlxi6SVDR-dhXC0bUfbbtB350-JysHiVgnUGGxyVqnEkENd1LQ39B7bJkfdwAGanWZJBXiOBDVt8/w640-h542/D%20(42).jpg" width="640" /></a></span></p><div><span style="font-size: large;">Both of our grandchildren enjoy playing in the basement. It took us close to a month to get that messy full basement cleaned out and organized. The center of the basement has a play house equipped with furniture. All it needed was a little imagination--that includes Eli putting the finishing touches on his plastic dinner. The basement also includes a corner for Denisa's crafts, a corner for Mark's wood shop, a corner for exercise equipment, and lots of play space.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDjP25ZC2p4nk0vhcs1FoOrgELZHoBGf9cwc30nQgckXlJ58TehZZ036XbSOEESnVPZ7Yny2mFkQ0OoMKiIxTLu7AwDXriWSxghK3FO1YmrBZC0vY7TJU_dAY5QfHdppA9jCcAd3QfaXZ6EJRfWBy5U9CkE76sGYn5GNHHCYWd_bw-aJBKoalZjiMnrQE/s3258/D%20(59).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2807" data-original-width="3258" height="552" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDjP25ZC2p4nk0vhcs1FoOrgELZHoBGf9cwc30nQgckXlJ58TehZZ036XbSOEESnVPZ7Yny2mFkQ0OoMKiIxTLu7AwDXriWSxghK3FO1YmrBZC0vY7TJU_dAY5QfHdppA9jCcAd3QfaXZ6EJRfWBy5U9CkE76sGYn5GNHHCYWd_bw-aJBKoalZjiMnrQE/w640-h552/D%20(59).jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Upstairs, the third bedroom houses a twin bed, the piano, and Denisa's sewing machine. One of Carter's favorite activities at this sticks and bricks house is sewing doll clothes.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUkQxdEUj-oROs4AQ1AwoL387UZoJOllEyQ08uptV1oNNbkJ13A3aodFBbt9pb581WQFu0trspryUqhJr7s6EaSxyeVTeJRsWwv-qcvt-oYzMTbnjXEFIVFy_NX9L1Rw8LkJLm9rCKCRNt8ECkL1P8IJd1t2LOxzmjj3ZB9pJyf2LemdEpml2HyomiQg/s2288/D%20(46).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2171" data-original-width="2288" height="608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUkQxdEUj-oROs4AQ1AwoL387UZoJOllEyQ08uptV1oNNbkJ13A3aodFBbt9pb581WQFu0trspryUqhJr7s6EaSxyeVTeJRsWwv-qcvt-oYzMTbnjXEFIVFy_NX9L1Rw8LkJLm9rCKCRNt8ECkL1P8IJd1t2LOxzmjj3ZB9pJyf2LemdEpml2HyomiQg/w640-h608/D%20(46).jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">While we were sewing together, she said that she was so happy to learn how to sew. Then she told Gram, ". . . and when you're dead I can teach my granddaughter how to sew too." Well alrighty, that just warmed Gram's heart in a weird kind of way. We were still smiling when the first doll dress was finished and was modeled by Carter's American Girl doll.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvnuW5Otgt71h9c9716PqKU7179TJd7LmyQwt0YQhdpUwUw0-aetV8F5ZgnpYTcMzHZ9INATp-nNFDHJFFPvXfbeNQpKYV_jRQROrwIctyqcr8STUfu2aJPGeOvTB6oNqnSLJShh2VXXf0SAm0DdVpXXKijSqFIo44s2lVFhkVXPbWUkIiSt9eoowz_Y/s2473/39.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2473" data-original-width="2406" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvnuW5Otgt71h9c9716PqKU7179TJd7LmyQwt0YQhdpUwUw0-aetV8F5ZgnpYTcMzHZ9INATp-nNFDHJFFPvXfbeNQpKYV_jRQROrwIctyqcr8STUfu2aJPGeOvTB6oNqnSLJShh2VXXf0SAm0DdVpXXKijSqFIo44s2lVFhkVXPbWUkIiSt9eoowz_Y/w622-h640/39.jpg" width="622" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We have a reading corner, and Eli likes to read here. We also are gathering a nice supply of stickers, trucks, and puzzles--more of his favorite activities. None of that would have fit in the motor home.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlsjZH86YzytOuAaH3ywAdGWbzMwV56EHH6AFliApQQUeffQyZHJHHInLoCGhAb-lLy0P-03WsRMm7xtFTChYo4T3cyzNQZ01v8pJFHKG9Ojje3IHgrePQwAsT3z5u5Yb1_dptwEf6gCt7CwBbnuR48zsYO0RH56R-Ww3LWA_GP-9hmHpcxWkpfhPmoak/s2288/46.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2092" data-original-width="2288" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlsjZH86YzytOuAaH3ywAdGWbzMwV56EHH6AFliApQQUeffQyZHJHHInLoCGhAb-lLy0P-03WsRMm7xtFTChYo4T3cyzNQZ01v8pJFHKG9Ojje3IHgrePQwAsT3z5u5Yb1_dptwEf6gCt7CwBbnuR48zsYO0RH56R-Ww3LWA_GP-9hmHpcxWkpfhPmoak/w640-h586/46.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">Another major purchase of this first month was a new mattress. We had to do lots of research since we hadn't bought one of those in a while. We also bought a new bed spread, and Mark added cool indirect lighting in the master bedroom, bathroom and entry way. The master bathroom was also a major project, cleaning and resealing the grout in a walk-in shower that is entirely too big for this little house. We estimate that we spent about 40 hours in that shower--not taking showers, but restoring it. We didn't remember to take pictures of those finished projects, but we did remember to take a living room picture. It includes a mish-mash of furnishings from many different sources: the big television set that our son donated when he got a bigger one, the love seat with two electric recliners and the television stand that came with the house, a glass-top end table that Denisa found and repainted the base, a brown recliner from Mark's Mother's house, the round stain glass duck that Denisa made many years ago that her sister had been storing, clocks and vases that were left in the house . . . The gas fireplace was broken and Mark had to order two different parts to fix it. It's bits and pieces from many sources that make up what we now call home.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQAUw2Z8O97oKjUdYeL1NM53gOc-FLfgLVAGe2ks8e1jcv7-belC8zOLZYYkHm48N7DkxZIg4TvvRYBa6mHP-0Jt4hqLWtjf_81a7VCJzv_JJojLAjf0Ti99RgO0LV3zOLpAbIwK7HBTzlzEqgBFWG3Un_oSSYD_-7vrG6DOB-VVkg6PsKIuaBdS-GYk/s4032/D%20(51).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQAUw2Z8O97oKjUdYeL1NM53gOc-FLfgLVAGe2ks8e1jcv7-belC8zOLZYYkHm48N7DkxZIg4TvvRYBa6mHP-0Jt4hqLWtjf_81a7VCJzv_JJojLAjf0Ti99RgO0LV3zOLpAbIwK7HBTzlzEqgBFWG3Un_oSSYD_-7vrG6DOB-VVkg6PsKIuaBdS-GYk/w640-h480/D%20(51).jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">A television set once hung in the spot over the fireplace. But it was at the wrong height and we were gifted the bigger television. So Mark took down the old television and all its hardware, spackled over all the holes that left, repainted the wall, and carefully hung that very heavy oak-framed stain glass duck. It was a major project, but it made our place feel more like home since that duck was part of our last home. We appreciate Denisa's sister and brother-in-law taking care of it for the last nine years, and then gifting it back to us now.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITFY9xzeiOEyj6Hk_oUZUKoxrx4uFf12ll2-t8qKt3gPzltO3kq9AC_aPZtDji_zirNBESO_o5D7U9Z8AHQpfOPDGWmhCM1y8e4N7L_PUfuvejjoI47p99_mJP9e6aBq9lQSm_UDo7sRBLzNj-chmtzzV3Nph5fZxK3jEntJKVB3Tkmmo0Xa25qHDbCg/s2288/D%20(48).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2263" data-original-width="2288" height="634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITFY9xzeiOEyj6Hk_oUZUKoxrx4uFf12ll2-t8qKt3gPzltO3kq9AC_aPZtDji_zirNBESO_o5D7U9Z8AHQpfOPDGWmhCM1y8e4N7L_PUfuvejjoI47p99_mJP9e6aBq9lQSm_UDo7sRBLzNj-chmtzzV3Nph5fZxK3jEntJKVB3Tkmmo0Xa25qHDbCg/w640-h634/D%20(48).jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Another major project was restoring the wooden floors in much of the house. It took a lot of time on hands and knees, but they are now shiny and clean enough to work on puzzles.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGMeAYscjEGf1i3IAhsg7ZeQZFqKHpB4aL5Y_2R3aLARUdj15MuqYeyAEzkT9IdGnOL74Ne2TiLmJOiD_EfMYAT9LS98YoF_zVLUzE3Og2GV9oEpyEb7kwnr14NRqWiwAiX2suWNv3r_r5eFV3u2wn8983taNYTS52Y72xxc2a6SiEEbzuKqRv4N-ruk/s3016/33.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2230" data-original-width="3016" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGMeAYscjEGf1i3IAhsg7ZeQZFqKHpB4aL5Y_2R3aLARUdj15MuqYeyAEzkT9IdGnOL74Ne2TiLmJOiD_EfMYAT9LS98YoF_zVLUzE3Og2GV9oEpyEb7kwnr14NRqWiwAiX2suWNv3r_r5eFV3u2wn8983taNYTS52Y72xxc2a6SiEEbzuKqRv4N-ruk/w640-h474/33.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">The house also came with a solid wood dining room table. But it was badly damaged with water and heat and the remains of craft projects. We used a table cloth for most of that first month to cover all the damage.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFETBOQ_Q2v6VjXF8ZFgbaeyzNEeY-XYhPcveIVejZDcb1yIk9biK-M09AKmrest-rkuUD3XvNGx_Nsub3ck1mrSc6KmDebiaYqFwDOe5AzY3EyRomqN4EfnvtAiWmC_x9xB7ENOlEI_pRJguzSlY4g5zkKd9EwkZodWaSEm6CQdvV0cdb2sf97XtVbqQ/s4032/D%20(43).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2349" data-original-width="4032" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFETBOQ_Q2v6VjXF8ZFgbaeyzNEeY-XYhPcveIVejZDcb1yIk9biK-M09AKmrest-rkuUD3XvNGx_Nsub3ck1mrSc6KmDebiaYqFwDOe5AzY3EyRomqN4EfnvtAiWmC_x9xB7ENOlEI_pRJguzSlY4g5zkKd9EwkZodWaSEm6CQdvV0cdb2sf97XtVbqQ/w640-h372/D%20(43).jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">But we had some pretty weather days, and we decided it was time to refinish it back to its past glory. Our deck made a great place to strip off all that old damaged finish and do some sanding.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOIq2xGzB_ifxNLvnxufGiMIUudUqFO8XhtWP579lAcoRwgxzQKgKt7qBdKbqQmlOe3BRoWRyOBvRUoC1R1ngXiM0vtDKQyQkmaFkCJJ1vlEhA8uZ6JFk1vDtyd8fUOBQBIEc1SFobdnzUtkZ9B1QrHz7nfr5pDkVVvsGsJkozrYIQZCPuC4b_Nyi4ps/s3173/D%20(67).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3173" height="610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOIq2xGzB_ifxNLvnxufGiMIUudUqFO8XhtWP579lAcoRwgxzQKgKt7qBdKbqQmlOe3BRoWRyOBvRUoC1R1ngXiM0vtDKQyQkmaFkCJJ1vlEhA8uZ6JFk1vDtyd8fUOBQBIEc1SFobdnzUtkZ9B1QrHz7nfr5pDkVVvsGsJkozrYIQZCPuC4b_Nyi4ps/w640-h610/D%20(67).jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />We stained it to match the kitchen woodwork. Five layers of polyurethane later it is a beautiful piece of furniture once again.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-fBj7vnBJMS19eKJSV5jRD-XZtp7zoEEsVmwtXiR9o7fEmjt74qzEI0RQPV6JKc7FTF_alagOc13xzLd0ygsw_cVjsn0wvsE1vLCMohcGW2bVZg5Ue6o6DEIky2XQ8cWaE6Od8m0aZUqlvBNPXEywU2XimZh_8aWVB1_7EljetOZsMfSVBvsS4awjsE8/s3298/47.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2709" data-original-width="3298" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-fBj7vnBJMS19eKJSV5jRD-XZtp7zoEEsVmwtXiR9o7fEmjt74qzEI0RQPV6JKc7FTF_alagOc13xzLd0ygsw_cVjsn0wvsE1vLCMohcGW2bVZg5Ue6o6DEIky2XQ8cWaE6Od8m0aZUqlvBNPXEywU2XimZh_8aWVB1_7EljetOZsMfSVBvsS4awjsE8/w640-h526/47.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We'll have to wait until next spring to spruce up the yard and the outside of the house. For now we are getting used to the idea of having to mow once again. It was a nice nine-year vacation from mowing. While our son mowed for us the first time, we finally bit the bullet and made another purchase--a new lawn mower. Even with all the things included in this "as is" house, we have made a record number of purchases this year. But we are continually surprised at the things we find in the house that we don't have to purchase--a crock pot, rakes and shovels, plates, end tables, Christmas decorations, griddle, outdoor furniture, fall wreath, mixer, place mats, salt and pepper shakers, toaster oven, exercise bicycle, towels, food processor, desk, wheel barrow, cheesecake pan, computer printer, lamps, fans, saws, rugs, plastic storage containers, food processor . . . It's been an interesting three months of finding treasures in this house.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvvD2zoFey1QqNez4SJWf47FFP384XaTLlTO3uyoYBtc1lYOkNW5K6jGxyLntt6pCu2I4q10a0zMP7K0sL5ekca4-bZwV5eUGAisp2q7cpMiePzIPcI9z1xAFEmzN9fybfnmHKFEicaG6n8OCCp_92mFvIyRiaTneN3e6XZvgHaeS7G1TOYDrN9Xae9w/s3292/IMG_2253.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2020" data-original-width="3292" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvvD2zoFey1QqNez4SJWf47FFP384XaTLlTO3uyoYBtc1lYOkNW5K6jGxyLntt6pCu2I4q10a0zMP7K0sL5ekca4-bZwV5eUGAisp2q7cpMiePzIPcI9z1xAFEmzN9fybfnmHKFEicaG6n8OCCp_92mFvIyRiaTneN3e6XZvgHaeS7G1TOYDrN9Xae9w/w640-h392/IMG_2253.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">It was a full month before we felt we had enough time to get some exercise and start exploring our new home town. We are really enjoying the trail system surrounding us. Even though we are in a Kansas City suburb, we can walk a half-mile from our front door and feel like we are out in the country.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHGmFRGjnGKTWNpg_DNmSOh6ty84t7FZ0YwjrEYhJQ2C6Kh7KL3lGIaltX_BGYKSbiqbIlwvgcgXJgVRFTyaKSy5YVcrsnC6h99jENtFAR1zolMEKdSvXbXPxzyy239sC3NNmlXwub4vbIG3lupo-WlAa7ZshRdNVJKHYQU-sxL9B2MHqAGuFRJ4GTe0/s3610/IMG_E7602.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2663" data-original-width="3610" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHGmFRGjnGKTWNpg_DNmSOh6ty84t7FZ0YwjrEYhJQ2C6Kh7KL3lGIaltX_BGYKSbiqbIlwvgcgXJgVRFTyaKSy5YVcrsnC6h99jENtFAR1zolMEKdSvXbXPxzyy239sC3NNmlXwub4vbIG3lupo-WlAa7ZshRdNVJKHYQU-sxL9B2MHqAGuFRJ4GTe0/w640-h472/IMG_E7602.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">That's a wrap-up on our three-months-after-closing report. It's much different than traveling around the country in a motor home, but we are beginning to feel quite at home in our new house. We like our sticks and brick house, but we want to add that we're not finished traveling!</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Denisa and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870900598225088990noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603551720303875027.post-1394068752806446482023-12-31T09:23:00.003-06:002023-12-31T09:23:45.575-06:00Girl Trip 2023 - Kansas City Style<p><span style="font-size: large;">Denisa, her mother, and her two sisters have been going on girl trips for the last thirty years. While we have driven or flown all over the country in those thirty years, our annual trips have gotten simpler in recent years. Denisa's 93-year-old mother requested a trip to Kansas City this year. Her priorities were to see our new house, and to visit with our son's family. One of Denisa's sisters also requested a stop at Baskin Robbins, because they no longer have these yummy stores in Oklahoma.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJmK-ok_ue7COyKwxr_H9OkBTSoH_pb-UsUysYK25eHuhoS28SYiGzT1wxTSxjvLTzjNZyRJBtkTFEzFEZuNNmeA460q2HKJGjjQEi7JGJNpgPiwKPD-znD7NGS7QzkqDp713FOxKBSM95Mf8HEhInNf0lOeN2n-Gb8F6L6JJxhYgOLWiHH9dkSY0aJ8/s3494/44.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2522" data-original-width="3494" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJmK-ok_ue7COyKwxr_H9OkBTSoH_pb-UsUysYK25eHuhoS28SYiGzT1wxTSxjvLTzjNZyRJBtkTFEzFEZuNNmeA460q2HKJGjjQEi7JGJNpgPiwKPD-znD7NGS7QzkqDp713FOxKBSM95Mf8HEhInNf0lOeN2n-Gb8F6L6JJxhYgOLWiHH9dkSY0aJ8/w640-h462/44.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We went to Kansas City on a girl trip about ten years ago when Mother was more mobile. On that trip we went to the Arabia Steamboat Museum, the World War I Museum, the downtown Union Station--lots of the best tourist stops in Kansas City that we still recommend. But this trip centered more on family time. We thought this was a cute picture of 5-year-old Carter escorting her grandmother and great grandmother into church on Sunday morning.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXXOxvrPRREkJD8VuHQfZ0K_OTxTN5BabN9NR6C3eDDYsp9B3RsZk4s2XpHct-zBkigakHYj1mE5s3W7BfnjNAyKdmlrsIQvRfw8b8oDcYjnHwGi89ysuaTMQjSOWQPvEys7TFXjgAE5LFq5eg5MPPV5sSM74digUSO5PeDgiBPUeCofdL-BMB4GVAE8/s1902/45.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1768" data-original-width="1902" height="594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXXOxvrPRREkJD8VuHQfZ0K_OTxTN5BabN9NR6C3eDDYsp9B3RsZk4s2XpHct-zBkigakHYj1mE5s3W7BfnjNAyKdmlrsIQvRfw8b8oDcYjnHwGi89ysuaTMQjSOWQPvEys7TFXjgAE5LFq5eg5MPPV5sSM74digUSO5PeDgiBPUeCofdL-BMB4GVAE8/w640-h594/45.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">Because nap time has to be scheduled into girls trip these days, we also had to have a quiet activity. Who knew that our exciting girl trips would now include putting together a 1000-piece puzzle?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAyL7XdLPwdNGclwDdKc6g7Ze9U83_uT6kVxZRCTUdF04p1rN8xdtPDQ2vl8nv_XaV1rgMTU_fXyHlNnDyZCtdbjv38T9PrP_qV1HA5w5h9uWv4CmCROWXYmwmJwjIzFivnG4VtEKt69atTnD9b9NkM4FYSh1W4XVYxRKWYesp0bEn-nI8uMXi82b_wCc/s2524/D%20(65).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2388" data-original-width="2524" height="606" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAyL7XdLPwdNGclwDdKc6g7Ze9U83_uT6kVxZRCTUdF04p1rN8xdtPDQ2vl8nv_XaV1rgMTU_fXyHlNnDyZCtdbjv38T9PrP_qV1HA5w5h9uWv4CmCROWXYmwmJwjIzFivnG4VtEKt69atTnD9b9NkM4FYSh1W4XVYxRKWYesp0bEn-nI8uMXi82b_wCc/w640-h606/D%20(65).jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The highlight of our trip was attending a dinner theater performance. The New Theatre and Restaurant in Overland Park is actually not new. It's 51 years old. The building is new, and features tiered seating and lighting so that every seat is a good one. We enjoyed the buffet meal, and our young daughter-in-law joined the old girls for this part of the girl trip. After we finished the all-you-can-eat buffet with choices like Pasta Fusilli, Golden Fried Basa, and Pan Asian chicken, we settled in for the live theatre production. We enjoyed "Always a Bridesmaid" starring Morgan Fairchild.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7SHI_YIwhCIB1yBx3tobcJRs1j_2VBRooaEaKaq9IZaBsD4y24mj5YUIjJQKq4TLFkT41we3sfGCGMngR__nMnm_DvCrmUcXbm5s-nJpReNdatTqYk0Qh7LTtdqLWTY2bBkidxZngpq3qmH0AbUBBFY40GMkYtPFrXjfLmchzmU_D7xh6yFcskEMQ4s/s3174/D%20(64).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="3174" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7SHI_YIwhCIB1yBx3tobcJRs1j_2VBRooaEaKaq9IZaBsD4y24mj5YUIjJQKq4TLFkT41we3sfGCGMngR__nMnm_DvCrmUcXbm5s-nJpReNdatTqYk0Qh7LTtdqLWTY2bBkidxZngpq3qmH0AbUBBFY40GMkYtPFrXjfLmchzmU_D7xh6yFcskEMQ4s/w640-h412/D%20(64).jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We ate out and played cards, and Denisa was glad to share her grandchildren with her mother and sisters. Her sisters have graciously shared their grandchildren with us over the years while we waited for our own. It wasn't a really exciting adventure for Girl Trip 2023, but it was good food and good fun and good fellowship. That's the best ingredients for a successful girl trip!</span></div><div><br /></div>Denisa and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870900598225088990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603551720303875027.post-89029468374191407752023-12-12T22:17:00.000-06:002023-12-12T22:17:17.189-06:00Autumn Invitations<p><span style="font-size: large;">While we have kept busy with projects to get our new house in order, we won't turn down an invitation for fun. Autumn was full of good family invitations. For example, our son's family invited us to the Apple festival in Weston, Missouri.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQazYp4_NFEtHcljl8Z50xlHaqEiq_t_Qzal6pyJwJpwqIkcRL0oWJmkgCb6Q3t6jZX6FN8qgluII-xKzMcQYRMYTKmHstNuPjNOha696gkxfrco3ND2EiXTRM6tjXrK4F9fkt-h7_dWR7DU5u3kWbIjFL6QyaAeImV4JiU4N-7PKHPlZGl6yD_zZPds0/s3122/32.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3122" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQazYp4_NFEtHcljl8Z50xlHaqEiq_t_Qzal6pyJwJpwqIkcRL0oWJmkgCb6Q3t6jZX6FN8qgluII-xKzMcQYRMYTKmHstNuPjNOha696gkxfrco3ND2EiXTRM6tjXrK4F9fkt-h7_dWR7DU5u3kWbIjFL6QyaAeImV4JiU4N-7PKHPlZGl6yD_zZPds0/w620-h640/32.jpg" width="620" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The first stop was the Red Barn Farm, where we enjoyed riding the pony and feeding the animals.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrvRINvLrAqx6r4XBOV_4iaaZXK6hTAWdSDa-Gj2K0IK_4psQngoh5EOKgIYg51WhFFbXhltr6ERNlI3XbGM6Cux4t2cULkF3lmfLnFH19iuVdedn_snx-EWjJwqfKsjZGlboh1UQGT7xLRCjE37AvcMw2-1ZBY1BFYMX5XGfEqwqa53Msa0ZaBDcnbg/s3291/D%20(35).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2459" data-original-width="3291" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrvRINvLrAqx6r4XBOV_4iaaZXK6hTAWdSDa-Gj2K0IK_4psQngoh5EOKgIYg51WhFFbXhltr6ERNlI3XbGM6Cux4t2cULkF3lmfLnFH19iuVdedn_snx-EWjJwqfKsjZGlboh1UQGT7xLRCjE37AvcMw2-1ZBY1BFYMX5XGfEqwqa53Msa0ZaBDcnbg/w640-h478/D%20(35).jpg" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We tried the apple cider donuts and bought ornamental gourds on this beautiful-weather October weekend.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji-r2bR1KQUtPKQvUrmLv3y9KH1qPl9CzJI0pPC0UKpBYKxshk1a04hWQE_dnEc49t8119cpfE8wcfOx2axxhChaVPeDo_zJtAFFinTh4vf7ASmQz0GY9UHSooF02NEMICtgd5HrJEtppqdBoY8G9LEQ79vT7E43sSXubbqLQPJVe3Lez8fBVTWn7cJpA/s2592/D%20(36).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="2044" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji-r2bR1KQUtPKQvUrmLv3y9KH1qPl9CzJI0pPC0UKpBYKxshk1a04hWQE_dnEc49t8119cpfE8wcfOx2axxhChaVPeDo_zJtAFFinTh4vf7ASmQz0GY9UHSooF02NEMICtgd5HrJEtppqdBoY8G9LEQ79vT7E43sSXubbqLQPJVe3Lez8fBVTWn7cJpA/w504-h640/D%20(36).jpg" width="504" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Our younger son made another trip to Kansas City, so he got to enjoy the apple festival as well.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3DFf__4D1PkWHY8ojHWv58hzY8zQKGfE774ts-hOhjsab2efVzLF9IzSSjbzQ6_XRaKvR5sruQ6_x_-GpPRmurewYnbNEMkXeCkTqCqzGHwnzjofue7nPvTPN1mbSW4q3NhNZV_Id9j50fuw6PPkhvI1Sj94tuL8dJsO2d8EJGK-9rLIIbmzcTr5zsk/s3330/D%20(37).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2466" data-original-width="3330" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3DFf__4D1PkWHY8ojHWv58hzY8zQKGfE774ts-hOhjsab2efVzLF9IzSSjbzQ6_XRaKvR5sruQ6_x_-GpPRmurewYnbNEMkXeCkTqCqzGHwnzjofue7nPvTPN1mbSW4q3NhNZV_Id9j50fuw6PPkhvI1Sj94tuL8dJsO2d8EJGK-9rLIIbmzcTr5zsk/w640-h474/D%20(37).jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">Downtown Weston was decked out in all things autumn, with plenty of photo opportunities.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLl4uaEUPN1Kf1eQXZ4Rld0UNeU9B648psF8A_ZkNulVhDRiiKd-iZNAyaw74TfhuLy_MLs5IKl85EmMsKcGb_aRhjd9G1onwgPDhQnUAVzw9C-Y01oQ7Uv1GsCYfjHdxgQF6nyJKpZDgYvkbbbH_aaJAWezzQz7oKnj7Y6AszpPYUUJpvyXsqoeXevWA/s2484/D%20(39).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2484" data-original-width="2351" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLl4uaEUPN1Kf1eQXZ4Rld0UNeU9B648psF8A_ZkNulVhDRiiKd-iZNAyaw74TfhuLy_MLs5IKl85EmMsKcGb_aRhjd9G1onwgPDhQnUAVzw9C-Y01oQ7Uv1GsCYfjHdxgQF6nyJKpZDgYvkbbbH_aaJAWezzQz7oKnj7Y6AszpPYUUJpvyXsqoeXevWA/w606-h640/D%20(39).jpg" width="606" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">While the boys headed home for college football games and nap time, the girls went to the orchard to pick fresh apples.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkOMFLW08n4GEJQ5uBye66-GmZd3xeCu01m58yifDppXotk2RQ2LLQ5bpAvTd5ugTnxsbdE5fM8RFtYvjVeVSn0l2hnTOujO5_KP8mCeVonKFxs0Prwnbur1uma0w_3Qj7tCH83SjzzTkI_VJqTjNq7e0QLhmlbtFmZkLTAdjS_o28DHfenJr6diPREXM/s2240/D%20(40).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2074" data-original-width="2240" height="592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkOMFLW08n4GEJQ5uBye66-GmZd3xeCu01m58yifDppXotk2RQ2LLQ5bpAvTd5ugTnxsbdE5fM8RFtYvjVeVSn0l2hnTOujO5_KP8mCeVonKFxs0Prwnbur1uma0w_3Qj7tCH83SjzzTkI_VJqTjNq7e0QLhmlbtFmZkLTAdjS_o28DHfenJr6diPREXM/w640-h592/D%20(40).jpg" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There are few things sweeter than a juicy tree-ripened apple that was just picked. The orchard owners encouraged us to try one right off the tree.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMXch8NEGQmJDvcSHKRvDly8SwX-3EeghUDuk5UQeQMP5wU7Jw0koejQ_s2y1ule_M7jOY2C77Lig3b84y3V_iKp684pVQVrH00v6GVspMJL5auHA7QDr2YWwl8cg2AOVe1vXKeZiBMfmjDusHD5EWauzq77KGhj5n7HF_jGTe8lXTfrdx_6eewtiE5s/s3278/D%20(41).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2624" data-original-width="3278" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMXch8NEGQmJDvcSHKRvDly8SwX-3EeghUDuk5UQeQMP5wU7Jw0koejQ_s2y1ule_M7jOY2C77Lig3b84y3V_iKp684pVQVrH00v6GVspMJL5auHA7QDr2YWwl8cg2AOVe1vXKeZiBMfmjDusHD5EWauzq77KGhj5n7HF_jGTe8lXTfrdx_6eewtiE5s/w640-h512/D%20(41).jpg" width="640" /></a> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We also got an October invitation to fly to Houston for the Texas fall band competition. Kansas City has a brand new airport that opened in 2023, and we looked forward to experiencing it for ourselves. The art inside the airport is big and beautiful.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Ht3iJ8m6fr8XtXawFpyWiY-0NkDUgGJWpfqo-ZwDpoTlsV4LRc8JuY-z7yHVf3Q_9T4JqK9x6zNlVnpPyLkrSI1UAQRwgTiTSYHAwE_sttbwrkrlbLNsZH4Q2Az9DpXR1-w9BqjeMzF0bSnWYRdanh6CcfVOFHIcVCuZOFaXwjPfgoqwc3EhFXaTiCk/s2931/D%20(58).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2703" data-original-width="2931" height="590" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Ht3iJ8m6fr8XtXawFpyWiY-0NkDUgGJWpfqo-ZwDpoTlsV4LRc8JuY-z7yHVf3Q_9T4JqK9x6zNlVnpPyLkrSI1UAQRwgTiTSYHAwE_sttbwrkrlbLNsZH4Q2Az9DpXR1-w9BqjeMzF0bSnWYRdanh6CcfVOFHIcVCuZOFaXwjPfgoqwc3EhFXaTiCk/w640-h590/D%20(58).jpg" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our nephew and niece picked us up at the Houston airport and treated us to five days of fun. We got to play some pickleball in their warm October weather down south.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5iVG4u0924LTqCTNnvS6xE6ezy8sqEiGOu24Yh9sSDc7s1K56QVo6lwsnfDNlXeRFoIBf6g7BaWNikOKKHWxxJGJWOMRGORXKAi7vJZgp59AJVhVcRImCtgvmSZ7-kNCGnkImMjMZFrldq37E9DiNsIH0JfAX9gqeWGDBOhCPfXGytU6cVp_kVALlT8/s3449/52.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3004" data-original-width="3449" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5iVG4u0924LTqCTNnvS6xE6ezy8sqEiGOu24Yh9sSDc7s1K56QVo6lwsnfDNlXeRFoIBf6g7BaWNikOKKHWxxJGJWOMRGORXKAi7vJZgp59AJVhVcRImCtgvmSZ7-kNCGnkImMjMZFrldq37E9DiNsIH0JfAX9gqeWGDBOhCPfXGytU6cVp_kVALlT8/w640-h558/52.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But the timing of our trip was determined by the band competition that their two oldest children were competing in that weekend. The band first performed at the local high school game. This is Texas--where everything is bigger and high school football is big league. The stadium had a jumbotron, and the players entered the stadium through a three-story inflatable entry and smoke. Welcome to Texas high school football! The football team was pretty good, but we have to say that the band's half-time show was even better!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYBM9w0UKS5DAE770XpQr9JWuL5Slu2cSLbZMTBVdUcUaRS87FD64-JXAaizUdGiZ1kCVaLmQ_VC6C7tiyuHzFM6FRjlUYaeH0Pi8xh2O5LV1o2xQ6PbPQQhyphenhyphend0EeF7fX1PiCfZCjDM1WoMEsE9ipMIxdCOPsmNbisdkS5_3LFmomuVyWZpsYbHjYPHM/s2596/D%20(54).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1214" data-original-width="2596" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYBM9w0UKS5DAE770XpQr9JWuL5Slu2cSLbZMTBVdUcUaRS87FD64-JXAaizUdGiZ1kCVaLmQ_VC6C7tiyuHzFM6FRjlUYaeH0Pi8xh2O5LV1o2xQ6PbPQQhyphenhyphend0EeF7fX1PiCfZCjDM1WoMEsE9ipMIxdCOPsmNbisdkS5_3LFmomuVyWZpsYbHjYPHM/w640-h300/D%20(54).jpg" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The big event was the Saturday band competition. We watched as these 6A schools put on flashy shows. The Woodlands high school marched 300 students on the field. Besides all the buses to transport that many band students, it takes three more eighteen-wheel trucks to transport the huge props that are part of this elaborate show. They have five minutes to get everything on the field, eight minutes for the high-energy show, and then two minutes to get off the field. The Woodlands band made the finals, so we were back in the evening to see the top ten bands perform again. It was a great treat! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwm6a6Jqb9bQRNaMKlHGfdAS0xofavCyKCwGquVW1cWIK5iTubo7FlFyt7xL1TLPbGl7gb4R7yi8tKMozZUaQ0j9hLDhNFX9vZDXuJ6QKp_AEFUkqI7AlQo_u-ATd9PmailSmzUlIAxv8RRheulOHlFgxHKmYHYYiZoNxJdPqHaDdDMIu7Fa6VTumT3s/s3311/D%20(56).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1496" data-original-width="3311" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwm6a6Jqb9bQRNaMKlHGfdAS0xofavCyKCwGquVW1cWIK5iTubo7FlFyt7xL1TLPbGl7gb4R7yi8tKMozZUaQ0j9hLDhNFX9vZDXuJ6QKp_AEFUkqI7AlQo_u-ATd9PmailSmzUlIAxv8RRheulOHlFgxHKmYHYYiZoNxJdPqHaDdDMIu7Fa6VTumT3s/w640-h290/D%20(56).jpg" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">While the judges tabulated the results, all ten of the bands lined up on the football field. We were excited to see that The Woodlands band got first place and will continue on to state finals in a week. (Spoiler alert--at state they qualified for nationals in Indianapolis. There they came home with an impressive fifth place finish at the grand national competition.)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4gSnQ02Slfmx3sB4jUjlAZ9xDdvoiqRHADwZsNmlGe6z8n0e18MIEjuNb5bCgWJXJnrY0yRXPe8aJbU9AlNpvY1ix0ak6CXqgqpQvwtgsOZLUuUT9I0G00ydzA_P0bHx-jmk_tu4KmllEapANM8PP3aL2veWVDzGfV2ttHYlQszV9aIeUFja-g-G8S0/s6378/40.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2936" data-original-width="6378" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4gSnQ02Slfmx3sB4jUjlAZ9xDdvoiqRHADwZsNmlGe6z8n0e18MIEjuNb5bCgWJXJnrY0yRXPe8aJbU9AlNpvY1ix0ak6CXqgqpQvwtgsOZLUuUT9I0G00ydzA_P0bHx-jmk_tu4KmllEapANM8PP3aL2veWVDzGfV2ttHYlQszV9aIeUFja-g-G8S0/w640-h294/40.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We flew back to Kansas City just in time to see some of the best fall color of the year. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAMqsHr1ah1fhYJqumEQHacmz8yVSRt09dKLSfEzAYdpC1Pl4cGdmdwxPxvQl8YFnb4IUy4K1Cm4jrDPNdNhP2DoULVHgy0OpttI20Gm4xbZHeeT7d8BogQIhR3xLRQoZZTDtsL2XDu4nim0VbEiMsVA6MHcIE5oDyqe62Y9vfLspdCvc8BQnyr6APzyw/s3750/D%20(57).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2762" data-original-width="3750" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAMqsHr1ah1fhYJqumEQHacmz8yVSRt09dKLSfEzAYdpC1Pl4cGdmdwxPxvQl8YFnb4IUy4K1Cm4jrDPNdNhP2DoULVHgy0OpttI20Gm4xbZHeeT7d8BogQIhR3xLRQoZZTDtsL2XDu4nim0VbEiMsVA6MHcIE5oDyqe62Y9vfLspdCvc8BQnyr6APzyw/w640-h472/D%20(57).jpg" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The trees on our street were at peak color.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilMZHwd3eYoca7QP7H3HIZDCsYNqnmfHR4BJ7GzdELB3rz5AGN_wynmr2kyiHluPAMDMRxpFpgESBG5dHUuPOcl8RMvecnAYUsbZA3mbjD55-p-xVn9-MftfSjS75q-SqDKs-R3-xe2t0LD_86XzInJkZKvdMm1LrKuxevWul-Kr4jHfD8ENWQlhhC4H4/s4032/D%20(61).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2657" data-original-width="4032" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilMZHwd3eYoca7QP7H3HIZDCsYNqnmfHR4BJ7GzdELB3rz5AGN_wynmr2kyiHluPAMDMRxpFpgESBG5dHUuPOcl8RMvecnAYUsbZA3mbjD55-p-xVn9-MftfSjS75q-SqDKs-R3-xe2t0LD_86XzInJkZKvdMm1LrKuxevWul-Kr4jHfD8ENWQlhhC4H4/w640-h422/D%20(61).jpg" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The view from our back deck included a kaleidoscope of autumn reds, oranges, and yellows.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMh7sNZwmyn56WZHzyvfGBbxxTqQjN49n2fs_kwozZW0JHgtVInlnZw1kVSKr4EIfVcXBIYWiZeM-Sw1Y93gMA74KMR_qMcDJqjaZmbsYBOijjdD3SLKaqTFgXDpAYVKaEaXArietZKJL4U5hJ6QDxiqpooPrXjsllBAUBO7EQ066C-vZKY-XbnQH3NJM/s3796/D%20(60).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2021" data-original-width="3796" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMh7sNZwmyn56WZHzyvfGBbxxTqQjN49n2fs_kwozZW0JHgtVInlnZw1kVSKr4EIfVcXBIYWiZeM-Sw1Y93gMA74KMR_qMcDJqjaZmbsYBOijjdD3SLKaqTFgXDpAYVKaEaXArietZKJL4U5hJ6QDxiqpooPrXjsllBAUBO7EQ066C-vZKY-XbnQH3NJM/w640-h340/D%20(60).jpg" width="640" /></a></span></p><div><span style="font-size: large;">We got back to Kansas City just in time for another important October invitation--to Eli's third birthday. We now have a three-year-old in our family!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWMwrwZuY0H0KtMdRpqnoTzZsKtRw84TR0Pm2FDwIhoeroypEtm3egqCH65HqQGPom3UChIhtWx_mgI_oHfOFIlhmfCne6BfeclGOj5ozKdnsgov2I7m3wOrae4luWue-ALh-_qsFClUpMUlGko6nV43d1VbKz3B378KNA6pju8hsLZC3hJb-cO016JM/s3068/41.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="3068" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWMwrwZuY0H0KtMdRpqnoTzZsKtRw84TR0Pm2FDwIhoeroypEtm3egqCH65HqQGPom3UChIhtWx_mgI_oHfOFIlhmfCne6BfeclGOj5ozKdnsgov2I7m3wOrae4luWue-ALh-_qsFClUpMUlGko6nV43d1VbKz3B378KNA6pju8hsLZC3hJb-cO016JM/w640-h470/41.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">After being in very warm Houston, we got a bit of a jolt of how cold it can get in the Kansas City area in October. We were wearing gloves and coats for the final game of the fall soccer season. While everyone else was watching the game, Gram was keeping Eli busy by reading books.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialFo6-aicw2FvcoFETTwhat3jj0tH3JVUhBXDTLNxYE0zbTSfICFiS2Ee8lqtjnaXvQQYVmWMvZz6AOFJAR9_PhFZqZhUjg3ojC8hzYCjnn6ypU506p8yMtynwc-dfXm6ogZb4_1bvV_b-PAMq3EISvrJoYjOT3rNNcYcYdbaMxv9K6jrs5eMiyU_Reg/s3079/38.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3079" data-original-width="2343" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialFo6-aicw2FvcoFETTwhat3jj0tH3JVUhBXDTLNxYE0zbTSfICFiS2Ee8lqtjnaXvQQYVmWMvZz6AOFJAR9_PhFZqZhUjg3ojC8hzYCjnn6ypU506p8yMtynwc-dfXm6ogZb4_1bvV_b-PAMq3EISvrJoYjOT3rNNcYcYdbaMxv9K6jrs5eMiyU_Reg/w488-h640/38.jpg" width="488" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">We got another invitation, so we made another autumn trip. This time we were headed just west of Wichita, Kansas, where our great niece was the female lead in her high school musical. She made a beautifully green Fiona in the Shrek Musical, and we were so impressed with the talent in this show's cast. Of course, Elliott was the highlight. Her years of dance and voice training, and lots of natural talent really made her look like a professional!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhcjItbE9H_Bx9Lwp_dISea4_DBOKw-AyYHvkDtj-IEn7XdmMAywAoIoRK2Cu00hjjyzQ2CluDeQnNZQYhYDouBjxC1Yz4ShIEJXnQcE9HfIIOruStBXYbIagPCMdW8xsvTQX61eVKIu6T5lCKG6Al2-XZvNFi_agBM0rwR2l83UQLpPpGmk1znlvFg4/s2729/D%20(70).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2729" data-original-width="2403" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhcjItbE9H_Bx9Lwp_dISea4_DBOKw-AyYHvkDtj-IEn7XdmMAywAoIoRK2Cu00hjjyzQ2CluDeQnNZQYhYDouBjxC1Yz4ShIEJXnQcE9HfIIOruStBXYbIagPCMdW8xsvTQX61eVKIu6T5lCKG6Al2-XZvNFi_agBM0rwR2l83UQLpPpGmk1znlvFg4/w564-h640/D%20(70).jpg" width="564" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">Just a few days later we got to celebrate another autumn activity. We started the morning of October 31 at Carter's school. That cold snap caused us to bring out our big wool coats that haven't been out of the closet for many years. But Carter didn't even need a jacket when she walked by during the school costume parade. She's Isabelle from the movie Encanto. This character has long dark hair and turns everything she touches into flowers.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXO7Ajv-CKDLa4UJvA677OMwMuZ8WGsAcT1qn0I4IJZ2oBZhygrN3zXalosEb2VrkgQsBwL3gtnfTTZFtbjumBi4taitGhNowus3cTZA7kg4T9kPsKAIYisnpkkcYyqkI7f4vv71XQ_1aIIsUFtNJWm7K1WE3qn0EhMJtlwZkWawMvG-19vtlSvkGoLh8/s3709/D%20(63).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3709" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXO7Ajv-CKDLa4UJvA677OMwMuZ8WGsAcT1qn0I4IJZ2oBZhygrN3zXalosEb2VrkgQsBwL3gtnfTTZFtbjumBi4taitGhNowus3cTZA7kg4T9kPsKAIYisnpkkcYyqkI7f4vv71XQ_1aIIsUFtNJWm7K1WE3qn0EhMJtlwZkWawMvG-19vtlSvkGoLh8/w522-h640/D%20(63).jpg" width="522" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Eli loves dinosaurs, so he was a blue T Rex.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZM4p-MzwYgSMQObjHs_hVY1kORli_UJFTIM6TanLvTEo3Rl_XpdAWSQODWrZ-IoGAcy47aOJuKy9q0h4-EhZzL16662QLHpS-bbkO7RzrIZSIL-7Z28vVbQ10cO1cAal3fYOeBYPSomUsfMVz_Z7twzYWN5xHILuG03MJ42NVEHMOo-jft2fQxjc6RvM/s3568/D%20(44).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3568" data-original-width="2648" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZM4p-MzwYgSMQObjHs_hVY1kORli_UJFTIM6TanLvTEo3Rl_XpdAWSQODWrZ-IoGAcy47aOJuKy9q0h4-EhZzL16662QLHpS-bbkO7RzrIZSIL-7Z28vVbQ10cO1cAal3fYOeBYPSomUsfMVz_Z7twzYWN5xHILuG03MJ42NVEHMOo-jft2fQxjc6RvM/w474-h640/D%20(44).jpg" width="474" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our son Luke was also in the dinosaur theme, but his costume was riding a dinosaur. He was also carrying a shy blue T Rex that didn't exactly understand what halloween was all about. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk7GtE7YonCY5TGirbmjsNoC2iq_raCMtSdSA8wWkm-hneYrOOVSoVBd94b9qGljkUyk7lUEWmn85gUVjBcrudmLpLET9QXFiHF6sFSUhiXgfe8T2Ib6fb2PjiW2T2CW6gr2ZcrAH5cUmbLgEK8GH4b5SEXpGr0IZZcNR3XkhUDzy61EvViJXIUSu5wbc/s689/51.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="689" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk7GtE7YonCY5TGirbmjsNoC2iq_raCMtSdSA8wWkm-hneYrOOVSoVBd94b9qGljkUyk7lUEWmn85gUVjBcrudmLpLET9QXFiHF6sFSUhiXgfe8T2Ib6fb2PjiW2T2CW6gr2ZcrAH5cUmbLgEK8GH4b5SEXpGr0IZZcNR3XkhUDzy61EvViJXIUSu5wbc/w640-h530/51.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But when he figured out that all the neighbors were giving out candy, he suddenly was no longer shy. This little blue dinosaur took Grand-dude's hand and walked all over their little neighborhood.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOzMi2CC6YKO5faomy_mYJ6LB20CMzV1ZLI9cDOhsHhInqwxcjiE_DBReP9_B0LoLCdEfbnV818c5jD97SohBODFyvbUkKO1uubtemEcUgbAuNiBxoCrH8jSNca-EvD9yphb1MEPUFD1bE70pdBcAnuw-7Cjuz2GBAABKAyLvb1SqeISinPfmfN7ygC2M/s2755/42.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2755" data-original-width="2351" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOzMi2CC6YKO5faomy_mYJ6LB20CMzV1ZLI9cDOhsHhInqwxcjiE_DBReP9_B0LoLCdEfbnV818c5jD97SohBODFyvbUkKO1uubtemEcUgbAuNiBxoCrH8jSNca-EvD9yphb1MEPUFD1bE70pdBcAnuw-7Cjuz2GBAABKAyLvb1SqeISinPfmfN7ygC2M/w546-h640/42.jpg" width="546" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, it's been an autumn full of great family activities. It feels like we're in a good place enjoying some great invitations!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKB1g_5G8k_O0BLdU9tR8DK9Vemtas4Nc6JSfDh_CphzlXfB0wlNAIhvWQAdUDY2f-H6RxmmYZbsbKa1RO6gGGayp91Wa_AJzl1qOPVkmOA7RQQ6advm_BiqAGf63sEaHBTg8d6iQY2RhPRi_2_Iwa9UM5C79g1iADeCJc_USTdjwtyGpiIb2UJ2vXeo0/s3011/43.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3011" data-original-width="2288" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKB1g_5G8k_O0BLdU9tR8DK9Vemtas4Nc6JSfDh_CphzlXfB0wlNAIhvWQAdUDY2f-H6RxmmYZbsbKa1RO6gGGayp91Wa_AJzl1qOPVkmOA7RQQ6advm_BiqAGf63sEaHBTg8d6iQY2RhPRi_2_Iwa9UM5C79g1iADeCJc_USTdjwtyGpiIb2UJ2vXeo0/w486-h640/43.jpg" width="486" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Denisa and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870900598225088990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603551720303875027.post-77844991630344266602023-12-05T20:25:00.000-06:002023-12-05T20:25:19.948-06:00We bought a house--now the real work begins!<p><span style="font-size: large;">After a week of pondering if this was the right house for us, we signed a contract. Now the real work begins! We had really gotten to know the owners' daughter that was selling the house, and she trusted us. So even though the closing date was still a couple weeks away, we started tackling some of the projects around the house. One of those was the gutter system. Instead of funneling the rain water away from the house, it was disconnected and the water was flowing under the driveway and sidewalk. That will have to be repaired, so Mark started working on the gutters to make sure that this drainage problem wouldn't happen again.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCprJGlFSSC_fwiRQRKAUjDyoH4rqRgfCXzeD7-1IbmuNuMoYXsr8GFBBKKJ1jXAmBDMUrCFTBy1Q4qEe_yDyWyloUd5-b4yEfDnTmaKr3Hl5T6yiSLWiyPL8jG0w1aT7lHKOfvn3Bh-zv81l5DhQt_LBepnnZZCT_90K022vwZkhvxD0DiwgfRYs_6R0/s2912/D%20(21).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2912" data-original-width="2688" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCprJGlFSSC_fwiRQRKAUjDyoH4rqRgfCXzeD7-1IbmuNuMoYXsr8GFBBKKJ1jXAmBDMUrCFTBy1Q4qEe_yDyWyloUd5-b4yEfDnTmaKr3Hl5T6yiSLWiyPL8jG0w1aT7lHKOfvn3Bh-zv81l5DhQt_LBepnnZZCT_90K022vwZkhvxD0DiwgfRYs_6R0/w590-h640/D%20(21).jpg" width="590" /></a></span></p><div><span style="font-size: large;">He thought digging the trench to bury the drainage pipe would be a simple half-day project. He was glad to find a shovel in the garage to do the digging. But then he got his first lesson in Kansas rocky soil. He was glad to find two pick axes that were also in the garage inventory. It took two days of chipping away at the rocks to make that trench. If something happened so that we didn't actually close on this house, he donated some hard labor.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4e3HWA1yRtnf-2X9uIj1X_8exzHQ21RTG53XcWiSapSKcxTsV9WQyXwae9d2hs-iiYGoKs6WAtbBhWlJ2ygAK4_qcCq7QzIPYpGbvLgH3p3WdGPO7CIbB6Ca6MJ9jupMO8Zn4NQslrCQM2mE03MQvjCMgIPAIaSC-w3xRrKUhcT5RFHCC1WjOH1JP8U/s3258/D%20(24).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2926" data-original-width="3258" height="574" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4e3HWA1yRtnf-2X9uIj1X_8exzHQ21RTG53XcWiSapSKcxTsV9WQyXwae9d2hs-iiYGoKs6WAtbBhWlJ2ygAK4_qcCq7QzIPYpGbvLgH3p3WdGPO7CIbB6Ca6MJ9jupMO8Zn4NQslrCQM2mE03MQvjCMgIPAIaSC-w3xRrKUhcT5RFHCC1WjOH1JP8U/w640-h574/D%20(24).jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">At the same time that Mark was digging ditches outside, Denisa was inside cleaning the kitchen. Remember that we were buying this house "as is." That included treasures (and junk) throughout the house. The family left all the cabinets full of dishes. After living in a motor home with four plates, four bowls, and four glasses, Denisa was overwhelmed. She found a set of eight place settings, and another with twelve. She found everything from a crock pot to a griddle to a food processor to a blender. All the appliances that didn't fit in a motor home were left in this house. We worked for several days after our son and daughter-in-law returned from Switzerland and they took over child-care duties. We did stop working long enough to celebrate Denisa's birthday with a home-cooked steak dinner and coconut cream pie from a local bakery.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYbhQfShp6FCFOmujrSDFRpf2EctH6EEVolqhIvPgPUfFRZiVrXsxSlJMDKWxrQJ8KSwJWReiGPZ-lgTWKabQVaLK2dxWuDiSHBHRVZM7DnwNcPuav3sfjfPWV8zTlwtYWvf_ejopIjSCPPKRuOR-G9tt1Ix6_rvbNmTpRMoJWLJC_Uk9ZnfsDK13Z3w/s2709/28.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2709" data-original-width="2563" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYbhQfShp6FCFOmujrSDFRpf2EctH6EEVolqhIvPgPUfFRZiVrXsxSlJMDKWxrQJ8KSwJWReiGPZ-lgTWKabQVaLK2dxWuDiSHBHRVZM7DnwNcPuav3sfjfPWV8zTlwtYWvf_ejopIjSCPPKRuOR-G9tt1Ix6_rvbNmTpRMoJWLJC_Uk9ZnfsDK13Z3w/w606-h640/28.jpg" width="606" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">In the middle of this busy time, we also got to spend good time with our children and grandchildren. We vowed that we wouldn't pass up any invitations from them. So when they called to ask if Gram wanted to go with the girls to a pumpkin festival, she was all in.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7mtiP9sI_nghIB8BVPdIzn66stTqBByvI0CBUniK4qHc3rUfI1q5DPbOlxWhMPW96Acet0L42CXHVZ3Gc_WogkuIfHofWNxBlBZfnJ-SWHQLcGqEEbNgElfABsQWugYb5-RrAlc0CK9y16qo4hz7KQeeRO8yLDJRJ5UBhpQ3UQ_pNtAxJJUijfIqssE/s3075/D%20(22).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2106" data-original-width="3075" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7mtiP9sI_nghIB8BVPdIzn66stTqBByvI0CBUniK4qHc3rUfI1q5DPbOlxWhMPW96Acet0L42CXHVZ3Gc_WogkuIfHofWNxBlBZfnJ-SWHQLcGqEEbNgElfABsQWugYb5-RrAlc0CK9y16qo4hz7KQeeRO8yLDJRJ5UBhpQ3UQ_pNtAxJJUijfIqssE/w640-h438/D%20(22).jpg" width="640" /></a></span></p><div><span style="font-size: large;">Then it was time to make the trip to Oklahoma to pick up some of our belongings to put in this house. Nine years ago we gave things away and we didn't keep anything in storage. But some of our things are returning now that we will have a home again. Some of our best things burned in the wild fire that destroyed Denisa's Mother's house a year ago. But we still had a few things at Mark's Mother's house and at Denisa's sister's house. We rented a u-haul trailer to get them from Oklahoma to Kansas City. Denisa is a bit of a planner, and she cut out scaled versions of each furniture piece to make sure they would fit inside the trailer.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1S86ikpmsfZEr8KxPwF2gy7K3IgARmoWMb4WUOmGdpmtLGIyqj4BHFbcWsqg9pbg-zdGFlSwcqgOztg8WEe4CQAed2GCr5loOzECpztH7qTyQz-0C4qNAonsoP4bAsibZbl6_5hihuLVGNc4VL4E8AkHnan5wz48z2Xp7l1rwXX7B6vcWXn3smzzG7mo/s3278/D%20(25).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2441" data-original-width="3278" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1S86ikpmsfZEr8KxPwF2gy7K3IgARmoWMb4WUOmGdpmtLGIyqj4BHFbcWsqg9pbg-zdGFlSwcqgOztg8WEe4CQAed2GCr5loOzECpztH7qTyQz-0C4qNAonsoP4bAsibZbl6_5hihuLVGNc4VL4E8AkHnan5wz48z2Xp7l1rwXX7B6vcWXn3smzzG7mo/w640-h476/D%20(25).jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Some things were in the barn hay loft, and the rest were upstairs in Mark's Mother's house. But we managed to carry them all down all those steps and got them loaded in the u-haul. The sun was setting when we hitched up to the trailer that was filling up.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMstsbJWOivA7k0UwVcHk1xq4FZlZgPHxrlGolHZMLagIdgSUdBlv2XaucJI1-SszHe3BTv7EhXfEfOhb5LowKW8GihHsrPP5ZdzGCwFmL1mgki7AiPKC3b5-D5eabhAn4ORoYUbKpeGjLugHuBBujDp2ug1tpDmeZ-5bqeg0hqVlBxz6BTE93N5zapE/s3763/D%20(26).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2427" data-original-width="3763" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMstsbJWOivA7k0UwVcHk1xq4FZlZgPHxrlGolHZMLagIdgSUdBlv2XaucJI1-SszHe3BTv7EhXfEfOhb5LowKW8GihHsrPP5ZdzGCwFmL1mgki7AiPKC3b5-D5eabhAn4ORoYUbKpeGjLugHuBBujDp2ug1tpDmeZ-5bqeg0hqVlBxz6BTE93N5zapE/w640-h412/D%20(26).jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We drove on to Oklahoma City to pick up a large antique armoire and another old dresser that Denisa's sister and brother-in-law had been graciously storing for us. We were surprised to remember how many boxes of photo albums and scrapbooks were stored in that armoire. But Mark and Joe kept packing things in that u-haul trailer until everything fit. We even got the little play kitchen cabinets that Denisa's father made for his three daughters over sixty years ago. They were headed to Kansas City for another generation to play with.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7U2np6lYFK4wHR1ceC29GDN0rXFO6AC-T1gYzT3kBuP3QC3qilR9U49Cj3E_fjEw1U69g3GXT2x4G0XY-6FHSolGk0w4RWfCW0ZPHY3Kkx65WbZdhVozBOLJykRhwyJq447I0OpFEmU9oVN4TuS4WsJ1htzribBM9blR6pto8LcE9cbuENaEm5meS9c/s4032/29.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7U2np6lYFK4wHR1ceC29GDN0rXFO6AC-T1gYzT3kBuP3QC3qilR9U49Cj3E_fjEw1U69g3GXT2x4G0XY-6FHSolGk0w4RWfCW0ZPHY3Kkx65WbZdhVozBOLJykRhwyJq447I0OpFEmU9oVN4TuS4WsJ1htzribBM9blR6pto8LcE9cbuENaEm5meS9c/w640-h480/29.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We closed on the house on October 4, and our son helped us to unload the trailer. Now more of the real work began as we started the cleaning. Those that follow the blog know that Mark is known to climb up treacherous mountain paths and out over tall ledges. He channeled that adventurous spirit when cleaning out the tall ledges that haven't been touched in a while.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrETbPN0ezUGHudnR_F7nDMcMOvaUgo0zoDP72UmjMDsem18fG2TzUasGdnmfdW0xlRTEL-oqCsVClTXPW8Ih5R3dMEwBH_n3KwvnjhVE6XOBStbSTbAN298TRDQoXlnArwBr8j3kNvySe8GtKkOgFmmoWQ6XF5lY_v4JUSjmV8OFPCHIQvDsP45IdhrY/s4032/D%20(29).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrETbPN0ezUGHudnR_F7nDMcMOvaUgo0zoDP72UmjMDsem18fG2TzUasGdnmfdW0xlRTEL-oqCsVClTXPW8Ih5R3dMEwBH_n3KwvnjhVE6XOBStbSTbAN298TRDQoXlnArwBr8j3kNvySe8GtKkOgFmmoWQ6XF5lY_v4JUSjmV8OFPCHIQvDsP45IdhrY/w480-h640/D%20(29).jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The ceilings in the bathroom and the entryway are crazy tall. The last owners were an elderly couple who weren't able to climb to the top of the ladder and stretch up to those heights. So the new "elderly couple" owners were finding 14-year-old dust to clean.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34GcHqbTOCXBR19KkDxxoyBnez_Wz9nmATQGgmp_FnhPqL_JF_aFhsA6pvTc8CXZVabuNSsrjanfcmhyphenhyphenhcM8hP30xxYU1nrBYRe8pLO-mBaJu5mfYoETVd4DHy52U0ZfL_jn_RWPHVndB6Q7ZY-IOFoeBFQQvWwrkx41ve0R0ToBvNkJZqyp72fuq-l4/s4032/D%20(30).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34GcHqbTOCXBR19KkDxxoyBnez_Wz9nmATQGgmp_FnhPqL_JF_aFhsA6pvTc8CXZVabuNSsrjanfcmhyphenhyphenhcM8hP30xxYU1nrBYRe8pLO-mBaJu5mfYoETVd4DHy52U0ZfL_jn_RWPHVndB6Q7ZY-IOFoeBFQQvWwrkx41ve0R0ToBvNkJZqyp72fuq-l4/w480-h640/D%20(30).jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Instead of climbing mountains, Mark was climbing trees to get on top of our very tall house. A native elm was allowed to sprout and grow too close to the house. So Mark was up on the roof to trim the branches. Another adventurous project will be removing this sizable tree.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2gC00bu8SFEiGl5T8RQZLLuLZ_jd-us5PpKWes3IKG07PxhiGpxayepCCHHLno4DbW6vHLU9emANgRTARguOXBbtEyJ74HFIyXvYZ3IW-cu9hwygc8ZXRLKrs3nLnZv9e_sjVKJQBNOYFBs75TJf57IF5BUmf7AVoMLjR6Rkc7YIDBdJHRBnztry1W0/s3540/D%20(50).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3540" height="546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2gC00bu8SFEiGl5T8RQZLLuLZ_jd-us5PpKWes3IKG07PxhiGpxayepCCHHLno4DbW6vHLU9emANgRTARguOXBbtEyJ74HFIyXvYZ3IW-cu9hwygc8ZXRLKrs3nLnZv9e_sjVKJQBNOYFBs75TJf57IF5BUmf7AVoMLjR6Rkc7YIDBdJHRBnztry1W0/w640-h546/D%20(50).jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">We continued to find things that we would need. Yes, there was a big shop-vac in the basement, and a full set of cleaning supplies. We also found an angel food cake pan, Christmas decorations, rakes, a full set of rubbermaid storage containers, and a whole collection of Boyd's bears. We found lots of things that we didn't need, and we made many trips to the local goodwill store to share our bounty with others.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmYTDsvkYgB4qwML9dLPJ9_nI4rqExfEVZ7NXQfPJQmvSY49qhBVS9cMrG8fILWbszpqB-wX3SxAUWww-14UeyxJK-t7da83in-rjmlfaj30qpDMduQ6zwdF_btb0cM2osGVFTNppIc8poL19vqLTBjGR3sPu1WtlrIoCn5FZJJJyHZfbxD-Aae0m3EA/s3685/D%20(31).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2709" data-original-width="3685" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmYTDsvkYgB4qwML9dLPJ9_nI4rqExfEVZ7NXQfPJQmvSY49qhBVS9cMrG8fILWbszpqB-wX3SxAUWww-14UeyxJK-t7da83in-rjmlfaj30qpDMduQ6zwdF_btb0cM2osGVFTNppIc8poL19vqLTBjGR3sPu1WtlrIoCn5FZJJJyHZfbxD-Aae0m3EA/w640-h470/D%20(31).jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">All of our kids have been great to help! Our oldest son and our daughter-in-law showed up with their lawn mower to do our yard. Our younger son came to help with some heavy projects. But, again we made sure we stopped to have fun. It was pure joy to have the whole family together, playing in the parks and walking the trails in the new town where we just bought a house.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbHKyLz-sFqOQ-brf7Oxw9ZFLURn9ONeyM75_L28khdImW2E73DA_P-zPWrijAUyGC4kqqnRlp0cxDAfrxSlcFspF6OGhGK7mRHpBTVO1IYX_65yCjPw7ilTD4oYNYr9c8skd44HnzYdC_RJFf-8PskDWhxtNJiInA5BQxYDwWoweDzWLJD1utQtMp9k/s1633/30.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1548" data-original-width="1633" height="606" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbHKyLz-sFqOQ-brf7Oxw9ZFLURn9ONeyM75_L28khdImW2E73DA_P-zPWrijAUyGC4kqqnRlp0cxDAfrxSlcFspF6OGhGK7mRHpBTVO1IYX_65yCjPw7ilTD4oYNYr9c8skd44HnzYdC_RJFf-8PskDWhxtNJiInA5BQxYDwWoweDzWLJD1utQtMp9k/w640-h606/30.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">It's just 2.4-miles to our son's house. So when they called to invite us over for breakfast crepes we were there in five minutes.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3zi4MCbnrV_wY-WZZ7SObUBqf_ZJeHWhEGfu3JuA83vj4CqjW3psXxLOxyhefZtOYh1DvIq1Rtu-Pe3r5cS99NpMRX19OKZ46_mx61TgyGGADgPunlTVh3DZjog1WkqIBd2n2Itrrm7UtMgUMcOgL_uktQJCqiOyNRb-E8MsNh5LyAcQ667QRT9lbDZE/s2265/D%20(32).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2265" data-original-width="1949" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3zi4MCbnrV_wY-WZZ7SObUBqf_ZJeHWhEGfu3JuA83vj4CqjW3psXxLOxyhefZtOYh1DvIq1Rtu-Pe3r5cS99NpMRX19OKZ46_mx61TgyGGADgPunlTVh3DZjog1WkqIBd2n2Itrrm7UtMgUMcOgL_uktQJCqiOyNRb-E8MsNh5LyAcQ667QRT9lbDZE/w550-h640/D%20(32).jpg" width="550" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">We are spending lots of time cleaning and sorting through the contents of our new home. It's a new adventure and a new stage of life for us. But we don't plan to be here all the time. We still have lots of traveling to do. Our travels might be a little shorter in duration and take different forms, but we still plan to continue to wander God's wonders--even though we bought a house and the real work has begun. </span></div><div><br /></div>Denisa and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870900598225088990noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603551720303875027.post-23781562892129776522023-11-30T20:50:00.000-06:002023-11-30T20:50:16.721-06:00Is it time to settle down and buy a house?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqH6FKZ45gP7aSJCKbmNxdJlwQaGn7TOyEOdtHGr1Y-qBkpCPDny6Y3b9Bg2qg_9lgP0fJw1zCHy4F3IV_xOr8cMad-SzryDhkF0LzMNaCu3gFVqWi2kDZcv92xN3dI9a1xPqqJcs0mYLZ4zGom7X90xc6CCC6vvIQhcvew0t1UqGF24o1a388ycdovrM/s3123/D%20(34).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3123" data-original-width="3007" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqH6FKZ45gP7aSJCKbmNxdJlwQaGn7TOyEOdtHGr1Y-qBkpCPDny6Y3b9Bg2qg_9lgP0fJw1zCHy4F3IV_xOr8cMad-SzryDhkF0LzMNaCu3gFVqWi2kDZcv92xN3dI9a1xPqqJcs0mYLZ4zGom7X90xc6CCC6vvIQhcvew0t1UqGF24o1a388ycdovrM/w616-h640/D%20(34).jpg" width="616" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />After living in the motor home for almost nine years, we've started feeling like it was important to spend more time with our children and grandchildren. Is it time to settle down and buy a house? We have enjoyed staying at our children's houses, and they have always made us feel very welcome. We have also stayed in the motor home at campgrounds near their homes for longer stays. But all the campgrounds around Kansas City are about a 45-minute drive from where our grandchildren live. That convinced us that if we bought property we wanted it to be closer to all this cuteness.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRRwdrVFIwmY53yVTgoF2pyuI6KV3JyM0c9ehqsYD03att-nOTVprPfeHrCPveYruXCuyhJc8tZxa-8fq6a58m-w2csHTwW0q_xPgVwABJnGHNN5mO9ryOgJfnKjdRbKSlodNrVo-Za-zZAg0oS-WV10KblCV9kdTz_6SDbKISV9-sUeLl3ISf20Nkv8/s3376/27.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3376" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRRwdrVFIwmY53yVTgoF2pyuI6KV3JyM0c9ehqsYD03att-nOTVprPfeHrCPveYruXCuyhJc8tZxa-8fq6a58m-w2csHTwW0q_xPgVwABJnGHNN5mO9ryOgJfnKjdRbKSlodNrVo-Za-zZAg0oS-WV10KblCV9kdTz_6SDbKISV9-sUeLl3ISf20Nkv8/w574-h640/27.jpg" width="574" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">We started looking for property in the Kansas City area about a year ago. We envisioned an acreage a few miles out of town where we could put in a RV site with electric, water, and sewer hookups for the motor home. We could use those utilities in the future to build a house on that acreage. But we soon found that nice plots of land had already been snatched up by developers paying huge prices. We also learned that any plots within city limits had ordinances against parking an RV on them. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So we moved on to Plan B. That would be to look for a nice house outside of city limits where we could park our motor home beside it. We drove the back roads encircling Lenexa and other towns in the area. We found out that a brand new battery manufacturing plant was being built nearby, and they were gearing up to employ thousands of people. The housing market was going crazy! We didn't find anything we liked that we could afford in the country.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We went to a few open houses and the parade of homes last spring. We got to know the area, as well as the housing market. We walked neighborhoods and met some really friendly people that made us feel welcome. When we found a house and a neighborhood that we really liked, we found that houses sell fast. Within hours of coming on the market, the sellers might have five offers over the asking price, and some of them were cash offers. This was going to be more competitive and harder than we thought!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We left for our summer travels, knowing that we couldn't do anything while we were on the road. But we got daily updates on houses coming onto the market through the zillow app. We really hoped that the perfect house didn't show up on those listings, because we were too far away to do anything about it. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">After months of following the area housing market, we came to a better understanding of what we really wanted. At our age, we thought it was important to have all of our living areas on one level. While stairs are no problem for us now, we planned to live in this house for the long haul. Our son has a large house that is great for big family gatherings, so we wanted a small house. That should be cheaper to buy and cheaper to heat and cool. Three bedrooms and two bathrooms would be plenty for us. Since we have almost no furniture, that would also mean less furniture to have to buy to fill it up. We made a list of all the things we would have to buy immediately: a refrigerator, washer and dryer, living room furniture, dining table and chairs, beds . . . Making all those purchases right away sounded very expensive and very intimidating. We also preferred that this house be less than ten miles away from our son's house, and hopefully on an easy-to-drive route. We preferred a neighborhood with big trees, but we also wanted a house that was less than 25 years old. We have learned that almost all new housing in this area is multi-level, and most have a basement. We preferred an unfinished basement that would give us good storage and a place for our grandchildren to play.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Once we arrived in the Kansas City area to baby sit, we started looking in earnest. We started by looking at five houses that filled some of our wish list items, but ruled them all out upon further inspection. We found that autumn was a slower time for home purchases, and fewer people put their houses on the market in the fall. We were keeping track of all the new listings, but found nothing. . . until . . .</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We saw a brand new zillow listing that was "for sale by owner." Even though we were baby-sitting, we took Eli with us to see the house for the first time. That's him, standing at the end of the driveway with the "for sale" sign in the front yard.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmEjiz7lFeOMDA7L7INiX_jpBilZ4xFYYj9-cMzNF05lDhCIxvplOo7NqR_Ob80RVUL4L0hpjtUEnpgguL-ic6To3ft-b78mIxR45qf9J18Q6ffc79SBcTel2o1NxZXmYxA_EChegb94A9qRAKaZ-7CIOHDx3a6P8kT1mzN_CE5L80G5NNL0Pgg7wF0E/s3488/22.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2178" data-original-width="3488" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmEjiz7lFeOMDA7L7INiX_jpBilZ4xFYYj9-cMzNF05lDhCIxvplOo7NqR_Ob80RVUL4L0hpjtUEnpgguL-ic6To3ft-b78mIxR45qf9J18Q6ffc79SBcTel2o1NxZXmYxA_EChegb94A9qRAKaZ-7CIOHDx3a6P8kT1mzN_CE5L80G5NNL0Pgg7wF0E/w640-h400/22.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></p><div><span style="font-size: large;">We situated him in the living room with some plastic dinosaurs to play with, and we took a few pictures of the inside of the house.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1EuNVFR09eDxwVkA-n7EPymFjsyAvG6z3chIH84yCjme70aZDaRdU8OASJlxc8wAQhHSESPaaMA3J_hN5ak1epSMYhRtslzZ753b_PCWNq1k2-hiFHcILaE2KZnHHW76zBlQtfBJwgc8lkoz0-WSp4Q28VmpzysZBRHgB5RxRWFwNxcyB8s-AUg90QI/s3554/15.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2355" data-original-width="3554" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1EuNVFR09eDxwVkA-n7EPymFjsyAvG6z3chIH84yCjme70aZDaRdU8OASJlxc8wAQhHSESPaaMA3J_hN5ak1epSMYhRtslzZ753b_PCWNq1k2-hiFHcILaE2KZnHHW76zBlQtfBJwgc8lkoz0-WSp4Q28VmpzysZBRHgB5RxRWFwNxcyB8s-AUg90QI/w640-h424/15.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">It checked a lot of our boxes. It was small--with three bedroom and two bathrooms. The kitchen and dining area and living room were all connected in an open floorplan. All the living areas were on one level.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Gg0mlwkTXjmmKIRj7EkFt0XaO774BXbXN07c0AuL3TesLVvuEsEQPVNV9Ss8kQb_Jy9vOTZTnBGekcJJ6dBTCOPPcnLXnaQm4AorojsHkimHQVbFWZR5NZqfpwKBgFUUYkXCfqzXAmm6R1Bk4WM3ZISfSrgEeWO7YvRWL43aDN2H_72QNdSliEuImb4/s3350/18.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2630" data-original-width="3350" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Gg0mlwkTXjmmKIRj7EkFt0XaO774BXbXN07c0AuL3TesLVvuEsEQPVNV9Ss8kQb_Jy9vOTZTnBGekcJJ6dBTCOPPcnLXnaQm4AorojsHkimHQVbFWZR5NZqfpwKBgFUUYkXCfqzXAmm6R1Bk4WM3ZISfSrgEeWO7YvRWL43aDN2H_72QNdSliEuImb4/w640-h502/18.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">Down the steps was a full unfinished walk-out basement. That was the exact combination we preferred.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-v2jbQOSRSuZ5YTI0dBSWtbIBA0yohqJ2Ig8bCyHcEl97p7IJwyTBidFATSHD2dsu-UiSSLRJgsWqIclvGCRxmYJcKzUShzhdHx74ycBR-X-qg9LuRwZnkySuKoKe-BuokCRY3A8MqZwqLqFJgzkOWo41lQTtAVMpMwR7BsENO8xVU8jyoJfoZ7xD4k/s4032/17.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-v2jbQOSRSuZ5YTI0dBSWtbIBA0yohqJ2Ig8bCyHcEl97p7IJwyTBidFATSHD2dsu-UiSSLRJgsWqIclvGCRxmYJcKzUShzhdHx74ycBR-X-qg9LuRwZnkySuKoKe-BuokCRY3A8MqZwqLqFJgzkOWo41lQTtAVMpMwR7BsENO8xVU8jyoJfoZ7xD4k/w640-h480/17.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">For people (like us a year ago) that aren't familiar with the Kansas City-preferred housing style, this is what the back side of a house with a walk-out basement looks like. This city was built on rolling hills, and houses have sprouted up on the sides of those hills with sloping yards.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhLuaRKCr8A9QrkmFHC2pzRA9QPwZlPw5foqQ0tgb2QgK0v5Dv2I-xzwVUSSt3AxMiJorqylfkwZgfxKICoLJMDTlcUklUCiT-_oBwKypJ5BRizKuOlU-i1MG9nSbFv7dyKQVi7elDkEwIs-HcKtcBIOzanF7zklTcZWsMcaXy3HEVKqC_JRoqpJhEEo/s4448/23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2614" data-original-width="4448" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhLuaRKCr8A9QrkmFHC2pzRA9QPwZlPw5foqQ0tgb2QgK0v5Dv2I-xzwVUSSt3AxMiJorqylfkwZgfxKICoLJMDTlcUklUCiT-_oBwKypJ5BRizKuOlU-i1MG9nSbFv7dyKQVi7elDkEwIs-HcKtcBIOzanF7zklTcZWsMcaXy3HEVKqC_JRoqpJhEEo/w640-h376/23.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The house was built in 2009, so it checked the box for being within our preferred age. It's at the top of a nice cul-de-sac that doesn't get much traffic. The best part was that the front door was just 2.4 miles away from our son's house, down an easy-to-drive street. We were feeling pretty hopeful.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxY9Uw6zxNM0446f4l_-jBzVTxSygjzaE5QoAxgVdaTDt8mEEhjtFbsclrN692HZmatc91_Fl58co6v4FOJoPhzrXq2jxj_QdlouYCovEi-pTUb0YuXdigHAAi4xHKotFMR1zvYd85_uI7M7XUak0ZaBVVvhdBbO7-3_oPViViOVEZFJYWp3BQkONkcPQ/s4012/IMG_2252.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2151" data-original-width="4012" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxY9Uw6zxNM0446f4l_-jBzVTxSygjzaE5QoAxgVdaTDt8mEEhjtFbsclrN692HZmatc91_Fl58co6v4FOJoPhzrXq2jxj_QdlouYCovEi-pTUb0YuXdigHAAi4xHKotFMR1zvYd85_uI7M7XUak0ZaBVVvhdBbO7-3_oPViViOVEZFJYWp3BQkONkcPQ/w640-h344/IMG_2252.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The house was owned by an older couple, who had purchased it new. They both passed away in the last 18 months, and their daughter decided to avoid realtor fees because she would rather sell it herself. She planned to have an estate sale to get rid of all the furnishings. But because we own almost nothing, we decided to make an offer "as is." The good news was that the family had left a lot of things that we would need to set up housekeeping in a sticks and bricks house again. The house would come with a refrigerator, washer, and dryer. It also had a dining room table and chairs, a love seat, recliners, some end tables, etc. That would make our list of things that had to be purchased right away a lot shorter. The bad news was that we wouldn't need a lot of the things that were left in this messy basement and garage. The kitchen and bed rooms also had lots of boxes and cabinets still filled with the couple's lifetime accumulations.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwL1L8aEt-MWhnnBY9fe6dBMaijv04dncbBqG3xBHAXh_zMqx3jkb6SKqfGNzxolcbn3U4ETlvgeWNGm30HwYG3uJI7MJ8RYEnsqE42r9wHO2rIuXh6CjLFSMgW9Ch01E0yGNmf4i19p5EgPf6l2PWCyyjDh41-LB-oKHcuhlq_kZSUivG4OIvLhmeJw/s3894/20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2663" data-original-width="3894" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwL1L8aEt-MWhnnBY9fe6dBMaijv04dncbBqG3xBHAXh_zMqx3jkb6SKqfGNzxolcbn3U4ETlvgeWNGm30HwYG3uJI7MJ8RYEnsqE42r9wHO2rIuXh6CjLFSMgW9Ch01E0yGNmf4i19p5EgPf6l2PWCyyjDh41-LB-oKHcuhlq_kZSUivG4OIvLhmeJw/w640-h438/20.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">There were a few things that the family would still be taking--like those ladders that we really could use. But the rest of the stuff would take a lot of time and effort to sort through, and getting rid of the things we wouldn't keep would be a pain.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0O5biuq8N4FPqb5wvKzUJ5YWF9hBmiIluCC3OOjmYAwQfgnLHC9IYztUsrKL0Xvm_Dkw1y8UraDD0oyEM8EHKz24B8vIigER2j0_iezknO893hVtUIVa_adDx_flJaJnxxQNBDQgKvhmSdFvb8IpRYGsJ6gW0ZpoTxfdUJ-C-oMMdSpoQlJkOyQ6bX6M/s3213/D%20(9).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2742" data-original-width="3213" height="546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0O5biuq8N4FPqb5wvKzUJ5YWF9hBmiIluCC3OOjmYAwQfgnLHC9IYztUsrKL0Xvm_Dkw1y8UraDD0oyEM8EHKz24B8vIigER2j0_iezknO893hVtUIVa_adDx_flJaJnxxQNBDQgKvhmSdFvb8IpRYGsJ6gW0ZpoTxfdUJ-C-oMMdSpoQlJkOyQ6bX6M/w640-h546/D%20(9).jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">We had a building inspection, and found only a few things that needed to be fixed. The situation was complicated by the fact that we were baby-sitting. We had a schedule to keep that included school drop offs and pickups, and Eli's afternoon nap schedule. We were the busiest we had been since our own children were 5 and 2. What a time to be seriously looking at a house!?! We bathed the purchase decision in prayer and had some sleepless nights pondering our future and how this house might be a part of that. Is it time to settle down and buy a house?</span><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Denisa and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870900598225088990noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603551720303875027.post-45167632446614969302023-11-20T17:23:00.000-06:002023-11-20T17:23:02.263-06:00Grandbaby time!<p><span style="font-size: large;">After a week in the panhandle of Oklahoma with our mothers, we drove Denisa's mother to Oklahoma City for another doctor appointment. Then it was on to Kansas City, for some grandbaby time! For those that aren't familiar with our family, that would include our kindergartener named Carter, that loves making things. For the picture below, she fashioned a whole wardrobe of kingly accessories that Grand-dude was modeling.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SFAGLOYKmYP1sfeW0Dn48hjvJTe16Q_IvMatALBh_eAfGdamL2amQ1uRZHqukQvF6H_gB7x2brH9eu39wRA7iKV8x7Lp81pzrN-Ky6gs7GFeruY9hRgVuFT8SOxeyvfdlqdZo9RF-PcHKtXs6Eb76xZHyqyDTJ4POfYV0uEkH_6zFv9bp5KGTqje3kk/s3385/D%20(18).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3385" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SFAGLOYKmYP1sfeW0Dn48hjvJTe16Q_IvMatALBh_eAfGdamL2amQ1uRZHqukQvF6H_gB7x2brH9eu39wRA7iKV8x7Lp81pzrN-Ky6gs7GFeruY9hRgVuFT8SOxeyvfdlqdZo9RF-PcHKtXs6Eb76xZHyqyDTJ4POfYV0uEkH_6zFv9bp5KGTqje3kk/w572-h640/D%20(18).jpg" width="572" /></span></a></p><div><span style="font-size: large;">Our other grandbaby is 2-year-old Eli, who loves playing cars, pretending that he's a Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaur, and rolling around in the grass.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0rLCffZVDkwXvKuRWHusqUAvMJY7jn6-M5LgNiqvSL_MDSKWy0jxPlIoBPl3whJkF_-VHIgo0rs3NoZj4DimCVmNaObQa2J0KgYBXzpUknESoJwiiiPnkYQPEW07nVCTxJ17Vsa8tpBQAPy26nbCxlYt2RG-nYIgT952mtMP4Kb2uzW_WdN1fiYpRkrY/s2091/8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1719" data-original-width="2091" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0rLCffZVDkwXvKuRWHusqUAvMJY7jn6-M5LgNiqvSL_MDSKWy0jxPlIoBPl3whJkF_-VHIgo0rs3NoZj4DimCVmNaObQa2J0KgYBXzpUknESoJwiiiPnkYQPEW07nVCTxJ17Vsa8tpBQAPy26nbCxlYt2RG-nYIgT952mtMP4Kb2uzW_WdN1fiYpRkrY/w640-h526/8.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We arrived on Labor Day weekend, where we met the family for one last summer weekend at the lake. We were hosted by our daughter-in-law's parents, who have always been so gracious to include us.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhad-MmIrsyx6VafQV0AEQuAGSmi1mqV0AleSTl3EteA80XpKzBB_JTXdJ_T2i5vmfnXvBrcq1W5VcuJr8JcgU2KNPJAzMovBSczVaYgZZni4P2liFSfT8aLWGbofDGNtYmpLwPvkpqbVzn9Ya20tLYyCHMZjKjPwxcWGue-AFm0BX7t3R6fPgX8rCXTi8/s3986/53.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2827" data-original-width="3986" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhad-MmIrsyx6VafQV0AEQuAGSmi1mqV0AleSTl3EteA80XpKzBB_JTXdJ_T2i5vmfnXvBrcq1W5VcuJr8JcgU2KNPJAzMovBSczVaYgZZni4P2liFSfT8aLWGbofDGNtYmpLwPvkpqbVzn9Ya20tLYyCHMZjKjPwxcWGue-AFm0BX7t3R6fPgX8rCXTi8/w640-h454/53.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">When we went out on their boat for the last sunset cruise of the summer, Eli was more interested in reading books with Grand-dude than watching the clouds turn to shades of pink.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeP6QaiVkwHeHFWX45uH_gY_lR12iemORhXWdsTf9UfF_-k3oKpiQCKAqBMVsSyhkzukBV_FTb-zF-ZSFThCissC_40SUUyBcS9pP8zHyp-vaya0pgcCUjV8cC0TUOGUYpoOM2AozKhFxDXrAxqotJPHn73Gd6ZkPLgxmfcOm8P11Hf2TI0Gi_4SgRMt4/s3697/D%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2270" data-original-width="3697" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeP6QaiVkwHeHFWX45uH_gY_lR12iemORhXWdsTf9UfF_-k3oKpiQCKAqBMVsSyhkzukBV_FTb-zF-ZSFThCissC_40SUUyBcS9pP8zHyp-vaya0pgcCUjV8cC0TUOGUYpoOM2AozKhFxDXrAxqotJPHn73Gd6ZkPLgxmfcOm8P11Hf2TI0Gi_4SgRMt4/w640-h392/D%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Then we headed to our son and daughter-in-law's home in the suburbs west of Kansas City to catch up on more grandbaby time.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYqfY4Ya5dXzxfg0GhozcjpEyAFHTEIWVsM5lmysxvCIDNL1XyueXk-3lDmokYZ_ko_hw4f0kkoLdaayQt0SUgVaBDa4ytBNgtcmj_TeVrxJjFuzqjStebpCDnmffGo92ljI-g7GNSpIiKH_1aIOXRz96pZyFIusBfMFXbJiNe0GMK6o9TPIvj2MBgxM/s2643/26.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2643" data-original-width="2609" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYqfY4Ya5dXzxfg0GhozcjpEyAFHTEIWVsM5lmysxvCIDNL1XyueXk-3lDmokYZ_ko_hw4f0kkoLdaayQt0SUgVaBDa4ytBNgtcmj_TeVrxJjFuzqjStebpCDnmffGo92ljI-g7GNSpIiKH_1aIOXRz96pZyFIusBfMFXbJiNe0GMK6o9TPIvj2MBgxM/w632-h640/26.jpg" width="632" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">This was a long-standing grandparenting time that we had planned our summer travels around. We were here to keep the two children while our son and daughter-in-law went on vacation. They had planned a trip to Switzerland in the spring of 2020, but Covid cancelled it. So three years later they were finally getting to go to that destination. While we were scheduled to keep one grandchild in 2020, now we get two grandchildren for the 2023 trip! </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Carter had a birthday party invitation while her parents were away. So Gram went to the party with her, and visited at the party with all the young mothers that were half her age. Denisa found that parties are much fancier than the ones that we hosted 30 years ago. They had a bouncy house, a pinata that opened up when all the children pulled their attached ribbons, and a professional face painter. Parents (and one old grandmother) were encouraged to get their faces painted too. So Denisa got her first-ever face paint job.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj565VVob_YedyxQZJ_donLtTItTWTWdZ8-5bJ6S1FQwRyuM6HNZHwQXfQI4Wc45TxY0lX_b5wQUodC1wx0Uxcy9INiyT-c-n2kUZ_dsuJgqSkCEpzGZjqJZ4qft9qE0BJPIIeSH3BrRkKuHRS1Kxkke9mnMXiC4VRXhgBCuzb7N7wsaPw1nd1o5EMYXVs/s2354/IMG_6087.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2178" data-original-width="2354" height="592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj565VVob_YedyxQZJ_donLtTItTWTWdZ8-5bJ6S1FQwRyuM6HNZHwQXfQI4Wc45TxY0lX_b5wQUodC1wx0Uxcy9INiyT-c-n2kUZ_dsuJgqSkCEpzGZjqJZ4qft9qE0BJPIIeSH3BrRkKuHRS1Kxkke9mnMXiC4VRXhgBCuzb7N7wsaPw1nd1o5EMYXVs/w640-h592/IMG_6087.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Our youngest son came to help on the weekend, and both children adore Uncle Blake. He was there to walk them to a soccer game on a beautiful Saturday.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilEcodUOJUYIboc0zYa8yMgN0SC3ydTugFev4eeEjhNuXfHi3KlDFUFaXpU2s3DOY0T3AJkNLh7uJDfaYZ2YBwzQLhA17fJUMEhvA3aJs7Pf3sNCBCD2nsnDoRaed85IgnNKG0Yg2RhkH0GOOOHcekEcLqXwcjtflHzAblSXEYyexFMP4Np-pznx6_ieo/s2715/10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2715" data-original-width="2177" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilEcodUOJUYIboc0zYa8yMgN0SC3ydTugFev4eeEjhNuXfHi3KlDFUFaXpU2s3DOY0T3AJkNLh7uJDfaYZ2YBwzQLhA17fJUMEhvA3aJs7Pf3sNCBCD2nsnDoRaed85IgnNKG0Yg2RhkH0GOOOHcekEcLqXwcjtflHzAblSXEYyexFMP4Np-pznx6_ieo/w514-h640/10.jpg" width="514" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">Carter enjoyed spring soccer so much that she wanted to play again in the fall.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBEB2iWbsgjxE3YPvoY5CId7kjnHFrr36WVG5C8bxvYee2j6EXX3ReLIWk6XykNCMYaJosE3BJ72kNqX6zkMxDzFRSb6ksEhtMMwuchtjzLGht17MUO49M0muU6vwgAvyN3jcc5wR0QOEA9xp_jGFu4SYH4iOKo-RVx1YXCFAgT4-8gOYY9oIgHXE_G8/s3201/11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3201" data-original-width="2465" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBEB2iWbsgjxE3YPvoY5CId7kjnHFrr36WVG5C8bxvYee2j6EXX3ReLIWk6XykNCMYaJosE3BJ72kNqX6zkMxDzFRSb6ksEhtMMwuchtjzLGht17MUO49M0muU6vwgAvyN3jcc5wR0QOEA9xp_jGFu4SYH4iOKo-RVx1YXCFAgT4-8gOYY9oIgHXE_G8/w492-h640/11.jpg" width="492" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Carter had one day off of school, so we took advantage of that to take her to the Kansas City Zoo.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_e9uCakzcp_vJMxvyBE0D4TR77AhCJ4VRwIqlEcQEfB_DWszIKUHltEX1GMRo5eejbH5bufR2qoXeyScZ1dOoEaQAdDIC4T7lmD41saLwg4htX0aWAUPqaNCQpxbEXUMhVdHCVpLf3JK5nSEkoViUl1OPAEO7pKryP1N47V3mzCdZR8gQy6dptzIRXg8/s2919/D%20(3).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2919" data-original-width="2865" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_e9uCakzcp_vJMxvyBE0D4TR77AhCJ4VRwIqlEcQEfB_DWszIKUHltEX1GMRo5eejbH5bufR2qoXeyScZ1dOoEaQAdDIC4T7lmD41saLwg4htX0aWAUPqaNCQpxbEXUMhVdHCVpLf3JK5nSEkoViUl1OPAEO7pKryP1N47V3mzCdZR8gQy6dptzIRXg8/w628-h640/D%20(3).jpg" width="628" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Now that we are out of the mountains, we will have to use zoo animals for our wildlife pictures of the day. This lioness was napping right by the viewing window.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRN6GKnqJ_PSH5bKDIDSWr07AEXOZKUGkKJJA5RIcOXRQ7Ch_m-BnUEX48KXTT1Luozv8Tu7RBF7kbd4nTLfL2CtxtFHpR9gSqQWUS8c7nsYHjj_ywifPWyafztF4Ra-2dcAL_sWHnE-Zl1rna44T6yiCwitpN1Gp8tfchyphenhyphenpp-G5s0u_OtQtkudcareY/s3114/4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2171" data-original-width="3114" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRN6GKnqJ_PSH5bKDIDSWr07AEXOZKUGkKJJA5RIcOXRQ7Ch_m-BnUEX48KXTT1Luozv8Tu7RBF7kbd4nTLfL2CtxtFHpR9gSqQWUS8c7nsYHjj_ywifPWyafztF4Ra-2dcAL_sWHnE-Zl1rna44T6yiCwitpN1Gp8tfchyphenhyphenpp-G5s0u_OtQtkudcareY/w640-h446/4.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We arrived just in time for the chimpanzee feeding time, so they were close as well.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3HxpAa6al_DOf97YcbgUITltzSJulZssF12BO3hoYUf7ds_pnqOecydTQ7-g0rApm_OQAvHnZMM6aiCIoIq2T7doWTtO1azo8UFkQ-M-XZEd-JK5oIyUv-HkdtwJtYxB8TilCWKwmot0X6IpG-WtEX7bCDuhcRaTUdGqPt0UU2GpBrBmWnNmDCEzd44/s3796/D%20(5).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2722" data-original-width="3796" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3HxpAa6al_DOf97YcbgUITltzSJulZssF12BO3hoYUf7ds_pnqOecydTQ7-g0rApm_OQAvHnZMM6aiCIoIq2T7doWTtO1azo8UFkQ-M-XZEd-JK5oIyUv-HkdtwJtYxB8TilCWKwmot0X6IpG-WtEX7bCDuhcRaTUdGqPt0UU2GpBrBmWnNmDCEzd44/w640-h458/D%20(5).jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">But Carter's favorite interactive animal exhibit was the large sting ray pool. Visitors were encouraged to put hands into the water, and let the rays glide right by.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYc3uDZtXByxEt7tI5jXjBp6vSRZRWxgwmdBJmqYFSKO5eLH31rMggTWEfAnzumxxxs0qQeBXPURYccQwXP_7VHFE5s9N26Br0iHmwKgstS4EDE_nCBWs3sk1zLW9ODPYLD4Z-RKrZMdyI8mv76sj6DAF5m7EsAAhDRu_pboH2DMKhLvLBX-Kv3ftBniE/s3704/5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3704" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYc3uDZtXByxEt7tI5jXjBp6vSRZRWxgwmdBJmqYFSKO5eLH31rMggTWEfAnzumxxxs0qQeBXPURYccQwXP_7VHFE5s9N26Br0iHmwKgstS4EDE_nCBWs3sk1zLW9ODPYLD4Z-RKrZMdyI8mv76sj6DAF5m7EsAAhDRu_pboH2DMKhLvLBX-Kv3ftBniE/w640-h522/5.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">We also love the carousel ride at the zoo. You might notice that Denisa has new jewelry for her trip to the zoo. Carter made earrings and a matching necklace that spells out "Carter Love Gram." It's a prized addition to Denisa's limited jewelry stash.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsp6jXqmpTtr0rBuYYxf4z_J35PM6YvueAENnRVzJecQyDHIZqmGiRa6_XvCRY7M6wVf3_xUjbe8xz1OAG-UR7DO4LY69fk-pWtMtQExrKfomDbFgBYZ0vT6jrS2xEwmdSr0fVTdzSfHmGMnGj8N5vfClWLG51UTTrrjBm9UqO_mLaO9gbql1T9vhvCpM/s3140/1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2899" data-original-width="3140" height="590" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsp6jXqmpTtr0rBuYYxf4z_J35PM6YvueAENnRVzJecQyDHIZqmGiRa6_XvCRY7M6wVf3_xUjbe8xz1OAG-UR7DO4LY69fk-pWtMtQExrKfomDbFgBYZ0vT6jrS2xEwmdSr0fVTdzSfHmGMnGj8N5vfClWLG51UTTrrjBm9UqO_mLaO9gbql1T9vhvCpM/w640-h590/1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">It was a fun opportunity to spend all day just with Carter while Eli was at pre-school. Now that she's started all-day school, we recognize that time with her is getting more precious. We ended a successful day at the zoo with snow cones.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJAtdYelPAjlYXoeISWLqf9YFfoY4DItyMdQwRHXPKK-ZYNYtIgpB_2oDHW67tUMntvuj3TqR2AvV1_i3xa-YGrcaesCHCfEugcjDBJP6OL6toCauDPrFvjgb33FdbcRjqWc5Cp7VnLHlDeDIdL5L9lm2GvPqh59KZLAXGvFp1zbVR7z5zSi2q_kN3LY/s3024/D%20(6).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="2806" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJAtdYelPAjlYXoeISWLqf9YFfoY4DItyMdQwRHXPKK-ZYNYtIgpB_2oDHW67tUMntvuj3TqR2AvV1_i3xa-YGrcaesCHCfEugcjDBJP6OL6toCauDPrFvjgb33FdbcRjqWc5Cp7VnLHlDeDIdL5L9lm2GvPqh59KZLAXGvFp1zbVR7z5zSi2q_kN3LY/w594-h640/D%20(6).jpg" width="594" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We had more time with Eli, and he also got a solo trip to the zoo on a day that Carter was in school. Yes, we rode the carousel three times in a row just because he wanted to ride the zebra, the tiger, and the ladybug.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibkBYiiKYxscDbnKUEQqI2C5BkaEXgdVXrZxroHURA_9_tu0zEZtVz5zDut91SE8L-BGXZS-kKotisBWB_RJQvYY1zHjlN9AnFWh6Za-4yslnrH8Xzk-pbp1jyL5rJcpFXcNdrTHial2ktba5OeEnYGT-vJwFgGQ7mNKruC46HGb3-qEOpS5iGi39tvdM/s2288/D%20(16).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2282" data-original-width="2288" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibkBYiiKYxscDbnKUEQqI2C5BkaEXgdVXrZxroHURA_9_tu0zEZtVz5zDut91SE8L-BGXZS-kKotisBWB_RJQvYY1zHjlN9AnFWh6Za-4yslnrH8Xzk-pbp1jyL5rJcpFXcNdrTHial2ktba5OeEnYGT-vJwFgGQ7mNKruC46HGb3-qEOpS5iGi39tvdM/w640-h638/D%20(16).jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">With their season passes, the whole family has gone to the zoo many times. But today's trip was special because the new aquarium just opened this week.</span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrmfTaVngWJFuc1kIxfk6YMaNmfK1YDSYTA2UPjegZsxnLtFZ3zJufTrDkqKF6KiC7lQSdAki42y4rfW5NyN20tbeojbwUbO-JlOSCBI6-h_UoXoNL4mLh9FsuOJGpE8eAfcWWupkTDqaDnzmNt1OhbdH7vfppc1acqPx5rSFjjsXgcRQTUGafUQukTo/s3455/D%20(12).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2860" data-original-width="3455" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrmfTaVngWJFuc1kIxfk6YMaNmfK1YDSYTA2UPjegZsxnLtFZ3zJufTrDkqKF6KiC7lQSdAki42y4rfW5NyN20tbeojbwUbO-JlOSCBI6-h_UoXoNL4mLh9FsuOJGpE8eAfcWWupkTDqaDnzmNt1OhbdH7vfppc1acqPx5rSFjjsXgcRQTUGafUQukTo/w640-h530/D%20(12).jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">This popular attraction requires a timed reservation to keep the indoor exhibits from getting too crowded. They did a first-rate job of making interesting and beautiful displays that you can see up close.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHNNeBAOPoF_85CzzwDlB9Sr9K1Ozc2f9GftmKMAuMAH_snAJFLgOsybO8HXxWO7lMV0df0BM1iGs1w_C-KNcVmf4g0BMAX82WMNI_qFhVQWKUQD5ntHk5prWZnQhd3FFSXgd6MdxiKIGofeyFA1WUSy3kRvLUVBjReYOWB87hzlTUHsuHva6R79BgnE/s3652/D%20(13).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3652" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHNNeBAOPoF_85CzzwDlB9Sr9K1Ozc2f9GftmKMAuMAH_snAJFLgOsybO8HXxWO7lMV0df0BM1iGs1w_C-KNcVmf4g0BMAX82WMNI_qFhVQWKUQD5ntHk5prWZnQhd3FFSXgd6MdxiKIGofeyFA1WUSy3kRvLUVBjReYOWB87hzlTUHsuHva6R79BgnE/w640-h530/D%20(13).jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Eli loves reading books about sharks, so we knew that he would enjoy the aquarium. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkyyhWWxf587uJWv7QbVvhvQeO5yxegTbTgLZDgbeVGmiZINevrcix8pBj3lPgoaYzAqt6Qa1XkQzvd2_Egf6yxKTIG2QO9FO7QNlW8JmG2v0J1brf2obyAvww1JwHUHwRdmCxuerbuRCpbFJMPOEFwttDYS7a28Rju6AMG82aU2j_2rssJi7L2OcmrtE/s4032/D%20(14).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2499" data-original-width="4032" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkyyhWWxf587uJWv7QbVvhvQeO5yxegTbTgLZDgbeVGmiZINevrcix8pBj3lPgoaYzAqt6Qa1XkQzvd2_Egf6yxKTIG2QO9FO7QNlW8JmG2v0J1brf2obyAvww1JwHUHwRdmCxuerbuRCpbFJMPOEFwttDYS7a28Rju6AMG82aU2j_2rssJi7L2OcmrtE/w640-h396/D%20(14).jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We also went to the Lenexa Fire Department open house. The twelve days that Mom and Dad were gone just flew by!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMmKQ9cQr8oFpH-6W5ckbw3jwFd2Mn2WdzxYP8_e9biWgFVoylgWod5WX7VaSJIPAwr8ypDpGyBiZ6xDrWAHBQksuoZnj0J7zWm5OPaM9_cAHMX8vLT3ar-TXEeaA79R2VPOs3-c_8HJVAGgd_riOHaMSc2xX1gF_DcAiCrqF0PraScS8iMYIdW8wRU4s/s2591/D%20(17).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2591" data-original-width="2583" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMmKQ9cQr8oFpH-6W5ckbw3jwFd2Mn2WdzxYP8_e9biWgFVoylgWod5WX7VaSJIPAwr8ypDpGyBiZ6xDrWAHBQksuoZnj0J7zWm5OPaM9_cAHMX8vLT3ar-TXEeaA79R2VPOs3-c_8HJVAGgd_riOHaMSc2xX1gF_DcAiCrqF0PraScS8iMYIdW8wRU4s/w638-h640/D%20(17).jpg" width="638" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We took many more pictures, but we didn't want to completely overload a travel blog with all of them. After a successful summer of traveling through Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Colorado, it's nice to be back in Kansas for some grandbaby time!</span></div><br /><div><br /></div>Denisa and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870900598225088990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603551720303875027.post-51227482073123626122023-11-17T20:18:00.000-06:002023-11-17T20:18:36.822-06:00A Week of Oklahoma Country Fun<p><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pMNOAQLgBGOBDb6Iv99SgRth399QKB7vQDYchiPxBR8eA_LuQiqJHRqobkxinYqalOpyl1hdM4q-PFaIAwe_PLV7u8Z2IszrCEzUAfZVy28SZuw3cPIghH2Y0TTmyAoBvuoUk9spjMhhooEFaNYiqhHS0m-CujfQXH4W_Uxd5nn5qDXHWpnqG_acMlw/s3639/pic%20(310).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2755" data-original-width="3639" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pMNOAQLgBGOBDb6Iv99SgRth399QKB7vQDYchiPxBR8eA_LuQiqJHRqobkxinYqalOpyl1hdM4q-PFaIAwe_PLV7u8Z2IszrCEzUAfZVy28SZuw3cPIghH2Y0TTmyAoBvuoUk9spjMhhooEFaNYiqhHS0m-CujfQXH4W_Uxd5nn5qDXHWpnqG_acMlw/w640-h484/pic%20(310).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">After a faster-than-planned departure from our summer travels, we settled in for a week of Oklahoma country family time. Mark's mother got out of the hospital the day after we arrived, so Mark escorted her home. Denisa's mother had an appointment with a specialist to have a basal cell carcinoma removed from her eye lid, so Denisa and her sisters escorted her to Garden City, Kansas. Between doctors' visits, the Beaver County Fair was also in full swing. On the day that Mark's mother got out of the hospital, she was back at the fairgrounds to see her great grandson (and our great nephew) and his wife perform at the fair.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoG5qhtVPrraX2pHHuMRQGWQI6Jgen5bKDAY3sIiEZCyQXJlU2rvon4Qm5r-qQDIkSgcTKkGF_wF3Ed2C7gjk7v4XsN5qfiKuMrfLN_ZrFRGxKP5ULYXG5XEySIA6vKXnGpHjpRhj2ogVIveGB1GXFNt3W8p45OPFZKKIUuejYK9SUCjLqoQqPiRm8WNo/s2806/pic%20(301).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2355" data-original-width="2806" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoG5qhtVPrraX2pHHuMRQGWQI6Jgen5bKDAY3sIiEZCyQXJlU2rvon4Qm5r-qQDIkSgcTKkGF_wF3Ed2C7gjk7v4XsN5qfiKuMrfLN_ZrFRGxKP5ULYXG5XEySIA6vKXnGpHjpRhj2ogVIveGB1GXFNt3W8p45OPFZKKIUuejYK9SUCjLqoQqPiRm8WNo/w640-h538/pic%20(301).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Mark's mother was also at the parade the next morning. This year the Beaver County fair was combined with the the annual Cow Chip Festival that usually takes place in the spring. For those that don't know, a cow chip is dried cow poop, and Beaver hosts the "World Cow Chip Throwing Championship." The parade had to include the town statue of the beaver holding a cow chip. We had a family friend bring his children to visit, and their young daughter asked, "What's with the statue of the squirrel eating a cookie?" <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3oiQceIKWcuYMkzB-F4cZ4dXvrpIu4la5mrMrgdZPwCYsRtEx8UEofhvSrllp_S_b7qEUS-k5-6LRjzoqEu9kw2CEPPPe4a8b3c_WhgZJ4HhcD6oyAgz6lacmCz6RxyMClJpbg4FThym9ejYD3u8o2Vs3cG2ACN_BC8gP7Oe0HFf0-LJ5yU_0QOnj4Pw/s2937/pic%20(302).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1902" data-original-width="2937" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3oiQceIKWcuYMkzB-F4cZ4dXvrpIu4la5mrMrgdZPwCYsRtEx8UEofhvSrllp_S_b7qEUS-k5-6LRjzoqEu9kw2CEPPPe4a8b3c_WhgZJ4HhcD6oyAgz6lacmCz6RxyMClJpbg4FThym9ejYD3u8o2Vs3cG2ACN_BC8gP7Oe0HFf0-LJ5yU_0QOnj4Pw/w640-h414/pic%20(302).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><div><span style="font-size: large;">You've got to love a parade that includes a ten-foot-fly-covered-cow-chip zooming down Main Street, throwing candy to the parade watchers.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1ewuPTPkzCS7cNezasztdgZEB7HNzVIsRIUDG5l1aMdX0yj1nZ21ok0UBZq0CkfzNxb3vvDEkcmIlwNQgUeigjt2_zJI4CXMTgFcxFSZ6zreQ7IgkSlIyTZa2zpi7lA3f3bmmzOsyHcl6g6DV20I53IeoldCDCNntktqbZXhhKywjAE8na7tjyqMwFg/s1875/pic%20(303).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1181" data-original-width="1875" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1ewuPTPkzCS7cNezasztdgZEB7HNzVIsRIUDG5l1aMdX0yj1nZ21ok0UBZq0CkfzNxb3vvDEkcmIlwNQgUeigjt2_zJI4CXMTgFcxFSZ6zreQ7IgkSlIyTZa2zpi7lA3f3bmmzOsyHcl6g6DV20I53IeoldCDCNntktqbZXhhKywjAE8na7tjyqMwFg/w640-h404/pic%20(303).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">After the parade we went to a shooting competition hosted by our nephew, in which several more relatives participated. This wasn't exactly a good spectator sport with the action happening far from where we were parked. But it was interesting to see how they organized a competition.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxEOqKu1X1smC9nEjq_ABvZKt4ILER4a1F6wcuARHpKEMLKt_vWB0ba3Xqx3vsKlD62WiHw30esKa2Qu_EiUvavNg68ykGtln9Umpa1ejaPvn-RPEtG_jJyWTs6Kkq9JRbirQi5FRjfSNJyw-WVD3tK-dW7EKWiAjQoyN3_P9iY_wdjYnGL9EjbpNbORA/s3246/pic%20(304).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1535" data-original-width="3246" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxEOqKu1X1smC9nEjq_ABvZKt4ILER4a1F6wcuARHpKEMLKt_vWB0ba3Xqx3vsKlD62WiHw30esKa2Qu_EiUvavNg68ykGtln9Umpa1ejaPvn-RPEtG_jJyWTs6Kkq9JRbirQi5FRjfSNJyw-WVD3tK-dW7EKWiAjQoyN3_P9iY_wdjYnGL9EjbpNbORA/w640-h302/pic%20(304).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Denisa's mother was recuperating from her eye procedure, and she announced that she was ready to go to church on Sunday morning. So Denisa took her to church, where we learned that the pianist had called in sick that morning. After they announced that we would be singing a cappella that morning, Denisa whispered to the preacher that she could play. Denisa probably should have checked to see what hymns were planned, because she ended up sight-reading all the songs at the Beaver Methodist Church that morning. Then the preacher asked her to play for the nursing home services that afternoon!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">While we stayed with our mothers, our motor home was parked at the ranch. The resident guineas and their babies were patrolling the parking area.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcF3K0vQJGIgyrZF1LJiYBJVNZ0Z4bXUwDxHeIkCFerIvq4XJA92MC1M_P1dwmnFQ8tPIqOFlkhIXhy6Dof5LPlYDPK4s9397Jc1sAfKFJlz_iOAVhrVy_XtJwT5Zervmfqa9n_KAn7SGxV9LbZ7r3GCDsDY6Ep98RDdhfhoKOhtcAWXM3vEgl1msdWM/s3239/pic%20(305).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2414" data-original-width="3239" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcF3K0vQJGIgyrZF1LJiYBJVNZ0Z4bXUwDxHeIkCFerIvq4XJA92MC1M_P1dwmnFQ8tPIqOFlkhIXhy6Dof5LPlYDPK4s9397Jc1sAfKFJlz_iOAVhrVy_XtJwT5Zervmfqa9n_KAn7SGxV9LbZ7r3GCDsDY6Ep98RDdhfhoKOhtcAWXM3vEgl1msdWM/w640-h476/pic%20(305).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Several of these big-body-small-headed guineas had been missing, and they assumed that they had fallen prey to a bobcat. But they showed back up a couple weeks ago, leading these babies they had hatched.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2S9hDabqc1Ek681BQcwGZKbxEfwwtGLu7y-rEMtcAePijrRXop_r2yLPpjGCLw7ybq0V1vD0wE683uVBfjYErYYIfiS6B5vT71AqjyeGY1U3mCWeKwRD2d87ffFqGELeO6QwYdxUW7F9Mu_OrAeYMXNNrBc6t2T5HSwhKYMHWQoFVocY5c9KriTVSBxQ/s3055/pic%20(311).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2571" data-original-width="3055" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2S9hDabqc1Ek681BQcwGZKbxEfwwtGLu7y-rEMtcAePijrRXop_r2yLPpjGCLw7ybq0V1vD0wE683uVBfjYErYYIfiS6B5vT71AqjyeGY1U3mCWeKwRD2d87ffFqGELeO6QwYdxUW7F9Mu_OrAeYMXNNrBc6t2T5HSwhKYMHWQoFVocY5c9KriTVSBxQ/w640-h538/pic%20(311).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Speaking of babies, it is calving season on the ranch. This little guy was born prematurely, so he's in the corral near the barn for some extra care. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ph6IWTaVRxXI_V-4PqjkaH8VjeNLwgXKFlut5erpc1q-mZ0W4MyzdjnZh6tqyf2kT8H9gC5FwQ9BQQiRfB5Ot56CU1XHgyzRtpYAMOTfl_f_tWKBasOpHITTLLgB-eXdq6ulA6Y1Ph5g4MJFFDqVcVWAAO9vRg9OkEtqX2melm9P5z6uHAvABUAFyFQ/s2288/pic%20(309).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1719" data-original-width="2288" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ph6IWTaVRxXI_V-4PqjkaH8VjeNLwgXKFlut5erpc1q-mZ0W4MyzdjnZh6tqyf2kT8H9gC5FwQ9BQQiRfB5Ot56CU1XHgyzRtpYAMOTfl_f_tWKBasOpHITTLLgB-eXdq6ulA6Y1Ph5g4MJFFDqVcVWAAO9vRg9OkEtqX2melm9P5z6uHAvABUAFyFQ/w640-h480/pic%20(309).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The main care is actually for the mother cow. This baby was too small and wasn't strong enough to suck properly. So he needed some guidance, and the cow had to be milked because her teats were too full. Life on the ranch is never boring.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAas0nYQqidf81RWojbxMceDXZ4CNCU4VShncXI_KSn3JwMPwuDN1W2r8PHVfZW-ESfYDEPtTQEZY97ann24tELXqEHFrs_f6GondgbKMndBIAKks856xQQcVxS0-x05May6H3iAn7MAzii2vOVZVqvI9h5RfejpmFpUU2TOYJEVxF4yBF1f6JK5p-6I/s2472/pic%20(308).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1719" data-original-width="2472" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAas0nYQqidf81RWojbxMceDXZ4CNCU4VShncXI_KSn3JwMPwuDN1W2r8PHVfZW-ESfYDEPtTQEZY97ann24tELXqEHFrs_f6GondgbKMndBIAKks856xQQcVxS0-x05May6H3iAn7MAzii2vOVZVqvI9h5RfejpmFpUU2TOYJEVxF4yBF1f6JK5p-6I/w640-h446/pic%20(308).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The panhandle has been blessed with good moisture this summer. While we normally see a few sunflowers that grow waist-high, the rains have caused them to grow to monumental heights this year. They were twice as tall as Denisa!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24xAu5LPyaJfsgVwMe3tcw71y6BO5CxLzlGNalnnjk6VgBItb8q86lwIzLnDURhpQ-1ZBV7ON8_zem9nLMMSITjUwF4U2PBgkWZTzz_nRd7C-TP7fT3R1zRBWAWn8eYI526cLxjXb7W1qGQXX_eg7oT6qS2YWCdbWkiNTqnnimOJ8YLcq8eJcrg4htOc/s3639/pic%20(310).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2755" data-original-width="3639" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24xAu5LPyaJfsgVwMe3tcw71y6BO5CxLzlGNalnnjk6VgBItb8q86lwIzLnDURhpQ-1ZBV7ON8_zem9nLMMSITjUwF4U2PBgkWZTzz_nRd7C-TP7fT3R1zRBWAWn8eYI526cLxjXb7W1qGQXX_eg7oT6qS2YWCdbWkiNTqnnimOJ8YLcq8eJcrg4htOc/w640-h484/pic%20(310).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Those rains have also brought green grass in the pasture. After having to sell off much of the cow herd during the drought, it's time to buy cows to replace them. We were there to help push a few cows through the shoot to welcome them to Cap-o-Ranch.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWeMJczFMW3EUNGzLlGwOUpVJ78JubBqCPC3eVKfDCTXNKbbIgUvb7chyphenhyphensdS-cvwiQ20h7QFiEDwKeXmZGF0j5bcZqJGgxYtEmvuBkGi4y0G8FlpoX2GbABuzFWu30v1hUSfZFapZhZQ68UTzCFS7CKM6rFaMSfJsSfOD_vnqxEaU-n3x8_UI0zGKIdc/s3599/pic%20(307).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2585" data-original-width="3599" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWeMJczFMW3EUNGzLlGwOUpVJ78JubBqCPC3eVKfDCTXNKbbIgUvb7chyphenhyphensdS-cvwiQ20h7QFiEDwKeXmZGF0j5bcZqJGgxYtEmvuBkGi4y0G8FlpoX2GbABuzFWu30v1hUSfZFapZhZQ68UTzCFS7CKM6rFaMSfJsSfOD_vnqxEaU-n3x8_UI0zGKIdc/w640-h460/pic%20(307).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">So that's a wrap-up of the week we spent in the Oklahoma panhandle. We were here to check on our mothers and help them. But as you can see, this was a happening place to spend a week enjoying family time and Oklahoma country fun.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><br /></div>Denisa and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870900598225088990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603551720303875027.post-18177665143535807542023-11-15T23:18:00.000-06:002023-11-15T23:18:14.679-06:00Both of our Mothers were at the same Emergency Room on the same day?!?<p><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>We're way behind in getting travel posts published because we were having way too much fun traveling! So we won't be confused about when each "wandering" happened, we'll start each blog with its actual date.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">August 23, 2023</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">After sitting at one spot for close to a month, there were more things than usual to pack up and put away. Denisa enjoyed having her piano out so she could play on the days that we got home early from a day of exploring. When we are hopping around the country with 3- to 7- day stops we never take the time to get the piano set up. Now it was time to put it away once again.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjT3gE7IPVv_zommbsKa00r3YW_JixP-972maEjwJl-x5xIxhss2aw-8URxl57XgvE4Rgjd8hdqmlekEm-rF3cjq5LmiD3j9UXci9C4A5uD5iU3fkLjvq_qxXMenKNjSPrg92XH0_LM6iwCKreyPQsPhT081JCq2shCn23s-pnzzt16-8vSfKgFbKvsT0/s3390/pic%20(21).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2322" data-original-width="3390" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjT3gE7IPVv_zommbsKa00r3YW_JixP-972maEjwJl-x5xIxhss2aw-8URxl57XgvE4Rgjd8hdqmlekEm-rF3cjq5LmiD3j9UXci9C4A5uD5iU3fkLjvq_qxXMenKNjSPrg92XH0_LM6iwCKreyPQsPhT081JCq2shCn23s-pnzzt16-8vSfKgFbKvsT0/w640-h438/pic%20(21).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">We spent some time in the morning getting the motor home ready to roll again. This would be a normal day of packing up until we got a text from Denisa's Mother. She had a biopsy on her leg a couple weeks ago. This day the wound had reopened and she couldn't get it to stop bleeding, probably because of the blood thinner prescription she takes. She made an ambulance trip to the local hospital, where they got the bleeding under control and bandaged her up. That was an unexpected turn of events to monitor from afar!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It was a very sad day to see our 14,000-foot mountains in our rear view mirror. We have enjoyed this time with cool summer weather and beautiful views all around us. Our drive out of the mountains took us along the Arkansas River.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-0cfZRdXSwSIV7KfSL1StTPAYy1JIfjYvtlSrqnHQQGKmqjjnkWMyLr-7966W1PTRJyqysDAdMR_4wdSg5XDLOjrp1nt1fiOInRDqX9hb9zkTmbttDFtzpNlyfAs4CMcEo_Z23EkZm4ksVqSoHdXnA8ZRXq2QasRn2LvQQcaBxhhR6l7g8dPDMcMRIcc/s3298/pic%20(285).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1909" data-original-width="3298" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-0cfZRdXSwSIV7KfSL1StTPAYy1JIfjYvtlSrqnHQQGKmqjjnkWMyLr-7966W1PTRJyqysDAdMR_4wdSg5XDLOjrp1nt1fiOInRDqX9hb9zkTmbttDFtzpNlyfAs4CMcEo_Z23EkZm4ksVqSoHdXnA8ZRXq2QasRn2LvQQcaBxhhR6l7g8dPDMcMRIcc/w640-h370/pic%20(285).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Highway 50 is a curving road that loses elevation as it winds down the Arkansas River Canyon. Just like we had rafted on the Arkansas River near Buena Vista, we saw rafters further down-stream enjoying this picturesque part of the river. <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FP2tTvgQ_bttIn_WQ4XqqKHPlAueuiJZhG6uog9SIAhGRAkRZjlXI6ShcMQ38Npz8BDoTr2k5c4crgDEk4YBP4D4k1l3FloIDL2haUjANRZrKjQ0_kppkM98TrR7HFartmb3VKqnAhZvJiE2PvVY5m00tryCW_NfzAv3jL_dHWqnH81hsJY1vMwY4b0/s3862/pic%20(283).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2506" data-original-width="3862" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FP2tTvgQ_bttIn_WQ4XqqKHPlAueuiJZhG6uog9SIAhGRAkRZjlXI6ShcMQ38Npz8BDoTr2k5c4crgDEk4YBP4D4k1l3FloIDL2haUjANRZrKjQ0_kppkM98TrR7HFartmb3VKqnAhZvJiE2PvVY5m00tryCW_NfzAv3jL_dHWqnH81hsJY1vMwY4b0/w640-h416/pic%20(283).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our month-long stay in one place was nice because we did not have to worry about where we would be camping for a whole month. As we made our plans to leave, we had to call quite a few places to find a campground on our travel path that wasn't full. It reminded us that it was still the summer travel season. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We were on the road with the motor home heading south, when we got a phone call from Mark's sister. They had taken Mark's mother to the emergency room, and they admitted her to the hospital. So both of our mothers were at the same emergency room on the same day! It was time for us to get back to the Oklahoma panhandle to check on these two special women. They are 93 and 95 years old, and still living on their own.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It was a down-hill drive, as we left our campground at 8,200 feet and drove to Rocky Ford, Colorado at 4,178 feet. While we usually drive less than 100 miles on a moving day, we went 200 miles because we were in a hurry to get back to the panhandle of Oklahoma where we were raised. Our overnight stop in Rocky Ford was at the local fairgrounds. They had just finished the county fair, and they were renovating the regular campground. But they allowed us to stay overnight at a spot with electricity. We thought that the campground sign was interesting. We did register with the local police department as the green sign instructed. Then we happily complied with the white sign. We have no dogs, we will keep our bicycles in their rack, we don't carry a skateboard, and we will gladly not bring any snakes! Why would snakes be on that sign!?!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM547HlLTm0d-AaOZnIg7IoeBgYchF1x3DQw1ab23Sa6CXdPeE1cT4Oe2TsW_lsI_upKu2SuwtJQ4tY94aRT4Q9SphomSoFA4nzxyfEnJKaPIE5AhqEo4IN0ofR-t6mV-JLKqiejmUaaUnIbaAPyCi_ez09RXqzUAsv5RmDafSXUAqTmhH9mxcqONCvAM/s3218/pic%20(286).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3218" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM547HlLTm0d-AaOZnIg7IoeBgYchF1x3DQw1ab23Sa6CXdPeE1cT4Oe2TsW_lsI_upKu2SuwtJQ4tY94aRT4Q9SphomSoFA4nzxyfEnJKaPIE5AhqEo4IN0ofR-t6mV-JLKqiejmUaaUnIbaAPyCi_ez09RXqzUAsv5RmDafSXUAqTmhH9mxcqONCvAM/w602-h640/pic%20(286).JPG" width="602" /></a></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">When the fairgrounds office allowed us to spend the night, they didn't tell us that we would be in the water sprinkler zone. We woke up to water hitting the side of the motor home. So Mark decided to take advantage of the water to do a fast wash. He had to time his brushing to coincide with the revolving sprinkler's spray on the side of the motor home.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSWU_2EwN0OYXEpg68wPKfyDR983-fp7q8kbnBvl_0ntGZ8_oDFOwp8fs74pfDlS09ixhXzsnKW5zzZuD_xIxn0Paw-t7xXH0fPdk5_0rbTLNXDcgWu6y4iHCOFhOf7wEftWTY_GHuyESVLO8WoABCP5HIDIueXvdsPg7EpH85CNBA3UIg7GUdFEY0nbY/s2911/pic%20(287).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2618" data-original-width="2911" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSWU_2EwN0OYXEpg68wPKfyDR983-fp7q8kbnBvl_0ntGZ8_oDFOwp8fs74pfDlS09ixhXzsnKW5zzZuD_xIxn0Paw-t7xXH0fPdk5_0rbTLNXDcgWu6y4iHCOFhOf7wEftWTY_GHuyESVLO8WoABCP5HIDIueXvdsPg7EpH85CNBA3UIg7GUdFEY0nbY/w640-h576/pic%20(287).JPG" width="640" /></a></span><p></p><span style="font-size: large;">Then we realized that this free wash job was from the local water that was leaving hard water spots as it dried. So we had to hand-dry both sides of the motor home. Sometimes free things aren't really free. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQ7R_0ZLJNMNIRKp019521ktWnxYchaqBJuE_LIeBcHRMnbd_ZSAwWUVDDiDRsK8K9cGdTBQ08o185RXpoEuRmTOlR4BhMvlNIhwGIbmA2uOmmN01ZuTuGizXuNI-5hHL1KvotX39CMAWDHTFGQfoZx9pUJQZ7OHqVKY2L0w4aAPaXYTGdVkEq_4xu7c/s3567/pic%20(288).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2506" data-original-width="3567" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQ7R_0ZLJNMNIRKp019521ktWnxYchaqBJuE_LIeBcHRMnbd_ZSAwWUVDDiDRsK8K9cGdTBQ08o185RXpoEuRmTOlR4BhMvlNIhwGIbmA2uOmmN01ZuTuGizXuNI-5hHL1KvotX39CMAWDHTFGQfoZx9pUJQZ7OHqVKY2L0w4aAPaXYTGdVkEq_4xu7c/w640-h450/pic%20(288).JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">This overnight camping allowed us to shop the local produce stands the next morning. Rocky Ford, Colorado, is famous for its summer melons. In the pickup, we visited five different fruit stands along the highway. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwtOzbqVCpPkt_ROxS0j5nNeYjPbatkjsfKZkqL7RKgEAHCfrpGNj6fzznsY7ZZx7n_xVNvsNXXCfUXTWGaT6hYMSt5tcR-U0LFNpDFELpFcidp_hl6YSThbRQPvxz9rWWK-uxU4IJAHA7dcV1tGquWeZxIX1Ag-70uCqnb0mgIRQhfGdOtRMXWRezFUE/s2714/pic%20(293).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1922" data-original-width="2714" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwtOzbqVCpPkt_ROxS0j5nNeYjPbatkjsfKZkqL7RKgEAHCfrpGNj6fzznsY7ZZx7n_xVNvsNXXCfUXTWGaT6hYMSt5tcR-U0LFNpDFELpFcidp_hl6YSThbRQPvxz9rWWK-uxU4IJAHA7dcV1tGquWeZxIX1Ag-70uCqnb0mgIRQhfGdOtRMXWRezFUE/w640-h454/pic%20(293).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">Our favorite fruit stand was Knapp's Farm Market. Their cantaloupes were 99 cents per pound. We ended up buying more than 30 pounds, so our 14 melons were just 80 cents per pound. The motor home is doubling as a delivery truck to bring lots of melons to friends and family in Oklahoma.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYldtJr3KXjXgsSIeRxLWI9QWEJ87zwP_1ZOqVXEO6r0gzQ3kKipcV3Ssk46mVR2I_BEPVrE_b_DJcm5iW_U-8vOu7F27bSjhGL0cINpVySIn7Y66tKUCuNyGhVrT_r2mpjaUnuODZoFAuTxheD7v4bFot68qhi-6TsGzW_zWbRaouEUaiQeH9R-YF2a4/s4019/pic%20(289).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2512" data-original-width="4019" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYldtJr3KXjXgsSIeRxLWI9QWEJ87zwP_1ZOqVXEO6r0gzQ3kKipcV3Ssk46mVR2I_BEPVrE_b_DJcm5iW_U-8vOu7F27bSjhGL0cINpVySIn7Y66tKUCuNyGhVrT_r2mpjaUnuODZoFAuTxheD7v4bFot68qhi-6TsGzW_zWbRaouEUaiQeH9R-YF2a4/w640-h400/pic%20(289).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Watermelons were expensive, so we only bought one $10 melon that was surprisingly small.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcySqyTlqZbpvDXA8lZSURIbOY_Noest4M3epY914ctw25xqSUw2OJ1Wkm4M3jGG51VOKKYjPETd8EaENQUpqtqzBvuV5_N9naSGvmwFsgYN5M_sjjFxQfqTO3qjH9LPhlQRtUusJMozkYyCwv8Wn48EhZtUawSq9mYM3m7eqge6TzIB8D83QN2HCDYIs/s3245/pic%20(290).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2624" data-original-width="3245" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcySqyTlqZbpvDXA8lZSURIbOY_Noest4M3epY914ctw25xqSUw2OJ1Wkm4M3jGG51VOKKYjPETd8EaENQUpqtqzBvuV5_N9naSGvmwFsgYN5M_sjjFxQfqTO3qjH9LPhlQRtUusJMozkYyCwv8Wn48EhZtUawSq9mYM3m7eqge6TzIB8D83QN2HCDYIs/w640-h518/pic%20(290).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">It was good to shop around, because we saw rattle snake watermelons as high as $14.99, and cantaloupe for $7.99 each. Of course, you could get a real bargain if you bought two for $16?!?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBK-jrAG-YVXX3xhetXzKktUIz_v1IpPp2cFrBvIBFSnTWg4bliG2Avwubyll0iI1ydS07bx9lH8V5NVRQMWWr-2NZnal-ZsDW55nkwxYjQs6smc8swK3Y1YQ_s2yoV8BDxmcfNTbHid1iyxGFZOtqJnacqyu0-RATUtrYCPxw7m3d9RGPe_OQ2I7Am7c/s3350/pic%20(295).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2342" data-original-width="3350" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBK-jrAG-YVXX3xhetXzKktUIz_v1IpPp2cFrBvIBFSnTWg4bliG2Avwubyll0iI1ydS07bx9lH8V5NVRQMWWr-2NZnal-ZsDW55nkwxYjQs6smc8swK3Y1YQ_s2yoV8BDxmcfNTbHid1iyxGFZOtqJnacqyu0-RATUtrYCPxw7m3d9RGPe_OQ2I7Am7c/w640-h448/pic%20(295).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We also bought a box of Colorado peaches and a dozen ears of corn. Then we left Rocky Ford and headed down the road for the motor home's annual oil change. After doing extensive research, Mark contacted a truck repair place in Lamar, Colorado. He asked them lots of details and gave them all the parts numbers for the filters they would need to do the job. The young man on the phone assured Mark that they would have everything needed, and we made an appointment. When we arrived, they didn't have any record of our appointment, none of the parts were in stock, and they confessed that they had never changed the oil in a motor home. The price we were quoted also went up dramatically. The young man who seemed so competent on the phone was gone. We had planned our route around this service, and we were disappointed to be leaving without this annual chore completed, Bummer! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgzDk_GeKWp2mX8RWuWS_ERkwZvLioAvCoJKexTKosPp5wvt1IcVlmaBlwAK9ZG1duXHkW6pDd2Re0AZ33pdaNPa5Qc6GtV1x83FNQoS848p5FseTLj0tZ5kTkGHzncJFv_DR8YQt3er7fAlx6kMEKqhIspMea7KPZDIAS6qmlWUUVqgBRcfdFx32mFUU/s3003/pic%20(296).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2407" data-original-width="3003" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgzDk_GeKWp2mX8RWuWS_ERkwZvLioAvCoJKexTKosPp5wvt1IcVlmaBlwAK9ZG1duXHkW6pDd2Re0AZ33pdaNPa5Qc6GtV1x83FNQoS848p5FseTLj0tZ5kTkGHzncJFv_DR8YQt3er7fAlx6kMEKqhIspMea7KPZDIAS6qmlWUUVqgBRcfdFx32mFUU/w640-h512/pic%20(296).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We were so mad that we decided to just drive all the way to Oklahoma. We drove right on through Kansas . . .</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQkwmfwZrKqEKUGkenzX2ebS3MMLtvOWmtyJ2kzW-NVzmz8ZINTDVOiHGknis8IwjjQKYm4aGPhG6Amd3n5txESLtB88Z8K5isNh_TvRVegopPHZtFae-DAzKxPueefd5iqnZYx8cXou2fepKCZsiraHdd-zuXbWO9EWgiEGCoAhsP_5GXuMYqywYotvY/s1482/pic%20(297).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="997" data-original-width="1482" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQkwmfwZrKqEKUGkenzX2ebS3MMLtvOWmtyJ2kzW-NVzmz8ZINTDVOiHGknis8IwjjQKYm4aGPhG6Amd3n5txESLtB88Z8K5isNh_TvRVegopPHZtFae-DAzKxPueefd5iqnZYx8cXou2fepKCZsiraHdd-zuXbWO9EWgiEGCoAhsP_5GXuMYqywYotvY/w640-h430/pic%20(297).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">where we stopped for the last diesel fill-up at just under $4 per gallon.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4XPE_5TVLHCPKYo51_kSbzDE8Oi21dKHgB48TETMDc0vXyBAAzvdSJ5Oot-Oh-dLbdhN6yL-TasYbSQhlGu0D4UPIQpmyP6DqhcV3sOs_yblThxB2Z9X8055AA3gQP-bGmT6OpixCsYl7GVR0lm8ICJ_fMIQnYJ7tVKb8K9eZ6v_LKGZILRdQKD5t7f0/s1921/pic%20(298).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1515" data-original-width="1921" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4XPE_5TVLHCPKYo51_kSbzDE8Oi21dKHgB48TETMDc0vXyBAAzvdSJ5Oot-Oh-dLbdhN6yL-TasYbSQhlGu0D4UPIQpmyP6DqhcV3sOs_yblThxB2Z9X8055AA3gQP-bGmT6OpixCsYl7GVR0lm8ICJ_fMIQnYJ7tVKb8K9eZ6v_LKGZILRdQKD5t7f0/w640-h504/pic%20(298).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Normally, we would have spent two weeks driving from Buena Vista, Colorado back to Oklahoma. We would have stopped at several campgrounds and enjoyed some more mountain hikes in Colorado. But instead of two weeks, we made the trip in two days this time. After two much-longer driving days than is usual for us, we were welcomed to Oklahoma through a bug-spattered windshield. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWPc7PiPgTP4rZfwyBnbzO8SqsTV0HD5FmGKaetoFvYlmsYrxRkQMATQwaiR8EEJkidqHqGjhq4Ya6aFJPduO4UdIUnNqylRVyLcNRlHV2n2WvAIPmo7-dcjKKteW-w682eh9zhdnS9BDdfCN6ojeNvoaRIb2S_e__WzTY9mMMXzG58fmr451k-Bd9vSw/s1416/pic%20(299).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="971" data-original-width="1416" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWPc7PiPgTP4rZfwyBnbzO8SqsTV0HD5FmGKaetoFvYlmsYrxRkQMATQwaiR8EEJkidqHqGjhq4Ya6aFJPduO4UdIUnNqylRVyLcNRlHV2n2WvAIPmo7-dcjKKteW-w682eh9zhdnS9BDdfCN6ojeNvoaRIb2S_e__WzTY9mMMXzG58fmr451k-Bd9vSw/w640-h438/pic%20(299).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We arrived in Beaver, Oklahoma, as the sun was setting. We parked the motor home beside Denisa's mother's house. With both of our mothers visiting the same emergency room on the same day, we were in a hurry to check on them. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6kpvx3rdkHDg0iGgmNElMlxtXHqXUhnNXXqX7-UUpp3WIJLhQzA-PaeUfriswhYBrShJ6oq0XEb2CnWpdPv2qhWDtJ8gNvvNJHQU5PVyYf1-Q8ryFqXWJTmpSa9W74rQPZ5Jw6lL_KcGTqBVdFEX1eoSgGL9g62jonAosOsMpC-Nrv7_seFlv3Yfw9Ss/s3193/pic%20(300).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1738" data-original-width="3193" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6kpvx3rdkHDg0iGgmNElMlxtXHqXUhnNXXqX7-UUpp3WIJLhQzA-PaeUfriswhYBrShJ6oq0XEb2CnWpdPv2qhWDtJ8gNvvNJHQU5PVyYf1-Q8ryFqXWJTmpSa9W74rQPZ5Jw6lL_KcGTqBVdFEX1eoSgGL9g62jonAosOsMpC-Nrv7_seFlv3Yfw9Ss/w640-h348/pic%20(300).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Denisa and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870900598225088990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603551720303875027.post-8317716993996622162023-11-12T21:30:00.000-06:002023-11-12T21:30:43.319-06:00Last Day near Buena Vista, CO<p><i><span style="font-size: large;">We're way behind in getting travel posts published because we were having way too much fun traveling! So we won't be confused about when each "wandering" happened, we'll start each blog with its actual date.</span></i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">August 22, 2023</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Back in March we made plans to stay for a whole month at one place during the busy summer season. Now it was hard to believe that our month was almost over. This was our last full day near Buena Vista, Colorado. How should we spend it? First of all, we should point out that neither one of us were very sore from our marathon horse-back ride the day before. That was a good surprise! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We were up early because we had learned that the wind usually picks up later in the day, and storms usually arrive in the afternoon. We made the 30-minute drive to Turquoise Lake, and were standing on the shores around 8:30 a.m.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3ste49sx2Q3xchp5ww9FS2pfF7dFFX-cyvZuGnd1XJKxcTiqVFJz9yUeSbjCWvtVJNvz6LfTS3eptPbJNIp5o2watrEE-VRhCtsE9tk-JMkDYYdPl7Yxmv42ZNxy19LcZFt3n95bWM-InRzEd-6ih7R5g43m6f91XajMzhfd5wvRvnzIKJqzTQA-L0Q/s3816/pic%20(267).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2722" data-original-width="3816" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3ste49sx2Q3xchp5ww9FS2pfF7dFFX-cyvZuGnd1XJKxcTiqVFJz9yUeSbjCWvtVJNvz6LfTS3eptPbJNIp5o2watrEE-VRhCtsE9tk-JMkDYYdPl7Yxmv42ZNxy19LcZFt3n95bWM-InRzEd-6ih7R5g43m6f91XajMzhfd5wvRvnzIKJqzTQA-L0Q/w640-h456/pic%20(267).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><div><span style="font-size: large;"> The still water was reflecting the puffy white clouds. It looked like a great time to go kayaking.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_hRz6oFg3ZJErtdYHC4eQtLtnA8wAyMpopYV091S2XXFaTr8zq8gXFTGCYLikPZeD1r5PMQlQ28XBNSBq3m5tBzV2mBJlMB_aZapownAxY0XI4d-c-8XHFvknPjUkozPHZ09UxAcb4KnlWTzZxYhLu1UfAIT0s7TbmsbKJOu3FOFxte4fAA5XFWPQOY/s4032/pic%20(268).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_hRz6oFg3ZJErtdYHC4eQtLtnA8wAyMpopYV091S2XXFaTr8zq8gXFTGCYLikPZeD1r5PMQlQ28XBNSBq3m5tBzV2mBJlMB_aZapownAxY0XI4d-c-8XHFvknPjUkozPHZ09UxAcb4KnlWTzZxYhLu1UfAIT0s7TbmsbKJOu3FOFxte4fAA5XFWPQOY/w640-h480/pic%20(268).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">By the time we got the Sea Eagle kayak inflated and carried to the water, the winds had arrived. But it was delightfully cool and we had blue skies overhead.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4nLpLjU1s0usPjqNcPrF-96F_UQgouEe_nWuF2ESVe5X6OtgfZxfKwaKPgsratE5LkSRsI2jBSrQwHux58iWsKnZswKY9QXpIAipvDAMUKmediCojeYveJG1v6xr0Ylw0cbjbeBio0W9WqA_kr88wS_BTJYL5FgGo_Xf-Mk2E7g0rTUoBUdLItjjGLT8/s4032/pic%20(269).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2794" data-original-width="4032" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4nLpLjU1s0usPjqNcPrF-96F_UQgouEe_nWuF2ESVe5X6OtgfZxfKwaKPgsratE5LkSRsI2jBSrQwHux58iWsKnZswKY9QXpIAipvDAMUKmediCojeYveJG1v6xr0Ylw0cbjbeBio0W9WqA_kr88wS_BTJYL5FgGo_Xf-Mk2E7g0rTUoBUdLItjjGLT8/w640-h444/pic%20(269).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><div><span style="font-size: large;">We could look to the east to see the mountains that surround the town of Leadville. If you looked very closely, you could even see some of the town's buildings in the mountain valley ahead of us.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhqgeRzWaTxCdzn5zYvzIEHPOGZUOyy_v5rmxpLdMKiIxel3tMeRt1toB1ItfVykbWEMxU-aVCQ3ATakeY8uhsnZ7RtWYiZV9jk1-dkQdYov-fAE0jW_Weyrp_Ox4X3rF2KT5cgIYBBwov9kB496vYmqWn4g_NOYj49DFlAf26SBYeBpv1eE_HsB1vLiY/s4032/pic%20(270).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhqgeRzWaTxCdzn5zYvzIEHPOGZUOyy_v5rmxpLdMKiIxel3tMeRt1toB1ItfVykbWEMxU-aVCQ3ATakeY8uhsnZ7RtWYiZV9jk1-dkQdYov-fAE0jW_Weyrp_Ox4X3rF2KT5cgIYBBwov9kB496vYmqWn4g_NOYj49DFlAf26SBYeBpv1eE_HsB1vLiY/w640-h480/pic%20(270).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">Just like the rest of the mountains surrounding Leadville, this area has been mined for its precious metals. We kayaked by the shore where the different rock colors are the remnants of old gold and silver mines that have been silent for years.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVzN3cNCEbOIoBRZr2z8lzJn10V6-NeCuzDljtQQb-Nh6wqxfNM2LHOBrVc5yH9khWcndfJ8d_haeRBiFg0mbYISYCKNAx-sNz4-GFo9qTbFBfIWxfXbn1NGT87viLdXH5yzXsb8O8LZ5q_bgcm1444nlltgRk9oCKnlvG0yUItUchYOrdq788HxDuno/s3304/pic%20(271).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2742" data-original-width="3304" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVzN3cNCEbOIoBRZr2z8lzJn10V6-NeCuzDljtQQb-Nh6wqxfNM2LHOBrVc5yH9khWcndfJ8d_haeRBiFg0mbYISYCKNAx-sNz4-GFo9qTbFBfIWxfXbn1NGT87viLdXH5yzXsb8O8LZ5q_bgcm1444nlltgRk9oCKnlvG0yUItUchYOrdq788HxDuno/w640-h532/pic%20(271).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">We found a big rock sticking out of the water, and Denisa dropped Mark off for a photo opportunity.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQEf6dqODp1gWWFZN_KuPd39ge-jQUk648BpPoLX3oMLLw15UtBcU7DIcL8PLxMywxokmFGBIxUGcrsDNmcYAMeWyyiNix5rn9uE1BY_DZejrlP7SZChMmBJOiNJHuk8tbT_UHp5t0FVHCQIqnFG-Xb-BqhqZYp6q6J0XhwUnz3Od0tT4DoojIw3JVDQ/s4032/pic%20(274).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2538" data-original-width="4032" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQEf6dqODp1gWWFZN_KuPd39ge-jQUk648BpPoLX3oMLLw15UtBcU7DIcL8PLxMywxokmFGBIxUGcrsDNmcYAMeWyyiNix5rn9uE1BY_DZejrlP7SZChMmBJOiNJHuk8tbT_UHp5t0FVHCQIqnFG-Xb-BqhqZYp6q6J0XhwUnz3Od0tT4DoojIw3JVDQ/w640-h402/pic%20(274).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">She kayaked around by herself .. .</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcGy4eHWX-VGDmwa2jg2YxcZFOrORWWhBBt9zWE9Dsv0UqZ9sSUYgoEqLIMdvvR9-XERY1z9CTIW-WTdkfczPPx4Iiprz1bKZNWO-NgK1kiF8aM8B2ElxpsXEXoIHBpBjxuaba5mTWEhn_kpBZb9yjdaIKu8BFpUKrZqqiA7tsgERCtV_lk96b8-uy7A/s3416/pic%20(275).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2014" data-original-width="3416" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcGy4eHWX-VGDmwa2jg2YxcZFOrORWWhBBt9zWE9Dsv0UqZ9sSUYgoEqLIMdvvR9-XERY1z9CTIW-WTdkfczPPx4Iiprz1bKZNWO-NgK1kiF8aM8B2ElxpsXEXoIHBpBjxuaba5mTWEhn_kpBZb9yjdaIKu8BFpUKrZqqiA7tsgERCtV_lk96b8-uy7A/w640-h378/pic%20(275).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">but she always comes back to pick him up.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgig9vgwOd1et2yQXOZqjMTcr499soOp4VE_s8PqEP484mCD7CeTO58tLgMGKbxP4GptaQYIAWZGOi9IuNLQIaKLtEinvBNFU3kuE8aaYFlr3fWh7y5VoDdiEMPeYp0Xk6QTmuAGLM_x_LPngPhYYgiZHXafGUf_Cc0Jz0vf4foCB70hNKAKxBCUNvJmGU/s4032/pic%20(276).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgig9vgwOd1et2yQXOZqjMTcr499soOp4VE_s8PqEP484mCD7CeTO58tLgMGKbxP4GptaQYIAWZGOi9IuNLQIaKLtEinvBNFU3kuE8aaYFlr3fWh7y5VoDdiEMPeYp0Xk6QTmuAGLM_x_LPngPhYYgiZHXafGUf_Cc0Jz0vf4foCB70hNKAKxBCUNvJmGU/w640-h480/pic%20(276).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">It was getting more cloudy and more windy. So after paddling for four miles, we headed back to our launch place. It was fun to see snow still on the mountain tops of some of the highest peaks in the Rockies during our last kayak trip of the summer. We have wandered into another of God's wonders!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOlICQqwk69tnadllb6curnmWVkrMeDy59Q6Z7rbtcatzL3aW6hRBfLDgCvDqca3LeBpznjXs1AccgxeVmQx6p9CIWwikZ2LcH02ptSAOUuJXIGbQpAjnbMdF7cYRjCGzQQNz9xM9CfUAOwflxoUbBpFfW35LJUV4mcI0efpLlsRt0BM-wlGpwjKoaF_Y/s3271/pic%20(273).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2014" data-original-width="3271" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOlICQqwk69tnadllb6curnmWVkrMeDy59Q6Z7rbtcatzL3aW6hRBfLDgCvDqca3LeBpznjXs1AccgxeVmQx6p9CIWwikZ2LcH02ptSAOUuJXIGbQpAjnbMdF7cYRjCGzQQNz9xM9CfUAOwflxoUbBpFfW35LJUV4mcI0efpLlsRt0BM-wlGpwjKoaF_Y/w640-h394/pic%20(273).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">After we dried off the kayak and put it away, we drove up into those mountains for the last mountain hike of the summer. We had explored many of the Rocky Mountain wilderness areas, and this day's hike took us into the Holy Cross Wilderness.</span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_sr8fe5PswBNVCTgmhmEp37202SUcrU3E7zkDRC0vn-lTadSf9KD63ZYaxMlrmcf1nA9saAOFP1tBtB668JiFz7AegaUs-FHIZsaofW02FKD3g88ZzcLKCE6Gn4ZzJQQcAC_DgroZdxrABuUoz2SrMj6aQnJ0aQPijfL34hcESDnjh_KYpdxLPM5HrE/s2734/pic%20(278).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2571" data-original-width="2734" height="602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_sr8fe5PswBNVCTgmhmEp37202SUcrU3E7zkDRC0vn-lTadSf9KD63ZYaxMlrmcf1nA9saAOFP1tBtB668JiFz7AegaUs-FHIZsaofW02FKD3g88ZzcLKCE6Gn4ZzJQQcAC_DgroZdxrABuUoz2SrMj6aQnJ0aQPijfL34hcESDnjh_KYpdxLPM5HrE/w640-h602/pic%20(278).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We could hear the roar of chainsaws in the distance, as a crew was clearing parts of this popular trail.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBGtkAmSMyIOVInvZmwK8Tsb8qo73-NxQB6GGpPmj0BoHxJChMgTuIE6r10gL_qPEPKeU7RslqCFSPPFmwylft-AWXfFnFIfdlQ9spbCsvKtr1kcf2WgDK8Ba8earTDOo-B48bJ3hQanAdDUnmb7_1Hpf_-EowMuBzisa0vRckf6vU_KPqwdFa3Whwhg/s3481/pic%20(279).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2867" data-original-width="3481" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBGtkAmSMyIOVInvZmwK8Tsb8qo73-NxQB6GGpPmj0BoHxJChMgTuIE6r10gL_qPEPKeU7RslqCFSPPFmwylft-AWXfFnFIfdlQ9spbCsvKtr1kcf2WgDK8Ba8earTDOo-B48bJ3hQanAdDUnmb7_1Hpf_-EowMuBzisa0vRckf6vU_KPqwdFa3Whwhg/w640-h528/pic%20(279).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">On our last day near Buena Vista, we also saw the signs for the Continental Divide and Colorado Trails for the last time this summer. This was the trail that the 100-mile racers ran on just outside of Leadville as they started and finished that grueling test of endurance. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio51-VCzaw_AHWPoBwlcD0dy55sAophOUupl8uV7_lAkFl0niTx_7R0J5uf65qbE5tzlmugkUzDeZCLEPf8u65Rcrzo7fEyTF0pcubYVVZpSQslvlizfje8AxKQbms99hxBrHqb8lhwxFm6Dwi2TzYHluF5joRhYZUnN_oZHl8fJTZ1lzYUzObPKQw1L8/s2202/pic%20(277).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1515" data-original-width="2202" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio51-VCzaw_AHWPoBwlcD0dy55sAophOUupl8uV7_lAkFl0niTx_7R0J5uf65qbE5tzlmugkUzDeZCLEPf8u65Rcrzo7fEyTF0pcubYVVZpSQslvlizfje8AxKQbms99hxBrHqb8lhwxFm6Dwi2TzYHluF5joRhYZUnN_oZHl8fJTZ1lzYUzObPKQw1L8/w640-h440/pic%20(277).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">Today our 5.7-mile hike (with 890-foot elevation gain) to Timberline Lake was neither grueling or a test of endurance. But it was our last hike in these beautiful mountains for the summer. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN1e4bLLdUcY1wOSbGhr2N9SpsrLTWvPHNeu704Jte_zmkxYPnnJsUuLLY0xtXURVtqlx75_M4OKvwAqgUMBRvdCyQXhuYhRxZ3qDZruRZ53nHQ6Hl37gPVjKAUOFdRCjnbXbb3IkL81Lhtkl6kNF2g-8kivKADJYIsPRc_lqosXGbSuHSGUY1UPfqjAQ/s6476/pic%20(280).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3922" data-original-width="6476" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN1e4bLLdUcY1wOSbGhr2N9SpsrLTWvPHNeu704Jte_zmkxYPnnJsUuLLY0xtXURVtqlx75_M4OKvwAqgUMBRvdCyQXhuYhRxZ3qDZruRZ53nHQ6Hl37gPVjKAUOFdRCjnbXbb3IkL81Lhtkl6kNF2g-8kivKADJYIsPRc_lqosXGbSuHSGUY1UPfqjAQ/w640-h388/pic%20(280).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">The water was crystal clear, and we could see all the rocks on the bottom of the lake. We had wandered into another of God's wonders! It was 2:00 when we arrived at Timberline Lake, and the clouds were building in front of us.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgl6v02fAjfpYOzitbOIcPtaDZ0QlqJ0Fh_gI7GgOUhCj2Lr7DgqBEMyJgNwU1PthsrrQ9iUbXJGSXS5TkcJqNZ9pgejgFB971plL-n91SPKAX0yZhb75YKq2ZnAeeVdJh4Vip7X662gTEN634NVZt2gzEqwbvZ__QJnRkhznoNTwJXcz6vPLaWAcEcM/s7910/pic%20(281).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3940" data-original-width="7910" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgl6v02fAjfpYOzitbOIcPtaDZ0QlqJ0Fh_gI7GgOUhCj2Lr7DgqBEMyJgNwU1PthsrrQ9iUbXJGSXS5TkcJqNZ9pgejgFB971plL-n91SPKAX0yZhb75YKq2ZnAeeVdJh4Vip7X662gTEN634NVZt2gzEqwbvZ__QJnRkhznoNTwJXcz6vPLaWAcEcM/w640-h318/pic%20(281).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We hiked half-way around the lake, and decided we better head back down off this mountain when we started to hear the thunder. We made a pretty fast retreat as we hoped not to get too wet on the last day near Buena Vista. It was another day filled with beautiful scenery as we finished up a lovely month in Colorado!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNW1hagOCRx-DCPS05CZtyddWbyf8AdJeq85FOo0H9ZLCzI0_kLf4IcU82XofFFAmyC26WCYS0P8pJDetvLLxo8h06o5L848bsi-YujpHpUGbtGQgnpIt4kIMut85TdWIuaJD3D7P3wxIgjReLtlu3feXT8chyVwx-pXAxLWQXFc4p_VC6JDqKT5as-0c/s4032/pic%20(282).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNW1hagOCRx-DCPS05CZtyddWbyf8AdJeq85FOo0H9ZLCzI0_kLf4IcU82XofFFAmyC26WCYS0P8pJDetvLLxo8h06o5L848bsi-YujpHpUGbtGQgnpIt4kIMut85TdWIuaJD3D7P3wxIgjReLtlu3feXT8chyVwx-pXAxLWQXFc4p_VC6JDqKT5as-0c/w640-h480/pic%20(282).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><br /></div>Denisa and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870900598225088990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603551720303875027.post-8546218244175379122023-11-10T21:24:00.000-06:002023-11-10T21:24:36.998-06:00Horse-back Riding in the Foothills of a 14er<p><i><span style="font-size: large;">We're way behind in getting travel posts published because we were having way too much fun traveling! So we won't be confused about when each "wandering" happened, we'll start each blog with its actual date.</span></i></p><div><span style="font-size: large;">August 21, 2023</span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">During our month near Buena Vista, Colorado, we've enjoyed spending time with one of Mark's cousins and his wife. Wyatt manages a ranch nearby, and he had asked if we were interested in helping some day when he was riding horses. Well of course we would be interested! So he called us when he had to move a herd of cattle to a new pasture. We got to the ranch at 7:30 a.m., and Wyatt already had our horses saddled.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrfL43ELT1jSX27QJNF257INdbO4oGisnszyItI1mdXrdgs9LTyo9FuBUcIN8JuZ842jhDX0VQMK-kI-PWU5nOIg9TjcFHxR3BAPr7qIxaW8dqv7txX8XhXzNNHXkWxpiZOSJo_YP2bKXV8PFHBGcPpOuvs_bAop5MTsNZx0Tf8Nhzwk_NwI6XdCfPaSM/s2793/pic%20(228).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2105" data-original-width="2793" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrfL43ELT1jSX27QJNF257INdbO4oGisnszyItI1mdXrdgs9LTyo9FuBUcIN8JuZ842jhDX0VQMK-kI-PWU5nOIg9TjcFHxR3BAPr7qIxaW8dqv7txX8XhXzNNHXkWxpiZOSJo_YP2bKXV8PFHBGcPpOuvs_bAop5MTsNZx0Tf8Nhzwk_NwI6XdCfPaSM/w640-h482/pic%20(228).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Mark rode Hooch, one of the tallest horses on the ranch. Hooch had a great personality and was a delight to ride for a day.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpaxiyODPMIm1tyOlDbh9ZAvkPKPuxJzIzuWvJFbfskbgmoNFpa236R6SD7BJgrR7k70PHOZFQOCA940H_H6XanDrdbO9pFZpHQKBP_mQTat76bLuBN37eO16mVX6eZVfM2RBdv5BmI-5keg3uZalK3CxJOUgL-SesOJPgSsxOIAvQHbAuATTuWbe31Uk/s3816/pic%20(227).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2571" data-original-width="3816" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpaxiyODPMIm1tyOlDbh9ZAvkPKPuxJzIzuWvJFbfskbgmoNFpa236R6SD7BJgrR7k70PHOZFQOCA940H_H6XanDrdbO9pFZpHQKBP_mQTat76bLuBN37eO16mVX6eZVfM2RBdv5BmI-5keg3uZalK3CxJOUgL-SesOJPgSsxOIAvQHbAuATTuWbe31Uk/w640-h432/pic%20(227).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Denisa rode Reno, and Wyatt explained that he had a soft mouth. That meant that he responded well to reining, even when he might know more where we should go than his rider. Reno was the horse you put your least-experienced rider on, and that would be a good description of Denisa. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSHtmwVt4vdtP0vIc4-anRfBj8TymzHmb5YkCbNgBTkbOT5uMbJp83yJ0XWC4jcgXr_lNPf0zCe3C5qpNcdW7vMUpwTodRxNJUZy6830q56hlzaDZKeLDLEZCBZp4zGkEVxYs2wXxj0Ech-1CWd3XkhDIYd1tRQLpSLNClRRCOYmJ24gTQclCmshzS8mE/s2184/pic%20(230).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1909" data-original-width="2184" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSHtmwVt4vdtP0vIc4-anRfBj8TymzHmb5YkCbNgBTkbOT5uMbJp83yJ0XWC4jcgXr_lNPf0zCe3C5qpNcdW7vMUpwTodRxNJUZy6830q56hlzaDZKeLDLEZCBZp4zGkEVxYs2wXxj0Ech-1CWd3XkhDIYd1tRQLpSLNClRRCOYmJ24gTQclCmshzS8mE/w640-h560/pic%20(230).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><div><span style="font-size: large;">Mark helped to get Denisa's stirrups adjusted on her saddle. It seemed that Denisa was a lot shorter than the last cowboy that used that saddle.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6wzlqP22RKYz4ubUZnOeMcn62jW5EnQ3Y0XvKdEeIxaqkGiByXPajy1FnjiBC4CC7K9SyFtYai2D3ZK-s_hoOeri9MR-Q9a793KRQoe_Pq_yaMGsijGldMbc2qr9jprmKelkqJ6gdd4zKZjZ5WAzu6AjSs7IPfrRjri7_pjqK0Lwl0CbSb72TbtnBzQY/s3580/pic%20(226).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2486" data-original-width="3580" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6wzlqP22RKYz4ubUZnOeMcn62jW5EnQ3Y0XvKdEeIxaqkGiByXPajy1FnjiBC4CC7K9SyFtYai2D3ZK-s_hoOeri9MR-Q9a793KRQoe_Pq_yaMGsijGldMbc2qr9jprmKelkqJ6gdd4zKZjZ5WAzu6AjSs7IPfrRjri7_pjqK0Lwl0CbSb72TbtnBzQY/w640-h444/pic%20(226).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">We were joined by four other riders that were the opposite of "least experienced." These were friends with horses, but no cattle. So they liked to give their horses some real experience with cattle. Plus, they were good friends of Wyatt's that enjoy helping him out in this beautiful place.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAezsszzvh3Bq_9kNPWtgL50K6xMBgI8zUxdRkloES7FXlauVheL-2BU1NO2xnExwBtVgr_X4ohYtFZ-yVKgz4BUr5Zfn1m6EKbA63tKzlx6rXD9tQYmfmp7hGVMKskVJIF8dFdp6T2DQpVCOndhmrTY9gm1yOrvzmUDpkmMFD8htnUqnlELqE-2HGVJI/s2806/pic%20(234).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2126" data-original-width="2806" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAezsszzvh3Bq_9kNPWtgL50K6xMBgI8zUxdRkloES7FXlauVheL-2BU1NO2xnExwBtVgr_X4ohYtFZ-yVKgz4BUr5Zfn1m6EKbA63tKzlx6rXD9tQYmfmp7hGVMKskVJIF8dFdp6T2DQpVCOndhmrTY9gm1yOrvzmUDpkmMFD8htnUqnlELqE-2HGVJI/w640-h484/pic%20(234).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The goal for the day was moving 130 head of cows (and their 130 calves) from the forest service grassland where they had been for the last couple months. Local ranchers can lease pasture from the forest service, who are very particular about getting the cattle off the land by a specific day. This was the day that all those cattle and calves had to be moved onto a second forest service grass section. So we trailered our horses to the trail head where we took our very first mountain hike when we arrived in Buena Vista several weeks ago.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFrrA_RyFAJ-bkRBhXLn7qqMRlo7A7fCTELVcBGNtFsazMs4xjN9Tp7dZVZzrysrnifQeMyNsQ7jM1T2ZNpRwtIj-8grBu5HWjSnFjWIRbA5rWBCzk2yzTiGWnaR3zptkR1ETDuFVYy9YMqYfk_WsetwErLIvRwGI7-TlxBTlFh9GKnw-UvlrBmZI3iQ/s3612/pic%20(233).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2644" data-original-width="3612" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFrrA_RyFAJ-bkRBhXLn7qqMRlo7A7fCTELVcBGNtFsazMs4xjN9Tp7dZVZzrysrnifQeMyNsQ7jM1T2ZNpRwtIj-8grBu5HWjSnFjWIRbA5rWBCzk2yzTiGWnaR3zptkR1ETDuFVYy9YMqYfk_WsetwErLIvRwGI7-TlxBTlFh9GKnw-UvlrBmZI3iQ/w640-h468/pic%20(233).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We were more familiar with rounding up a herd of cattle in the panhandle of Oklahoma where you don't have any trees. This day we must find 130 head of cattle in the Colorado forest.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZLHQuBm7jDDNFg_Tc-ZpL1nh4cCiw0nf5KlCI59OoSaM3WPG5K9pSSKxAi2jS2EXT_aLa_boNSI_UcoII4bUgCIzhRn-3iNVlxWBtLqj9cUYhFvOY_-1d9ss8KN-nZJDgAUZnFR4PMR2ZYj1YOIOOZra92O76hmOn_s8EmpvtdABcQ9UPJadfxkdl2k/s3154/pic%20(231).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2729" data-original-width="3154" height="554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZLHQuBm7jDDNFg_Tc-ZpL1nh4cCiw0nf5KlCI59OoSaM3WPG5K9pSSKxAi2jS2EXT_aLa_boNSI_UcoII4bUgCIzhRn-3iNVlxWBtLqj9cUYhFvOY_-1d9ss8KN-nZJDgAUZnFR4PMR2ZYj1YOIOOZra92O76hmOn_s8EmpvtdABcQ9UPJadfxkdl2k/w640-h554/pic%20(231).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><div><span style="font-size: large;">We didn't take any pictures of the rides through the thickest trees. That's when we were hanging on for dear life, hoping not to be swept off the saddle by a branch. Denisa was also hoping that her horse would choose a path between the trees that was wide enough for the horse AND both her legs. We rode through sections of the forest where the trees were spaced too close together for comfortable horse-back riding! We only took pictures in the wide-open parts of the land.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhagAO1eXHHEbUVA_zb8CXH_T_wwZU_be2H4jVqKDBo4eM_zPHJetxNScOu7wQclWPki61PvkZW-mc5Ge9-BV9qFL1Lppr4EYLDjzQscANlDIzVsuaAc4rBqeOGAuCtIapV5SNMyMPjamdakzhMsjOw8-aFJ3xHn1JZ7G9mlq22aUe-r2lIJqnH4a72FI/s3003/pic%20(235).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1981" data-original-width="3003" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhagAO1eXHHEbUVA_zb8CXH_T_wwZU_be2H4jVqKDBo4eM_zPHJetxNScOu7wQclWPki61PvkZW-mc5Ge9-BV9qFL1Lppr4EYLDjzQscANlDIzVsuaAc4rBqeOGAuCtIapV5SNMyMPjamdakzhMsjOw8-aFJ3xHn1JZ7G9mlq22aUe-r2lIJqnH4a72FI/w640-h422/pic%20(235).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The ranch dogs were helpful when we got in the thickest brush because they could encourage the cattle to keep moving when the horses could no longer follow them.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9v3IUxeosyyvl6SmnCFhzjBfnIvrahRWJj2igdzSCGIFwRgvqiSb_1FBz1QE4GlAwztaQFPSdktW3o_Hop-bBrJl8Yzd3GiYjBTH2saPKFxeMsgyfcuzyE_jmFe7_47-6RImYsRWhH_90pq_Z62n9Z9mQT6dLMBaeoIKO4C1WRres__qKNcgAJozVG20/s2688/pic%20(237).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1948" data-original-width="2688" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9v3IUxeosyyvl6SmnCFhzjBfnIvrahRWJj2igdzSCGIFwRgvqiSb_1FBz1QE4GlAwztaQFPSdktW3o_Hop-bBrJl8Yzd3GiYjBTH2saPKFxeMsgyfcuzyE_jmFe7_47-6RImYsRWhH_90pq_Z62n9Z9mQT6dLMBaeoIKO4C1WRres__qKNcgAJozVG20/w640-h464/pic%20(237).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">A good working dog deserved a drink and a little cool-off swim when we passed a stock tank or a creek.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgHL7zA8Dq4cGvPYhrxm70ZnSCZaRTidreg-75PhXW-gO5y2CNZI_3FURedm-ykB7h01qqeuM6_Spdm9PCn-W4yHgFrWyMCHMvMT0npKym_2Z50gtVapQW2LtLafPQo9RKTrI-ek_WDu2-swHhykRfjBX01NyiGmv6ltEJ9vk6CTFOOJZN0GpKfZRocs/s2360/pic%20(236).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1680" data-original-width="2360" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgHL7zA8Dq4cGvPYhrxm70ZnSCZaRTidreg-75PhXW-gO5y2CNZI_3FURedm-ykB7h01qqeuM6_Spdm9PCn-W4yHgFrWyMCHMvMT0npKym_2Z50gtVapQW2LtLafPQo9RKTrI-ek_WDu2-swHhykRfjBX01NyiGmv6ltEJ9vk6CTFOOJZN0GpKfZRocs/w640-h456/pic%20(236).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">This was our view for most of the day. Horse ears in the foreground, and a snow-tipped 14er mountain in the background.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqD-4TuFiU9aY5iww8qCSzz56OLvWTxlooLoe1wG372K7sUYkFCRe1IsDJWYlbZhI54nXW3NJQJiTZv8Fs-W55v8MnEOKzzMVAmZzVsBPdecSYaLfFSmTNu9sDomuq5GITipXpY9PVAOESREfzSkX-Zv1c1nqAS-R5VOGMxAJ1NYLD-AWBJCNUE-K6zx0/s3894/pic%20(239).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2591" data-original-width="3894" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqD-4TuFiU9aY5iww8qCSzz56OLvWTxlooLoe1wG372K7sUYkFCRe1IsDJWYlbZhI54nXW3NJQJiTZv8Fs-W55v8MnEOKzzMVAmZzVsBPdecSYaLfFSmTNu9sDomuq5GITipXpY9PVAOESREfzSkX-Zv1c1nqAS-R5VOGMxAJ1NYLD-AWBJCNUE-K6zx0/w640-h426/pic%20(239).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We have wandered into more of God's wonders on a very special mode of transportation this day!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp0XxPMyzZNYxxVKSSOos9-HYq4IS6glbPFFH3FShJKo46Sprf9mcWMrEcsvnZ4zvBG6q_UuIguHXLcH8dGLwDTsNMlkvPEeFLONIXZsd9Kq4jloPX95ETFSuvz1t8qONYXUee5CjGLeBLuW1fyHJf15s9ZhzVQgHZV-5UGWH3-eEbEebrLurlMj94bbY/s2459/pic%20(241).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1738" data-original-width="2459" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp0XxPMyzZNYxxVKSSOos9-HYq4IS6glbPFFH3FShJKo46Sprf9mcWMrEcsvnZ4zvBG6q_UuIguHXLcH8dGLwDTsNMlkvPEeFLONIXZsd9Kq4jloPX95ETFSuvz1t8qONYXUee5CjGLeBLuW1fyHJf15s9ZhzVQgHZV-5UGWH3-eEbEebrLurlMj94bbY/w640-h452/pic%20(241).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">But this isn't just a joy ride through the pine trees with mountain views. We were working! We were here to find cows and calves that seemed to be hiding in the shade of the trees as the weather warmed up.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifB4VH2khVbqcVQQ3-qAQ2N0aWhXx4bibWNEDnrT1mWYVh2UItkDf_LmXh5hls59SCPh9eMJgMslA2xl26CCrnzZje6m807ic_OxKV1Cx_HglFcoLzqp8NoV_zZsdgrHEwnfdLIONhIx27z0J4BAMtHLjAVlaGghwWLas5e9H5eYj4soMCbDuq_p2B_qw/s3029/pic%20(244).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2394" data-original-width="3029" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifB4VH2khVbqcVQQ3-qAQ2N0aWhXx4bibWNEDnrT1mWYVh2UItkDf_LmXh5hls59SCPh9eMJgMslA2xl26CCrnzZje6m807ic_OxKV1Cx_HglFcoLzqp8NoV_zZsdgrHEwnfdLIONhIx27z0J4BAMtHLjAVlaGghwWLas5e9H5eYj4soMCbDuq_p2B_qw/w640-h506/pic%20(244).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Once you found the cows, you tried to drive them to the only opening on this land--a narrow dirt forest service road through the trees.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1E0TodQ5Q1XlPFShEScnzd5TfX8bVRHIOACqBbDPryT2OYgu__jgrowF-dLb7OVce7GpwcOnoJeevvHRC18Ueobp35_ktPxRWafAvGukFGcRBIizaSuYVsV-YC8K6wYxqgGG8jFpyYCGd1I84vFfgx5Vm2gp6U2JVnOay406_zf9o-g2Un0EghsY10Cg/s2754/pic%20(243).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1962" data-original-width="2754" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1E0TodQ5Q1XlPFShEScnzd5TfX8bVRHIOACqBbDPryT2OYgu__jgrowF-dLb7OVce7GpwcOnoJeevvHRC18Ueobp35_ktPxRWafAvGukFGcRBIizaSuYVsV-YC8K6wYxqgGG8jFpyYCGd1I84vFfgx5Vm2gp6U2JVnOay406_zf9o-g2Un0EghsY10Cg/w640-h456/pic%20(243).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">But we found that the cows had a propensity for heading back into the trees where it was impossible to follow them on a horse. We had nine head of cows just a few feet away from us, but we couldn't actually see any of them. At times we had to dismount and trail them on foot to keep them moving in the right direction.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6bDHCN7pVRCshQ53kBIR6v0L35XtsnFyV2zRZ-9woLJt5HDd00sykRwxU5r-WOpZCXPyvPE8jKKq8uyTZyTi_fyySpXZiQArJ0d4Gy00OX4C6lRAkIYOu-0Kciqnk5lY1jLidRRxr6ttzDTgx26g3ddOKXpbHfyz-FHnVlgW1inhx8OLdhIeFiZJiEU/s2950/pic%20(242).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2335" data-original-width="2950" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6bDHCN7pVRCshQ53kBIR6v0L35XtsnFyV2zRZ-9woLJt5HDd00sykRwxU5r-WOpZCXPyvPE8jKKq8uyTZyTi_fyySpXZiQArJ0d4Gy00OX4C6lRAkIYOu-0Kciqnk5lY1jLidRRxr6ttzDTgx26g3ddOKXpbHfyz-FHnVlgW1inhx8OLdhIeFiZJiEU/w640-h506/pic%20(242).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We had split up into smaller groups to find stragglers, and then brought as many as possible to one staging area. Then all the cowboys pushed this large group of cattle and calves to the new pasture. It was a bit dusty behind all those hooves.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2ANjZ4b1uFDtvtGYnI2z6FU9elDbMNLyey2nromS1nyoQcad8PEihj2o9mAKRPDHER0fUeTpS5JNKt_-hAG0vySEKUW7VHuubMqqo9FvHmLE-izEVFU73qVrzu44VHyZV8blj18qS0mngag7OLzME8beZmLLJlwJwUbk68-vSOfPVBcs7028Ve_bOEU/s1606/pic%20(245).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1141" data-original-width="1606" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2ANjZ4b1uFDtvtGYnI2z6FU9elDbMNLyey2nromS1nyoQcad8PEihj2o9mAKRPDHER0fUeTpS5JNKt_-hAG0vySEKUW7VHuubMqqo9FvHmLE-izEVFU73qVrzu44VHyZV8blj18qS0mngag7OLzME8beZmLLJlwJwUbk68-vSOfPVBcs7028Ve_bOEU/w640-h454/pic%20(245).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Then we split up into groups again, to find more of the cattle hiding in the trees. Wyatt took the two green horns to search the boggy area. It might look like Wyatt was texting on his phone, but he was actually looking for cows.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_E3TnWjUcAkvx8B9DDx4VJ8Y965Q7hsaQ2snMA8F0pg5L-ZYJwvVVFP8fxYvendLlyjjxBXeaV-gSagwO5BkYqjxLlbSV0Q_J0k6iShOdww7ryI8IUeoJMlhWSdabY2CUCIiwCi3hUPayV4sEAsbpQSGsb7OYoqvz51lJt-I68WYEaKymqFv0W6upWXs/s3573/pic%20(246).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2381" data-original-width="3573" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_E3TnWjUcAkvx8B9DDx4VJ8Y965Q7hsaQ2snMA8F0pg5L-ZYJwvVVFP8fxYvendLlyjjxBXeaV-gSagwO5BkYqjxLlbSV0Q_J0k6iShOdww7ryI8IUeoJMlhWSdabY2CUCIiwCi3hUPayV4sEAsbpQSGsb7OYoqvz51lJt-I68WYEaKymqFv0W6upWXs/w640-h426/pic%20(246).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">Each one of these 130 cows wore a necklace that was actually a tracking device. You can see the gray and red device hanging from the cow's neck in the picture below.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9O_YsijzkQf2YczfpleaML184xhNeiDY2eC8R_HQzMzZFQ4HFkWetZj_Ivz6uya-2CR1VnubxTiqtN9ZmOlw2wk6GYzbkUXT_4K_headVdJy8gmEkTpSva0Zgbm_up1bNNawaLPVBySqqtqF3isLKk3f_5XXwDXTGORlfJjPzVdo90cRiNYNlGOpf54/s2911/pic%20(253).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2138" data-original-width="2911" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9O_YsijzkQf2YczfpleaML184xhNeiDY2eC8R_HQzMzZFQ4HFkWetZj_Ivz6uya-2CR1VnubxTiqtN9ZmOlw2wk6GYzbkUXT_4K_headVdJy8gmEkTpSva0Zgbm_up1bNNawaLPVBySqqtqF3isLKk3f_5XXwDXTGORlfJjPzVdo90cRiNYNlGOpf54/w640-h470/pic%20(253).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Wyatt was looking at his phone screen to get an idea of where the cattle were, and we headed that direction.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJnKFsQUQpnmkpHC_7DmCCvzEUmanmmMDZ-AtP6TxQ-p_u7Pbqs5NC50roosJoIQin0_ZTjJYmTpHI52NTk2CLAoLqBNW-SiFCuSBWdeW6B5_zwsd2dSc9RAfRiR58ES3ihwPj55HkGsKlbfKlMKakRdTWKPa525G8tYdbPmpAIFMitUawejGOl406XA/s2661/pic%20(266).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1692" data-original-width="2661" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJnKFsQUQpnmkpHC_7DmCCvzEUmanmmMDZ-AtP6TxQ-p_u7Pbqs5NC50roosJoIQin0_ZTjJYmTpHI52NTk2CLAoLqBNW-SiFCuSBWdeW6B5_zwsd2dSc9RAfRiR58ES3ihwPj55HkGsKlbfKlMKakRdTWKPa525G8tYdbPmpAIFMitUawejGOl406XA/w640-h406/pic%20(266).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Eventually the brush got too thick and the ground too boggy to ride a horse, so they were tethered in the shade.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHwa0fxZsDeQ5OQIgXPQ1FDVnELjG_HHrwb15a-AxUqcrxkX-D6_L9oYn0VxI2ZbagePnLAFNlL-Uh4I4smBHoN6n1jbCwHNY07-RYVR3PUmk_Et-Rn0s9fb2VzMC1wMt74gVJhVwOSg5yrCP3DevF2MxBLT0lsHTJoKQ1TFeM7hvCIpsu0QK_7BoMRY/s3973/pic%20(248).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2519" data-original-width="3973" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHwa0fxZsDeQ5OQIgXPQ1FDVnELjG_HHrwb15a-AxUqcrxkX-D6_L9oYn0VxI2ZbagePnLAFNlL-Uh4I4smBHoN6n1jbCwHNY07-RYVR3PUmk_Et-Rn0s9fb2VzMC1wMt74gVJhVwOSg5yrCP3DevF2MxBLT0lsHTJoKQ1TFeM7hvCIpsu0QK_7BoMRY/w640-h406/pic%20(248).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">Denisa had the easiest job of staying with the horses.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdnfGECiCJ_w82aZZxP1Rms-PTPDFoPuUkaE0lwjqaD56hyphenhyphenm24RJ7gUQb-Z5mPdxI2K19621RTp_yOHvV22JRaKW5EWErQyZYP6xLBSPYFH80lxv1EexFU8ZKdNGHiETyo1G5VOxtA8sMDtProa2hOVO-uI6SAcFepDu-JK6KQlgiT9FTDyuKI_eRXpA/s2851/pic%20(247).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2851" data-original-width="2806" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdnfGECiCJ_w82aZZxP1Rms-PTPDFoPuUkaE0lwjqaD56hyphenhyphenm24RJ7gUQb-Z5mPdxI2K19621RTp_yOHvV22JRaKW5EWErQyZYP6xLBSPYFH80lxv1EexFU8ZKdNGHiETyo1G5VOxtA8sMDtProa2hOVO-uI6SAcFepDu-JK6KQlgiT9FTDyuKI_eRXpA/w630-h640/pic%20(247).JPG" width="630" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Mark and Wyatt took off into trees, and almost immediately they were out of sight.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmkRPeZDoFXgEqg5l9d5dP1aYbffVtfoZ6IbaY2y1Pfuvvq1aOai7HTj96epjsKaqNNkwmAhBmGhOXnJUvdeLaVCG6HTW6E-MHGV94mCln8SZidbhvu8kNatG1BmEq2h59IYofONUimnxYFc5BQEuoGVgidU1V800OKhal0MoXWH85DEuvNOAQvGbz5E/s3567/pic%20(250).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2591" data-original-width="3567" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmkRPeZDoFXgEqg5l9d5dP1aYbffVtfoZ6IbaY2y1Pfuvvq1aOai7HTj96epjsKaqNNkwmAhBmGhOXnJUvdeLaVCG6HTW6E-MHGV94mCln8SZidbhvu8kNatG1BmEq2h59IYofONUimnxYFc5BQEuoGVgidU1V800OKhal0MoXWH85DEuvNOAQvGbz5E/w640-h464/pic%20(250).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">This was the beaver pond section of the forest service lease land. It's a favorite place for cattle to graze, drink, and stay in the shade.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtlKaaszKIILoEYsDxkFQFXf5Jdr-j6BJriDV8vkjtKiixJQ9AIgFAKGqqXDK64i3t6xGQmBy7r0KE8YEiC9xPZIvl1kARgzCXZ5QEMrvdhhL0UyqrWWun4qtWqvU4Fj7wk_zWkBAKTippAviKp6vsACd4z9fxujUPuPhDd-S27W2hdUF72HkhcshxW98/s3540/pic%20(251).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2460" data-original-width="3540" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtlKaaszKIILoEYsDxkFQFXf5Jdr-j6BJriDV8vkjtKiixJQ9AIgFAKGqqXDK64i3t6xGQmBy7r0KE8YEiC9xPZIvl1kARgzCXZ5QEMrvdhhL0UyqrWWun4qtWqvU4Fj7wk_zWkBAKTippAviKp6vsACd4z9fxujUPuPhDd-S27W2hdUF72HkhcshxW98/w640-h444/pic%20(251).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Besides finding some huge beaver dams, they also found the six head of cattle that we were looking for. They brought them out of the trees and mounted their horses to escort them to the new pasture.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRlAY4m9L9axkhZYtUBkfM3gYzuzAOg5cbYimBNJrTD4nVy1uYGx0280VhBZVT5R5JdzTIAs4yLpE-NDlQX8oPtwEXAHlHepLsvbRUgJF6s3uUD2TTdI7PkSNPS1HHE70dVhW7sbULgf1whtxwb0ysvRnLKfMS0Q7S1Wg50qdXMRVqPxNK18vU37M-ek/s4032/pic%20(249).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2762" data-original-width="4032" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRlAY4m9L9axkhZYtUBkfM3gYzuzAOg5cbYimBNJrTD4nVy1uYGx0280VhBZVT5R5JdzTIAs4yLpE-NDlQX8oPtwEXAHlHepLsvbRUgJF6s3uUD2TTdI7PkSNPS1HHE70dVhW7sbULgf1whtxwb0ysvRnLKfMS0Q7S1Wg50qdXMRVqPxNK18vU37M-ek/w640-h438/pic%20(249).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">By this time it was noon, and we stopped to eat the picnic lunch that Wyatt had brought. A few adjustments were needed for the horses and their equipment. That included using a little duck tape to repair a horse hoof. This rocky soil is brutal on hooves.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtv02iuCZfSulbx66vK3GpIDoCSK2ZTyOljmzo0VHMyOAm64ouBXqmb-eNK0a2yfEfVdm72Vsr83Od0egTE8nEuMFt_zX3VF96oITvXIhvLnFqV9wabbh-wyl3ORZV7Z5Tpd4Lr05aKwdN0bemKVQTeEfJIK1SMwla6nxet_5BzLyJo7hNZHg2cHAS8sY/s3966/pic%20(252).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2794" data-original-width="3966" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtv02iuCZfSulbx66vK3GpIDoCSK2ZTyOljmzo0VHMyOAm64ouBXqmb-eNK0a2yfEfVdm72Vsr83Od0egTE8nEuMFt_zX3VF96oITvXIhvLnFqV9wabbh-wyl3ORZV7Z5Tpd4Lr05aKwdN0bemKVQTeEfJIK1SMwla6nxet_5BzLyJo7hNZHg2cHAS8sY/w640-h450/pic%20(252).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">The GPS tracking on the cow necklaces wasn't perfect, but we knew the basic direction to head to find some more of the stragglers. We learned that you stay on the road as far as possible before heading into the dense forest to go hunting for cattle. It's a bit like an Easter egg hunt.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qSpuWf6SQZXSf_Hvfu27FMqpdrGLdtXT9KoFwuoeQUdb6D7tLgrhKDvfBN21NaMT5DJH6IFKDE0E4n_P8ZE9_Mtr4vR9Ke1k5Ug8hzqX6ksJ26ABY7c7Raz86RDdynmnTcb0U7cXWnobApFxnxPCheafs5Ck-LOxpTef0_Dw5oVeBjyl1GkI9u4Yns8/s3645/pic%20(254).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2643" data-original-width="3645" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qSpuWf6SQZXSf_Hvfu27FMqpdrGLdtXT9KoFwuoeQUdb6D7tLgrhKDvfBN21NaMT5DJH6IFKDE0E4n_P8ZE9_Mtr4vR9Ke1k5Ug8hzqX6ksJ26ABY7c7Raz86RDdynmnTcb0U7cXWnobApFxnxPCheafs5Ck-LOxpTef0_Dw5oVeBjyl1GkI9u4Yns8/w640-h464/pic%20(254).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">After bringing another group out of the forest, we split into smaller groups. Mark and Denisa seemed qualified enough to head into this section where four more head were hiding.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhf04QgRdKFBFzO56JMdXevq_2OgS5C-Z3iVE0im-QJosXxhMGOPdmC26PyUVlCPg61_mrldVOo7F69so_mSPsJMbKb7UWTx_HyQNNF3xRD-2Gx1XpLZohQhXFNIYMlcKACUMhvsHQTHrxR4Z2jqxVHPlOOMH7BXQID5-sxkpnbMNVL8EBIdwBUaVGPgE/s2320/pic%20(256).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2251" data-original-width="2320" height="620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhf04QgRdKFBFzO56JMdXevq_2OgS5C-Z3iVE0im-QJosXxhMGOPdmC26PyUVlCPg61_mrldVOo7F69so_mSPsJMbKb7UWTx_HyQNNF3xRD-2Gx1XpLZohQhXFNIYMlcKACUMhvsHQTHrxR4Z2jqxVHPlOOMH7BXQID5-sxkpnbMNVL8EBIdwBUaVGPgE/w640-h620/pic%20(256).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">By the time we got that group deposited into the new pasture, we had ridden many miles put in about six hours on horseback. Denisa was saddle sore, and she announced that she couldn't possibly get back on her horse another time. Those short stirrups were a long ways from the ground, and she had to find a rock or a fence to climb in order to raise her foot high enough to get it into the stirrup. Then she had to lunge upwards with all her strength to grab the saddle horn and pull with all her might to get into the saddle. It was a hard thing to do at 8 a.m., and she deemed it was impossible to do it at all by 4 p.m. While the rest of the group was still out wrangling another group of strays, she laid down on the bed of the pickup.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9IJl_3CL0GFyRbfMD4E8TcWFraQgdWA41cseQjm0Eo2uua-L9yxCmsEKhMYvJIw-kryqx5upa9Cc1wQCV-6gi8Ryp1rq9MhWFl8v2mhewFQElv_1xQsf8ovSgqY8AhIuPJLBpBp23_WIkI6TDFmB2QPcukH5dkfrgwAoEUu1zg2tpdI7sbWtp9-bZh8/s2203/pic%20(257).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1627" data-original-width="2203" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9IJl_3CL0GFyRbfMD4E8TcWFraQgdWA41cseQjm0Eo2uua-L9yxCmsEKhMYvJIw-kryqx5upa9Cc1wQCV-6gi8Ryp1rq9MhWFl8v2mhewFQElv_1xQsf8ovSgqY8AhIuPJLBpBp23_WIkI6TDFmB2QPcukH5dkfrgwAoEUu1zg2tpdI7sbWtp9-bZh8/w640-h472/pic%20(257).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">It was fun to watch the cows exploring their new territory. Those fashionable necklaces on the cows help to track the cows, but they were also a part of an invisible fence system. While we had to ride around some old fences today, the new technology doesn't need a physical fence. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHw37KVvoH5yBLMziESDTUx7G3Dw05JhoGMdBJEyhnu18GlkmZNoLlF_-2CbqjQPKGajUVMNmb86Qbfq8jGK2D7vkTvh842KMWYfKZQB6CP-6llejy3iEiyNbu0W8dPMcoOMRZRh05gOV_RuWMawjlH3Rk1J9wWtS0Oqy-hdrMXnrl-Fn_-k-u9Y80Tc/s1475/pic%20(260).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1385" data-original-width="1475" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHw37KVvoH5yBLMziESDTUx7G3Dw05JhoGMdBJEyhnu18GlkmZNoLlF_-2CbqjQPKGajUVMNmb86Qbfq8jGK2D7vkTvh842KMWYfKZQB6CP-6llejy3iEiyNbu0W8dPMcoOMRZRh05gOV_RuWMawjlH3Rk1J9wWtS0Oqy-hdrMXnrl-Fn_-k-u9Y80Tc/w640-h600/pic%20(260).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Wyatt will reprogram the new boundaries, and if a cow approaches the electronic fence line she will get a mild shock. This little device will provide a shock that will get harder unless the cow turns around and stays within her new limits.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrItq0mVxP-5yQrJe1qknUuxTniZIA5cQir3J4P9-0E9BmG6P-3TDv3GKojbwTSuP2X3WM6VcVh6qYBGb5XFYwgSy3Dc3idlpgyWv8KEiMKsaTovkIrzw08lno2G3ClBHlYLxrprne61ut9ai2c-1Cv55dOWBxMVFTRc0p3LSAoU1gBuiwUtYXcZ5FfQo/s3324/pic%20(264).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2178" data-original-width="3324" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrItq0mVxP-5yQrJe1qknUuxTniZIA5cQir3J4P9-0E9BmG6P-3TDv3GKojbwTSuP2X3WM6VcVh6qYBGb5XFYwgSy3Dc3idlpgyWv8KEiMKsaTovkIrzw08lno2G3ClBHlYLxrprne61ut9ai2c-1Cv55dOWBxMVFTRc0p3LSAoU1gBuiwUtYXcZ5FfQo/w640-h420/pic%20(264).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">Cows and calves often get separated on a moving day. It was interesting to hear the two bawling, until they found each other and were reunited.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Lk-4zynNHZpjSG-1tcFYAYbKWmyInoFnFFhjacyjpfW9xKqb0liE9iLYhbs_fumzaT-x5ac8tRVhmWANCI0sfywzWlFFri31wWHolWq0NZgDrSnzmyx-AzFUynkf2FJ-Y7A2WWPEKbf2jGSmm1cI1Xo0zSMotFJLYUmr9OMj3UQBOpfsqQqR3mJmY_Q/s2374/pic%20(258).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2257" data-original-width="2374" height="608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Lk-4zynNHZpjSG-1tcFYAYbKWmyInoFnFFhjacyjpfW9xKqb0liE9iLYhbs_fumzaT-x5ac8tRVhmWANCI0sfywzWlFFri31wWHolWq0NZgDrSnzmyx-AzFUynkf2FJ-Y7A2WWPEKbf2jGSmm1cI1Xo0zSMotFJLYUmr9OMj3UQBOpfsqQqR3mJmY_Q/w640-h608/pic%20(258).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">When the last group arrived, it was time to load the horses into the trailers for the trip back to the ranch. The horse with a broken hoof was a newly broken member from a wild mustang band. He wasn't practiced at getting into the horse trailer, so the cowboys were having to encourage him a little.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxxmIjVcb91nbFp3tAhV9q7t4MZDEhkh70NlUmshWMBRTbJaLqUA9rmTCwGm8u5mDiSZSdUFj8VuTezlDOeYOsc5auLD9wo6-6qgtBYIVIczZDCZK5wCGFpUco9IOMA2HNyadPPmtl4g6iKxQRZssnKCgGOskW5SG6Zfg0fK6IgLce_bo_OyTFSNeETY/s2399/pic%20(259).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1476" data-original-width="2399" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxxmIjVcb91nbFp3tAhV9q7t4MZDEhkh70NlUmshWMBRTbJaLqUA9rmTCwGm8u5mDiSZSdUFj8VuTezlDOeYOsc5auLD9wo6-6qgtBYIVIczZDCZK5wCGFpUco9IOMA2HNyadPPmtl4g6iKxQRZssnKCgGOskW5SG6Zfg0fK6IgLce_bo_OyTFSNeETY/w640-h394/pic%20(259).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Back at the ranch, we took the saddles off to see that the horses had worked up a sweat on this working day.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPKdOgVYClMZzMzFeERE3ZEVsjv6Ldvf-Ztp90AUgsYJoyNyqXAMpByBAiZv4uzvu6HPo0BOP3H9Y5V_yThbYVgvzqQ2CTV3fYhSihCy9LJhb-_E6UDlVUffkU0VsZldG7OSJmvN7A-xXJazFIpnWPZWG0W_iRzDaBLUkt7kH2HZVbnbn3_Z5DJJoiB0/s3848/pic%20(261).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2670" data-original-width="3848" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPKdOgVYClMZzMzFeERE3ZEVsjv6Ldvf-Ztp90AUgsYJoyNyqXAMpByBAiZv4uzvu6HPo0BOP3H9Y5V_yThbYVgvzqQ2CTV3fYhSihCy9LJhb-_E6UDlVUffkU0VsZldG7OSJmvN7A-xXJazFIpnWPZWG0W_iRzDaBLUkt7kH2HZVbnbn3_Z5DJJoiB0/w640-h444/pic%20(261).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">As soon as they were out of the barn, they each rolled in the dirt.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNctSCdqm41KMit0KyOcBYWvY4IowrbRouZbxoGBozo-ipLOQFeyR_43KFDkeJ1eeptoAMZlpnn7mYZlV-64sIbmjS8D8vuBbSmhj_YQdT4oQdEOq2kftyqyyJVghMLNQ9TP9AKloQgp0gu9SburFKtN27EdRR16EdADR-Xe_O_P7DZEmHFcHRC9AXa0U/s3311/pic%20(262).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2014" data-original-width="3311" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNctSCdqm41KMit0KyOcBYWvY4IowrbRouZbxoGBozo-ipLOQFeyR_43KFDkeJ1eeptoAMZlpnn7mYZlV-64sIbmjS8D8vuBbSmhj_YQdT4oQdEOq2kftyqyyJVghMLNQ9TP9AKloQgp0gu9SburFKtN27EdRR16EdADR-Xe_O_P7DZEmHFcHRC9AXa0U/w640-h390/pic%20(262).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">These horses have a beautiful view every day from their pasture.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9sq2GKUnKbZm6iaSPjyRWjzViYIZb7WA5C33e733j2kPZVajWLGsaluDa8wFgyd9kQu2HR8vKgPlfj1ulmkZ1BggAzIdYjEDMwV8tUkXULX6OOzZ_FPls9xRozYjmsTa6Hb9OD4UhvWHiWXHYIw6CVVwk0NNrxpR0FsQzYF4bb76FMcv3In_vtxJg28/s3796/pic%20(263).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2165" data-original-width="3796" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9sq2GKUnKbZm6iaSPjyRWjzViYIZb7WA5C33e733j2kPZVajWLGsaluDa8wFgyd9kQu2HR8vKgPlfj1ulmkZ1BggAzIdYjEDMwV8tUkXULX6OOzZ_FPls9xRozYjmsTa6Hb9OD4UhvWHiWXHYIw6CVVwk0NNrxpR0FsQzYF4bb76FMcv3In_vtxJg28/w640-h366/pic%20(263).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We went back to the barn to see the process of configuring the new electronic barriers for the herd. It looks like two cattle were on the wrong side of that electronic red line. So Wyatt will have to take a horse back to Chalk Creek tomorrow and move them into the new pasture. He invited us for another ride, but we were guessing that we wouldn't be able to get out of bed or walk tomorrow. Riding a horse seemed like an impossibility.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtP7YD-uBbvvo6vxaVHigPpp-SAsve0QbpB-2pPwvZzXwjWCMB0an-EBuZte8PPB69mIX1Po0hdkFVeyTThP56PeyE5XQTBAZAyR_yHIj9RnXMhXEc0o0IOjAlXQMgz-qlrXhSbcpAGY1vrRdP3vTGzrzgRrYF4QnGiZ_bCyXQuUb3G1SPnHwP-DND-oA/s3416/pic%20(265).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1837" data-original-width="3416" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtP7YD-uBbvvo6vxaVHigPpp-SAsve0QbpB-2pPwvZzXwjWCMB0an-EBuZte8PPB69mIX1Po0hdkFVeyTThP56PeyE5XQTBAZAyR_yHIj9RnXMhXEc0o0IOjAlXQMgz-qlrXhSbcpAGY1vrRdP3vTGzrzgRrYF4QnGiZ_bCyXQuUb3G1SPnHwP-DND-oA/w640-h344/pic%20(265).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We had a good day with Hooch and Reno. They were patient horses, as were all of the cowboys. What a great day of horse-back riding in the foothills of a 14er! We've been blessed again!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpdoBpYyb_B47EwsIv2bvrw2d-0QRMmMDTqwjSKWwpWDve3jv1B9Lbyb6fqWWzX0mIOcvdPCLLL2sWwyUpeQ6BCETLTg4iIj-57awWgedg6KNxT0ke4Cd1lHlC37K3Ly7FqqerxiNXpOSLWJquFu4CQ_JzVmu2iwMRs1aU9bxIkjD_tsMW7wCj8Nr3kaE/s2288/pic%20(229).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2125" data-original-width="2288" height="594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpdoBpYyb_B47EwsIv2bvrw2d-0QRMmMDTqwjSKWwpWDve3jv1B9Lbyb6fqWWzX0mIOcvdPCLLL2sWwyUpeQ6BCETLTg4iIj-57awWgedg6KNxT0ke4Cd1lHlC37K3Ly7FqqerxiNXpOSLWJquFu4CQ_JzVmu2iwMRs1aU9bxIkjD_tsMW7wCj8Nr3kaE/w640-h594/pic%20(229).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Denisa and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870900598225088990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603551720303875027.post-15504747128436416442023-11-08T22:51:00.000-06:002023-11-08T22:51:19.208-06:00Watching the 100-mile runners and the Class IV rafters<p><i><span style="font-size: large;">We're way behind in getting travel posts published because we were having way too much fun traveling! So we won't be confused about when each "wandering" happened, we'll start each blog with its actual date.</span></i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">August 19, 2023</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This was the first weekend that we didn't have a festival or county fair to attend, so what would a couple wanderers do on a beautiful-weather Saturday? How about watching rafters go down some of the most legendary class IV rapids in the United States, and then being spectators to one of the most grueling 100-mile races in the world? But how could we do that?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We started with the rafting. You might remember that for our anniversary we rafted the Arkansas River through Brown's Canyon. That's the most popular white water river section in the United States. It's scenic and still challenging with Class II to IV rapids that make it exciting. Mark would have liked to raft the tougher part of the Arkansas River known as "The Numbers." But he has been married to a rafting wienie for 42 years and she was scared. We knew the river would be busy with rafters on a Saturday morning, so we found a place along their rafting route and got comfortable.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-QdtbenNccwDSfDal1fwH14oAptSP7uqV2BudccZuIul3n6jdK2A-Wbb_rcAH_u80IYjwu1rAA5JZVF4zjPZMD9x7oUk9MzKMKIwuN9lo2mRDgsB3F7_lK0yFYFcUf-nkiqMl5vlMxsVSJPpJv5VoWzO086KKK3zdwypDAe2UTS8C9ISJOkOv5PrL8nI/s3895/pic%20(161).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2815" data-original-width="3895" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-QdtbenNccwDSfDal1fwH14oAptSP7uqV2BudccZuIul3n6jdK2A-Wbb_rcAH_u80IYjwu1rAA5JZVF4zjPZMD9x7oUk9MzKMKIwuN9lo2mRDgsB3F7_lK0yFYFcUf-nkiqMl5vlMxsVSJPpJv5VoWzO086KKK3zdwypDAe2UTS8C9ISJOkOv5PrL8nI/w640-h462/pic%20(161).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We brought a picnic breakfast to eat while we waited on the boulders along the Arkansas River. We knew that most rafting companies start this run at 9:30, but we didn't know what time they would arrive at our spot on the river. At 9:46 we saw our first raft tumbling down the river. If you look carefully, you can see that the back of the raft is hung up on a big boulder.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUX0nlXaJhWPA58HRM_DDA53gnxXvMun3dJHgVmahCfoTDFqaomLoScB6SkASynvLe1RRC9rZKrYeWtWOQ3OUBUc5tGxqqEAo2WdQZJtlxwl9lUHy_9CvBQTSCWuUoFFYxhxK-276qxFtBMo_-J3A0cZsQpaMOSw9xda_xr93Cqk5FbdKqbfczy91tnSQ/s1947/pic%20(163).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1266" data-original-width="1947" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUX0nlXaJhWPA58HRM_DDA53gnxXvMun3dJHgVmahCfoTDFqaomLoScB6SkASynvLe1RRC9rZKrYeWtWOQ3OUBUc5tGxqqEAo2WdQZJtlxwl9lUHy_9CvBQTSCWuUoFFYxhxK-276qxFtBMo_-J3A0cZsQpaMOSw9xda_xr93Cqk5FbdKqbfczy91tnSQ/w640-h416/pic%20(163).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We were parked at a state park camping area, that was overlooking Rapid #5. We had heard that this section of the river was named "The Numbers." Today we realized that was because the rapids are numbered, and go from #1 to #7. We watched as the first raft made it safely through Rapid #5.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDamq80byawwYiPF6E_oaxHyMBS2JHrEllTUUN6suQDuwvgpnKPkF8xFAb3QdOjK05LklX_TZn5VE7eQjw1oJI8XOgF7t__weAlW4XEXS7cIgxHKgiMs1CT2KfIcwsGlOQk9Qv-gMZBflL_U3RpTTAMd2Fkcg7JUWkjFakHjHuBBYHRGjUTvz5XHcGRM/s3730/pic%20(164).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2722" data-original-width="3730" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDamq80byawwYiPF6E_oaxHyMBS2JHrEllTUUN6suQDuwvgpnKPkF8xFAb3QdOjK05LklX_TZn5VE7eQjw1oJI8XOgF7t__weAlW4XEXS7cIgxHKgiMs1CT2KfIcwsGlOQk9Qv-gMZBflL_U3RpTTAMd2Fkcg7JUWkjFakHjHuBBYHRGjUTvz5XHcGRM/w640-h468/pic%20(164).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">We had a long wait before the next group, so Denisa spent her time trying to take a picture of the hummingbird (that kept buzzing by her pink blouse), and a wooly worm. The bird was too fast, so our only wildlife picture of the day was the worm.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVzgtJM7NP_bb7RQyOUAPrZ9E7JKrs6dVJFG3uVtCmwVmjb_G9PM8sDgsKUkoVZ8riRX5laeZjWUTVaETnhIPapjSpdCcmrHdbCgKtENOxO6ArnmLbHPN4m-afEYD_-PbW2V7NpUFECCuJX3Fsqk-jdHMYnFWkNuk1O_LOG74KDwtZMfw3xjOM3wv5XI/s2046/pic%20(165).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1443" data-original-width="2046" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVzgtJM7NP_bb7RQyOUAPrZ9E7JKrs6dVJFG3uVtCmwVmjb_G9PM8sDgsKUkoVZ8riRX5laeZjWUTVaETnhIPapjSpdCcmrHdbCgKtENOxO6ArnmLbHPN4m-afEYD_-PbW2V7NpUFECCuJX3Fsqk-jdHMYnFWkNuk1O_LOG74KDwtZMfw3xjOM3wv5XI/w640-h452/pic%20(165).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We were so bored that we even took pictures of each other waiting for the rafts this morning.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZc4IqKEOw9HHxoPThaPaPC3-wWoHqc0Ey9msRGF9-gAKLCYCukYK9mDyNDbJemRsHQaMVnaqBBHsTopU8QnbfSND0i57GjV3lSrFBilc6n7Lp-nRRwutvDEh7cC-an6AzWVNsj8fthqkuWR3klqltIAKWrddqjuLLOn1ZDOstXX6riKJofz6BsiXGjo/s4032/pic%20(166).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2867" data-original-width="4032" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZc4IqKEOw9HHxoPThaPaPC3-wWoHqc0Ey9msRGF9-gAKLCYCukYK9mDyNDbJemRsHQaMVnaqBBHsTopU8QnbfSND0i57GjV3lSrFBilc6n7Lp-nRRwutvDEh7cC-an6AzWVNsj8fthqkuWR3klqltIAKWrddqjuLLOn1ZDOstXX6riKJofz6BsiXGjo/w640-h456/pic%20(166).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">It was 10:45 before we started seeing the parade of rafts.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDZ-YElm5LLQLhOqWx9RUKlTgchQiG524RrmHZ2xxCtbSYxtWXBcRyxYTpbp3_rx2NAbkS651XpPwlvUPfF4gTwQjVza29sW9SYyj9yU8ciMMO3a_gMmfwrH7mL2ARHB0IrLbkzKCyWZhMfzVz5J-9yhJ8SrJ8RvlaYEyMyb4WAEUHzT0KjxxWPW2jmA/s3265/pic%20(168).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2421" data-original-width="3265" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDZ-YElm5LLQLhOqWx9RUKlTgchQiG524RrmHZ2xxCtbSYxtWXBcRyxYTpbp3_rx2NAbkS651XpPwlvUPfF4gTwQjVza29sW9SYyj9yU8ciMMO3a_gMmfwrH7mL2ARHB0IrLbkzKCyWZhMfzVz5J-9yhJ8SrJ8RvlaYEyMyb4WAEUHzT0KjxxWPW2jmA/w640-h474/pic%20(168).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">Mark was perched on a boulder that was very near to the rapids, so he got some good action pictures.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDYsvfE6MdW2CAB6WdOEszYf2d9TBB5i7TL2Eb50AMWRhahsOBopouaNRtBul41LYHQ59Nhfm7HhXNEndA-snM0BKCcfKCY9Ppaj66MNkJdVF_EEPhdZxRJDP6fMTCv7j4S624HRYIQ4GKX2Ps8hnN0C-p32NjcFW5ouUVPax5PlcfNLD4tmQ0fQ4g7s/s2871/pic%20(172).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1948" data-original-width="2871" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDYsvfE6MdW2CAB6WdOEszYf2d9TBB5i7TL2Eb50AMWRhahsOBopouaNRtBul41LYHQ59Nhfm7HhXNEndA-snM0BKCcfKCY9Ppaj66MNkJdVF_EEPhdZxRJDP6fMTCv7j4S624HRYIQ4GKX2Ps8hnN0C-p32NjcFW5ouUVPax5PlcfNLD4tmQ0fQ4g7s/w640-h434/pic%20(172).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Denisa was at the river's edge, with a view of the rafts as they entered this rocky section.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha5_XksOu1q63oZn8nGOOlNxHJl0WWDporsZIqCi5cE12TXN2VbMJo4Ui7rmUD69Jo_w88h5GPNHX2DyOWopr20vW-P0002OCBWKU1gPuFsmCYALDNWYas0PLMbcF1KbhVf4uQyl2_Cu5tk51S7Fv9BrbkNoWRVmXfND4yDCYmTqgJ4c5heX1wimNGS9M/s3161/pic%20(170).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2119" data-original-width="3161" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha5_XksOu1q63oZn8nGOOlNxHJl0WWDporsZIqCi5cE12TXN2VbMJo4Ui7rmUD69Jo_w88h5GPNHX2DyOWopr20vW-P0002OCBWKU1gPuFsmCYALDNWYas0PLMbcF1KbhVf4uQyl2_Cu5tk51S7Fv9BrbkNoWRVmXfND4yDCYmTqgJ4c5heX1wimNGS9M/w640-h430/pic%20(170).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">The riders were a little busy with rowing through the rapids, but we had a few people wave as they went by.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-33DGjYA2dI9kGIXcK8Vj29GLe4t7AuWZV7232FeE0rvoT0EIbigybiZY3iGOIqDTOYpoDYi7uCYMgIhXXzOxuG-z3WQ2IIdJdJw6bSyq2RJpXw1rpnOMMyH0tep8vE5B1VRCprPB0OlVgBhCm8YJrfVNw0Kf-iQw7d8hXOzf5ErYoQLyxVkX59HSU0/s3278/pic%20(171).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2341" data-original-width="3278" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-33DGjYA2dI9kGIXcK8Vj29GLe4t7AuWZV7232FeE0rvoT0EIbigybiZY3iGOIqDTOYpoDYi7uCYMgIhXXzOxuG-z3WQ2IIdJdJw6bSyq2RJpXw1rpnOMMyH0tep8vE5B1VRCprPB0OlVgBhCm8YJrfVNw0Kf-iQw7d8hXOzf5ErYoQLyxVkX59HSU0/w640-h458/pic%20(171).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">We would find out later that another group of six guys was on a bachelor party weekend.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3d0jkhv9IrX8SRpPEVVCPewOJ1-Nd260gxE3r9KyMau8Oy10r_wmmnuzntxdM3cpG5swq34zrbWklVnzJSEvPxxYraXwjoJY0LfOtu_GSk4Cfh0fV8ck8fwdvEvX3-srIeWtweXiNlP9o2jBDLfZZS0IY_45CJ8uk6snhb_wEcNuDWE9aGGLp6_drBs/s2288/pic%20(169).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1719" data-original-width="2288" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3d0jkhv9IrX8SRpPEVVCPewOJ1-Nd260gxE3r9KyMau8Oy10r_wmmnuzntxdM3cpG5swq34zrbWklVnzJSEvPxxYraXwjoJY0LfOtu_GSk4Cfh0fV8ck8fwdvEvX3-srIeWtweXiNlP9o2jBDLfZZS0IY_45CJ8uk6snhb_wEcNuDWE9aGGLp6_drBs/w640-h480/pic%20(169).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">All of those rafts would hold up to eight people, and each person had an oar. But the next raft was more the size used by fishing trips where one person uses two oars to guide the raft. No fisherman on this raft, so perhaps it was a practice run? or perhaps a rescue raft in case someone fell out of their raft?</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhksYxjchRmnrBV-YofgfMQ9nwO704Dk6rvRaYecjHcX8kPDz3rsz7isgLvcJ4Ix1WPe6r70EvZZUar-MFsAhoZL-HgiUYfFI3tlUDHumnS3G9kU_tAesSrfb_MVxQ-Is1G6z1xkbWGLVXxxRckhCagpu25Ey3KhrM0z-hLcuBJL85eY3F58RRfTe_7GJ4/s2288/pic%20(173).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1719" data-original-width="2288" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhksYxjchRmnrBV-YofgfMQ9nwO704Dk6rvRaYecjHcX8kPDz3rsz7isgLvcJ4Ix1WPe6r70EvZZUar-MFsAhoZL-HgiUYfFI3tlUDHumnS3G9kU_tAesSrfb_MVxQ-Is1G6z1xkbWGLVXxxRckhCagpu25Ey3KhrM0z-hLcuBJL85eY3F58RRfTe_7GJ4/w640-h480/pic%20(173).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We decided to try another vantage point, so we jumped in the pickup and headed down-river. We watched the same group in a red boat from our vantage point high above. The rocks were big and the current was fast, so it was tough to find a clear way through the boulder sections.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtoSq_rVlI3M0VBklyFKQUqbwCG3JOjl_MTjVpwMkUL4NPDAaf1jKn-zhDdPXnjwP0G3EDhTdidPxpKk7qRKN7VJ9D7ds-NFO5gU47JnPi_iB1gxyx3q4Ddmh9V537Xmo5llOFXCuBekHBGX3d9ri56KPqvXDNMXw4pDu_HYsGiH-bJzlIzAtW28I4IjI/s3567/pic%20(174).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2768" data-original-width="3567" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtoSq_rVlI3M0VBklyFKQUqbwCG3JOjl_MTjVpwMkUL4NPDAaf1jKn-zhDdPXnjwP0G3EDhTdidPxpKk7qRKN7VJ9D7ds-NFO5gU47JnPi_iB1gxyx3q4Ddmh9V537Xmo5llOFXCuBekHBGX3d9ri56KPqvXDNMXw4pDu_HYsGiH-bJzlIzAtW28I4IjI/w640-h496/pic%20(174).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">We parked the pickup at the railroad bridge parking lot. We walked down to the river just in time to see the very first raft-load approaching.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjif9FLg6jWB1Q4mguRNGBYIHv9OiyB_rGNcxBKL9dUQr4PXdlTmsNx-lCf5_5QhSFvEQ9wSQFVBFI74fPzZBEdPK7RLbqi35jazqSIQv-tERlyrbiSeG5MSbIX85fc81hMJJ9Zx7ccgHFvq-b4Zy-jRaKRMUKdhdIC0NfKGRt1QSjzODRlNIO8mbsefPI/s2288/pic%20(175).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1548" data-original-width="2288" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjif9FLg6jWB1Q4mguRNGBYIHv9OiyB_rGNcxBKL9dUQr4PXdlTmsNx-lCf5_5QhSFvEQ9wSQFVBFI74fPzZBEdPK7RLbqi35jazqSIQv-tERlyrbiSeG5MSbIX85fc81hMJJ9Zx7ccgHFvq-b4Zy-jRaKRMUKdhdIC0NfKGRt1QSjzODRlNIO8mbsefPI/w640-h434/pic%20(175).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">Even though the railroad no longer runs on these tracks, the bridge was left standing. This was the only rafting group that we saw continue past the bridge. They were on a full-day trip.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7o13Mu-H7EPuDEzrRRYAb-qqpedrclKIZmlXPTAEGULZIBuvYxMM9H791Dr-GGHAEXFrtBJ6JpCBYaEL5WJQq8DdB8u3odXGjQEFQRskaBl1M_oWbjH3_sB_z2D6h_4hYjtV7EagcgOCmLRS1pzdpPxbUcIGQzFB3W8O8d1F0h5qoi1TNjBpPcHN04Q/s3704/pic%20(177).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2513" data-original-width="3704" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7o13Mu-H7EPuDEzrRRYAb-qqpedrclKIZmlXPTAEGULZIBuvYxMM9H791Dr-GGHAEXFrtBJ6JpCBYaEL5WJQq8DdB8u3odXGjQEFQRskaBl1M_oWbjH3_sB_z2D6h_4hYjtV7EagcgOCmLRS1pzdpPxbUcIGQzFB3W8O8d1F0h5qoi1TNjBpPcHN04Q/w640-h434/pic%20(177).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">While Denisa was on the edge of the river, Mark was up on the old railroad bridge.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKiGqVF3qM0TbhiHl48dsfwII1HjioL4pjIsVeB5JTZK1lpCtem3XzGXjvMSBk_r5f83Yl8xSnGjAI8yvtpKJi4iXAi5xq0sDaLfnClG10Bwydg1GHCIKvnMmFOOlo_u7XXNATOy2LOeWNg87hlG06o3L7xh6oEzHHMvVQi7RtHSEKzAMBME2FmEVVyuM/s3901/pic%20(179).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="3901" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKiGqVF3qM0TbhiHl48dsfwII1HjioL4pjIsVeB5JTZK1lpCtem3XzGXjvMSBk_r5f83Yl8xSnGjAI8yvtpKJi4iXAi5xq0sDaLfnClG10Bwydg1GHCIKvnMmFOOlo_u7XXNATOy2LOeWNg87hlG06o3L7xh6oEzHHMvVQi7RtHSEKzAMBME2FmEVVyuM/w640-h410/pic%20(179).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">That gave him a bird's eye view as a kayak went below him.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhak9MmnvrS7GN7PcFN1S9INRGmS_SdCsCAxkOxL_HsgKR1b2jqlajGpA2Pv5DkHwUq9Fel4bh70KfOMwktlMGJb0i52300U7QwMVVU7xYsYN6mZrW77fEEymYISU1S2UqEmy-AlU4w1r2zSJovhNxnwSzkB_IXJfFNWPNb7b36jpIRlZ40IWzzn7ZD01A/s3154/pic%20(180).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2171" data-original-width="3154" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhak9MmnvrS7GN7PcFN1S9INRGmS_SdCsCAxkOxL_HsgKR1b2jqlajGpA2Pv5DkHwUq9Fel4bh70KfOMwktlMGJb0i52300U7QwMVVU7xYsYN6mZrW77fEEymYISU1S2UqEmy-AlU4w1r2zSJovhNxnwSzkB_IXJfFNWPNb7b36jpIRlZ40IWzzn7ZD01A/w640-h440/pic%20(180).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We watched several more kayaks head down the next section of the Arkansas River just south of the railroad bridge.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGE0WfbFBPfI-MBKMsIpGdmNKc58LzVugk2_OZOXno_TBjW4KpIcRR4MK_bFd4v3y_uiGr2Se4FmNemN1XdJPxoTGOZyVc9skptQd2cf-6KpxuKTJrGOz5dzccygEtnip5joCXloMInBIwoB-5NW2vV2BL5qisMHqSrxZV8VoL2M3rSE07iE-QkG0g2no/s2288/pic%20(183).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2288" height="570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGE0WfbFBPfI-MBKMsIpGdmNKc58LzVugk2_OZOXno_TBjW4KpIcRR4MK_bFd4v3y_uiGr2Se4FmNemN1XdJPxoTGOZyVc9skptQd2cf-6KpxuKTJrGOz5dzccygEtnip5joCXloMInBIwoB-5NW2vV2BL5qisMHqSrxZV8VoL2M3rSE07iE-QkG0g2no/w640-h570/pic%20(183).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Denisa made the climb up to the railroad bridge for some great views over the river.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlD3gq51JEd5xMaM9xUB2ycWCzKrCeApXGRf54ZR0KUctqLfMNWWBF2J1xIvMg2p0x4bj-ki-OEWNIkl3pykVGOGKgtlYUYGfoUz3Mr5AXCwmI_cIBpaNNkOS0jdme_dnx9D-Tkss-wAKfasjuTdIxBB3EjrLzue-0lJO80juh6OT_Fthq3RfyTM1zeR0/s4032/pic%20(182).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlD3gq51JEd5xMaM9xUB2ycWCzKrCeApXGRf54ZR0KUctqLfMNWWBF2J1xIvMg2p0x4bj-ki-OEWNIkl3pykVGOGKgtlYUYGfoUz3Mr5AXCwmI_cIBpaNNkOS0jdme_dnx9D-Tkss-wAKfasjuTdIxBB3EjrLzue-0lJO80juh6OT_Fthq3RfyTM1zeR0/w640-h480/pic%20(182).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">All the other rafts that we saw earlier on the river were stopping here at the railroad bridge park. This would end their half-day trip through the Numbers section of the Arkansas River. It was work to carry those heavy rafts up the incline of the boat ramp.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0LkRWGgcdqNvC0A4Mo_Jb5-1Z7HOkfB4eKu6LxEDpKa-EyjoUC-5LYVF108mjttqJNxgvUlXuyyRjKhLYZko6ix6MfVJeSyhg5QglVMDeZhRg-eb2NbZS5D2-FB1eWXUDwiTY3WzpP0CtOm6soJSmKvIqed70fMzdKEwXrMEvQFTrBgX6jcKU2p8380/s2635/pic%20(185).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2014" data-original-width="2635" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0LkRWGgcdqNvC0A4Mo_Jb5-1Z7HOkfB4eKu6LxEDpKa-EyjoUC-5LYVF108mjttqJNxgvUlXuyyRjKhLYZko6ix6MfVJeSyhg5QglVMDeZhRg-eb2NbZS5D2-FB1eWXUDwiTY3WzpP0CtOm6soJSmKvIqed70fMzdKEwXrMEvQFTrBgX6jcKU2p8380/w640-h490/pic%20(185).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">We were hanging out in this area, when a rafter recognized us as the couple taking pictures on the rocks as they went by. They asked if we got any good pictures, and that's when we started exchanging phone numbers. We sent dozens of pictures to different groups that we saw earlier on the river. We offered them even to people that didn't ask because we would have loved to have pictures of our white water adventure. Of course we could have bought the ones from the professional photographer, but at $37 per picture they priced themselves out of our budget. A few free pictures (like the ones we put on the blog) from a couple of wanderers sitting on the rocks would have been great.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Most of the raft trips were over by 11:30, and so were we. That was a fun morning watching Class IV rafters! Then we headed towards the town of Twin Lakes to watch another group. We had heard about the "Leadville 100" ultra marathon when we first arrived in this area. We took a picture of the course that was hanging on the wall of the Leadville visitor center. Racers run 50 miles up and down mountain trails, and then turn around and run the 50 miles back on the same path to Leadville.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOarZEZJrfjgzYLGtxD1RKmKZum-cxrRqUJl7UORjePyYI1r4bJA_bE8X3sywaFExktBMaL9r_gZS8vY1LUpJx4H-fxB_DHiF5n1J11qFvpV7-dZ7g5sK7kUFbHBy071i3FpiCixvI2uelNjJsxEtEfOX6czbi3VCxMGMjrcMvdGUd-Ga02Vp9ODUblBU/s3998/pic%20(24).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2028" data-original-width="3998" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOarZEZJrfjgzYLGtxD1RKmKZum-cxrRqUJl7UORjePyYI1r4bJA_bE8X3sywaFExktBMaL9r_gZS8vY1LUpJx4H-fxB_DHiF5n1J11qFvpV7-dZ7g5sK7kUFbHBy071i3FpiCixvI2uelNjJsxEtEfOX6czbi3VCxMGMjrcMvdGUd-Ga02Vp9ODUblBU/w640-h324/pic%20(24).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">Based on that map, we thought the best place to see the runners pass by would be at the tiny town of Twin Lakes. But we wondered where we would park, knowing that the runners would have a few supporters that would also need parking. We had no idea what we were about to drive into. We started seeing cars parked on the side of the road about three miles before town! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPRWatGU8gwEAbqc87qxlQZzoBuqMcv6M_1Gcn1ZnJoaaQ9TGAlPK4KF7pI-iUASZX1I5zUBSPABDmPTb7d0QrsYAy7QYT9XOGXUk1ruAtfMZ2tl1FcOU3WoQ2ZW_2ecYZExSNBCc5RR2vzngrMF_AgQveOAzbzc72ncDaIQPhbDhsJCrPPzO2FFC0E4/s3226/pic%20(188).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1666" data-original-width="3226" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPRWatGU8gwEAbqc87qxlQZzoBuqMcv6M_1Gcn1ZnJoaaQ9TGAlPK4KF7pI-iUASZX1I5zUBSPABDmPTb7d0QrsYAy7QYT9XOGXUk1ruAtfMZ2tl1FcOU3WoQ2ZW_2ecYZExSNBCc5RR2vzngrMF_AgQveOAzbzc72ncDaIQPhbDhsJCrPPzO2FFC0E4/w640-h330/pic%20(188).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Thousands of people had driven here to see this tiny window of the Leadville 100. They were pulling wagons of supplies, riding bicycles, and big groups were walking. It was perilous driving along this stretch of highway east of Twin Lakes!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOPyB-sWoIXtzh3u_7ZniD-lEEz4_kEjRD82_Tnv0wLpsRhQ2-II_sIZRfL66yAUU-nHSW3cXU3poxitSIU3EBdRNIBC3EQ0mregvwrKD5L6RZ_tXI9LiisLXNDzlZu9yc49_GqMK7Nz8axgPqh09ZWtkMToVvZQCrCb9KA0caR4E3_j2Dez4ThLI96M/s3783/pic%20(189).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2020" data-original-width="3783" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOPyB-sWoIXtzh3u_7ZniD-lEEz4_kEjRD82_Tnv0wLpsRhQ2-II_sIZRfL66yAUU-nHSW3cXU3poxitSIU3EBdRNIBC3EQ0mregvwrKD5L6RZ_tXI9LiisLXNDzlZu9yc49_GqMK7Nz8axgPqh09ZWtkMToVvZQCrCb9KA0caR4E3_j2Dez4ThLI96M/w640-h342/pic%20(189).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Then we came to a complete stop as we neared town. So Denisa left the pickup to see what was ahead. She found that police had all cars stopped because this was the point where the racers crossed the road. A steady flow of runners were making their way down the dirt Main Street.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kodKP1Tv3e5wCc7zTDq8YgB_YkXpYiEIvfIcah5YGI-Z225viUTk86J75dNAZ6_hijyykFn8TF5ZBx4YwCtoJM1Y4rZarr17DJ2mVwnnqoGd6u5mt_n81FoHAA1_zdXzT9P_T5gJTMqUxenLOeBZuYU-fDX1pQXIdcl3iRiRvkEn_LNOmbukCLQp4rs/s3934/pic%20(190).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2500" data-original-width="3934" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kodKP1Tv3e5wCc7zTDq8YgB_YkXpYiEIvfIcah5YGI-Z225viUTk86J75dNAZ6_hijyykFn8TF5ZBx4YwCtoJM1Y4rZarr17DJ2mVwnnqoGd6u5mt_n81FoHAA1_zdXzT9P_T5gJTMqUxenLOeBZuYU-fDX1pQXIdcl3iRiRvkEn_LNOmbukCLQp4rs/w640-h406/pic%20(190).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">These runners started this race in the dark at 4 a.m. in Leadville, and now they were on mile #38. They have already gone farther than a marathon, and this was at altitudes that exceed 10,000 feet. The elevation map shows that they had already ran up Sugarloaf Pass at 11,600 feet, and now they were at the lowest part of the race at Twin Lakes. From here they would run straight up in elevation to Hope Pass and back down. At the end of the fifty miles outlined on the map below, they will turn around and do it all again to get back to Leadville. Wow!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKpT-u8AGIkZVCKUTUGbSIvRtrcyWTSKVy5pMaz-soYt2Q1tF-fZhY07TEz6DaDTDb8WFinJKycn5FkmI1jrcRPal0gj7mAn1kVzgiSpDQFlihYGkDL1NdDTmHZxvomr0ZQf9pawlM3qO6uVmMps6DIGzwXx6V58mwRvSl0TsMcBcoBTSN_nhnTUPqL7I/s1803/pic%20(26).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1043" data-original-width="1803" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKpT-u8AGIkZVCKUTUGbSIvRtrcyWTSKVy5pMaz-soYt2Q1tF-fZhY07TEz6DaDTDb8WFinJKycn5FkmI1jrcRPal0gj7mAn1kVzgiSpDQFlihYGkDL1NdDTmHZxvomr0ZQf9pawlM3qO6uVmMps6DIGzwXx6V58mwRvSl0TsMcBcoBTSN_nhnTUPqL7I/w640-h370/pic%20(26).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Many of the runners were eating and drinking, as they were handed nourishment by supporters that had been waiting for them to arrive in Twin Lakes.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE4I2p4v74LtG9eV8qpmViC4M4u1I-xXgI2q0fyDtSrQZI1KoQ1w5ikZBsAPilpxmEXm_9tO-_rvZgXcA07nGyNYlgrjXCekKml9S0cHskKZ-RNbaiJWvhtBSw9gWQaB0qFhnS9-eZ99-qXwbqTwZ1qL4pUm4WTxTdRzj89zvYNZ_-z-BcPD2wsIYI9rw/s1941/pic%20(192).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1397" data-original-width="1941" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE4I2p4v74LtG9eV8qpmViC4M4u1I-xXgI2q0fyDtSrQZI1KoQ1w5ikZBsAPilpxmEXm_9tO-_rvZgXcA07nGyNYlgrjXCekKml9S0cHskKZ-RNbaiJWvhtBSw9gWQaB0qFhnS9-eZ99-qXwbqTwZ1qL4pUm4WTxTdRzj89zvYNZ_-z-BcPD2wsIYI9rw/w640-h460/pic%20(192).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Many of them had supporters running beside them, giving them counsel and encouragement to keep going.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fuFoJ2zEkXhKcvhGNGAIC1EVIwdZ0y0KebdyRoJH7hxF0icj6DQe0zur5l_ZoECROP-lMSHZqkURQAEwIpAn7DUTo2VEie3yXVo_5J5dcWk8sELTwzuT4fqtsyniRxapWp2Jn4kYTUQ5jIjRYYJ0QFT-SdnfyWNvA-IvD7HLrjCtLjhEXk7PrTZ1-Bk/s2275/pic%20(191).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2021" data-original-width="2275" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fuFoJ2zEkXhKcvhGNGAIC1EVIwdZ0y0KebdyRoJH7hxF0icj6DQe0zur5l_ZoECROP-lMSHZqkURQAEwIpAn7DUTo2VEie3yXVo_5J5dcWk8sELTwzuT4fqtsyniRxapWp2Jn4kYTUQ5jIjRYYJ0QFT-SdnfyWNvA-IvD7HLrjCtLjhEXk7PrTZ1-Bk/w640-h568/pic%20(191).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Some runners even had personal photographers running beside them, with video and big lens cameras to commemorate this race.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfU19k5bDAgyovg_wfTHiVh6xmluwVp_aMHipSqVUQ8HCE7q3BPEJTb5KmqJYZKF539mPafZLQuguyervaRuiSJP2dwFtymJeiU2F2Tmg092qF971inpQXPZaJu7cEl1TjVXLH7gcEZHpJoWJqN6AplG-dKhWgouFL18tW0kDz31xzvyu_C1dAUC1mAw/s1540/pic%20(193).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1141" data-original-width="1540" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfU19k5bDAgyovg_wfTHiVh6xmluwVp_aMHipSqVUQ8HCE7q3BPEJTb5KmqJYZKF539mPafZLQuguyervaRuiSJP2dwFtymJeiU2F2Tmg092qF971inpQXPZaJu7cEl1TjVXLH7gcEZHpJoWJqN6AplG-dKhWgouFL18tW0kDz31xzvyu_C1dAUC1mAw/w640-h474/pic%20(193).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">Denisa snapped some pictures, and then headed back to the pickup where Mark was inching forward in the automobile line. The police monitoring the race course would let a few vehicles through when there was a break in runners. But it was a pretty steady stream of people that had completed the first 38 miles around 12:30, and were now heading out of town and back into the mountains.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7aZkO-2Qw-0rbyw8GcFbVPorihHW7mwdEK1NI0JQoc71Q2T6Z4L3Qo-s6n2AQm8Q2vuxXzydXU6oDvSFTmm6U-eQbUCpt8-yr_FT8el8VNI-dcBGpIcXnLZ2uaVBPHjK4xQI2cL8rDNFHZI5TziQQOFC417jzD8MkRAk1n6pDdZYbWQ1OqHtUW06GCs/s2891/pic%20(194).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2309" data-original-width="2891" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7aZkO-2Qw-0rbyw8GcFbVPorihHW7mwdEK1NI0JQoc71Q2T6Z4L3Qo-s6n2AQm8Q2vuxXzydXU6oDvSFTmm6U-eQbUCpt8-yr_FT8el8VNI-dcBGpIcXnLZ2uaVBPHjK4xQI2cL8rDNFHZI5TziQQOFC417jzD8MkRAk1n6pDdZYbWQ1OqHtUW06GCs/w640-h512/pic%20(194).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">We finally got on the west side of Twin Lakes, and found that parking along the highway was easier on this side. Another advantage of being here was that the runners also head west as they leave town. After we parked the pickup, we walked to the trail where the racers were heading towards the mountains.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_HK-UgA_2QC7mWHMO_DXCWE8og_Jvo5r_4J5JYBXfUr3XSyXjESK2eE8wOsMSL5AUwcNxbsDdMVM5BCq1YZb8nqSJrp4Sls_ROTAll5QkUXyP_AcOh-KfG36ArhDDYrSQqin6WKkhJJTk8pOmqyU1KCjVP5-o55OUg6ftE8MM4C2wskEym7wy2ZDXWyc/s3508/pic%20(196).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2243" data-original-width="3508" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_HK-UgA_2QC7mWHMO_DXCWE8og_Jvo5r_4J5JYBXfUr3XSyXjESK2eE8wOsMSL5AUwcNxbsDdMVM5BCq1YZb8nqSJrp4Sls_ROTAll5QkUXyP_AcOh-KfG36ArhDDYrSQqin6WKkhJJTk8pOmqyU1KCjVP5-o55OUg6ftE8MM4C2wskEym7wy2ZDXWyc/w640-h410/pic%20(196).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We talked to some other spectators, and found that the trail wasn't closed to the public. Most of this race was ran on the Colorado Trail, and through-hikers that were hiking that trail would be sharing it with these ultra-runners this day. The trail was very narrow at this point, and we were very careful to get off the trail if a faster racer caught up with us. We didn't want to impede anyone's progress in the race. But our fast hiking speed was a good speed to keep us between groups of runners that had already run 38 miles.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb7GAXSKY3LPP3SzZCsKNOo_wGYljrhW5cvsAxSNZcsHSRj6IAOyImSOIq7mDGZoO9hRtMOEtkeb99o3yfBhsu0OyTZ4LsrdOWUDWps-B7lNTcyDLUJi5TPv2iBaPhmKttFFENac_KYZvXKFZknTZRX9j8JNwZzC2lAzXtdIA1OfUuMj2C8L7O6oNlJXA/s2812/pic%20(201).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2210" data-original-width="2812" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb7GAXSKY3LPP3SzZCsKNOo_wGYljrhW5cvsAxSNZcsHSRj6IAOyImSOIq7mDGZoO9hRtMOEtkeb99o3yfBhsu0OyTZ4LsrdOWUDWps-B7lNTcyDLUJi5TPv2iBaPhmKttFFENac_KYZvXKFZknTZRX9j8JNwZzC2lAzXtdIA1OfUuMj2C8L7O6oNlJXA/w640-h502/pic%20(201).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We clapped and gave words of encouragement to these athletes on this grueling course. The turn-around point was at the tiny mining town of Winfield. We've driven there on the way to a trail head a couple weeks ago. These 100-mile runners will turn around at Winfield and come back the very same way. That meant they would be back here to Twin Lakes at mile #62 on the second half of the race. We thought it was amazing that the runners were so close together after 38 miles and 7 hours into the race.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-MXa2Yd2LA5JmykKPVQrbqHNZsblDoiKjTuBfN5-lfJGtDejHDfHzdoVhU1SgToAd-znrgmqK2Mn_aguibJlZRsq9Zw31PPwjv3ilvbp_mub0eqBFyRETm-xMQkycWW9eu7WaomQAXGUWThoJUuwBKMePjfLYzzQnY5IytzCbOG1SmoNfas5Pco38G2U/s3016/pic%20(197).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2020" data-original-width="3016" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-MXa2Yd2LA5JmykKPVQrbqHNZsblDoiKjTuBfN5-lfJGtDejHDfHzdoVhU1SgToAd-znrgmqK2Mn_aguibJlZRsq9Zw31PPwjv3ilvbp_mub0eqBFyRETm-xMQkycWW9eu7WaomQAXGUWThoJUuwBKMePjfLYzzQnY5IytzCbOG1SmoNfas5Pco38G2U/w640-h428/pic%20(197).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">While we share pictures we took on the course, we'll pass on some of the things we've learned about this race. It was first run in 1983, and was started by a local miner that wanted to put Leadville on the map. He called it "A race across the sky" because it starts in the city with the highest elevation in the United States. Leadville is at 10,200 foot elevation, and the race course will go up to Hope Pass at 12,620 foot. That pass was at the top of the mountain that they were facing as they left Twin Lakes. That grueling climb up Hope Pass would happen twice, once when the runner was outbound, and again when he/she was coming back.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGNviJ8yNC_j2RLtbQMiuaOybigxrBt6ByTLmiFLOFcDiMVTCK7jGQDSmVrKmV2MV3bw5l90uBTGBs-CuFpDh7HELAL7Sa8ZVsYa9DUmYYSVB8iz3wmBAUM9u2ZGOm0E32kUUk5Lgxz-jObYG8Jdb3Iha4084FIDP9NjRDyGXi_3p0D9_dN92fDPqJinA/s3003/pic%20(198).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2020" data-original-width="3003" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGNviJ8yNC_j2RLtbQMiuaOybigxrBt6ByTLmiFLOFcDiMVTCK7jGQDSmVrKmV2MV3bw5l90uBTGBs-CuFpDh7HELAL7Sa8ZVsYa9DUmYYSVB8iz3wmBAUM9u2ZGOm0E32kUUk5Lgxz-jObYG8Jdb3Iha4084FIDP9NjRDyGXi_3p0D9_dN92fDPqJinA/w640-h430/pic%20(198).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The fastest time that this race has ever been completed was 15 hours, 42 minutes, and 59 seconds. That was an amazing time, as most runners will have a hard time completing it in the 30 hours allowed. The race has sweep times. That means that if runners haven't arrived at check-in points at an appropriate time to complete the race in the maximum of thirty hours, they are swept out of the race and can't continue. For example, if they don't get to the 50 mile turn-around spot in 15 hours, they aren't allowed to finish the race. Other racers will have to stop because of exhaustion. From the distance we saw a group shading a runner that had fallen. After 38 miles, it looked like their race was over. More than half of the 700 people that start the race won't be able to finish it.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvgAaeq_ZUWIUAI9a5DXqKmBeldD-W_QRhU4E1lmfTX8fRLOkoCqCg7FviCHLWhyphenhyphenv5frituPyFyMJjixcRPtysyjx9lZzStMp2dsse2lzYadAEhUED8ig1Xgg9kwmsuxs6dJWBNTj9Kg1ZIe1s7XkxwL1fLSCwcsmw6Xrfj2dbsRDp8ARLex370Ntp4o/s2288/pic%20(208).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1594" data-original-width="2288" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvgAaeq_ZUWIUAI9a5DXqKmBeldD-W_QRhU4E1lmfTX8fRLOkoCqCg7FviCHLWhyphenhyphenv5frituPyFyMJjixcRPtysyjx9lZzStMp2dsse2lzYadAEhUED8ig1Xgg9kwmsuxs6dJWBNTj9Kg1ZIe1s7XkxwL1fLSCwcsmw6Xrfj2dbsRDp8ARLex370Ntp4o/w640-h446/pic%20(208).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Leadville 100 is one of the iconic endurance races on the globe. It attracts extreme athletes from all over the world. We can attest to the fact that we heard many people speaking foreign languages among the runners and the supporters in the crowd. Those supporters set up shade tents for the crew that was helping the runner. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijB6zISb0LS3jZ2Avd5gQCbHuRY4ZKNkJX7hsITYlZbK4NCghhKwlZbAu_FGPVCYdSdC-isWFokUWjl_81esCIgHFpFmQ-PHb_gx4Yn9V64zUfP_movGV3fg49A4tdAVB8JLMct6-rjZB5u5KxxAPNt_lDtxXNT0E_4dItk9xglX4ju_NVgpW7Apvj8ww/s3737/pic%20(210).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1896" data-original-width="3737" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijB6zISb0LS3jZ2Avd5gQCbHuRY4ZKNkJX7hsITYlZbK4NCghhKwlZbAu_FGPVCYdSdC-isWFokUWjl_81esCIgHFpFmQ-PHb_gx4Yn9V64zUfP_movGV3fg49A4tdAVB8JLMct6-rjZB5u5KxxAPNt_lDtxXNT0E_4dItk9xglX4ju_NVgpW7Apvj8ww/w640-h324/pic%20(210).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The support crew will be out on the course at different places providing food and drink, as well as encouragement. At certain parts of the race, crew members can even run alongside the racer. We talked to one crew member who had run to deliver an electrolyte drink to his racer. He would also be running a 14-mile section of the course with the racer. He estimated that he would meet him for that section at 3 a.m tomorrow morning. That means that runners start the race in the dark, and most will run through the next night. So the course was lined with pink reflective flags to help them find their way in the dark.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFKULmKXg3xIs8bDcTgNrmJXQVFRYMvjsI5vRvxsxkXOgIpK4lG_swJ3v1nXT-dMEcA1_cZpGI2a3CbaCw6u2Wkzf9uVcbQIKsRl19CuaRp33bqrC-4kFvIm3AHvAqsAthqeluPAhiHiD37m-3ujXf9CpyyjSKUR-1UXSaQfPChnVlOHU_hBmsj5d9mI/s2452/pic%20(200).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2014" data-original-width="2452" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFKULmKXg3xIs8bDcTgNrmJXQVFRYMvjsI5vRvxsxkXOgIpK4lG_swJ3v1nXT-dMEcA1_cZpGI2a3CbaCw6u2Wkzf9uVcbQIKsRl19CuaRp33bqrC-4kFvIm3AHvAqsAthqeluPAhiHiD37m-3ujXf9CpyyjSKUR-1UXSaQfPChnVlOHU_hBmsj5d9mI/w640-h526/pic%20(200).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes those pink reflective flags had to outline an obstacle, like a fallen tree over the trail.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzAU1Cq0M3nckvc3iYZN7BY61JaWTvkMzrqpNaepy6c9o9wdC7Q4ww9-8kISJxM9kcohz3Kk0aLo-Vu_YF0QUk0YTI8KUhm9k0Sve2YSuBAjEKQDYWacyjBi8I7TOYybW0TqHQfjepXfeH7AG42OsDVFh_LmLERaTBCbYP89GS7DxG1MdqE0jRrRBmMY/s2884/pic%20(206).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2014" data-original-width="2884" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzAU1Cq0M3nckvc3iYZN7BY61JaWTvkMzrqpNaepy6c9o9wdC7Q4ww9-8kISJxM9kcohz3Kk0aLo-Vu_YF0QUk0YTI8KUhm9k0Sve2YSuBAjEKQDYWacyjBi8I7TOYybW0TqHQfjepXfeH7AG42OsDVFh_LmLERaTBCbYP89GS7DxG1MdqE0jRrRBmMY/w640-h446/pic%20(206).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">We walked over a mile on this section of the Colorado Trail that today was part of the Leadville 100 race course. It was a delightful walk for two wanderers that got good sleep last night and needed some exercise. It was an honor to share the trail with these endurance athletes. We have wandered into more of God's wonders today!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-hkF6BIQQHpnOn3coSVTS5_kpmYKQ1l71DBfZh1kWZx_PBuyDfyuyHqMw5Df4sRkJVd1SCwdyslQjedpUMQ5yX1NeNzEhsVe50EL4sXnsT1mFs2G9vt5XOaQHOZhrNzDfypjg5YUEjmFaN35zbkhitbSOQN3-Py9jxgL30qsIvoJBRmFji3itBkpR0k8/s3678/pic%20(207).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2775" data-original-width="3678" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-hkF6BIQQHpnOn3coSVTS5_kpmYKQ1l71DBfZh1kWZx_PBuyDfyuyHqMw5Df4sRkJVd1SCwdyslQjedpUMQ5yX1NeNzEhsVe50EL4sXnsT1mFs2G9vt5XOaQHOZhrNzDfypjg5YUEjmFaN35zbkhitbSOQN3-Py9jxgL30qsIvoJBRmFji3itBkpR0k8/w640-h482/pic%20(207).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">While we walked a very flat section of the race, much of it is up and down some steep sections of this mountainous terrain. In these 100 miles they will gain 15,744 feet in elevation. That means they will also go down that much, something that can be equally taxing on knees. We went as far as the river crossing. While most runners just jogged right through the water . . .<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3X7Rtm8IeFbgA6oouMf-llV8ycynROgufNOSWsMdBk2HzevetytRcGKOCFRUVCROh1ythjfIEK8b-RFtpyqGMGH8QBySAEAgrl6JA6PtdVg0iB9mwbIfjcriSqmdN-9fm3c1WUIGWAAXIW9H5waGJqr4QB3UV6MZ_De-pccRjWmbRq3PuaCpkH-vG-k/s3167/pic%20(202).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2126" data-original-width="3167" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3X7Rtm8IeFbgA6oouMf-llV8ycynROgufNOSWsMdBk2HzevetytRcGKOCFRUVCROh1ythjfIEK8b-RFtpyqGMGH8QBySAEAgrl6JA6PtdVg0iB9mwbIfjcriSqmdN-9fm3c1WUIGWAAXIW9H5waGJqr4QB3UV6MZ_De-pccRjWmbRq3PuaCpkH-vG-k/w640-h430/pic%20(202).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">one was barefoot and was running the race in sandals.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJuCOmI0GpD50agjaeb8D9KDWxFMYKUjTV5qSpchgPdHZoY7IQDBQEfxQurBt_Wx6YCHlWLvMicBGzIcwX6uxCnDi8fcwXgoSPisGDYkpVwkGgcE78d0VUL7SUhx8YkQ2FN6GIhAKYsKXsaaYM0nDwq2L9B8iFFDYUTkJLWqPBl38gjOv7TGuI4LYIEJU/s2223/pic%20(204).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1712" data-original-width="2223" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJuCOmI0GpD50agjaeb8D9KDWxFMYKUjTV5qSpchgPdHZoY7IQDBQEfxQurBt_Wx6YCHlWLvMicBGzIcwX6uxCnDi8fcwXgoSPisGDYkpVwkGgcE78d0VUL7SUhx8YkQ2FN6GIhAKYsKXsaaYM0nDwq2L9B8iFFDYUTkJLWqPBl38gjOv7TGuI4LYIEJU/w640-h492/pic%20(204).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Another runner took the time to remove his shoes and socks and walk across. But he also decided to sit down in the river and get really cool. He did mention that he might just sit there until the racers came back.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-2X73qOqFbp7mgDnH2hnChqzBTX0_bRLpDefHyaOkPJIHPYoYyynn7NAtkidZTtljB0ECXc6qskol1gXHATGsA_x0qcdSrmIaFhkg7960HRoIEhZzm2eJbM1hZHeaHX9Uv3faS2kVclN44dPT1hD5ZbLZWmJRZqbq69G4ntZxvXms2_X39aMJ_5JvfAE/s2026/pic%20(205).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1449" data-original-width="2026" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-2X73qOqFbp7mgDnH2hnChqzBTX0_bRLpDefHyaOkPJIHPYoYyynn7NAtkidZTtljB0ECXc6qskol1gXHATGsA_x0qcdSrmIaFhkg7960HRoIEhZzm2eJbM1hZHeaHX9Uv3faS2kVclN44dPT1hD5ZbLZWmJRZqbq69G4ntZxvXms2_X39aMJ_5JvfAE/w640-h458/pic%20(205).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Less than 50% of the 700+ racers that start the race will finish it in the 30 hour limit. These racers had to qualify to be here, and were chosen by lottery because more want to run than the race organizers can handle. We admire their grit for being here and wonder how many of them will make it back to Leadville before tomorrow morning at 10:00.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjNwpH1z1KbbMDMRkEvnNAlNsoFOy0lu7rh9SjbBEmitGo4eMmZ9Xq376uQ-qOe6AJ8AJOJFezbKOuRoHc90JjDMsef0nx-XeYo21KTQ-itxrFxHQbdJQd_u9N2ln1CL2ue9_nLYgNySLvL44n39tLL50dN8uLZsglj41ounYUWKEpyfyUTHYxiOzYCrQ/s3088/pic%20(199).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2499" data-original-width="3088" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjNwpH1z1KbbMDMRkEvnNAlNsoFOy0lu7rh9SjbBEmitGo4eMmZ9Xq376uQ-qOe6AJ8AJOJFezbKOuRoHc90JjDMsef0nx-XeYo21KTQ-itxrFxHQbdJQd_u9N2ln1CL2ue9_nLYgNySLvL44n39tLL50dN8uLZsglj41ounYUWKEpyfyUTHYxiOzYCrQ/w640-h518/pic%20(199).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">What a day we had watching these 100-mile runners and the Class IV rafters on the Arkansas River! We've wandered some of God's wonders in some very interesting ways today!</span></p><p><br /></p>Denisa and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870900598225088990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603551720303875027.post-21914343168929228152023-11-06T21:37:00.000-06:002023-11-06T21:37:57.323-06:00Lily Pond Lakes should be Beaver Pond Lakes<p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>We're way behind in getting travel posts published because we were having way too much fun traveling! So we won't be confused about when each "wandering" happened, we'll start each blog with its actual date.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">August 17, 2023</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We had been at our campground near Buena Vista for three weeks, and we were still finding new places to explore. We drove the 15 miles to Twin Lakes, where we enjoyed kayaking last week. But we were in search of a different lake that was higher up in the Sawatch Mountains. There was a five-mile trail up to the Lily Pond Lakes, but we read that we could drive to the lakes instead. So we put the pickup in four-wheel drive and headed up a narrow dirt road. We sure hoped that we wouldn't meet anyone, because someone would definitely have to back up on this narrow one-lane road.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNt0Zmenn2eOX6CbVO0JdapZeg4nyAhHLm1Q5V4gpJ7fxyrKy_gFnJcV7irke3yCBvNY0BzYYHooQ_f0h1gzu1xqdwIFFobV-DZeZZXkuAev8s5_ZhPGY1mU24S4TJAhpywOTRisSdtqGUoLhw3QFGQagxRP6HQXiPLhwL-_3_qXUqMFKtcGbBBSYbebQ/s3553/pic%20(116).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2269" data-original-width="3553" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNt0Zmenn2eOX6CbVO0JdapZeg4nyAhHLm1Q5V4gpJ7fxyrKy_gFnJcV7irke3yCBvNY0BzYYHooQ_f0h1gzu1xqdwIFFobV-DZeZZXkuAev8s5_ZhPGY1mU24S4TJAhpywOTRisSdtqGUoLhw3QFGQagxRP6HQXiPLhwL-_3_qXUqMFKtcGbBBSYbebQ/w640-h408/pic%20(116).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It was another drive where the navigation screen looked like someone had sprayed silly string on it. It was also a very slow road. Google maps estimated that this 2.3-mile section would take 16 minutes to complete.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8T0Q_PO5qnde07SW-5ThdP05alMZi1UcUFUmJld9D-o57jiiIMMw0VYI5Kvlbl2uG_sHeTcdp2eCVzrPKCLMrdAHGNxwqex0htfqeEXVnMhpvHjdPlXPUMS_SKY5mjq9jNsk9EgEvjGVg0FuGzCbfJxdoyzGure0EMdVDp-_Qw-K0l0hPsod7oy_jr8/s2938/pic%20(115).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2125" data-original-width="2938" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8T0Q_PO5qnde07SW-5ThdP05alMZi1UcUFUmJld9D-o57jiiIMMw0VYI5Kvlbl2uG_sHeTcdp2eCVzrPKCLMrdAHGNxwqex0htfqeEXVnMhpvHjdPlXPUMS_SKY5mjq9jNsk9EgEvjGVg0FuGzCbfJxdoyzGure0EMdVDp-_Qw-K0l0hPsod7oy_jr8/w640-h462/pic%20(115).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>We would have been sweating if we were hiking up this much elevation. But the pickup handled the elevation gain without breaking a sweat. </span><span>We could look down and see Twin Lakes far below us. From here we could see the narrow neck of land that separates the two lakes, and the narrow channel that we kayaked through last week.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkELlhqHadd_yaygCewrSOenlvF0h40byeKqbXqR21BZhki0JlJ1LKfCRIpSyHj3n7ShxsUQAd9TiwO1iek7H_0bSGWNZD9Dp5VEmzkBwWk23ensv_NZgF9n2yw4dJUk6M6_Q5swST8GwwfguoxIOx6TbQjtmfTZAAxCxxkDUKdwzcEt4b51N8LLKy3U/s4030/pic%20(135).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="2170" data-original-width="4030" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkELlhqHadd_yaygCewrSOenlvF0h40byeKqbXqR21BZhki0JlJ1LKfCRIpSyHj3n7ShxsUQAd9TiwO1iek7H_0bSGWNZD9Dp5VEmzkBwWk23ensv_NZgF9n2yw4dJUk6M6_Q5swST8GwwfguoxIOx6TbQjtmfTZAAxCxxkDUKdwzcEt4b51N8LLKy3U/w640-h344/pic%20(135).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>This narrow rocky road was 2.5 miles long. We actually parked the pickup after 2.2 miles, and decided it was time to get a little exercise. It was a nice up-hill stroll to get our first view of Lily Pond Lake.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGPxKOm6WbjoJhs0O66WsfUtHutIpOljrEyQtdeJGeB8-Y3M3_0x3Spdfruh1xL2naZJ3mhcgDeg6JPYwF6VhtHzEnL1r0MKxCy9P6IhVkqxyOdfahHAE_5E4HJHMboR74dZCML9nX4MilJxAht-SBxm0_ok87or-n8Z1U5RgonR8QskrboXQa8Ki3Vc4/s3396/pic%20(117).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="2309" data-original-width="3396" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGPxKOm6WbjoJhs0O66WsfUtHutIpOljrEyQtdeJGeB8-Y3M3_0x3Spdfruh1xL2naZJ3mhcgDeg6JPYwF6VhtHzEnL1r0MKxCy9P6IhVkqxyOdfahHAE_5E4HJHMboR74dZCML9nX4MilJxAht-SBxm0_ok87or-n8Z1U5RgonR8QskrboXQa8Ki3Vc4/w640-h436/pic%20(117).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Shouldn't a lake with a name like "Lily Pond" have at least a few lily pads with colorful blooms? We didn't see a bloom all day. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfsHPrMG2NFeLcfJ7lSd1aORZ6-7Ugtw4rLRsMNmSdOccKeFJ-oaIC2O6zzkAUFopMJCc71nl2IdduZOm6RIHdzBPCZxFJMxqoX6baZCArHi8IiPXv0kfjRguYwMv8fnl-M5myJgj4LM3JHbX5nLCABobNWRqOPE7DPHbCK63SNnRI4mVVn5VHSkl4bt4/s4032/pic%20(120).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfsHPrMG2NFeLcfJ7lSd1aORZ6-7Ugtw4rLRsMNmSdOccKeFJ-oaIC2O6zzkAUFopMJCc71nl2IdduZOm6RIHdzBPCZxFJMxqoX6baZCArHi8IiPXv0kfjRguYwMv8fnl-M5myJgj4LM3JHbX5nLCABobNWRqOPE7DPHbCK63SNnRI4mVVn5VHSkl4bt4/w640-h480/pic%20(120).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>But we did see lots of evidence of the beavers that live in these lakes. They had worked hard to build dams and mud walls to partition this area into many lakes.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFyjMgmbnd3jUdtQj8RXArnPO50VAvKHXB7EnZK6hF4bckzknSVgXHLnhg_S5-As3rUIm4sWm6jOMt4nIuE_npRSTOejRV-KzWVVimTntmffCvtnvM9hNThGxcaQgvqtuUfnuniYB5HO3WbnlVQmdKfSrI-yZzvFs1VdAWkQvPWmOYa91MwJEluQcjto0/s4032/pic%20(118).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFyjMgmbnd3jUdtQj8RXArnPO50VAvKHXB7EnZK6hF4bckzknSVgXHLnhg_S5-As3rUIm4sWm6jOMt4nIuE_npRSTOejRV-KzWVVimTntmffCvtnvM9hNThGxcaQgvqtuUfnuniYB5HO3WbnlVQmdKfSrI-yZzvFs1VdAWkQvPWmOYa91MwJEluQcjto0/w640-h480/pic%20(118).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">While this might look like a stack of messy logs, we found that it was actually a water-tight beaver dam that was holding back a wall of water.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqjysGKFdF0bKsNYCz8-Ojq0VM0oOM7HLs02q5cfqyI5r7V_Bvhc8ZSB_nMnCswPrV-S4TCn5jAaSI9sOzR0wxag6Zymz_J_Y6ZogIeR9CGFdZqM4gdvsRQJmFP0hJDZ0UjAAZHrwQkB0VlqL-Sf-M7e1nLj1lNA0iVoXvQF3wk2AYPaLlRHwhUBb-B8/s3652/pic%20(132).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2604" data-original-width="3652" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqjysGKFdF0bKsNYCz8-Ojq0VM0oOM7HLs02q5cfqyI5r7V_Bvhc8ZSB_nMnCswPrV-S4TCn5jAaSI9sOzR0wxag6Zymz_J_Y6ZogIeR9CGFdZqM4gdvsRQJmFP0hJDZ0UjAAZHrwQkB0VlqL-Sf-M7e1nLj1lNA0iVoXvQF3wk2AYPaLlRHwhUBb-B8/w640-h456/pic%20(132).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Beavers are master engineers, and we were very impressed with their work!</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUb7Cr21kzWmKTHzKNF0nYtD2ZlvdhzJ4ow-LRfKRrGOSVAMQreCS7aJzK9pE4N3phTmfC_u1FogUFD0Z43onYhD9H6FL-LBYaHgSnshO6I-_oSJ1lhYjUNuhAIjiyBD8a10VJsc26IYvWWyGQowvcvmR9arCSW0C1Pn1Jlj0KlNB9pQQpjayGQui6HZk/s4025/pic%20(119).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="2637" data-original-width="4025" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUb7Cr21kzWmKTHzKNF0nYtD2ZlvdhzJ4ow-LRfKRrGOSVAMQreCS7aJzK9pE4N3phTmfC_u1FogUFD0Z43onYhD9H6FL-LBYaHgSnshO6I-_oSJ1lhYjUNuhAIjiyBD8a10VJsc26IYvWWyGQowvcvmR9arCSW0C1Pn1Jlj0KlNB9pQQpjayGQui6HZk/w640-h420/pic%20(119).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">As we hiked further into their habitat, we saw more evidence of what these animals can do. They have been busy gnawing down trees and then moving them down-hill through water channels they have built to the ponds.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyF9I6JpBBho_leX5KMSYLLhLC9lPTLdEmygWwTmdDOw7O5w2FiM7AS4NQjf3reYO4uJq4uu7yBhlFCV4h5QjzJ389RyKtkhQDwObXoyQt3BZCJATq9EKjB1oLMccBTBQ7Dj_gflu6xXUf9w8BjUH4nFg6O6E6V1ydfS7Haau35mW32dgkjGlcFGJ7Ogc/s3678/pic%20(123).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2348" data-original-width="3678" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyF9I6JpBBho_leX5KMSYLLhLC9lPTLdEmygWwTmdDOw7O5w2FiM7AS4NQjf3reYO4uJq4uu7yBhlFCV4h5QjzJ389RyKtkhQDwObXoyQt3BZCJATq9EKjB1oLMccBTBQ7Dj_gflu6xXUf9w8BjUH4nFg6O6E6V1ydfS7Haau35mW32dgkjGlcFGJ7Ogc/w640-h408/pic%20(123).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>They do most of their work at night, but we would have loved to see them at work. Hiking through this area was a little like taking a factory tour on a Sunday. We could see half-finished projects and ev</span><span>idence of their work, but we didn't have the satisfaction of seeing them at work.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCTM_LtAjgoN1JkBI1sxW6R12VUDSEuF66K5FUGChifNVlDZube8faEGyJyqbYvBN-btWJRTGzC8iD-PWJkD97FnuXZNHHbaVtNBLO_lA0cPB8jT0mCIdGCqBZSHmXax4l2jJT_5rpWZRiovwQ1ClC6RyTRcyTP26HJSbCsFXhgsy81E0fZuBopnjsSg/s1790/pic%20(125).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="1476" data-original-width="1790" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCTM_LtAjgoN1JkBI1sxW6R12VUDSEuF66K5FUGChifNVlDZube8faEGyJyqbYvBN-btWJRTGzC8iD-PWJkD97FnuXZNHHbaVtNBLO_lA0cPB8jT0mCIdGCqBZSHmXax4l2jJT_5rpWZRiovwQ1ClC6RyTRcyTP26HJSbCsFXhgsy81E0fZuBopnjsSg/w640-h528/pic%20(125).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We found that beavers' favorite foods were the bark and twigs of aspen and willows. We found a half-finished beaver buffet in this big aspen tree they felled.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkgLso8xEHJyAAdMWJpm_xNufSsR0JDV2ANGsnsIKL_FkGqutIrAKLrzWqBfVMIOX6Hh6y3MKKHgoXbnaUmxOU7K_xJ6zyHjT0SLLm-kFw3Iyg-5NMicZpnB-OD8WkEpOXww0anOZvZDin9f3GBpT4-eoi6Tw7k9H3Y6I_whSDAaKroDW9wwYFIrhrTqw/s3737/pic%20(126).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2610" data-original-width="3737" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkgLso8xEHJyAAdMWJpm_xNufSsR0JDV2ANGsnsIKL_FkGqutIrAKLrzWqBfVMIOX6Hh6y3MKKHgoXbnaUmxOU7K_xJ6zyHjT0SLLm-kFw3Iyg-5NMicZpnB-OD8WkEpOXww0anOZvZDin9f3GBpT4-eoi6Tw7k9H3Y6I_whSDAaKroDW9wwYFIrhrTqw/w640-h446/pic%20(126).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">While most of the small aspens had been cut down by beavers, we also saw that they weren't afraid to tackle a big project.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfs1rk9SQ3PV0QSdQ6PehPeFjyW6QeeJqac_yhrSJKhaMRjuGKrKOg87xqWBhbKN8EtP0TbuPy00APWKdLs0U9Ig5YZDG0mwbCbkyJVkKVQPAcYA2yePhgCA1m2T3Q8Q3Il4QB0EYMibbrsiMGQlqF3U84BK96hduPhAdG4OtzCDxWi41Ss8bcmkFu-P4/s2897/pic%20(124).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2466" data-original-width="2897" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfs1rk9SQ3PV0QSdQ6PehPeFjyW6QeeJqac_yhrSJKhaMRjuGKrKOg87xqWBhbKN8EtP0TbuPy00APWKdLs0U9Ig5YZDG0mwbCbkyJVkKVQPAcYA2yePhgCA1m2T3Q8Q3Il4QB0EYMibbrsiMGQlqF3U84BK96hduPhAdG4OtzCDxWi41Ss8bcmkFu-P4/w640-h544/pic%20(124).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">We hiked by a dozen or more beaver ponds, lying right at the base of Mount Elbert.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGwyz30vz6xZiSEqpCFkDwdHovwL25DrhTRjdXVd-AFVVWwApUqwFg96SSctnr3dTCaUxNSMnslVhyphenhypheneZo1Fg6d6k0zPmRwuZgcL0AZpQ6EFA0KPpOzjVimvemuFOhoBYG9teAajFK5wf7Uzedi86qQkHzKh49_yolcDNPvHTM7ZX0hmLdRGWnhS_1bsU/s4032/pic%20(131).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGwyz30vz6xZiSEqpCFkDwdHovwL25DrhTRjdXVd-AFVVWwApUqwFg96SSctnr3dTCaUxNSMnslVhyphenhypheneZo1Fg6d6k0zPmRwuZgcL0AZpQ6EFA0KPpOzjVimvemuFOhoBYG9teAajFK5wf7Uzedi86qQkHzKh49_yolcDNPvHTM7ZX0hmLdRGWnhS_1bsU/w640-h480/pic%20(131).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Mount Elbert is the highest mountain in Colorado--and the Rocky Mountains--and many people come here to summit it. It was tempting to just keep on going up this trail for 4-5 more miles. But with 4,000 feet in elevation gain hiking above tree line, that takes some preparation and an earlier start to avoid afternoon thunder storms that leave you vulnerable to lightning above tree line.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqnu-WX4INNhSXvciB3rRYbBHUq49yvLKr3hZ9jkms-kFWQZzSCzujUA-TAu_qxR4rtWy5A4gqF02VthCJeo0h-3SdmzeTVTpyVyknpXsrHmvfxTlEmTbHYXvVxc3f_o__B4M1Xt8DORwM2zGaII0C1Eg-bD_ZYNBOHDEe7qkmOwcRCX5Y38JpNl05gw/s3402/pic%20(127).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="2551" data-original-width="3402" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqnu-WX4INNhSXvciB3rRYbBHUq49yvLKr3hZ9jkms-kFWQZzSCzujUA-TAu_qxR4rtWy5A4gqF02VthCJeo0h-3SdmzeTVTpyVyknpXsrHmvfxTlEmTbHYXvVxc3f_o__B4M1Xt8DORwM2zGaII0C1Eg-bD_ZYNBOHDEe7qkmOwcRCX5Y38JpNl05gw/w640-h480/pic%20(127).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>So instead, we hiked a couple miles on the Colorado/Continental Divide Trail. We have seen these trails many times in the last three weeks. We've also seen and talked to many hikers that were doing the entire 486-mile Colorado Trail. At this point, they have finished around 200 miles of their journey. </span><span>We found that the Colorado Trail was well used, but also well maintained. A new bridge was in place to make water crossings easy for these long-haul hikers.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_qoYTewCb8esEwLT_idee48Byn8mC_4AonYfD0ylcVKXLv6JHLJuLM9rVjef9GHqrHZBFQgPyThO6WMserRfYDGX_JCo0ivMhP9Q8FMRiXGPo3hQCNdNGnpEyJQCAXxstJN_nN6Fu0hX5KNu0xyOQjPRb4VIyFTQe3v1yGxaXRj2CcGCbtqdHGq9ePwU/s4032/pic%20(129).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="2899" data-original-width="4032" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_qoYTewCb8esEwLT_idee48Byn8mC_4AonYfD0ylcVKXLv6JHLJuLM9rVjef9GHqrHZBFQgPyThO6WMserRfYDGX_JCo0ivMhP9Q8FMRiXGPo3hQCNdNGnpEyJQCAXxstJN_nN6Fu0hX5KNu0xyOQjPRb4VIyFTQe3v1yGxaXRj2CcGCbtqdHGq9ePwU/w640-h460/pic%20(129).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>We were short-haul hikers this day, just hiking 3 miles after the pickup did most of the work to get up this mountain. We stopped for more pictures of the series of lakes that we just renamed "Beaver Pond Lakes," with Mount Elbert in the background.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBYh2fntOuA6D9ABtdahWEcrLZb3CMkZ_nxa9wsi49xNA1uayNNJ8jBduLx8CogbpAs7zTDjAWsokhmy5NIyrR_eb6ceDI1_UV6F_16vBBB5vIvsxFzwSzQeo9RUcROLuQD6YgD6srtjTb2XYOe-61aT5u6Yj11wQG59jcH6YPbBJN6I-Pa2wjr5EMZaU/s4032/pic%20(134).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBYh2fntOuA6D9ABtdahWEcrLZb3CMkZ_nxa9wsi49xNA1uayNNJ8jBduLx8CogbpAs7zTDjAWsokhmy5NIyrR_eb6ceDI1_UV6F_16vBBB5vIvsxFzwSzQeo9RUcROLuQD6YgD6srtjTb2XYOe-61aT5u6Yj11wQG59jcH6YPbBJN6I-Pa2wjr5EMZaU/w640-h480/pic%20(134).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></span></p><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Once we hiked back to our vehicle, it was another 2.5 miles down that narrow bumpy road in the pickup. We were blessed that again we didn't meet a vehicle coming in the opposite direction. While this was a very doable road, we're glad that not many people know about it so the traffic was light.</span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">On the way down, we stopped in at Mount Elbert Forebay Reservoir. This is a popular lake for fishing, and it also plays an interesting part in the Colorado electrical plan. This man-made lake is high above Twin Lakes. At night (when electrical rates and usage are lowest) water is pumped up-hill from the Twin Lakes to this water storage bay. Then during the day (when electricity is needed and rates are highest), water is released downhill out of the forebay through hydro-electric turbines to generate electricity.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6t-MaZN1gbh9-FpfTPMa7Ol702i3YWsxnD25ss98967GNxH7XGcbBMIJqtabfGZbqkkDFqTcb1FqJTOLs99eKBLfhzMbd81x4InpWExNHe3WzOJDyp7ji1BP2-1qxe4ms2yGB_OGfNNhzi1O1hBYZxsYsAzkcfwuWQaPnGYF27kfn1eg20Ke-vuQQG-4/s6226/pic%20(136).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3653" data-original-width="6226" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6t-MaZN1gbh9-FpfTPMa7Ol702i3YWsxnD25ss98967GNxH7XGcbBMIJqtabfGZbqkkDFqTcb1FqJTOLs99eKBLfhzMbd81x4InpWExNHe3WzOJDyp7ji1BP2-1qxe4ms2yGB_OGfNNhzi1O1hBYZxsYsAzkcfwuWQaPnGYF27kfn1eg20Ke-vuQQG-4/w640-h376/pic%20(136).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our Lily Pond/Beaver Lake trip was short enough that we were home in the early afternoon. That gave us enough time to make a Colorado peach dessert that we took to our cousin's house this evening. We took them out for dinner and then dessert in appreciation for making us feel so welcome to this area of Colorado. After three weeks in one place, we were still enjoying our time in Colorado where we're renaming lakes and getting to spend time wandering God's wonders.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Denisa and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870900598225088990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603551720303875027.post-6887720685502144132023-11-02T20:13:00.000-05:002023-11-02T20:13:16.210-05:00Slowing our pace in Colorado this summer<p><i><span style="font-size: large;">We're way behind in getting travel posts published because we were having way too much fun traveling! So we won't be confused about when each "wandering" happened, we'll start each blog with its actual date.</span></i></p><div><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div><div><i><span style="font-size: large;">Miscellaneous dates mid-August, 2023</span></i></div><div><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">After Mark's trip to the emergency room, we decided to slow our pace just a little. We were glad to know that his heart looks good and healthy. But we knew a couple that left the mountains in a hurry this summer when she started having some heart palpitations. So this blog is a combination of several days' activities as we slowed our pace. We've been dipping our toes in the cold water of the Arkansas River more than usual.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHzBAzN__83SLkQB6brvo0pHntSnTn9ddrcG6nagHR-MhZddkGfe-gh3BqT4gA7smwfLrj7PL_n5ESWPHncPSN4fGPMfk8CPHlRW-W9nCDrVP-YnJ1PmwVcFRLAgHAYWnGtlqhBlt44zJ72WeaKgUulcBgdifm-PcfR9FO0QqmgralsggyHzSkzjJYRQ/s3770/pic%20(103).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2696" data-original-width="3770" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHzBAzN__83SLkQB6brvo0pHntSnTn9ddrcG6nagHR-MhZddkGfe-gh3BqT4gA7smwfLrj7PL_n5ESWPHncPSN4fGPMfk8CPHlRW-W9nCDrVP-YnJ1PmwVcFRLAgHAYWnGtlqhBlt44zJ72WeaKgUulcBgdifm-PcfR9FO0QqmgralsggyHzSkzjJYRQ/w640-h458/pic%20(103).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We also discovered that just a few miles north of Buena Vista was a gravel road that winds its way along the Arkansas River. Three tunnels allow for the road to continue even though the mountains were blocking the way.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj65LkgsrH8KgUdOa7hyphenhyphenTnQZzivsPSXW3IcLUi_qf5Ye3TSi1idMZXJPkz1bhDDGBTqGcKjweP9nNNRXaaxuXSrKYWYCqAqSvZPtIMtWdyGzzA0zDBSP9CtfJhVGPyv9kV7apzVzJ_l_7uFRCt5gdkLyn9Sp628HP_zCqEk4-vuzQGuzk1RVUVYZI_JWKU/s4032/pic%20(105).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2650" data-original-width="4032" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj65LkgsrH8KgUdOa7hyphenhyphenTnQZzivsPSXW3IcLUi_qf5Ye3TSi1idMZXJPkz1bhDDGBTqGcKjweP9nNNRXaaxuXSrKYWYCqAqSvZPtIMtWdyGzzA0zDBSP9CtfJhVGPyv9kV7apzVzJ_l_7uFRCt5gdkLyn9Sp628HP_zCqEk4-vuzQGuzk1RVUVYZI_JWKU/w640-h420/pic%20(105).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">After living for weeks in this area, we were a little surprised that we hadn't found the Midland Tunnels before.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglk2dS1wahKDlj6e5FMNZQN-GIuNOEeGfRL79A6QtrwIcjTtOv2ZpwY7t1zh2avu9BOIw__q4DsC8hbxlfG-yUW5bL81eIh0E1IlTcX5-PdCjo-9tHqbCuirED-5dzNw4hxsOXycB76A5aam4yFAHzpK0j11L17GlDT6pmbeDIML9GhO1hP0BOQejT4Lc/s3344/pic%20(106).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2644" data-original-width="3344" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglk2dS1wahKDlj6e5FMNZQN-GIuNOEeGfRL79A6QtrwIcjTtOv2ZpwY7t1zh2avu9BOIw__q4DsC8hbxlfG-yUW5bL81eIh0E1IlTcX5-PdCjo-9tHqbCuirED-5dzNw4hxsOXycB76A5aam4yFAHzpK0j11L17GlDT6pmbeDIML9GhO1hP0BOQejT4Lc/w640-h506/pic%20(106).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The train no longer runs on these tracks along the river, and this flat gravel road would be a great place for a bike ride. We watched as several groups rode their Buena Vista rental bikes down this lightly-traveled road.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT7NksLvhlnSmNQtNMe-KPE2_qObBDy5bLwIRh6ddn3X42zypBGfpghPk53nnoJW9s1q5r9JbZnx9zYQ-QqYfDHlsTwpMxs9Yoty2hMxr6nh6KKFa2Ia0AHcAiA8ThUBgbBmvtMU9hi6-ki-99K6A0lEScKivVJEXGVA-II0L4Eo7uFNEgDqRULXt02kY/s3567/pic%20(107).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2807" data-original-width="3567" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT7NksLvhlnSmNQtNMe-KPE2_qObBDy5bLwIRh6ddn3X42zypBGfpghPk53nnoJW9s1q5r9JbZnx9zYQ-QqYfDHlsTwpMxs9Yoty2hMxr6nh6KKFa2Ia0AHcAiA8ThUBgbBmvtMU9hi6-ki-99K6A0lEScKivVJEXGVA-II0L4Eo7uFNEgDqRULXt02kY/w640-h504/pic%20(107).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Rock climbers know about this area because of the series of climbing trails in the granite walls along the road. This one even had a sizable parking lot, and google map labeled it as "Bob's Rock."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iqLR1lOT9gWPuz1S3AYM5Cz3w-NQ6JUz36IatcPHyfeLioCsHYH_efIBuotYIB0szySrzOqFC1rd-va3SZjNj2Yk6LA8w2_otE4UI3KpJdDWbYwCMa9WtTnTFZin-R1jQy7EIbGtxvqN89HyFTeJSallbvCZRe0bigQUeLtqErCclRusVwmbOvR92fo/s3934/pic%20(109).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2663" data-original-width="3934" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iqLR1lOT9gWPuz1S3AYM5Cz3w-NQ6JUz36IatcPHyfeLioCsHYH_efIBuotYIB0szySrzOqFC1rd-va3SZjNj2Yk6LA8w2_otE4UI3KpJdDWbYwCMa9WtTnTFZin-R1jQy7EIbGtxvqN89HyFTeJSallbvCZRe0bigQUeLtqErCclRusVwmbOvR92fo/w640-h434/pic%20(109).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">Boondockers know about this road because of the no-hook-up forest service campgrounds here. We found many people camping right under elephant rock, with a great view of the Sawatch Mountains. Sometimes slowing our pace gives us time to discover new and interesting places--and more of God's wonders.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzd0td7u-ycv53o778EYiks-_8aQtrCNpwqtj6xa8BHdcOVLuBqAKVOG4kTKvcquoYfLcB-qNNp6F16AukV46uSg5zYfYHnOlmMl4GK5BDSH4XgmcjBmDCi6dSuTY4IzgDMFuurnGFykPMXYFJgRQYt_xIm5ydiQiuSc-UB-75x_2O_BXyOSM1V8KpcF0/s2675/pic%20(110).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1686" data-original-width="2675" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzd0td7u-ycv53o778EYiks-_8aQtrCNpwqtj6xa8BHdcOVLuBqAKVOG4kTKvcquoYfLcB-qNNp6F16AukV46uSg5zYfYHnOlmMl4GK5BDSH4XgmcjBmDCi6dSuTY4IzgDMFuurnGFykPMXYFJgRQYt_xIm5ydiQiuSc-UB-75x_2O_BXyOSM1V8KpcF0/w640-h404/pic%20(110).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The road took us for miles along the curvy river bed, for more views of the Arkansas River.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8NZ2L3Ahg3GkWs8PxVGsA_nts6NnF_XlSqctN-LM2x1ibp5OLUSYdSryISu2MfvjxEjuF8ILovnmPS93lL6aJHVnwSJ8K9xkXoR7hu3yUdHCWQOQH6mKTDONO2Id7TFBUdU1DfYR-w4m_HiR7zNdTTgnn1ehN6FYuWNm1k_GCXdZhyRQzZKmTZTGc10/s3855/pic%20(112).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2663" data-original-width="3855" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8NZ2L3Ahg3GkWs8PxVGsA_nts6NnF_XlSqctN-LM2x1ibp5OLUSYdSryISu2MfvjxEjuF8ILovnmPS93lL6aJHVnwSJ8K9xkXoR7hu3yUdHCWQOQH6mKTDONO2Id7TFBUdU1DfYR-w4m_HiR7zNdTTgnn1ehN6FYuWNm1k_GCXdZhyRQzZKmTZTGc10/w640-h442/pic%20(112).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">On another day we took a different drive down another gravel road. This slower pace gave us more views of the Arkansas River near the put-in spot for the Class IV run down the numbered rapids.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_j0LfEaK2t51ccFsngcmgFIPFk4YJgHWse35-8-sANZUcrwZSJXoBNEfS_PQvy0spkUwMlH8CJ6xOegGgDl1ZkJ7aODatObw7ZE68lAp2FhLFzcNgvYSiLV0sWV72lg1d32Pfe85iRkpf9ElFA1LpewDe3BjeMzHSBRq_ljYchHX9DspweaZm8P07J4/s4032/pic%20(212).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_j0LfEaK2t51ccFsngcmgFIPFk4YJgHWse35-8-sANZUcrwZSJXoBNEfS_PQvy0spkUwMlH8CJ6xOegGgDl1ZkJ7aODatObw7ZE68lAp2FhLFzcNgvYSiLV0sWV72lg1d32Pfe85iRkpf9ElFA1LpewDe3BjeMzHSBRq_ljYchHX9DspweaZm8P07J4/w640-h480/pic%20(212).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">When we slowed our pace, we also had time to look up and explore the skies. We could watch a parade of helicopters overhead. We found out that a premier helicopter training facility was very close to our campground, and we were watching its training flights.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxPNDlXO032i1Pnp4HBGrV5_yme182_PNoZpuXr7je5bDiiADoIuHgOOPvoryAy3ZmRLhzHGx2UUrwxZ3oFtELN8GoiR4sMUxKbpa6YSO4j4wpNJT9A1erI1nsydrCC60_M_TQDcN2erisSztIIbL5mFPQPrAGwMl8RiezUBx0aSZ9LBX9-1j08HV1Os/s2111/pic%20(213).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1817" data-original-width="2111" height="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxPNDlXO032i1Pnp4HBGrV5_yme182_PNoZpuXr7je5bDiiADoIuHgOOPvoryAy3ZmRLhzHGx2UUrwxZ3oFtELN8GoiR4sMUxKbpa6YSO4j4wpNJT9A1erI1nsydrCC60_M_TQDcN2erisSztIIbL5mFPQPrAGwMl8RiezUBx0aSZ9LBX9-1j08HV1Os/w640-h550/pic%20(213).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Another day, we took a longer drive to explore another section of the Colorado/Continental Divide Trail. We saw those now-familiar trail signs on the tree as we started this short hike.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPdqZoHht3fMuSO0IczppNMeWTNUll1MP0JygHyxfU-EomonVrXjnbw6v4lSJPLSQ5xYA51jY7ZsqELub_QCgIoI3sazFGGliNXiU7JaMDn_gg83r89vrbpf9067Ld1AUhG5sfD6oOmeqW4McLWthKZMMhE1jh6ZSEV75dzboKAIGYvTBanEb4j_LKBfM/s2931/pic%20(214).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1988" data-original-width="2931" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPdqZoHht3fMuSO0IczppNMeWTNUll1MP0JygHyxfU-EomonVrXjnbw6v4lSJPLSQ5xYA51jY7ZsqELub_QCgIoI3sazFGGliNXiU7JaMDn_gg83r89vrbpf9067Ld1AUhG5sfD6oOmeqW4McLWthKZMMhE1jh6ZSEV75dzboKAIGYvTBanEb4j_LKBfM/w640-h434/pic%20(214).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">From the viewing area near Monarch Pass, the mountains stretched out in layers in front of us. Their blue silhouettes reminded us of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the east.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ARCfWg9I88_-I3XBm3KQa2NBczf-uYgSwpunzHzrB1rmbLR-jOIrUS5PAX52UnEBQ8iFAIyDiv-yoz14aCIq3qGpU4tPSmJJvHdJT_rSkASfENuone93cQCH0_rT1T18GDVddfX5V8XEYaOA26HCGAxsZPJFzP5_2Fk_WnxI1dwWnvtSBBKdbQtkH5c/s3901/pic%20(215).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2158" data-original-width="3901" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ARCfWg9I88_-I3XBm3KQa2NBczf-uYgSwpunzHzrB1rmbLR-jOIrUS5PAX52UnEBQ8iFAIyDiv-yoz14aCIq3qGpU4tPSmJJvHdJT_rSkASfENuone93cQCH0_rT1T18GDVddfX5V8XEYaOA26HCGAxsZPJFzP5_2Fk_WnxI1dwWnvtSBBKdbQtkH5c/w640-h354/pic%20(215).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">But instead of the 6,000-foot-tall Blue Ridge Mountains, we were seeing the Colorado Rocky Mountains that are up to 14,000 feet in elevation. We used our free version of the peak visor app to get the names and elevations of the mountains we saw in the distance in front of us. We found this a very interesting cell phone app, but it was constantly tempting us with a red banner to pay for the pro version.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKAX6yIBZgOavGvW1Xu8e3QfbbSmIA8j7OV1ogjZiUkOYEnxpZnx9inSk0N-xAouL2a7pB4XxBN1wpqUMbmgWQJheg8xPih1jCZZ7pcZ3CW5oFPu73b1V69vNmTSFt6iZ77u01B9Lf8js-NQovcDgptpC5jm_gEQzzuL_ZtkPoe2dPKNcLDQFzwk2693Y/s936/IMG_1135.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="936" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKAX6yIBZgOavGvW1Xu8e3QfbbSmIA8j7OV1ogjZiUkOYEnxpZnx9inSk0N-xAouL2a7pB4XxBN1wpqUMbmgWQJheg8xPih1jCZZ7pcZ3CW5oFPu73b1V69vNmTSFt6iZ77u01B9Lf8js-NQovcDgptpC5jm_gEQzzuL_ZtkPoe2dPKNcLDQFzwk2693Y/w640-h316/IMG_1135.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">From that summit, we could turn the opposite direction to see mountains that were considerably closer to us.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKde83C8fMkUErYZIb_M-TYy7ByUmQoYuESuRFFhMv17ApyWsLOWwC6aU7-bzO60f9ceNBwC6zr7GWSR63Onp8VjBxPFbjG-y48V1qFRlVIO7qdlXBNsL8fCmAOvx8pHuCFLLU6hQM3xdsonp298o9mtvQUQliDAy0Fpa6VnawW5LDYopQ4spGYTqiVOE/s4032/pic%20(216).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2021" data-original-width="4032" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKde83C8fMkUErYZIb_M-TYy7ByUmQoYuESuRFFhMv17ApyWsLOWwC6aU7-bzO60f9ceNBwC6zr7GWSR63Onp8VjBxPFbjG-y48V1qFRlVIO7qdlXBNsL8fCmAOvx8pHuCFLLU6hQM3xdsonp298o9mtvQUQliDAy0Fpa6VnawW5LDYopQ4spGYTqiVOE/w640-h320/pic%20(216).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">The app labels mountains that have become familiar to us during this extended stay in the Colorado Mountains.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZssNpO868o8qHtTW3qEOGqD-N_IVJaxUW9AWjkfmAEPxUR1gDsDoArDJQDCTbQhN8ud5Xds6RgIlBFHV77v0YgV_kAu-SP6kvT3dcBRpPqB_qUHqchLFuyrKFm4OMrxWiD97Nq6M_rdR9SBj8rKzu8lHi58EZPQBEJ31JtYVbWUMsmxglHiKLRtazrI/s837/IMG_1131.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="527" data-original-width="837" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZssNpO868o8qHtTW3qEOGqD-N_IVJaxUW9AWjkfmAEPxUR1gDsDoArDJQDCTbQhN8ud5Xds6RgIlBFHV77v0YgV_kAu-SP6kvT3dcBRpPqB_qUHqchLFuyrKFm4OMrxWiD97Nq6M_rdR9SBj8rKzu8lHi58EZPQBEJ31JtYVbWUMsmxglHiKLRtazrI/w640-h402/IMG_1131.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">It was always fun to meet hikers that were spending a good part of their summer on these long trails. When we were hiking this steep and rocky trail, we would often think of the couple we met biking the Continental Divide Trail with their two-year-old daughter. We wondered if they had gotten to this section yet.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidAbI4vZEHLMnxo8zHwA82W4x5fl0H7RbxOU0TMHewZbNkzkJgAZlapQatBckloR2HDjq5SvnadVPxG_2WIgy9A0nWk4klLNlQg1hMTMTgf0Fb97StvQMrHxSFqX6YluHkEv_vGnLeDrJjcVOBmcR0Ti_rAoHdzMmnlx-UXqnvy9u6cZuhXqdhSlCOUQw/s2688/pic%20(217).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2021" data-original-width="2688" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidAbI4vZEHLMnxo8zHwA82W4x5fl0H7RbxOU0TMHewZbNkzkJgAZlapQatBckloR2HDjq5SvnadVPxG_2WIgy9A0nWk4klLNlQg1hMTMTgf0Fb97StvQMrHxSFqX6YluHkEv_vGnLeDrJjcVOBmcR0Ti_rAoHdzMmnlx-UXqnvy9u6cZuhXqdhSlCOUQw/w640-h482/pic%20(217).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">When we hiked on rocky paths that had stair steps up steep inclines, we wondered how their bike with its toddler side car was faring on these trails. We had seen many Continental Divide signs this summer, and this was another at Old Monarch Pass at an elevation of 11,375 feet.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbsbHVEv0GsF_IsQOHG4eAPg87qdOGXP2oyI4G6XYeIoHb5ZeAKnkVxCaVuOipt3K8tojCqyzTcAsQZya7hwtsZ55IkuuRwTYJUO-vkl4ou3zzpf6iFevw18SFPsbKdkASbWc19AwVXnipamcIIFyXXzCyfiKu9H0HuIPBJ03eqYwhZESnwtEkw0hck3k/s2688/pic%20(218).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2014" data-original-width="2688" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbsbHVEv0GsF_IsQOHG4eAPg87qdOGXP2oyI4G6XYeIoHb5ZeAKnkVxCaVuOipt3K8tojCqyzTcAsQZya7hwtsZ55IkuuRwTYJUO-vkl4ou3zzpf6iFevw18SFPsbKdkASbWc19AwVXnipamcIIFyXXzCyfiKu9H0HuIPBJ03eqYwhZESnwtEkw0hck3k/w640-h480/pic%20(218).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">As we were slowing our pace, we could have headed back the way we came on this short hike. But even though we were slower, we couldn't miss out on an opportunity to explore new interesting territory. So we took an extra side spur to see the trails of Monarch Ski Mountain. We skied here many years ago.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtNoOrrWtRAMeSyFrdyG-5I-Z6pGGADFJK4c0NYi1yUAXj0dwuuYl9xXb7KyDqqzKeMj2S63aV1XxxzilSyXITJDbwsDB6LSg4SPrRI-pwrzZqttQXqbVwMQhEuAuDULrELcqrAbNyDpXhq39tGd8kjlwFiv-_beEEOp4ElIBuvWqTADMxwUTFMgOB4z4/s3403/pic%20(222).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2433" data-original-width="3403" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtNoOrrWtRAMeSyFrdyG-5I-Z6pGGADFJK4c0NYi1yUAXj0dwuuYl9xXb7KyDqqzKeMj2S63aV1XxxzilSyXITJDbwsDB6LSg4SPrRI-pwrzZqttQXqbVwMQhEuAuDULrELcqrAbNyDpXhq39tGd8kjlwFiv-_beEEOp4ElIBuvWqTADMxwUTFMgOB4z4/w640-h458/pic%20(222).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The ski trail signs were very tall, so they would still be above the snow in the middle of the winter.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWw3Jai4RO_SOyHsyYgJ7of-ij5TKHM9VR7pGW_Jtrc4XbOZVsP_OXQKC7yjSLwV1W4m1GjC4wCLZSmggcB_4G6p5X7Fqn1XGoPMyFIMaPLGOwqb6el90Jm9l7RTsT0FvRUpffL_NNxWjn24l7PXeTgR9QfWRnLABdK6cS6maFV9uKWxZqDkDQWJK5xus/s3258/pic%20(220).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2558" data-original-width="3258" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWw3Jai4RO_SOyHsyYgJ7of-ij5TKHM9VR7pGW_Jtrc4XbOZVsP_OXQKC7yjSLwV1W4m1GjC4wCLZSmggcB_4G6p5X7Fqn1XGoPMyFIMaPLGOwqb6el90Jm9l7RTsT0FvRUpffL_NNxWjn24l7PXeTgR9QfWRnLABdK6cS6maFV9uKWxZqDkDQWJK5xus/w640-h502/pic%20(220).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Monarch offers trails that vary from the easy greens to the expert black diamonds.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLrzhTAN7ks2me9k9vQjt1IhxFAgP2swxdkSQ4S4baHuTlM7ygpt1QfBhiM8wsBjPAHI9NwZzET-Rg1OpEeB2QMYjwd8X6yA-6EXuYeHcC7fmzqGyz2Mzfr_Mu2o5r9gzvArsQ7awViWVTmLlmxyg1E45y7qjX9PFwum7zg9XF8l2ynJyv5FKAWqKG_hU/s2688/pic%20(221).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1922" data-original-width="2688" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLrzhTAN7ks2me9k9vQjt1IhxFAgP2swxdkSQ4S4baHuTlM7ygpt1QfBhiM8wsBjPAHI9NwZzET-Rg1OpEeB2QMYjwd8X6yA-6EXuYeHcC7fmzqGyz2Mzfr_Mu2o5r9gzvArsQ7awViWVTmLlmxyg1E45y7qjX9PFwum7zg9XF8l2ynJyv5FKAWqKG_hU/w640-h458/pic%20(221).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">While many winter ski resorts offer high elevation summer activities, this remote ski area was asleep for the summer. The chair lifts were silent until the snow covers this mountain again next fall.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjueBmdCKhPfRdJzQPMop-bRR2uhgVDw8Z-uZc5StQFpDxePyr_krFB-Wex5Yd98EAGoJITJFQ4Ru49g_ZehddricLbbiEqne978jBK1s-TS1VyVZFWbdiFe9Do8ybRkJCmFY_KV8qXY1VpXr9JWDSCjOcYBuzd2-b2t73zPfFLiXjsafP03IEY2IOPizQ/s2642/pic%20(223).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2467" data-original-width="2642" height="598" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjueBmdCKhPfRdJzQPMop-bRR2uhgVDw8Z-uZc5StQFpDxePyr_krFB-Wex5Yd98EAGoJITJFQ4Ru49g_ZehddricLbbiEqne978jBK1s-TS1VyVZFWbdiFe9Do8ybRkJCmFY_KV8qXY1VpXr9JWDSCjOcYBuzd2-b2t73zPfFLiXjsafP03IEY2IOPizQ/w640-h598/pic%20(223).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We were the only ones at the top of the mountain on this beautiful day when we were slowing our pace.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQAYocWyEBHiilTXo___2axBm0IGnnO3qD8G8woJGt-OHqObW1amqTm9hyphenhyphenWzf7qpUxcVmumonhqXQrBKUsWO3Fs7dtRNKv0XnGsYh2rRjdQudpDKpwL7XqUHCO-ek-P-tDZY5-F567NvksApSp7dGp4vtk2ZDo_mMw_Swy8-aY_JXeQjq4_9x6FcQySM/s2688/pic%20(224).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2021" data-original-width="2688" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQAYocWyEBHiilTXo___2axBm0IGnnO3qD8G8woJGt-OHqObW1amqTm9hyphenhyphenWzf7qpUxcVmumonhqXQrBKUsWO3Fs7dtRNKv0XnGsYh2rRjdQudpDKpwL7XqUHCO-ek-P-tDZY5-F567NvksApSp7dGp4vtk2ZDo_mMw_Swy8-aY_JXeQjq4_9x6FcQySM/w640-h482/pic%20(224).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We found a nice route through the forest that made a loop back to where we had parked the pickup. We noticed that the trees on top of Monarch Pass have suffered from the pine beetle blight. But it was a lovely hike on another day of wandering God's wonders in the mountains of Colorado. We might be slowing our pace, but we were certainly not stopping completely!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1FSp1lLM3ia302E4FkRoh-5Io8HW4zPhsVaop6DrrSWQ-AuWpQm8YhSmp-D5FlsZgoL4m2_F65Ny4b6ndut-653eD7IIn-Bz5LRach3C4JDctnu4kcLwd2GhrndNXECi9wErKBV9lQNkHr7YxWWwElvqmP3Eq09PHqFqeN-TFGsY6B2G5aVeIwTZOPG0/s3357/pic%20(225).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2840" data-original-width="3357" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1FSp1lLM3ia302E4FkRoh-5Io8HW4zPhsVaop6DrrSWQ-AuWpQm8YhSmp-D5FlsZgoL4m2_F65Ny4b6ndut-653eD7IIn-Bz5LRach3C4JDctnu4kcLwd2GhrndNXECi9wErKBV9lQNkHr7YxWWwElvqmP3Eq09PHqFqeN-TFGsY6B2G5aVeIwTZOPG0/w640-h542/pic%20(225).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div></div>Denisa and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870900598225088990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603551720303875027.post-85993709940198315482023-10-31T15:56:00.000-05:002023-10-31T15:56:01.938-05:00Who would have thought we would end up at the ER?<p><i><span style="font-size: large;">We're way behind in getting travel posts published because we were having way too much fun traveling! So we won't be confused about when each "wandering" happened, we'll start each blog with its actual date.</span></i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">August 15, 2023</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We've been in Colorado many different times and in many different places. But one of the places that we had never been to was a hospital emergency room. (But we'll keep you in suspense about that until the end of the blog.) Another place that we had never visited was Fairplay, Colorado. It's a 45-minute drive from our campground, so we decided to take a road trip. On the way, we had a hike planned. It was a six-mile drive down a bumpy rocky dirt road to get to the trail head at Horseshoe Campground. We had our eyes wide open because we had read that a female moose and her calf had been hanging around here. Sure enough, we talked to a camper that reported this pair had made appearances several times since they had arrived two days ago. But we didn't see any moose. We've been bam-moosled again!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Limber Grove Trail takes off right where the moose had last been seen. So we hurried up the shaded trail through the forest in hopes of a sighting. After a mile we had only seen moose poop, but no moose. But our forested trail opened up to a big rocky landscape.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNmr-am3tMIJq8gqWYPYEiSfBpv2HVWg-CI7-uFT_8LS2n__AX0eEHyO-VYo06avSnDxWA-4TCwh7PwJkYl70jCpocRE9T_oMOjXZwoQ6aQhHwnEU2iz8RZIgO5wQzCg09k16QSwuvSpwUZGLoJjxxUp3VyksG5vSAmLhlCwMmfVWudsN06l616YxBWk/s3881/pic%20(87).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2781" data-original-width="3881" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNmr-am3tMIJq8gqWYPYEiSfBpv2HVWg-CI7-uFT_8LS2n__AX0eEHyO-VYo06avSnDxWA-4TCwh7PwJkYl70jCpocRE9T_oMOjXZwoQ6aQhHwnEU2iz8RZIgO5wQzCg09k16QSwuvSpwUZGLoJjxxUp3VyksG5vSAmLhlCwMmfVWudsN06l616YxBWk/w640-h458/pic%20(87).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">That's when we got our first view of the Limber Grove.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4Pam8PnqNn_iy9P3cXcmJXi2Se2XqomdbJHd5QPqsbU4aEnWgBda3No7MYpMyvCTzpdFB6VmcjaxEX-JTqbw41P1yg1c8FWdkhwudBNd3kI1dnpModdIIgCPHS5RGphV-4XLqsDJn7EU9fDjqwqSDJ43-BMGh3w5CUBd3RmvYzqtqYclq0AQLkLAFiw/s3645/pic%20(94).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2342" data-original-width="3645" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4Pam8PnqNn_iy9P3cXcmJXi2Se2XqomdbJHd5QPqsbU4aEnWgBda3No7MYpMyvCTzpdFB6VmcjaxEX-JTqbw41P1yg1c8FWdkhwudBNd3kI1dnpModdIIgCPHS5RGphV-4XLqsDJn7EU9fDjqwqSDJ43-BMGh3w5CUBd3RmvYzqtqYclq0AQLkLAFiw/w640-h412/pic%20(94).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The majority of the trees here are limber pines, named because of their flexible branches. But the special thing about this particular grove was that most of the trees were around 1,000 years old.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_iGrM-eggmxjMu6h8weqI43AjkJISVsmJgNvq9EQfm_P6jwxuurAQzzy386SvlP5H9Ad5PmX2GvpXAEW2tAkVRUWFbcQPrvRrWRjKflMQCiJ8bhUMltevPGqFkmnHhC-0UfHaoLHVSINAvLW4yhShCmzx45bYsRZxiETaOELHAbQCFyulAE4foclqNA/s3551/pic%20(88).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3551" data-original-width="2980" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_iGrM-eggmxjMu6h8weqI43AjkJISVsmJgNvq9EQfm_P6jwxuurAQzzy386SvlP5H9Ad5PmX2GvpXAEW2tAkVRUWFbcQPrvRrWRjKflMQCiJ8bhUMltevPGqFkmnHhC-0UfHaoLHVSINAvLW4yhShCmzx45bYsRZxiETaOELHAbQCFyulAE4foclqNA/w538-h640/pic%20(88).JPG" width="538" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We think that a 100-year-old tree is old. But this was a one with three zeroes behind it. That very old tree will probably be twisted and gnarled after 1,000 years. The sign at the beginning of the grove states, "These trees have been shaped by lightning, fire, screaming winter winds, blowing snow, ice, below-freezing temperatures, and drought."</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeUm8crAzFYjvawqZLsypJBETsf01ayrzLg_N0yyEekKocdPJq81CHVeAqZv1s6XgDW07VVoOWLXvOzj37D3WlOssyTEokIEjEjEhqamcP2N_LNemEpkLF1SCC8dfkKYGTkLmLppn-ZxMWuKp2GKOs2FLqFouVlzk8GNfmpq-VxFBDyYiF4JWkcQJKNn4/s2965/pic%20(90).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2965" data-original-width="2577" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeUm8crAzFYjvawqZLsypJBETsf01ayrzLg_N0yyEekKocdPJq81CHVeAqZv1s6XgDW07VVoOWLXvOzj37D3WlOssyTEokIEjEjEhqamcP2N_LNemEpkLF1SCC8dfkKYGTkLmLppn-ZxMWuKp2GKOs2FLqFouVlzk8GNfmpq-VxFBDyYiF4JWkcQJKNn4/w556-h640/pic%20(90).JPG" width="556" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">They only grow at very high altitude, so they grow slowly because of the very short growing season up here over 10,000 feet. This was rocky ground with poor nutrients, but the trees continue to survive.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGX_a1a07rocVWQDID40mq5PBqkhl23UHuS899H6YJ_NbcxHLI-BzLTJhfj03HIdcAXlU3Kx1_YLhyphenhyphengy0H8BTXGMm9ZZLZAqDq1dwe13a81mlgFc1xSiIhZcjrA6y8aZBBSZxLwowvLOn3QuzETu2avPwfxyXAn23mxU4bG-n5ClYwlzYRq5t5YSCNdrc/s4032/pic%20(93).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGX_a1a07rocVWQDID40mq5PBqkhl23UHuS899H6YJ_NbcxHLI-BzLTJhfj03HIdcAXlU3Kx1_YLhyphenhyphengy0H8BTXGMm9ZZLZAqDq1dwe13a81mlgFc1xSiIhZcjrA6y8aZBBSZxLwowvLOn3QuzETu2avPwfxyXAn23mxU4bG-n5ClYwlzYRq5t5YSCNdrc/w640-h480/pic%20(93).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We love the beautiful colors inside these ancient trees.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmn6a7asEeP7RbLEvmMO3vdcCMqEniErB7l6hbaDeBcN2LJ04Xl15lUjp1zevaFEGcuzRL84zI4jet5TgOv-_W25ffnAeH9yNY1QeahHeokpCfavbClRSJprY764-_g2IZlxCyP0LOz9LY78N9yfAgSXsNMJADfVTB0lSn82Wy-qsua1SGDnOvbcLu-Pw/s4032/pic%20(91).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmn6a7asEeP7RbLEvmMO3vdcCMqEniErB7l6hbaDeBcN2LJ04Xl15lUjp1zevaFEGcuzRL84zI4jet5TgOv-_W25ffnAeH9yNY1QeahHeokpCfavbClRSJprY764-_g2IZlxCyP0LOz9LY78N9yfAgSXsNMJADfVTB0lSn82Wy-qsua1SGDnOvbcLu-Pw/w480-h640/pic%20(91).JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">Mark loves to climb on trees almost as much as he loves to climb on rocks. But that's not the reason we ended up at the emergency room.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifAYHbeKwNOCVRQPgUyklRGW0tuPLnlpDOJH6EQwIEXBO9mcjqhE_3ZV8_RaTObO8_o3GVzQu7FwGMast-FxlYeGrbTLpR7o_pKic973WD6jXfO8WVfP8NXWsAVnwmAna5vrXt30OuIagIxr9epc9csWyCdWdVcTJjw9gYlPJojSHRHqgJDWK6sLN88kQ/s2951/pic%20(89).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2820" data-original-width="2951" height="612" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifAYHbeKwNOCVRQPgUyklRGW0tuPLnlpDOJH6EQwIEXBO9mcjqhE_3ZV8_RaTObO8_o3GVzQu7FwGMast-FxlYeGrbTLpR7o_pKic973WD6jXfO8WVfP8NXWsAVnwmAna5vrXt30OuIagIxr9epc9csWyCdWdVcTJjw9gYlPJojSHRHqgJDWK6sLN88kQ/w640-h612/pic%20(89).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The information signs in the forest explained that limber pines have flexible branches, and their long needles grow in bundles of five. They grow pine cones that are 3-10 inches long and have thick, rounded scales.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjtacHW7WBrN3_Do5ewxsk9raWTIQUQHM3MOorkaz1IqKvqbMibiTli7QN36oE9PbDzEg2-CzTyWVukQ5kwPs3XSW4S_EnBHJQiWThtmwgQyainLoPpGj0vFdg8Ai2k-0ZBeGHo8dm3wp89Vc9_N7VPUFyjt0Z0kx5OSMrHFV0e614MbyC8ZNguVsDTs/s2793/pic%20(95).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2204" data-original-width="2793" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjtacHW7WBrN3_Do5ewxsk9raWTIQUQHM3MOorkaz1IqKvqbMibiTli7QN36oE9PbDzEg2-CzTyWVukQ5kwPs3XSW4S_EnBHJQiWThtmwgQyainLoPpGj0vFdg8Ai2k-0ZBeGHo8dm3wp89Vc9_N7VPUFyjt0Z0kx5OSMrHFV0e614MbyC8ZNguVsDTs/w640-h506/pic%20(95).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This grove also includes a few very old bristlecone pines. They were identified by tufts of needles that were arranged on a thick stout branch so the tree looks like a bunch of baby bottle brushes. Another description was they look like fox tails, so they were sometimes called foxtail pines.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidIRC8QE8wQtvj-cehSF3RvSXc8LA6Lwwc02QIODGBegBhmmW3vPWaV1r_IwX3ABf9soRK8CTiBwONlmLivn89qMGcl9Va-nUe2xnWtkM_VX6PvOyJFyw6mwzBTuZEWFMtdd6zwRJPJ4JCgq9SFozk65mUDxGAZl9nymWqYNCY6iKhy9OnKCAzwzOyM88/s3193/pic%20(97).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2014" data-original-width="3193" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidIRC8QE8wQtvj-cehSF3RvSXc8LA6Lwwc02QIODGBegBhmmW3vPWaV1r_IwX3ABf9soRK8CTiBwONlmLivn89qMGcl9Va-nUe2xnWtkM_VX6PvOyJFyw6mwzBTuZEWFMtdd6zwRJPJ4JCgq9SFozk65mUDxGAZl9nymWqYNCY6iKhy9OnKCAzwzOyM88/w640-h404/pic%20(97).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">You'll only see these two pines at high altitudes. We started at over 10,000 feet in elevation, and continued hiking up to around 11,000 feet.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3crj3tmvsPN51r1bvtYYzEoQkVO0Rp097rrjwhF3leqQlptMYxmKxOTx8lZJ1tLfiBq7SqeeM5ig8qQ_ppKyIbyOveWKX-k8pEtM7ktWb1-B-9CDSzCwt-1SWMpt73wmcCH7dkEEr4a4tNJaUA0O_BSlYIcjZKqKbl2t2WlJAv2IwkGVVQHNNmOl2zA/s3839/pic%20(96).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3269" data-original-width="3839" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3crj3tmvsPN51r1bvtYYzEoQkVO0Rp097rrjwhF3leqQlptMYxmKxOTx8lZJ1tLfiBq7SqeeM5ig8qQ_ppKyIbyOveWKX-k8pEtM7ktWb1-B-9CDSzCwt-1SWMpt73wmcCH7dkEEr4a4tNJaUA0O_BSlYIcjZKqKbl2t2WlJAv2IwkGVVQHNNmOl2zA/w640-h544/pic%20(96).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">After taking way too many tree pictures, we continued the hike to the other end of the trail and another trail head. We could turn around and go back the way we came, but we love a good loop hike. So we decided to walk back to the pickup on that rocky dirt road. That took us by some prime moose habitat, but we weren't lucky enough to see one this day. We did see dozens of intricate beaver dams constructed on the creek below the road. But no wildlife pictures because we didn't see any beavers either.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_TYZrTaFZ1LSxgwqZAvd5kfPRwP8vjDsA8ajaWM_Ydmxzchw3BLI2YQkfVY0xbyTDiN2WvKu7ObMjbaQP5u_tUVqmG_UcMhTta3EvUJu0CR9Y_KiXWO0hEximtN2zQAg6c7aZ8BRwh2QEePBi9HE6T4diZ3Y5kFdm8ryask0aw4yAODHm-n3_R6ku78/s2996/pic%20(98).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2263" data-original-width="2996" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_TYZrTaFZ1LSxgwqZAvd5kfPRwP8vjDsA8ajaWM_Ydmxzchw3BLI2YQkfVY0xbyTDiN2WvKu7ObMjbaQP5u_tUVqmG_UcMhTta3EvUJu0CR9Y_KiXWO0hEximtN2zQAg6c7aZ8BRwh2QEePBi9HE6T4diZ3Y5kFdm8ryask0aw4yAODHm-n3_R6ku78/w640-h484/pic%20(98).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It was while we were hiking, that Mark started having a pain in his chest. This wasn't a difficult hike by our usual standards, but that pain on the left side of his chest wouldn't go away. We drove into the town of Fairplay, where we ordered a sandwich and ate it at a nice covered picnic table overlooking the river. Our plan was to explore this little town and then take another hike. But that pain in his chest persisted. When Mark started googling medical clinics in Fairplay, Denisa got a little excited. We stopped in at the community clinic, and got to talk to a nice nurse practitioner that saw us right away. She told us that she could take an EKG and draw some blood for a heart test, but all of that would have to go through the parent hospital for results. That hospital is an hour's drive away in Salida. So her advice was to go there for quicker results.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">After consulting with our physician son, and our physician assistant daughter-in-law, and our cousin that is a nurse at the Salida hospital, we headed that way. We arrived at the emergency room at the Heart of the Rockies Hospital in Salida around 2:30.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLho7-fQy_xLuOdkqWWLy9GFJ_d1xJ7y_nqJbwMAkZ2LCdQ5tij8gkjdtHXq0loVnF_wayIk0SqxlGV9amSCDg5hqJkfhMIlkaPVeNUGZCcEOragaD3PaAie03wLYQ3HcvfZJVMiECLjC2bvVgvWAZJx4tCnvcbFh0PnPtI56uTpaSR37MLQSIHFGEnVM/s3245/pic%20(102).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1739" data-original-width="3245" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLho7-fQy_xLuOdkqWWLy9GFJ_d1xJ7y_nqJbwMAkZ2LCdQ5tij8gkjdtHXq0loVnF_wayIk0SqxlGV9amSCDg5hqJkfhMIlkaPVeNUGZCcEOragaD3PaAie03wLYQ3HcvfZJVMiECLjC2bvVgvWAZJx4tCnvcbFh0PnPtI56uTpaSR37MLQSIHFGEnVM/w640-h342/pic%20(102).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Within four minutes we were in an emergency room and they were starting the EKG. When you enter a hospital emergency entrance and announce that you are having chest pains, things happen pretty fast. They gave him four baby aspirins as the fastest and safest preventive medicine, and they started an IV. They drew blood, and they did a chest X-ray. Then we waited for results while Mark's chest started feeling better. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKvFUtY1LawFkTMMEE0UybaJKAQPvWiJASOPAYCcNc3eCOkKO66q5NIe2nkYtGQeD-6EaTIsCVToN9CHz8POodlpynBTeuztpjvYRKvI-YsgG5J56TnI4VYs1cQ5c4GOp1zKIxyyiIqJxiWMttY_sfKHtLMAtszANJ7iwdCzj8aezfmGsMfzjwCpu2xww/s2491/pic%20(101).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2119" data-original-width="2491" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKvFUtY1LawFkTMMEE0UybaJKAQPvWiJASOPAYCcNc3eCOkKO66q5NIe2nkYtGQeD-6EaTIsCVToN9CHz8POodlpynBTeuztpjvYRKvI-YsgG5J56TnI4VYs1cQ5c4GOp1zKIxyyiIqJxiWMttY_sfKHtLMAtszANJ7iwdCzj8aezfmGsMfzjwCpu2xww/w640-h544/pic%20(101).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It took a couple hours to get all the results, but everything came back very good. His EKG was normal, the chest X-ray was good. They were testing him for promotine in his blood--which is an enzyme released in the blood if your heart is stressed. He had zero promotine. His other blood work was perfect. So they found no problems with Mark's heart, and sent us home. Perhaps it was the high elevation today, but we have been hiking at high altitude on strenuous hikes for the last couple weeks. Why would Mark feel bad today on this easy hike? We'll never know. As we left the emergency room, a pair of twin fawns were hanging out with their mother in the grassy area next to the hospital.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyzrdm0IBE6fn-3spwtkuppFFk2MqAqEyLa-acHbEapF6FBFUhjmDeBDLirmV49OnsWKy0O_juVec11stjOYjmwheZ2GunPZRLFU_0IIx2aI7LhTq_FE3ypMc6CNTrIDTCByk4uS1wCx9Mj0Y-SZC_cYLoF02CrXnhj12oJPftywQqOPeq6P3MrXEFlY/s1050/IMG_5967.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="935" data-original-width="1050" height="570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyzrdm0IBE6fn-3spwtkuppFFk2MqAqEyLa-acHbEapF6FBFUhjmDeBDLirmV49OnsWKy0O_juVec11stjOYjmwheZ2GunPZRLFU_0IIx2aI7LhTq_FE3ypMc6CNTrIDTCByk4uS1wCx9Mj0Y-SZC_cYLoF02CrXnhj12oJPftywQqOPeq6P3MrXEFlY/w640-h570/IMG_5967.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">For all the beautiful places we went today, who would have thought that our wildlife picture of the day would be taken in a hospital parking lot?<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkFw0BfShZVKF-VbnOYlfxVt_RSuZKqVFFxvSHbm3l4oH6-RzEZ4xeAQl5XMXXDBLgs_-lsYkquxvmh4cB6Od25IrdfTeHvNjYGtgsXWlNf9O9VcRjnXwaWzWD-OmzV_1AQCmX9yxeAi8XFfsZGwD14hZCyhyphenhyphen2VvKWJUklRllkQthaKt3L2Ja10VsolI/s1395/IMG_5968.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1093" data-original-width="1395" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkFw0BfShZVKF-VbnOYlfxVt_RSuZKqVFFxvSHbm3l4oH6-RzEZ4xeAQl5XMXXDBLgs_-lsYkquxvmh4cB6Od25IrdfTeHvNjYGtgsXWlNf9O9VcRjnXwaWzWD-OmzV_1AQCmX9yxeAi8XFfsZGwD14hZCyhyphenhyphen2VvKWJUklRllkQthaKt3L2Ja10VsolI/w640-h502/IMG_5968.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">We went back to the motor home to take it easy for the rest of day. When we left the motor home this morning, who would have thought we would end up at the ER?</span></p>Denisa and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870900598225088990noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603551720303875027.post-42258809641573077722023-10-27T23:39:00.001-05:002023-10-27T23:39:48.886-05:00The most beautiful day kayaking Twin Lakes<p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>We're way behind in getting travel posts published because we were having way too much fun traveling! So we won't be confused about when each "wandering" happened, we'll start each blog with its actual date.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">August 14, 2023</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We made a list of hikes, a list of drives, and a list of kayak trips we hoped to do while we were spending a month near Buena Vista, Colorado. We had already tried to kayak at Twin Lakes, but the wind was whipping the water into white caps that day. So we looked for a forecasted calm wind day, and we hoped we found it. Because the wind always picks up in the afternoon, we were up early. It was 46 degrees and the mountains were covered in clouds when we made the 20-mile trip to Twin Lakes.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMStOPND2WYuoyCxz0lZ3dbM7lmVG9oQCNiEfFTpd_vxmjzxdWWjATselYoGLsAmlsEUBlqWD54UnlZ-Imh_YJeqzM6dR2OSHgsudIrfc5wh_y7xg39rATxBYEx2Z-NzavvoRPxU-Ta5BeAo8WsVuPQIeJzu07WIy4qAniBCq94ZbD3BsI_pQmg6dCvc/s4032/pic%20(47).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2558" data-original-width="4032" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMStOPND2WYuoyCxz0lZ3dbM7lmVG9oQCNiEfFTpd_vxmjzxdWWjATselYoGLsAmlsEUBlqWD54UnlZ-Imh_YJeqzM6dR2OSHgsudIrfc5wh_y7xg39rATxBYEx2Z-NzavvoRPxU-Ta5BeAo8WsVuPQIeJzu07WIy4qAniBCq94ZbD3BsI_pQmg6dCvc/w640-h406/pic%20(47).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>With low clouds and no sun, it looked more like winter, rather than the middle of August. But we started inflating the kayak anyway. The Twin Lakes lay right at the base of the tallest mountain in Colorado. We looked up to see that the tip of Mount Elbert's summit was in the sunshine.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjI-14Vx_xDGD1M7Yzwez2N_iS56rzOQvuxJ6aYAEUkx1r8ZKrQ9EuVRBytILQgLKqLu3LBeo8BMM_-DPLcrsemdRMXtmbhmg5wshObz3vqA3VUZqPVTYLTJ5HeZgDtbugOWHj74v59Jpth4fOLTT6hYid1UcIW-gGvrg05fReOV4HcQQn0STVeAb80fo/s4032/pic%20(49).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="2899" data-original-width="4032" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjI-14Vx_xDGD1M7Yzwez2N_iS56rzOQvuxJ6aYAEUkx1r8ZKrQ9EuVRBytILQgLKqLu3LBeo8BMM_-DPLcrsemdRMXtmbhmg5wshObz3vqA3VUZqPVTYLTJ5HeZgDtbugOWHj74v59Jpth4fOLTT6hYid1UcIW-gGvrg05fReOV4HcQQn0STVeAb80fo/w640-h460/pic%20(49).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>We were on the water by 8:00 a.m., and we both had our jackets on under our life preservers. The clouds were beginning to lift off the top of the mountains that ring these lakes, and when we started the water wasn't quite as smooth as we hoped it would be.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiilYlBm3qeI2_OCHN-2uI0wDP73oX-nyVYjh20MAersz0mipPdGbkd6A8WLSiFdE4OUASdSkVaWCegSqbK90dEDMI9RAgGLisMQgoRWeLvraou0CQteLQRjmk85NLxPfV6apk9n2RvAUwUdCnXX9Nx8oRq2uect09o5XqABpJvfuIrncPL0K-efHvJeiE/s4032/pic%20(48).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2821" data-original-width="4032" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiilYlBm3qeI2_OCHN-2uI0wDP73oX-nyVYjh20MAersz0mipPdGbkd6A8WLSiFdE4OUASdSkVaWCegSqbK90dEDMI9RAgGLisMQgoRWeLvraou0CQteLQRjmk85NLxPfV6apk9n2RvAUwUdCnXX9Nx8oRq2uect09o5XqABpJvfuIrncPL0K-efHvJeiE/w640-h448/pic%20(48).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>We started in the west (smaller) twin lake, and headed east toward the rising sun. A narrow channel connects the two lakes, and we paddled through it into the east (larger) twin lake. That's when it felt like the weather changed for the better. The clouds started breaking up, and we finally got warmed up in the sunshine.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCuWvW4oagQJ6Kif6AQDF7vYznIDWmX67W7mZtrIoOvPJ_XVO4RLe0hQSdoff4GyVHRDrud63ijQZYbnLS3P8kL47j_YFm5YOmjz0o1phWiNKIV6yf1_ZiWHhJXjdSQkEnhZWICbIJwT-z01lVRgOGwvnemGDmglNNFkzOz5NtCFgRcWUBhUMU8Hzze4Q/s4032/pic%20(50).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCuWvW4oagQJ6Kif6AQDF7vYznIDWmX67W7mZtrIoOvPJ_XVO4RLe0hQSdoff4GyVHRDrud63ijQZYbnLS3P8kL47j_YFm5YOmjz0o1phWiNKIV6yf1_ZiWHhJXjdSQkEnhZWICbIJwT-z01lVRgOGwvnemGDmglNNFkzOz5NtCFgRcWUBhUMU8Hzze4Q/w640-h480/pic%20(50).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We paddled along the edge of this bigger lake, just like we had done in 2020. And just like in 2020, we saw a large bird perched in a dead tree at the edge of the lake.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-QEqaZRtkJN7RSFK4nlm4gWF7YtWS7IYSs0SK7PMJjm7sAxNMbfq-IU-50E1GGbLdkN219peGgzDw3RXq-LwRteYF6otQOLjA9DrreRb-3KIjX8gfmcpiuM5iOYUvYK2IlcK8DgacxfThfhUbtmyUxBUskmpIjexvIb8QinV0QJ8kMlVRIx2hUsreO9Y/s4032/pic%20(51).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2886" data-original-width="4032" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-QEqaZRtkJN7RSFK4nlm4gWF7YtWS7IYSs0SK7PMJjm7sAxNMbfq-IU-50E1GGbLdkN219peGgzDw3RXq-LwRteYF6otQOLjA9DrreRb-3KIjX8gfmcpiuM5iOYUvYK2IlcK8DgacxfThfhUbtmyUxBUskmpIjexvIb8QinV0QJ8kMlVRIx2hUsreO9Y/w640-h458/pic%20(51).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><p><span style="font-size: large;">Could it be the same osprey that we saw in 2020 in the same tree?</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9WDaU7AoX0TQoYeK-Nb93UxlBZWu994NmEWufIyN5FwTyVFG4w9MAIYr0ZSOibgW4MTXVP_lp8wrTs5EcS6AAhvCld_CCr6m3myLgdEDZ5wWmhlQyrX5y42qttUh-UaC4ZP1TSA3NvqsUOccaW8sMN5ap68n6IGfJ0FChTuYOBA3fz7WkPJIM9CjkNs/s1853/IMG_5920.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1391" data-original-width="1853" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9WDaU7AoX0TQoYeK-Nb93UxlBZWu994NmEWufIyN5FwTyVFG4w9MAIYr0ZSOibgW4MTXVP_lp8wrTs5EcS6AAhvCld_CCr6m3myLgdEDZ5wWmhlQyrX5y42qttUh-UaC4ZP1TSA3NvqsUOccaW8sMN5ap68n6IGfJ0FChTuYOBA3fz7WkPJIM9CjkNs/w640-h480/IMG_5920.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We also saw the osprey nest in a nearby pine tree. But we saw no movement, and no little osprey heads popped up.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdL4gGmBA5gk1hajHwWMC7W6h4ovbGSNhDboAw1ajIs1bkqDTt3SatPcHEDFlT-5UOd3XKu4TtYbjJ5kES1d8u4kxhsGhdZlPeyBLXkBw4p7pH90JiqnE5Nc7llUvFUnWlBj0Y8zZdr2fY5S3lcrCufeqKy2hICh6a1bUOObOb0R9bGNAhNJ1y7qllEOQ/s3264/IMG_5922.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdL4gGmBA5gk1hajHwWMC7W6h4ovbGSNhDboAw1ajIs1bkqDTt3SatPcHEDFlT-5UOd3XKu4TtYbjJ5kES1d8u4kxhsGhdZlPeyBLXkBw4p7pH90JiqnE5Nc7llUvFUnWlBj0Y8zZdr2fY5S3lcrCufeqKy2hICh6a1bUOObOb0R9bGNAhNJ1y7qllEOQ/w640-h480/IMG_5922.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The wind had completely stopped, and the glassy water of the east twin lake was reflecting the trees and the Sawatch Mountains and the clouds. We had wandered into another of God's wonders!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOreSr6dGFXoGpepzr7HVlxNulbm4F4aTepSF8Ky1JxiiW-aEcEZO_Kv12iiRHxPKh0MvWlnI9vTql6NNlFZQ_3S9CWJ89VOsp1hkuHgWN9eZ-mQ3qH3_AZBgwtYMe9EwqJroTiDEGiqk2LlJZQCSefkEtYU31yFe474jFhorv3jPmtfJGCvwmqiiDiKs/s4025/pic%20(52).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2735" data-original-width="4025" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOreSr6dGFXoGpepzr7HVlxNulbm4F4aTepSF8Ky1JxiiW-aEcEZO_Kv12iiRHxPKh0MvWlnI9vTql6NNlFZQ_3S9CWJ89VOsp1hkuHgWN9eZ-mQ3qH3_AZBgwtYMe9EwqJroTiDEGiqk2LlJZQCSefkEtYU31yFe474jFhorv3jPmtfJGCvwmqiiDiKs/w640-h434/pic%20(52).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">This was a big lake! It is 13.7 miles around, and we like to boat all the way around a new lake. As we look east toward the rising sun, we could see the mirror-like reflection all the way to the far edge of the water and the Mosquito Mountains.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaU5BmIrhKNau8CaJNJaR3XfenKlPGPM5gN7aIys49Ulvml2prwBrBcte275y9j4r3g2pL6EIObx89yFenBsN82pYKuaEhYfX1_LsFjuh-T-xXtYd__OuWCjANjJhaMYFMTUMiIG8pgPG_vcdoy1bZArLoovQZ5f4ViQZOCV3TFzmdiENP5hUqS6Ln7c/s4006/pic%20(53).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2814" data-original-width="4006" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaU5BmIrhKNau8CaJNJaR3XfenKlPGPM5gN7aIys49Ulvml2prwBrBcte275y9j4r3g2pL6EIObx89yFenBsN82pYKuaEhYfX1_LsFjuh-T-xXtYd__OuWCjANjJhaMYFMTUMiIG8pgPG_vcdoy1bZArLoovQZ5f4ViQZOCV3TFzmdiENP5hUqS6Ln7c/w640-h450/pic%20(53).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our destination was on the south side of the lake where some historical buildings were being restored. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtaThjEbWodaGWPXI2QPrV-4w7wgrjbW9cNFWTTfUnmxz27dd4yUt9yBEFBO_3LVvHJ4xaKvcVMoDPMTRIbJGxmNhe7zYXZVSdxJUQ-Xn4V3FyH6AP0qRdHTaaD4ahbOgT6qK9CA-6taCOP_9coWbifQsbPGvkLStVL-MyLetLSz7r7OIO14qV01kmhoo/s4032/pic%20(54).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtaThjEbWodaGWPXI2QPrV-4w7wgrjbW9cNFWTTfUnmxz27dd4yUt9yBEFBO_3LVvHJ4xaKvcVMoDPMTRIbJGxmNhe7zYXZVSdxJUQ-Xn4V3FyH6AP0qRdHTaaD4ahbOgT6qK9CA-6taCOP_9coWbifQsbPGvkLStVL-MyLetLSz7r7OIO14qV01kmhoo/w640-h360/pic%20(54).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We beached the kayak on the shore . . .</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia78wI5-CzdnosWgrUNA24cBqrdPcnwECl8AHIfYogdbVjWFREUbbTHDIgbLyA9R5dyWCZRejnzPFgIvBcnvvWPSkw6JLUnPnlHNO1d1XWQXMQrjiM6YNoLeTxcNy_Gu-ko7cR-Bc5wEQSnedcPMpa6TRKaUqvWrjyWqYDHu3VIiP_X4QIff7lgwhPFBo/s3593/pic%20(56).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2433" data-original-width="3593" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia78wI5-CzdnosWgrUNA24cBqrdPcnwECl8AHIfYogdbVjWFREUbbTHDIgbLyA9R5dyWCZRejnzPFgIvBcnvvWPSkw6JLUnPnlHNO1d1XWQXMQrjiM6YNoLeTxcNy_Gu-ko7cR-Bc5wEQSnedcPMpa6TRKaUqvWrjyWqYDHu3VIiP_X4QIff7lgwhPFBo/w640-h434/pic%20(56).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">and walked to the Dexter Cabin.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv0TWc0D_iZRR-ft8cLK6OmCIwT_nyhFNA4jPDedv-_1EuIch4ESbaER7FKxXTFVoKMEglg6wjQUa_1lBFf_7bF8oz7VltFmOSTYVsEWHaFRQojhgQyR7We-N1jiTqsb2GOLeq4YQyi7qq7hkUP4SesF3edFF_VZI6kkkIWYucBWGT1BY0aNn3uZa0Zwk/s5114/pic%20(57).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3652" data-original-width="5114" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv0TWc0D_iZRR-ft8cLK6OmCIwT_nyhFNA4jPDedv-_1EuIch4ESbaER7FKxXTFVoKMEglg6wjQUa_1lBFf_7bF8oz7VltFmOSTYVsEWHaFRQojhgQyR7We-N1jiTqsb2GOLeq4YQyi7qq7hkUP4SesF3edFF_VZI6kkkIWYucBWGT1BY0aNn3uZa0Zwk/w640-h458/pic%20(57).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Mr. Dexter was a mining millionaire from Leadville, and he had this cottage built for his family in 1895. He loved wood paneling, and he had expensive wood brought from the East Coast to form striped floors and walls.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-E05PtkVZb0vp_1ezyQes4tvhy0P-ZH5Xx2EvmeA0V-xAeFrMLLV61ynDgscd45hUwxBNwxbsFjBpg5mNjpJDm_1fdpWTnlTuXFWo63EMSyINpXaIUzgOf6XSO5wMC4jt1w8qbGKF3DsXnW9lIecIy_onGt5Mcwmu_6tTCuR0g-nvS34lSTABYK-U_A8/s3921/pic%20(58).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2912" data-original-width="3921" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-E05PtkVZb0vp_1ezyQes4tvhy0P-ZH5Xx2EvmeA0V-xAeFrMLLV61ynDgscd45hUwxBNwxbsFjBpg5mNjpJDm_1fdpWTnlTuXFWo63EMSyINpXaIUzgOf6XSO5wMC4jt1w8qbGKF3DsXnW9lIecIy_onGt5Mcwmu_6tTCuR0g-nvS34lSTABYK-U_A8/w640-h476/pic%20(58).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Even the bathroom was striped, and had all the latest conveniences of the late 1800's. That included a metal bath tub.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBO49FJoCrZkZaWZZr55hKaw68ndAwbkgPy8nQfpBhiBbSbp9bYZYgko6NDZ6jzMvEK0U-XTi6H_UEbVM2dwjKtYOt8I3dfvS7-XZgn4jDWkkP4SR6EDQpBD2XXji6pleG5NDk3ONhB65fW1RnTBggxxtVeEt617J9Ck5zGUWvdZXNN1HgUA2_n7opMCs/s3586/pic%20(59).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2893" data-original-width="3586" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBO49FJoCrZkZaWZZr55hKaw68ndAwbkgPy8nQfpBhiBbSbp9bYZYgko6NDZ6jzMvEK0U-XTi6H_UEbVM2dwjKtYOt8I3dfvS7-XZgn4jDWkkP4SR6EDQpBD2XXji6pleG5NDk3ONhB65fW1RnTBggxxtVeEt617J9Ck5zGUWvdZXNN1HgUA2_n7opMCs/w640-h516/pic%20(59).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The house was left unlocked for self-guided tours. So we let ourselves in to explore all the way to the little room on the third floor. We had to climb a very narrow staircase to get there.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLotR9JrkNIe_AvO0P-PY8PkTRrquDuxyaTrURBGXkggcRXqRfMAXWqkDsvcccfNFFPEjsiEFasWaIR1sjsgDhV_v717_4Yusgf2DGpmWsP6_SVOc4FbO3PEmXBL6DmJQ0tRLxwA59w0Gu3mKARdssZwMjPYaDBwM4shSPeC2hlrIioqqo8_kOBcyRt4/s4032/pic%20(60).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLotR9JrkNIe_AvO0P-PY8PkTRrquDuxyaTrURBGXkggcRXqRfMAXWqkDsvcccfNFFPEjsiEFasWaIR1sjsgDhV_v717_4Yusgf2DGpmWsP6_SVOc4FbO3PEmXBL6DmJQ0tRLxwA59w0Gu3mKARdssZwMjPYaDBwM4shSPeC2hlrIioqqo8_kOBcyRt4/w480-h640/pic%20(60).JPG" width="480" /></span></a></p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">But then we had views of the lakes and mountains all around us.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1i3YZ2SLylUNsBHE5qs1WfhgD0f3z-teDrehf13X3_Fc2mDjKwSpleKZySJHdc5rBsBl0nJdv2ftkzmBh4L62Vr8Wu90_7wne4J63osiHv5xq5Z8yeeJISOIXyq1yrYxo-k-nURSgHcountLELx8RxIJLQiNS_ObkPk7_T5l5RGisCPqK5cvXGSSAxL0/s4032/pic%20(61).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1i3YZ2SLylUNsBHE5qs1WfhgD0f3z-teDrehf13X3_Fc2mDjKwSpleKZySJHdc5rBsBl0nJdv2ftkzmBh4L62Vr8Wu90_7wne4J63osiHv5xq5Z8yeeJISOIXyq1yrYxo-k-nURSgHcountLELx8RxIJLQiNS_ObkPk7_T5l5RGisCPqK5cvXGSSAxL0/w640-h480/pic%20(61).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Mr. Dexter also bought the hotel beside the lake, and turned it into a world-class resort that he named Inter-laken for "the land between the lakes."</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmp4m7-Niz57q0uABVbOKvewjbeXreWnGdgJDFLFH3QQWK17yxhqvZU5QLyeBrw0nyZZQkiAsVu0GTb8Qy2Yu7hEJRabsDiK6kdm0DjNjSNrQSrwnycm-0iyO8Vti1UNO8XXWViK2J3Z2tUBVsIR8f3AAFmos53KJgaLJWNbbxwoGjWHIKJH64o8uu9H4/s3390/pic%20(62).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2138" data-original-width="3390" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmp4m7-Niz57q0uABVbOKvewjbeXreWnGdgJDFLFH3QQWK17yxhqvZU5QLyeBrw0nyZZQkiAsVu0GTb8Qy2Yu7hEJRabsDiK6kdm0DjNjSNrQSrwnycm-0iyO8Vti1UNO8XXWViK2J3Z2tUBVsIR8f3AAFmos53KJgaLJWNbbxwoGjWHIKJH64o8uu9H4/w640-h404/pic%20(62).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">At one time it included a billiards hall, grand pavilion, a stable, and gardens. It advertised hot and cold water baths, and a table supplied with the best in the market. One of the most impressive features was the six-sided privy that had leather seats and was divided into private booths.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRV3YnnPP3ZTlsAMVc9yHC9Qw3aeO50JAk8Hfw4cXk_SS0IQu3fvUJjGURElO311hqtKIMhqJIcIk7r1C5cVriC7s0B3JUyEu_GjEdjOywRunYteyfwsd9QBFh5D2Klrv-ByrpAetxT6M0FXxD5a3XjTdDc8-yG8ek4dEhK3amQFIiqPCcA6NtAc3Tyos/s2288/pic%20(63).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2257" data-original-width="2288" height="632" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRV3YnnPP3ZTlsAMVc9yHC9Qw3aeO50JAk8Hfw4cXk_SS0IQu3fvUJjGURElO311hqtKIMhqJIcIk7r1C5cVriC7s0B3JUyEu_GjEdjOywRunYteyfwsd9QBFh5D2Klrv-ByrpAetxT6M0FXxD5a3XjTdDc8-yG8ek4dEhK3amQFIiqPCcA6NtAc3Tyos/w640-h632/pic%20(63).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Visitors are free to walk among the buildings and explore, and we were the only ones there at 9:30. An old log barn was also close to the water because the lakes are larger than they used to be. The lodge and the Dexter cabin were both moved roughly 150 feet to higher ground because their original sites are now under water.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIMHkc8ZS1D3XYBVfbAH-KJIF-VedeldfnlnbUXjd6qvDzYn0C0lbtQ9hYTVVXZIYMVDzHOgBZF6P7IH1mouzHEkg8xrwk6GiJHc-7vO8s343qbuhjh4HEeXK1zVTPT_OfbhRvYs3-0blc6VQzFxf4Tf_b3eqfb6XkTqksbINrbPty8iGGv6wWjAAaPE/s3560/pic%20(64).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2368" data-original-width="3560" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIMHkc8ZS1D3XYBVfbAH-KJIF-VedeldfnlnbUXjd6qvDzYn0C0lbtQ9hYTVVXZIYMVDzHOgBZF6P7IH1mouzHEkg8xrwk6GiJHc-7vO8s343qbuhjh4HEeXK1zVTPT_OfbhRvYs3-0blc6VQzFxf4Tf_b3eqfb6XkTqksbINrbPty8iGGv6wWjAAaPE/w640-h426/pic%20(64).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">After that nice hike, we were back in the kayak and headed into new territory. We had read that the far eastern side of the big lake had some coves and protected water lanes. We had planned to load up the kayak and drive to this far edge. But as still as the water was, we decided to just paddle there.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXMkKyZyBvC6wjohp-56ptodktItbdiSvK9ozbBHhOV_-gqK6eWZ5hOWXquH1TLyHCbV_p6pckTwdvYsSckrgFpqasAyVB71GAQfppCopVWAfTUCgQVprTRNhNuVXaQRtMdjHCsflmd0H5BoM5wa-g-Ex3F7ujkvh-tM2Gsj5tdvKM6RT9WtnDN40FAo/s3855/pic%20(65).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2578" data-original-width="3855" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXMkKyZyBvC6wjohp-56ptodktItbdiSvK9ozbBHhOV_-gqK6eWZ5hOWXquH1TLyHCbV_p6pckTwdvYsSckrgFpqasAyVB71GAQfppCopVWAfTUCgQVprTRNhNuVXaQRtMdjHCsflmd0H5BoM5wa-g-Ex3F7ujkvh-tM2Gsj5tdvKM6RT9WtnDN40FAo/w640-h428/pic%20(65).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It's around three miles away, but the water was so still and flat that we could see all the way to the other end. We were blessed with the prettiest kayaking day of the summer, and we were the only boat on these two big lakes.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWC5X1jcGVIP1ETNBIxhG-gelHwdjGkaPixmjglgDgJCjojSUe6WWlfidVzCOsyzLxlCz57ijndYgYh36X92zb-L05LbdZDXCGw7waUv4o4nQidOyrEKLdqGb2GlhLpgPYjxWodQ7NH32a2q3vu4No8X0H_cXc8KoVget6VSXGT9n4Gwg-QIBIEpGG74/s3632/pic%20(66).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2519" data-original-width="3632" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWC5X1jcGVIP1ETNBIxhG-gelHwdjGkaPixmjglgDgJCjojSUe6WWlfidVzCOsyzLxlCz57ijndYgYh36X92zb-L05LbdZDXCGw7waUv4o4nQidOyrEKLdqGb2GlhLpgPYjxWodQ7NH32a2q3vu4No8X0H_cXc8KoVget6VSXGT9n4Gwg-QIBIEpGG74/w640-h444/pic%20(66).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">At 10:30, we spotted the first movement on the water. A group of three kayaks were heading towards us. We can't believe that we have had all this beauty to ourselves this long.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhicwDRggMmRxVFLGyQexT76a0VcOoDp9WY56pOHncCrTGZfdXjuNMzenOFKL_7RTlVQ5YqKLgokVXzABzHcS77v7TYPWWUgJaopBevHcVXRjoAVAMy-GAQAFlY7KBlWTWmCpg44p1sGMgJgrQfWdIzVvFnEN7P_lcmTLiW62L0858mvwGYF_aQBNu43fM/s2858/pic%20(68).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1870" data-original-width="2858" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhicwDRggMmRxVFLGyQexT76a0VcOoDp9WY56pOHncCrTGZfdXjuNMzenOFKL_7RTlVQ5YqKLgokVXzABzHcS77v7TYPWWUgJaopBevHcVXRjoAVAMy-GAQAFlY7KBlWTWmCpg44p1sGMgJgrQfWdIzVvFnEN7P_lcmTLiW62L0858mvwGYF_aQBNu43fM/w640-h418/pic%20(68).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Occasionally, we would turn the kayak around to look back to the west. This is the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains, that includes many of the tallest mountains in the Rockies.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIeRKzbqkUSZB3xruPSVJJHGxEjJbdaNienZf3_OUzFFZglrXUpghTx5C-38_HkoSonZ-lXtmeGRnpQZ55F6bP6r-gHepGQmgFP2x1MgN_BVP88Ut-MzWfOzxqxouadgUI_m8-cOlZIS8V1uFuQud55WklmI2HS2QFmczAmnoloU6nBDUhB-BGsOOC6II/s4032/pic%20(70).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2893" data-original-width="4032" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIeRKzbqkUSZB3xruPSVJJHGxEjJbdaNienZf3_OUzFFZglrXUpghTx5C-38_HkoSonZ-lXtmeGRnpQZ55F6bP6r-gHepGQmgFP2x1MgN_BVP88Ut-MzWfOzxqxouadgUI_m8-cOlZIS8V1uFuQud55WklmI2HS2QFmczAmnoloU6nBDUhB-BGsOOC6II/w640-h460/pic%20(70).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In fact, the mountain on the right is Mount Elbert. At 14,439 feet in elevation, it is the tallest mountain in the Rocky Mountains (as well as the tallest in the state of Colorado).</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb63nKXYOAj_MsEZrIrw1jjImx2iODB3VUkq_jUsfc-H89ikZ0KaTfyZPHb_wuhFX1hvrXxYrH3R5eQ5fBwzmtlAz2oPYDCm4JRH8ahDNBE-LdTAkuIwNkFfSdwaw11kiDS23sn8yyYQ_0M5ncRI2O_FBTg479me_pvJoF4JW5KUOCuAMIyPSdOAQxRls/s4032/pic%20(72).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb63nKXYOAj_MsEZrIrw1jjImx2iODB3VUkq_jUsfc-H89ikZ0KaTfyZPHb_wuhFX1hvrXxYrH3R5eQ5fBwzmtlAz2oPYDCm4JRH8ahDNBE-LdTAkuIwNkFfSdwaw11kiDS23sn8yyYQ_0M5ncRI2O_FBTg479me_pvJoF4JW5KUOCuAMIyPSdOAQxRls/w640-h480/pic%20(72).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When we turned the kayak to the east, we were looking at the Mosquito Range. These mountains start on the other side of the Arkansas River, and they are volcanic mountains that are not as tall as the Sawatch Mountains.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvGuXp5-_ZNW7gXNT9Kc8H6jM0x4t7YWiXct2EXeEAP2y1EYVRDVFq6u2qR7LEGqFOiwf8KH5YqvlqeTsZ6Jo5U7eiFuC4jHBvXljyQ1ZWtkmpWrtSwOYG0I6N3oxfgZ3lLWjZ4FkAT5XDhYqjzenw44g8cpY_hQhH6PMgeIjWJg8mHkNTo4HWT6awNE/s4032/pic%20(67).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvGuXp5-_ZNW7gXNT9Kc8H6jM0x4t7YWiXct2EXeEAP2y1EYVRDVFq6u2qR7LEGqFOiwf8KH5YqvlqeTsZ6Jo5U7eiFuC4jHBvXljyQ1ZWtkmpWrtSwOYG0I6N3oxfgZ3lLWjZ4FkAT5XDhYqjzenw44g8cpY_hQhH6PMgeIjWJg8mHkNTo4HWT6awNE/w640-h480/pic%20(67).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We paddled all the way to the rock dam on the east side on the Twin Lakes. By this time we had been on the water for three hours.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQXg9HW67RfoAF0jsGTKgZV0_MnexlRWpw4Yvaoq8ng0iixfSFQF8IpPsqrLSASqvYXAV-ets9uO_3lH6IDP2pDstE33F09IM-RMWSW54mkR-UKW3mWIyd2ZQgOkUd5NeNtz4GYPUzIvo3S_cgqrtb1PO_7Vj235QROsUxDiX7oDRyGPKoZZ9pWKruiM/s3022/pic%20(69).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="1857" data-original-width="3022" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQXg9HW67RfoAF0jsGTKgZV0_MnexlRWpw4Yvaoq8ng0iixfSFQF8IpPsqrLSASqvYXAV-ets9uO_3lH6IDP2pDstE33F09IM-RMWSW54mkR-UKW3mWIyd2ZQgOkUd5NeNtz4GYPUzIvo3S_cgqrtb1PO_7Vj235QROsUxDiX7oDRyGPKoZZ9pWKruiM/w640-h394/pic%20(69).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We paddled around some of the protected coves, but we noticed that the wind had picked up a little. We were as far away from our pickup as we could possibly be. Was it going to get windy so that we would have to struggle to get back?</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCUZSaiUKceGt6MYs6BJxEpqOU8PFfr_cO_4IjX4Bu1xRt8-exwnPsiXEo5-KDurYpbC4BwJHPBe-Nr7OsqMIKaW12aIIq5K81hOPeZxsFSUtTRKq_zLWe_CQsXrDd9DVCPw8GnQP-EWxl8Ftvk9g3jBnwLTebudSao4io0WRB39x0-bAdpIWfagY4Vs/s4032/pic%20(74).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2217" data-original-width="4032" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCUZSaiUKceGt6MYs6BJxEpqOU8PFfr_cO_4IjX4Bu1xRt8-exwnPsiXEo5-KDurYpbC4BwJHPBe-Nr7OsqMIKaW12aIIq5K81hOPeZxsFSUtTRKq_zLWe_CQsXrDd9DVCPw8GnQP-EWxl8Ftvk9g3jBnwLTebudSao4io0WRB39x0-bAdpIWfagY4Vs/w640-h352/pic%20(74).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">As we got closer to the shore, we spotted the osprey in the tree again.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOMMstmAYk5er-c7B3PvYbk4T8mFMgHXBouhFvxVthYyjDtrI-J6vdulhMqtwMS_HUuGbJ6H5jlAsJm7GmpTTHLUoYj8P9IkbsFlr9v0a6Rm7K3d-hqFLsJ17Ce0ydUbGLzajVN7kfrRgwNntgcnEcfIoOwEOdCD5nn7O-RA3_4YiRlZP0ncvRJALpfM/s753/IMG_5935.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="753" height="582" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOMMstmAYk5er-c7B3PvYbk4T8mFMgHXBouhFvxVthYyjDtrI-J6vdulhMqtwMS_HUuGbJ6H5jlAsJm7GmpTTHLUoYj8P9IkbsFlr9v0a6Rm7K3d-hqFLsJ17Ce0ydUbGLzajVN7kfrRgwNntgcnEcfIoOwEOdCD5nn7O-RA3_4YiRlZP0ncvRJALpfM/w640-h582/IMG_5935.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">We headed back west towards the pickup and the bigger Sawatch Mountains. We had a new phone app that can identify the mountains around us, so we put it to the test. We were surrounded by mountains and it seemed to know all of them. We took a screen shot that shows the names of the mountains that we were enjoying today, as well as their elevation.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSrvEGHkBjmSG4c2AMq3_XZeOx7-UvB5Z650xLW0GTiUGqw2fzeEWENTNvwKS6f8I30f7Dn_3EaPij90Ux3MZoy4y37-dDaMoCdBxmhMPJ3HDB2ztlpR8L54C0bROpjtl4j5hj88SyiIqNOoIrUF1IglKfzTueqb3NhHb_SgCLMCasCkjeX3dij7b5sw/s981/IMG_0719.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="509" data-original-width="981" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSrvEGHkBjmSG4c2AMq3_XZeOx7-UvB5Z650xLW0GTiUGqw2fzeEWENTNvwKS6f8I30f7Dn_3EaPij90Ux3MZoy4y37-dDaMoCdBxmhMPJ3HDB2ztlpR8L54C0bROpjtl4j5hj88SyiIqNOoIrUF1IglKfzTueqb3NhHb_SgCLMCasCkjeX3dij7b5sw/w640-h332/IMG_0719.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">If we look to the north and further away from the lake, we could see the second tallest mountain in Colorado--Mount Massive. And if you look very carefully, you will see the tip of Mount Oklahoma. Who knew that such a flat state had a 13,848 foot mountain named after it?</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszDaAeTBRikgV0PmGyG6aTs-KhATSARGAmFeT42DnzSXY8dn7ZHMS1R1n2aSdWIIVIrKFM8odPGZ3e3rJdqamURq-6IRnrVcWKovdmFpPwSkT7iXnlCvXlLiCs-jAxN26nrrKBotgiAZ6nnYfl2wRYLzxMGfcHDzFUBbY5fK9L5JSmGaQY4ToaRq_9lc/s912/IMG_0716.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="912" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszDaAeTBRikgV0PmGyG6aTs-KhATSARGAmFeT42DnzSXY8dn7ZHMS1R1n2aSdWIIVIrKFM8odPGZ3e3rJdqamURq-6IRnrVcWKovdmFpPwSkT7iXnlCvXlLiCs-jAxN26nrrKBotgiAZ6nnYfl2wRYLzxMGfcHDzFUBbY5fK9L5JSmGaQY4ToaRq_9lc/w640-h316/IMG_0716.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The wind completely stopped once again, and we realized that we weren't going to struggle to row back to the pickup. So we spent more time enjoying the views and taking way too many pictures. It's a rare treat for such a large lake to be so still that it mirrors the clouds and mountains so perfectly. Over and over we uttered phrases like "This is so beautiful!" and "What a blessing!" and simply "Wow!" Have we mentioned that we have wandered into another of God's wonders?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCITpB2TPyRbA9MPrqRzVN0N2AcDpHoj0izFAFGBiZiJsEerLWfctbPvxnuKeXYkc9sXYaYHXGlx6sUbaDgssA11n3sno_QdzMff6mLI40l2Q_MkuhNU8hVxJQ0lUewYeS9Jlt6vz9cIPkcfqKJVvpipPrl1LcCjUSu3xKilP83VL_D_AAyEeQrzr_ok/s3875/pic%20(71).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="2145" data-original-width="3875" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCITpB2TPyRbA9MPrqRzVN0N2AcDpHoj0izFAFGBiZiJsEerLWfctbPvxnuKeXYkc9sXYaYHXGlx6sUbaDgssA11n3sno_QdzMff6mLI40l2Q_MkuhNU8hVxJQ0lUewYeS9Jlt6vz9cIPkcfqKJVvpipPrl1LcCjUSu3xKilP83VL_D_AAyEeQrzr_ok/w640-h354/pic%20(71).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We rowed all the way across that big lake, and once again through the channel to the smaller twin.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Ut9wjmF9gwiLuv7rYs2BvcZauvGcetR3d1DeWi9soq_dPSd1TGeVHSSeSg2XCxpal__sWlFefPuWhYMzai1PEXZHWgyZokovhTwMVfdkBI3srBOyzDZHQGos004CAaEhSAgtGkxRE3IH7SnJ2eyv2PCf3m-7rsd83iAwmoeZagVYjWn5dpJ-qv9MrGg/s3796/pic%20(75).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2205" data-original-width="3796" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Ut9wjmF9gwiLuv7rYs2BvcZauvGcetR3d1DeWi9soq_dPSd1TGeVHSSeSg2XCxpal__sWlFefPuWhYMzai1PEXZHWgyZokovhTwMVfdkBI3srBOyzDZHQGos004CAaEhSAgtGkxRE3IH7SnJ2eyv2PCf3m-7rsd83iAwmoeZagVYjWn5dpJ-qv9MrGg/w640-h372/pic%20(75).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">While our plan was to get back to the dock, now we decided to row all the way around the smaller west lake too. This brings us closer to those tall Rocky Mountains. So of course, Denisa is taking more pictures. The tops of the highest peaks are above tree line, so they have rocky tops. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKd4j0VqTvWoAifKlpZ72eiunHce0L5F_mUHGXXTmMiv1TX-ofbmxHREvkkaiAtmjNLk7UWlS3ub21bDer3VYyy6bc6a5Dj-xap797CB-A8JHx0cGY3k8rFvYiqxWp5YqR7nV6x1X_h2yhnOmn97OoiALmrYLKsUwyinFtFbuZ_R7RneQhM7eNJIYA5s/s4025/pic%20(80).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2348" data-original-width="4025" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKd4j0VqTvWoAifKlpZ72eiunHce0L5F_mUHGXXTmMiv1TX-ofbmxHREvkkaiAtmjNLk7UWlS3ub21bDer3VYyy6bc6a5Dj-xap797CB-A8JHx0cGY3k8rFvYiqxWp5YqR7nV6x1X_h2yhnOmn97OoiALmrYLKsUwyinFtFbuZ_R7RneQhM7eNJIYA5s/w640-h374/pic%20(80).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We noticed that the sides of the mountains are covered with an interesting combination of aspens and pines.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkch1Y0rto55Z-CAtbonfXRfbah_9dpg7JPkqip3xBuvxeFXhECR8P-y-LfmeFPsJPTStj551V6nErhhyKjhNPtEse7nEDERur45CuzIh48wNpPbuMNpjm7SwQlYSZj4Ky0wquHcpEw-JrkVw3jBt8OGlaRmd6JNdTQ9ppwKPI5yfeoKWmjZGpeTRk3M/s3423/pic%20(76).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2020" data-original-width="3423" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkch1Y0rto55Z-CAtbonfXRfbah_9dpg7JPkqip3xBuvxeFXhECR8P-y-LfmeFPsJPTStj551V6nErhhyKjhNPtEse7nEDERur45CuzIh48wNpPbuMNpjm7SwQlYSZj4Ky0wquHcpEw-JrkVw3jBt8OGlaRmd6JNdTQ9ppwKPI5yfeoKWmjZGpeTRk3M/w640-h378/pic%20(76).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This lake was beautiful in August. But it would be stunning in late September when all the aspen trees turn to gold. We read that both lakes will ice over from December to May. It would be lovely to see the Twin Lakes in their winter icy finery as well.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6zS9W5OnnWK5-4NQr2hB-rmjKe9hC-L3HVIKo7-f0qIMfmq8Eboc8424shyphenhyphen8vbLQjMCQSK-u4Lk7lzAtiK7Db5lUoehvcbDryPUHsDoDGJUxYi4aPy2Myt93j3_kf8Mqw1b11ycpyrt09WMe2wQ7JMZExY9Xyzo_vmHB6p75NBWeFF4liCSVLJ4UZ2E/s4032/pic%20(79).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6zS9W5OnnWK5-4NQr2hB-rmjKe9hC-L3HVIKo7-f0qIMfmq8Eboc8424shyphenhyphen8vbLQjMCQSK-u4Lk7lzAtiK7Db5lUoehvcbDryPUHsDoDGJUxYi4aPy2Myt93j3_kf8Mqw1b11ycpyrt09WMe2wQ7JMZExY9Xyzo_vmHB6p75NBWeFF4liCSVLJ4UZ2E/w640-h360/pic%20(79).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Around noon we beached the kayak again so we could stretch our legs. We've been paddling for over four hours now--much longer than we had planned.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK34e6VgPP0t0avLUV-fbADuCJWptHxwrlyzSo5qSosXwD9WRIuhK1os9Y5EYx7sDP4AYyMCTD-h8v_LnJzJCfplwPqUSHpFIY6zqV-fIuueFMt3Ob1Qscw4oK1XbxQnG7KfCiLXvPlondV7xSZgzjMPJyCZXgWuRgeH3-K4gfSsQOhoGAwlC8OLYxqX0/s3685/pic%20(77).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2604" data-original-width="3685" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK34e6VgPP0t0avLUV-fbADuCJWptHxwrlyzSo5qSosXwD9WRIuhK1os9Y5EYx7sDP4AYyMCTD-h8v_LnJzJCfplwPqUSHpFIY6zqV-fIuueFMt3Ob1Qscw4oK1XbxQnG7KfCiLXvPlondV7xSZgzjMPJyCZXgWuRgeH3-K4gfSsQOhoGAwlC8OLYxqX0/w640-h452/pic%20(77).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Mark took the kayak out for some rare photos of him paddling by himself.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAQ2J7l7N35nso7464AfWamDK8aYl1mvvTwuOGXviaUw1vMq63m4cfoElSxCNWqlaiGu_9QvLJ355j1TINujNyE8ExmUHtfE2o9vFwXosYx-_5NzW5th75gyuBbrQWzXQKGkN7lQpaXnUBuygfVxlqnXQFvCgMYIfw2hS0aNPsnAAsXPWZsd7gRAwhyphenhyphenk/s3835/pic%20(78).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2774" data-original-width="3835" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAQ2J7l7N35nso7464AfWamDK8aYl1mvvTwuOGXviaUw1vMq63m4cfoElSxCNWqlaiGu_9QvLJ355j1TINujNyE8ExmUHtfE2o9vFwXosYx-_5NzW5th75gyuBbrQWzXQKGkN7lQpaXnUBuygfVxlqnXQFvCgMYIfw2hS0aNPsnAAsXPWZsd7gRAwhyphenhyphenk/w640-h462/pic%20(78).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We were hoping for some wildlife sightings on the lake. Besides lots of fish in the clear water beneath us, the only wildlife spottings were several groups of Canadian Geese.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jMlR4jayAUeTN3beHi1CckMss3iBtOsiETCBOY0-aDq7e3q4YhdPeZTv7xbdSaiyqQSBEStEERn99gA8UwFYIKkNovpN1r_gBnHtgOTmPyT1DJJ9zmCokTe3ijzdRdbR5Tb8v2aX3DiNqp8fFDzL6XIfhiAp3x3oba7ZYG1PEir5cHDkOXH6mkhlrt0/s2510/IMG_5954.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1683" data-original-width="2510" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jMlR4jayAUeTN3beHi1CckMss3iBtOsiETCBOY0-aDq7e3q4YhdPeZTv7xbdSaiyqQSBEStEERn99gA8UwFYIKkNovpN1r_gBnHtgOTmPyT1DJJ9zmCokTe3ijzdRdbR5Tb8v2aX3DiNqp8fFDzL6XIfhiAp3x3oba7ZYG1PEir5cHDkOXH6mkhlrt0/w640-h430/IMG_5954.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The water was perfectly clear in both lakes. It usually looks green or blue depending on its depth. But as we approached the far edge of the upper lake, the water was so shallow that it was reflecting the yellow sand bottom.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18vD7OvklU3NoFcfItHz8uzbPunsz5SoYb1rnVw6xa5p6P6HYBGZ4zRpyPlA0ZMOhvVE62MUOVBhU7FCqu2ZuZVOFSaQIzIHgt4LRcgbg8V4mBS-PEOp6GUpSvKwuywHxoEazzJkkNtS_fhoYWq58xRjCWLICgDDRzUB123DtvLoKFcCAkFUW8MyH2Wg/s4032/pic%20(81).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18vD7OvklU3NoFcfItHz8uzbPunsz5SoYb1rnVw6xa5p6P6HYBGZ4zRpyPlA0ZMOhvVE62MUOVBhU7FCqu2ZuZVOFSaQIzIHgt4LRcgbg8V4mBS-PEOp6GUpSvKwuywHxoEazzJkkNtS_fhoYWq58xRjCWLICgDDRzUB123DtvLoKFcCAkFUW8MyH2Wg/w640-h480/pic%20(81).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We paddled up a couple dead end inlets before we finally found the creek that feeds the Twin Lakes. We paddled up the creek as far as we could.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1X930EIq8K7KvuO0S8kjpi51YdL3ylxLF1gXaY-0DX1YxZV05FkuYKbNqZYnnsASxhiOD8QUiZHwWqRtssTN1xwT1CREVVHtLNCWv5lZb1bN9lFPuc9zFh4_4EjO_WjqqryTImzbDfqyyoeoOTswXyc1fHWhxyYo2DaeDpgpOkdCFv14vOBSWWUk3580/s3757/pic%20(82).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2178" data-original-width="3757" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1X930EIq8K7KvuO0S8kjpi51YdL3ylxLF1gXaY-0DX1YxZV05FkuYKbNqZYnnsASxhiOD8QUiZHwWqRtssTN1xwT1CREVVHtLNCWv5lZb1bN9lFPuc9zFh4_4EjO_WjqqryTImzbDfqyyoeoOTswXyc1fHWhxyYo2DaeDpgpOkdCFv14vOBSWWUk3580/w640-h372/pic%20(82).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Then we beached the kayak and walked up the creek until we ran out of dry ground.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZPoq6MNPsp1MrLudan9muRxszOrlTpqJp5qGb2PSdXYRfocmFNs2cnRMUnyjh6uOrIvUZDH9lk9FcOS_goIIO1wp6pkcvDQ_a-UxvJGQaOhD75ztzOapK9rP4ATMCxa6-mmW_ulYon85sxkNO40WPW0haPTwfy_qe5IGyeyMbXBog6WyUF9ZidaQPWg/s2471/pic%20(83).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1817" data-original-width="2471" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZPoq6MNPsp1MrLudan9muRxszOrlTpqJp5qGb2PSdXYRfocmFNs2cnRMUnyjh6uOrIvUZDH9lk9FcOS_goIIO1wp6pkcvDQ_a-UxvJGQaOhD75ztzOapK9rP4ATMCxa6-mmW_ulYon85sxkNO40WPW0haPTwfy_qe5IGyeyMbXBog6WyUF9ZidaQPWg/w640-h470/pic%20(83).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">One of us kept walking even after he ran out of dry shoreline.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIbA_X5oztRL804pketqWCul6YTNlG337kgnmcfGd7YxwXj4XQtAHElRfo2igBmuo2u254Dg8Mj6gIPqu0F2K8WNK-eJ7RTdTMntIvjfIt33mX7vxHdzrGj370lxGmlEmV40tSrDo97QrjtKM1Kgz7qqZe7zwfN-bTUPS6YqCjuvA2EGZbruc-ahDoaAE/s7482/pic%20(84).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3756" data-original-width="7482" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIbA_X5oztRL804pketqWCul6YTNlG337kgnmcfGd7YxwXj4XQtAHElRfo2igBmuo2u254Dg8Mj6gIPqu0F2K8WNK-eJ7RTdTMntIvjfIt33mX7vxHdzrGj370lxGmlEmV40tSrDo97QrjtKM1Kgz7qqZe7zwfN-bTUPS6YqCjuvA2EGZbruc-ahDoaAE/w640-h322/pic%20(84).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">The other wanderer stayed on the shore, taking pictures of lovely pink blooms that enjoy the extra moisture at the water's edge.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5zIy6YRo7x0IYPubXGdTiM4A2LcAsvo5BnyavzTi75m7TDpQxSCuhqI1c1jlpJdhtAdtAgtCmjNApFfA2415xmJEGXYfOdh6SCDAXlmmgqgU78Un2gB6XztI5PdI2Dz4XSVt7IdL4k3u8_oN3X_tItgghEyg-bKklUpRKEhZE6YS8_EtvRjMkxNrHg0/s3094/pic%20(85).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2381" data-original-width="3094" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5zIy6YRo7x0IYPubXGdTiM4A2LcAsvo5BnyavzTi75m7TDpQxSCuhqI1c1jlpJdhtAdtAgtCmjNApFfA2415xmJEGXYfOdh6SCDAXlmmgqgU78Un2gB6XztI5PdI2Dz4XSVt7IdL4k3u8_oN3X_tItgghEyg-bKklUpRKEhZE6YS8_EtvRjMkxNrHg0/w640-h492/pic%20(85).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">At this point, we were very close to the tiny village of Twin Lakes, even though we couldn't see the buildings of the town because of all the trees. We'll be back in this area in a few days to see the town at the base of the mountains.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbsp1Zr30vwGy2aC6cxvhd1yIOHzh6Ac65qlmrwNgABhlmCVea52NwXuXAkCXqMrttnOMWsXAhVzBh-7MwzkmyK1OKZUf7V-3hAp_ZpZIdDb3ZVpLwaSNBNEaNVlN4esl4o5mFm-GD2v6CeD2s4HgqyHRYxBlTG85RrryQqPbfhhDoXeZjKUD501OYPM/s6569/pic%20(86).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3774" data-original-width="6569" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbsp1Zr30vwGy2aC6cxvhd1yIOHzh6Ac65qlmrwNgABhlmCVea52NwXuXAkCXqMrttnOMWsXAhVzBh-7MwzkmyK1OKZUf7V-3hAp_ZpZIdDb3ZVpLwaSNBNEaNVlN4esl4o5mFm-GD2v6CeD2s4HgqyHRYxBlTG85RrryQqPbfhhDoXeZjKUD501OYPM/w640-h368/pic%20(86).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">What a beautiful day we had on the Twin Lakes! We had planned to spend a couple hours here this morning. But we had been there 6 hours by the time we got the boat out of the water. This might go down as a record for us--we paddled 11.7 miles. That's a lot of paddling on a flat lake! But it was the most beautiful day kayaking Twin Lakes!</span></p><p><br /></p>Denisa and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870900598225088990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603551720303875027.post-60371694850127795342023-10-25T20:42:00.000-05:002023-10-25T20:42:05.515-05:00Idiots at the BV Gold Rush Days<p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>We're way behind in getting travel posts published because we were having way too much fun traveling! So we won't be confused about when each "wandering" happened, we'll start each blog with its actual date.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">August 12 and 13, 2023</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We've been lucky to have a different festival every weekend since we started our one-month stay at Buena Vista (BV), Colorado. The first weekend we went to the Chaffee County Fair near Salida. The second weekend we went to Leadville's Boom Days. This third weekend we planned to spend both Saturday and Sunday in Buena Vista at their 75th annual Gold Rush Days. Saturday started out with rain showers all morning, so we didn't actually arrive until after 2:00.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We got there just in time to see how the toilet seat race worked (or didn't work). Four contestants were lined up at the start line--sitting on their toilet seats with two precarious little wheels underneath. Besides the problem of staying balanced on the little wheels, their only mode of propulsion were two toilet plungers. The kids struggled, and the only one that made it out of the starting blocks was one adult.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWTT9uduF8XRhwwELojZ3thWCP5hnW-4mJpAoKhvwTKxI2ALk1QsFnhzom4viL2IrZMWu85MO8s3879k5A0o1BRFGhW9B23N4Rf1VlMg7k1Gy9zdOC2C6dgOL8il1Qvd4DpX9L7viC6IsvwqaJ2d2XGGOMQHP7DNvy82IXNHmHL6NMZkbfCiR00hGCno/s2701/pic%20(20).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1371" data-original-width="2701" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWTT9uduF8XRhwwELojZ3thWCP5hnW-4mJpAoKhvwTKxI2ALk1QsFnhzom4viL2IrZMWu85MO8s3879k5A0o1BRFGhW9B23N4Rf1VlMg7k1Gy9zdOC2C6dgOL8il1Qvd4DpX9L7viC6IsvwqaJ2d2XGGOMQHP7DNvy82IXNHmHL6NMZkbfCiR00hGCno/w640-h324/pic%20(20).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">We had blue skies for a while. We must be summer sissies, because it felt hot in the sun with temperatures that never got out of the 70s. We stayed around for the live music and a little dancing on Main Street on Saturday. But the most popular part of Gold Rush Days was the Sunday burro race. We got there thirty minutes before the race started because we were now experienced burro racing fans. After watching the burro races in Leadville last week, it was fun that we recognized some of the racers. The streets of Buena Vista were lined with spectators anticipating the beginning of the race.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNRytOF2FaiFiFwvHb37Jnk6GFHvm0vQALur7CJmAwFMHm8KRmkowd2v_B2V9hbAXy2DgpD-Wiuw_qMBoGzpm3lKlely1jA693-CyV7QmT0f_2Dc9iQfdW515xlXcErJxOcspXbzsLPGGlLfFERmwUAezUgRuz25hso3uvSwqNloD_886ZEmwMbHtOns/s3763/pic%20(24).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2014" data-original-width="3763" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNRytOF2FaiFiFwvHb37Jnk6GFHvm0vQALur7CJmAwFMHm8KRmkowd2v_B2V9hbAXy2DgpD-Wiuw_qMBoGzpm3lKlely1jA693-CyV7QmT0f_2Dc9iQfdW515xlXcErJxOcspXbzsLPGGlLfFERmwUAezUgRuz25hso3uvSwqNloD_886ZEmwMbHtOns/w640-h342/pic%20(24).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One of the fan favorites was the 75-year-old with the long white beard and his 29-year-old donkey. When Denisa took the picture of him and his donkey, he told another female that his donkey did like all the attention from the women--and so did he.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhleTYBnuNuNpwMIgLhr9STayDa-QeEoH7Mlw9xf_cwzt-NIn6qSFk8VPsNinx37z3k055WGFu1WlCvOwluPLd3_TeU_n8MkSOFLLHioElB3Bgm_izZ08L7ww47fbuvouz15nKPRLYMoCJMA2xQwnxFxkwnjtWkBlzxeSYMu9Eww6fwXbnNIkhE9prp4ps/s2531/pic%20(26).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2302" data-original-width="2531" height="582" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhleTYBnuNuNpwMIgLhr9STayDa-QeEoH7Mlw9xf_cwzt-NIn6qSFk8VPsNinx37z3k055WGFu1WlCvOwluPLd3_TeU_n8MkSOFLLHioElB3Bgm_izZ08L7ww47fbuvouz15nKPRLYMoCJMA2xQwnxFxkwnjtWkBlzxeSYMu9Eww6fwXbnNIkhE9prp4ps/w640-h582/pic%20(26).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">With ten minutes before race time, the burros and their runners began lining up. The emcee in charge encouraged the fast asses to make their way to the front of the pack, while the slow asses should head to the back of the line. We couldn't help but notice that a couple racers were in front of the line. Were they pacers? Were they not running the race?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtfkApiiuOsX2VROywWVfYJFrYAX1D0ayJyINc1ojLeVnVp8A6uaKFeU2AEIx8twGIqX34r0ldd3qF0LiOeuuZR9VGhyXZN1FjquKJ1DSEwNBUmKpiOpqabRUoJ7rlT_ej5Z0xbBsiMVgPzCTxuLugnXg-2eLGopdS5fAG_WYtZP1As9tw25EMWhGfiE/s2688/pic%20(22).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1489" data-original-width="2688" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtfkApiiuOsX2VROywWVfYJFrYAX1D0ayJyINc1ojLeVnVp8A6uaKFeU2AEIx8twGIqX34r0ldd3qF0LiOeuuZR9VGhyXZN1FjquKJ1DSEwNBUmKpiOpqabRUoJ7rlT_ej5Z0xbBsiMVgPzCTxuLugnXg-2eLGopdS5fAG_WYtZP1As9tw25EMWhGfiE/w640-h354/pic%20(22).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">No, their donkeys just don't play well with others and were a little too high strung to wait calmly in a crowd. They had to get behind the starting line right before the race started, and their handlers had a hard time hanging on to them for those few final moments before the race started.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27tvi2m4sAfRRtwkjH9RuOy7LgGrFAUMekMLa-GMGZT6DbW96p5XL4e9RMarC-z-oI7MiE3rYiWYG7Z7n2rvRZzcXSIk2iX4n1iZ2EBeapF1u_BZ69B5nEOcJg1JfDk1ovPwcqwL8BZguN5wJLbdd-R1DOFioKWSpSNZ9YzAHlZJ0TLFDVW0ht4ZAAjc/s1869/pic%20(23).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1161" data-original-width="1869" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27tvi2m4sAfRRtwkjH9RuOy7LgGrFAUMekMLa-GMGZT6DbW96p5XL4e9RMarC-z-oI7MiE3rYiWYG7Z7n2rvRZzcXSIk2iX4n1iZ2EBeapF1u_BZ69B5nEOcJg1JfDk1ovPwcqwL8BZguN5wJLbdd-R1DOFioKWSpSNZ9YzAHlZJ0TLFDVW0ht4ZAAjc/w640-h398/pic%20(23).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Then the gun sounded, and they were off like a herd of miners heading out to find gold in them thar hills.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-MrMWrEM6mF8BdmzP3vHNILmljV5sURv7-UWRhRsV6sjx-5wSV3ZVpiHz8hPEJLvxZo9pVuOdrs2HD5Eaj41dHEZAYgryfoJ_kyc0jYmPp8jWBLZLlIFEM25JesgryPlEsUCjcEHLyJS0JgkN_1kfAlYyZqO9QQc0yffJSBNVA09KQ0qBV9pjW6dBkZc/s4032/pic%20(25).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1830" data-original-width="4032" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-MrMWrEM6mF8BdmzP3vHNILmljV5sURv7-UWRhRsV6sjx-5wSV3ZVpiHz8hPEJLvxZo9pVuOdrs2HD5Eaj41dHEZAYgryfoJ_kyc0jYmPp8jWBLZLlIFEM25JesgryPlEsUCjcEHLyJS0JgkN_1kfAlYyZqO9QQc0yffJSBNVA09KQ0qBV9pjW6dBkZc/w640-h290/pic%20(25).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">While racers could choose between a 15- and 22-mile race last week, all of the burros were going 13 miles at BV. It doesn't take long for 80 burro teams to get started. The old-timer was the last one down Main Street. Those 80 burros sure left a mess down the street.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpe-LjNF2Xr_3TzPhlLRoplsuJaI_lRFQhPw5CVsG6ai2Bcj2kcszO7eCDx-rzBUWF5i7ZsPji4H8nfPgi_gXRah8mRJ9_zoptLlJI5F-hC_e7hAYQaDaGb8jhSLMByHaRLOdJtwkxWzBie-AOsxecUn8dlnmpEaeSC1ZkLgwbuGxSS2Qo-9jhp2l4jsc/s3186/pic%20(27).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2407" data-original-width="3186" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpe-LjNF2Xr_3TzPhlLRoplsuJaI_lRFQhPw5CVsG6ai2Bcj2kcszO7eCDx-rzBUWF5i7ZsPji4H8nfPgi_gXRah8mRJ9_zoptLlJI5F-hC_e7hAYQaDaGb8jhSLMByHaRLOdJtwkxWzBie-AOsxecUn8dlnmpEaeSC1ZkLgwbuGxSS2Qo-9jhp2l4jsc/w640-h484/pic%20(27).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We noticed last week in Leadville that a couple volunteers took a wagon and shovel and cleared the donkey poop off the street after the beginning of the race. But BV has a different method of cleaning the poop. They trick people into volunteering to clean up by making it into a competition. They pay $50 to the team with the most donkey poop in their trash bag. What idiots would fall for that scheme?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHn4RFbKKKW_UZQvkzJRIN_Ft54Q6jbnQemgYxPhbR9rZQYzX0fnqeB8pjrRohAcdR41qGhu4FxsiJ9l522P3UQEoJ-c6J7_YAVrMit1QFiG7SVjAo_GLHEwqUmJrdvONWjyXcOad7KU9RhIpdOqGjpHrfpmnEyW6Vv5FVn4z-4cgoOloD6QIsec_swI/s3737/pic%20(28).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2532" data-original-width="3737" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHn4RFbKKKW_UZQvkzJRIN_Ft54Q6jbnQemgYxPhbR9rZQYzX0fnqeB8pjrRohAcdR41qGhu4FxsiJ9l522P3UQEoJ-c6J7_YAVrMit1QFiG7SVjAo_GLHEwqUmJrdvONWjyXcOad7KU9RhIpdOqGjpHrfpmnEyW6Vv5FVn4z-4cgoOloD6QIsec_swI/w640-h434/pic%20(28).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Meet the idiots! We figured that if we won we would make some cash, and if we lost we did our community service project of cleaning up the streets. So how does this race work? We wanted to know too. They provided the tools for picking up the poop, but some were better than others. The best tools were the furthest away from the start line, while the worst tools were the closest. One member of each of the teams lined up at the starting block. We happened to notice that we were probably twice as old as the rest of teams.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIh2lKdX3xK81ALjEckGxix0XuyJbuvk_EAuN_hIqhJtbhIPsmK2a47RCmvjxmgTbYpo7aGGmGvbDiHeR7Y-X_7pRuV2n1zwoAUcdUPFKfcyHgYwGntSZ2HN6diRodEZJoZFMxE1W_Ki7zuPYCnSqZcvoP2n5wUihJWpjazzMIOT-8oNuwDxXYS03aBdY/s3390/pic%20(29).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2781" data-original-width="3390" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIh2lKdX3xK81ALjEckGxix0XuyJbuvk_EAuN_hIqhJtbhIPsmK2a47RCmvjxmgTbYpo7aGGmGvbDiHeR7Y-X_7pRuV2n1zwoAUcdUPFKfcyHgYwGntSZ2HN6diRodEZJoZFMxE1W_Ki7zuPYCnSqZcvoP2n5wUihJWpjazzMIOT-8oNuwDxXYS03aBdY/w640-h526/pic%20(29).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">The gun sounded to start the race. The teams were in a sprint to choose the best clean-up tools. Mark chose the broom and the up-right-pivoting-dust-pan. He recognized that it wasn't as good as the snow shovel, but he didn't have to run as far to get it. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91iJvCYd0lyj3G71EdJBQDUPCLlcz5wIOIdULIn3Zjvl-I2QyMfcluiJGpBapM-QzqhvMVv7MNF9MUDHo4TbkVMWKwW3i4IkrMEQLiJZynHdlAT6Cu2OBq1rXcxRA6Uta7dKfMeAvUS-3dooOBszK4DRUWt26i9ypowRsQ_8GQA0HGHnqbWri7Dj9pvg/s3174/pic%20(30).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2099" data-original-width="3174" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91iJvCYd0lyj3G71EdJBQDUPCLlcz5wIOIdULIn3Zjvl-I2QyMfcluiJGpBapM-QzqhvMVv7MNF9MUDHo4TbkVMWKwW3i4IkrMEQLiJZynHdlAT6Cu2OBq1rXcxRA6Uta7dKfMeAvUS-3dooOBszK4DRUWt26i9ypowRsQ_8GQA0HGHnqbWri7Dj9pvg/w640-h424/pic%20(30).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">The runners had to run all the way back to the starting line where their other team mates were waiting with the trash sack. Then teams worked to put as much donkey poop into their sack as possible before the time was up. The best area was obviously right behind the starting line where 80 donkeys had waited impatiently for the race to begin. We started there, but so did the snow shovel. There were teams with a spade shovel, iron manure fork, rake, garden shovel, flexible scoop fork . . . Mark was really good at running our implements, and Denisa was all right at holding the trash bag open. We had a fan in the crowd, and she took pictures of the idiots' technique.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0L2vDkhtVmfIKIZMPtsWPVcZ4p7YYryzG12xVYUkuqYlU0hWerrXXm2pCIhlRSrk-8DwFE81XTjrDej9HeQvEHMQc583YG0VGmHGL_GKE_ZsJU5Shab8P8LJ9orvu91MPVC48oadn-Kryxsb4X8ktEv6wVoMZroNOt_jpT15bcmW-P29785JAShnCtd0/s854/pic%20(100).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0L2vDkhtVmfIKIZMPtsWPVcZ4p7YYryzG12xVYUkuqYlU0hWerrXXm2pCIhlRSrk-8DwFE81XTjrDej9HeQvEHMQc583YG0VGmHGL_GKE_ZsJU5Shab8P8LJ9orvu91MPVC48oadn-Kryxsb4X8ktEv6wVoMZroNOt_jpT15bcmW-P29785JAShnCtd0/w540-h640/pic%20(100).JPG" width="540" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">Mark even stopped scooping poop long enough to smile, and she told us that she would meet us after the race to give us the pictures. How nice! You can never have too many pictures picking up poop!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfEbAEjoy-CzBF-C0pxhNADtiZ8G-NDFXLgXaPSSFyMBFP8Wh7Vq0hoIgh_MJHYdbyY9s_ZZFqROSaUPFVKNyX3MT375lNrWvMBxTDEHajJJ0GHX97YseUH8cCVKnk3aRgx-bvI0YD7hNNWOab2dLpOWm_J8VZQcvWH018IISBPaaqCJAhY85HdNgwsEw/s906/pic%20(99).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="906" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfEbAEjoy-CzBF-C0pxhNADtiZ8G-NDFXLgXaPSSFyMBFP8Wh7Vq0hoIgh_MJHYdbyY9s_ZZFqROSaUPFVKNyX3MT375lNrWvMBxTDEHajJJ0GHX97YseUH8cCVKnk3aRgx-bvI0YD7hNNWOab2dLpOWm_J8VZQcvWH018IISBPaaqCJAhY85HdNgwsEw/w508-h640/pic%20(99).JPG" width="508" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">After the easy poop piles at the starting line, the idiots spread out. Those donkeys pooped all the way down Main Street! Because most of the afternoon's events were along this busy street, it was important to pick up all the poop so people wouldn't be stepping in it. These teams were thorough, as the guy in charge kept encouraging us with phrases like "Every ounce counts!" We sprinted back to the start line just as time was up, proud that our bag felt pretty darn heavy. All the idiots lined up for the big weigh-in. They had an electronic scale ready to determine the winner. But even though they checked it right before, and restarted it twice, it refused to work.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9zLhhZnv13DiCfhdo2T8hG8E9PPNALb8rR7NIli-NW18lknjqrM9VztIgHjryRrE_1AIZwYFbu-_gXk-11UYd2QRoeQu3WzHwV3-Uits_6xuVQDPvY8V1fW5d-uhAbkN7WkOFQd7V701wZ440XOWCYGlF9tKbDrUon8-UZlejPreX78BgpH2PrSnt19U/s3377/pic%20(31).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2794" data-original-width="3377" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9zLhhZnv13DiCfhdo2T8hG8E9PPNALb8rR7NIli-NW18lknjqrM9VztIgHjryRrE_1AIZwYFbu-_gXk-11UYd2QRoeQu3WzHwV3-Uits_6xuVQDPvY8V1fW5d-uhAbkN7WkOFQd7V701wZ440XOWCYGlF9tKbDrUon8-UZlejPreX78BgpH2PrSnt19U/w640-h530/pic%20(31).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">So they ended up using three volunteers from the crowd to pick up each bag and determine which was the heaviest. We would have preferred to have seen the weight, but it was determined that ours was the third heaviest. A team from Colorado Springs took home the $50, and we'll just have to feel good about the exercise we got and the community service project that these two idiots participated in.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">After a thorough hand washing, we went back downtown to the festival. We had already checked out all the vendors and information booths the day before. So we found some shade and waited beside that newly cleaned street for the return of the burros. For those not wanting to make the commitment to lead a burro 13 miles, they had block-long races going on.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZnX0ujkzURmxPK79Qmi_UR1-K2NCX1v3E21COVr46rxs9TYqRXQatezxHZeARvAAZyyixhB5FBn4jtfvOIrb-yVMCc5VW6Y0d0_pXa9lgIssdsQoIeBaBrfW2vmfImfw7_5iyS1QFAyPSMNK2ZYIH62xChHTz3GY7uR6vMpFhtHOY_e6Y_2vuVU7bDk/s2052/pic%20(33).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1673" data-original-width="2052" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZnX0ujkzURmxPK79Qmi_UR1-K2NCX1v3E21COVr46rxs9TYqRXQatezxHZeARvAAZyyixhB5FBn4jtfvOIrb-yVMCc5VW6Y0d0_pXa9lgIssdsQoIeBaBrfW2vmfImfw7_5iyS1QFAyPSMNK2ZYIH62xChHTz3GY7uR6vMpFhtHOY_e6Y_2vuVU7bDk/w640-h522/pic%20(33).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">They also had an ice cold dunk tank where the town's coaches and principals were taking turns getting dunked by their students. Food trucks were parked along the main route, but some of the local restaurants were closed. The Deerhammer cafe posted a sign that it wasn't serving food because apparently their workers would rather visit the festival instead of work today.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt9DgC9vMa9lu-90sqSiMl0UOlgqf2bSkF2j_56U5MIgHjhLqqTXKKgU-EH-mX_KSRZU8h4YrGYls8XHrK87YeQlThOmZDeMOFGVBoDnxq2jLXean_iVtMJWkCfGAyR0nYfVe7Plu5Tgo5syah4oxfsPWkxQMe9xSIxjZZC2qtuDT7dQkzY3BZZ-u6jV0/s3317/pic%20(32).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1319" data-original-width="3317" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt9DgC9vMa9lu-90sqSiMl0UOlgqf2bSkF2j_56U5MIgHjhLqqTXKKgU-EH-mX_KSRZU8h4YrGYls8XHrK87YeQlThOmZDeMOFGVBoDnxq2jLXean_iVtMJWkCfGAyR0nYfVe7Plu5Tgo5syah4oxfsPWkxQMe9xSIxjZZC2qtuDT7dQkzY3BZZ-u6jV0/w640-h254/pic%20(32).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">People started lining up along Main Street to stake a spot to watch the winners of the burro race. The 13-mile course ends back in town, after circling up and down rocky steep trails at high altitude. So we were amazed when the first two race teams showed up at the end of Main Street not far off a regular half-marathon pace. It was two local runners that have ran these races before, and they were running neck and neck.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVTqnhXcRsEsa25XN38Suxe7D9jQEBeE5_6NnX3ikQwB9JrSg7dcDl4jFZ6RMO_pSPpoeuopVcKtUGc_kKfO3bGqo1rraZ7W49LUPLqvVpByIKrz5SJzWpj2L41TOHVskpmTIGP3OTMRht1DKux2b04fUktSVGy6aYVbowCsqTlRCi7gmOiDmzf9ol140/s2138/pic%20(34).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1693" data-original-width="2138" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVTqnhXcRsEsa25XN38Suxe7D9jQEBeE5_6NnX3ikQwB9JrSg7dcDl4jFZ6RMO_pSPpoeuopVcKtUGc_kKfO3bGqo1rraZ7W49LUPLqvVpByIKrz5SJzWpj2L41TOHVskpmTIGP3OTMRht1DKux2b04fUktSVGy6aYVbowCsqTlRCi7gmOiDmzf9ol140/w640-h506/pic%20(34).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">It was almost a photo finish, but Yukon and Bob crossed the finish line a burro's nose ahead. We headed to the winner's circle to get pictures with half of the winning team. Bob was sitting in a chair resting, while Yukon was happy to take pictures. We found out that Yukon was a seasoned racers, and his owners have loaned him to good runners in different states. But today his owner ran with Yukon, and they won together!</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvc-4GkUEZclkJ5MSqxlYqblG5UK8Ek_OiB8HjNoDyUtoY3ZMqdTVykL5KmPuSv8roXpesep4XQL3pxWdwyLgFCj0cAhWHEqcrzYqkyT-Fl5wFpIagMNm9-BGQYnD6AqyrprA3GIeJ1qiJzVHcGRx6Oat-gFrK9-RkPvM0XS2F-PSrEShkbU2T7VBHKo/s3324/pic%20(35).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2657" data-original-width="3324" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvc-4GkUEZclkJ5MSqxlYqblG5UK8Ek_OiB8HjNoDyUtoY3ZMqdTVykL5KmPuSv8roXpesep4XQL3pxWdwyLgFCj0cAhWHEqcrzYqkyT-Fl5wFpIagMNm9-BGQYnD6AqyrprA3GIeJ1qiJzVHcGRx6Oat-gFrK9-RkPvM0XS2F-PSrEShkbU2T7VBHKo/w640-h512/pic%20(35).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The third place team came in, and she was giving her burro a big hug and kiss. While this was the skittish burro at the beginning of the race that almost knocked over the judges' table, he was calm at the end of the race.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKhpmxj1hHgyzzywRBQH2bipVLHyOrfiFx9D8WJj1NIpQpa_MKhuysGdaaCIHwec2zV7hNhyphenhyphen02wQcBJIQdAnHTiIAxUARL2do8_LwjLgkobS_W7dsZ3HX1z24fGXxfa_tiQwrNGdnu9fQ3hocu0RqnGWNCDbWzmn4_Iw3gpSdkTEsVfZRumOWaiCkHdk/s1980/pic%20(36).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1980" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKhpmxj1hHgyzzywRBQH2bipVLHyOrfiFx9D8WJj1NIpQpa_MKhuysGdaaCIHwec2zV7hNhyphenhyphen02wQcBJIQdAnHTiIAxUARL2do8_LwjLgkobS_W7dsZ3HX1z24fGXxfa_tiQwrNGdnu9fQ3hocu0RqnGWNCDbWzmn4_Iw3gpSdkTEsVfZRumOWaiCkHdk/w640-h414/pic%20(36).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">That was a well-earned kiss because this team just won the burro race trifecta, with the fastest combined time in the three area burro races held the last three weekends. They raced well in Fairplay, Leadville, and now Buena Vista! Congratulations that a woman won the trifecta this year! There was rumor that she would be in the burro racing hall of fame soon. (We found that there is a little drama in the trifecta race this year. While a man from Leadville won at Fairplay and Leadville, he decided not to even show up at Buena Vista for some reason.)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ40WqiyPMMFg_ZUjRb6bXFpLyfGTqRu1dnrU2uq9J7m5nQ9Krfu09tXuBy_SKbVGJiIFpFEL6PzumgVTOfbRxR4EV8KWc-AF-LPCqZ-mh9KK-OwncQrczNebslfDYxbrb7BT7HMLV2WBAVdrg7BOO_PekW7BTCq5ksDMLTlevs8g_CipOEjW1ACv2PEo/s2288/pic%20(37).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1915" data-original-width="2288" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ40WqiyPMMFg_ZUjRb6bXFpLyfGTqRu1dnrU2uq9J7m5nQ9Krfu09tXuBy_SKbVGJiIFpFEL6PzumgVTOfbRxR4EV8KWc-AF-LPCqZ-mh9KK-OwncQrczNebslfDYxbrb7BT7HMLV2WBAVdrg7BOO_PekW7BTCq5ksDMLTlevs8g_CipOEjW1ACv2PEo/w640-h536/pic%20(37).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">Fourth and fifth place runners were also very close. But the young man with the little burro won by a nose for the $300 fourth place prize money. We know how much he got because he opened his prize envelope while we were standing beside him and his grandfather. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqW-vxHrrQ_LpuKORoJDBS-NLVHXqQMGCBjft0lcV52zxO9xYDo8suKhUchPTjgJqBkCs3YDffA8wMaMbL41gMRJpec0uUW-WBWs3LmCPscDZTOj3EatJ_qEsY4ofLfVFM7SooCuihyYfWM7IdLpFzWALoxSpnNpfRAjJ9tsbp5S1p3uII43mYCqO2pno/s3233/pic%20(38).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2722" data-original-width="3233" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqW-vxHrrQ_LpuKORoJDBS-NLVHXqQMGCBjft0lcV52zxO9xYDo8suKhUchPTjgJqBkCs3YDffA8wMaMbL41gMRJpec0uUW-WBWs3LmCPscDZTOj3EatJ_qEsY4ofLfVFM7SooCuihyYfWM7IdLpFzWALoxSpnNpfRAjJ9tsbp5S1p3uII43mYCqO2pno/w640-h538/pic%20(38).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">We love meeting the locals and learning their stories. This young man was 15, and we saw him come in second place at the short race in Leadville last week. He barely lost, but only because he let his best friend race with this little burro and he used another burro last week. (We have a picture of that photo finish from last week too). He rewarded his burro with a carrot at the end of today's race.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHJgGOw-51VaMxa8EkqrKKW92T3q0QeaStAchJgKnknGx4A8pCOnciVU6H0PlmBXwLIvL1MSAQ4pN7soaBvhPc7ZqiuhiT5hpQysU2BNOZEdXYVD2sxs95Kjy4_Qfesf7OYHJAa50NYwYuAp1PjsMTxIOk4nRyGrpt84lCDO_RqX3q-wf2abGuNa_Uac/s3002/pic%20(39).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2020" data-original-width="3002" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHJgGOw-51VaMxa8EkqrKKW92T3q0QeaStAchJgKnknGx4A8pCOnciVU6H0PlmBXwLIvL1MSAQ4pN7soaBvhPc7ZqiuhiT5hpQysU2BNOZEdXYVD2sxs95Kjy4_Qfesf7OYHJAa50NYwYuAp1PjsMTxIOk4nRyGrpt84lCDO_RqX3q-wf2abGuNa_Uac/w640-h430/pic%20(39).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">This 15-year-old is part of a burro-racing family. His parents are both veterinarians, and they have four racing burros. His father came in 6th, and he confessed that he only did that well because he was trying to keep in sight of his son.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ASHHoSSv-9wY5ElmbstRBgyswH7IcDIFqrXyeJNTtoYrQLhXb_Eq7AEoJLWU4e_T05ERsVrz9ksybaD3HB4Ju-uiKBZ-aVIO4zDATsj3g4wZqZE94NW9PGMZmtmyFfxBJ1OUenbCXvsSLeinV0Z_9idpNe2GebKHuMqNnlOhKsCfax6NshIcsx0Dx2s/s1816/pic%20(40).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1325" data-original-width="1816" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ASHHoSSv-9wY5ElmbstRBgyswH7IcDIFqrXyeJNTtoYrQLhXb_Eq7AEoJLWU4e_T05ERsVrz9ksybaD3HB4Ju-uiKBZ-aVIO4zDATsj3g4wZqZE94NW9PGMZmtmyFfxBJ1OUenbCXvsSLeinV0Z_9idpNe2GebKHuMqNnlOhKsCfax6NshIcsx0Dx2s/w640-h466/pic%20(40).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">His mother and sister were also racing. We had to stick around to watch the mother cross the finish line because they were having a surprise 50th birthday party for her, complete with cupcakes for the crowd.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHEmt2B_utCYWU1gXj2Rl_rzgg3uCe2oUJpggjd5fj8zWQzYNPgOZW298UCcB-t69oK8Judc-mI4W259ggoB_84EBRHKpSCtfoGHWf_Sa7dd8GBfSn35vLoHFmxjMubQEiFmOFmeMN2skoDEeW9Zz7AGQJZOdpgC24qiB6j7UIj3THOg_l815QEXZ78D0/s3534/pic%20(41).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1719" data-original-width="3534" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHEmt2B_utCYWU1gXj2Rl_rzgg3uCe2oUJpggjd5fj8zWQzYNPgOZW298UCcB-t69oK8Judc-mI4W259ggoB_84EBRHKpSCtfoGHWf_Sa7dd8GBfSn35vLoHFmxjMubQEiFmOFmeMN2skoDEeW9Zz7AGQJZOdpgC24qiB6j7UIj3THOg_l815QEXZ78D0/w640-h312/pic%20(41).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Relatives brought signs with interesting 50th birthday wishes.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbgJL9_RMRaRQ_g_vbRMzWa1dnUw5ntzAQ0r3A6Ak40LD2bBRF0_sCQ9LtlaEttl1qejpJCjdMqu9kayAMqHe0ZZXqZtEix4gZYsy6XQtvF_BNlwnHb3ECIpL1IPO72CNcjbUA1rQdV7im5TAdIKVX_vCaxvsSZv0AgY82Qrvfhd-bBL8BHnFY4efe-A/s2773/pic%20(42).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1831" data-original-width="2773" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbgJL9_RMRaRQ_g_vbRMzWa1dnUw5ntzAQ0r3A6Ak40LD2bBRF0_sCQ9LtlaEttl1qejpJCjdMqu9kayAMqHe0ZZXqZtEix4gZYsy6XQtvF_BNlwnHb3ECIpL1IPO72CNcjbUA1rQdV7im5TAdIKVX_vCaxvsSZv0AgY82Qrvfhd-bBL8BHnFY4efe-A/w640-h422/pic%20(42).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The birthday girl had quite a reception as she crossed the finish line.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Ysbou8smrkcPbrLTOjjr_HQ3-SSXulbagliOApJheLcNFYG34f6htm2qbSSJyIy-eiu9v2xZceX9iXsayX8HbENyv0diZUUZnUlH0NYtIfYy5L9L-k0n7CdRC7Ik1zZAvaUdwe_0ywyu-AJtgUpCiQqDT0bOZQStHdss6nIGpP2fYAsO2xry2iiMHzg/s2662/pic%20(45).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2080" data-original-width="2662" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Ysbou8smrkcPbrLTOjjr_HQ3-SSXulbagliOApJheLcNFYG34f6htm2qbSSJyIy-eiu9v2xZceX9iXsayX8HbENyv0diZUUZnUlH0NYtIfYy5L9L-k0n7CdRC7Ik1zZAvaUdwe_0ywyu-AJtgUpCiQqDT0bOZQStHdss6nIGpP2fYAsO2xry2iiMHzg/w640-h500/pic%20(45).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">We heard all about this interesting family from talking to the grandfather, who was now Mark's close friend. We might be idiots, but we were friendly idiots.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntkkXU7WTkS023kpxfCvCHW2-m0_FifCfuXa6YIubUaR8sh1OYRb_3MswvT2kTs5-714hPiWoD-RCDSjQ-a6wCSOMLQmtze0v4HgzqDaYtSafGKljxWTE-a9gF3YnG_FT-TGDZQhZqlhDTZUKs9huyzG_nb9rmvzrKtpfPLzkeTt6afip6luUUCn7zyE/s1869/pic%20(46).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1869" data-original-width="1744" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntkkXU7WTkS023kpxfCvCHW2-m0_FifCfuXa6YIubUaR8sh1OYRb_3MswvT2kTs5-714hPiWoD-RCDSjQ-a6wCSOMLQmtze0v4HgzqDaYtSafGKljxWTE-a9gF3YnG_FT-TGDZQhZqlhDTZUKs9huyzG_nb9rmvzrKtpfPLzkeTt6afip6luUUCn7zyE/w598-h640/pic%20(46).JPG" width="598" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">We watched around 40 of the 80 burro teams cross the finish line. Many times they came in packs, which seemed to inspire them to keep moving.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqdqDwGd0rrf3i7QoYP_OA5vCpA9iOZ63LHQNkJevk5uhBmPCpTud9Se9PvsHzjXSRzKGrBdjxChxSURtfusgxWmlQdA5VUAMf7n38_jUk2OD030r3p6wh6VHIEe3k3JVhKkbqoiAFXqHfw5Myqp3oCtF8eZzvBO-Ssc0ASvnV38ZsGepqCYyDuebmUk/s2812/pic%20(43).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1837" data-original-width="2812" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqdqDwGd0rrf3i7QoYP_OA5vCpA9iOZ63LHQNkJevk5uhBmPCpTud9Se9PvsHzjXSRzKGrBdjxChxSURtfusgxWmlQdA5VUAMf7n38_jUk2OD030r3p6wh6VHIEe3k3JVhKkbqoiAFXqHfw5Myqp3oCtF8eZzvBO-Ssc0ASvnV38ZsGepqCYyDuebmUk/w640-h418/pic%20(43).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When running into a town full of cheering admirers, a solitary burro can freeze up and refuse to move. But most of these burros were running towards the finish line and the promised carrots at the end of the race. The temperature was all the way up in the 70's by this time, and we headed home after a second day at Gold Rush Days. We were just a little concerned about who was going to clean up all the donkey poop left from all those animals still finishing up the race. Maybe they can find some new idiots to clean it up.</span></p><p><br /></p>Denisa and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870900598225088990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603551720303875027.post-4591926394174410512023-10-23T13:57:00.000-05:002023-10-23T13:57:49.669-05:00That was a good idea!<p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>We're way behind in getting travel posts published because we were having way too much fun traveling! So we won't be confused about when each "wandering" happened, we'll start each blog with its actual date.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">August 11, 2023</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We were up early this morning, with a face-time call from our five-year-old granddaughter. This was her first day of kindergarten and she was eating breakfast and wanted to share her exciting morning with us. We thought that was a good idea! We were blessed to get an important face-time call even when we were a couple states away from our children and grandchildren!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We had planned to play pickleball this morning. Buena Vista has six very nice new courts, and they have organized games on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. But it was cold and a little windy at 8:00 for outdoor pickleball, so we opted for Plan B. That was a good idea! Several days ago we had started the Narrow Gauge Trail, but we recognized that this would be a good bike trail. So we decided to save it for another day. Today is the "another day." The only problem with this trail was that it gained around 500 feet in elevation when leaving from the east trailhead. So we hatched a plan. We drove to the west trailhead and left our bikes there. Mark chained them to a tree just above the highway.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilulJRnon7c1p0ve3X5jN9_y3liodZ7t9Tj2OwVTq0QLC17BfQGigqODUqmEE3gbxq59peV4pEl1SmRHvSL2Ot23iRnD3WbiR2XUN__i-Ccnzm5JEtAExwNK3WLk71O-pHU8MgwGdkdJ0qIfAIkixxf00nsAar5YVPj3AiX730q8097Pl9Gnjo-9Bh4BM/s3285/pic%20(1).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2453" data-original-width="3285" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilulJRnon7c1p0ve3X5jN9_y3liodZ7t9Tj2OwVTq0QLC17BfQGigqODUqmEE3gbxq59peV4pEl1SmRHvSL2Ot23iRnD3WbiR2XUN__i-Ccnzm5JEtAExwNK3WLk71O-pHU8MgwGdkdJ0qIfAIkixxf00nsAar5YVPj3AiX730q8097Pl9Gnjo-9Bh4BM/w640-h478/pic%20(1).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Then we drove the pickup to the east trailhead and we started the hike.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Uybjin1taM5M4OKzcgDLP57JbN05aLSfAF5Ksj1HHp2MtW_DKeS-D6icuvrhNNqrW7v89rU6OR-tNWbH1HxzL2NVwf88St8aJZENxrcgR__GaNg4x5sCZAxoLK-zNewVU7Bb92_gZgzYl6rV5hOkDOd2GH7iKfztcgP5LkMGbKDUGbu8Cw2KC5jTWd4/s3921/pic%20(3).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2598" data-original-width="3921" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Uybjin1taM5M4OKzcgDLP57JbN05aLSfAF5Ksj1HHp2MtW_DKeS-D6icuvrhNNqrW7v89rU6OR-tNWbH1HxzL2NVwf88St8aJZENxrcgR__GaNg4x5sCZAxoLK-zNewVU7Bb92_gZgzYl6rV5hOkDOd2GH7iKfztcgP5LkMGbKDUGbu8Cw2KC5jTWd4/w640-h424/pic%20(3).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This was the old railbed of the Denver-Southpark Railroad. This train moved mining supplies and people up this route from 1880 through 1926. The rail bed was cut onto a shelf of Mount Antero and started at an elevation of 8,560 feet. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbcufq7IIqpff9sndAej7qzSEYhodI_HbAzSVPER87ClVMw18qOnmZdQR5RqSIIqgLbWxDMGDY5V0vUqWC_Je4na-Q52Q0BAb7NZbhhvqqwFz-rHqyDm_OKFMcDvOz_bgto3xA384q6qdusPnixtiM0yJcp0yxU6dVtlLcy9C_cshyphenhyphenolE1q0-UEiNRO8/s3469/pic%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2020" data-original-width="3469" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbcufq7IIqpff9sndAej7qzSEYhodI_HbAzSVPER87ClVMw18qOnmZdQR5RqSIIqgLbWxDMGDY5V0vUqWC_Je4na-Q52Q0BAb7NZbhhvqqwFz-rHqyDm_OKFMcDvOz_bgto3xA384q6qdusPnixtiM0yJcp0yxU6dVtlLcy9C_cshyphenhyphenolE1q0-UEiNRO8/w640-h372/pic%20(2).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>We had some amazing mountain scenery as we looked down over the valley cut by Chalk Creek</span><span>. While we were on the side of Mount Antero, we could look to the north to see Mount Princeton.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2HPw_9dHNSUrVIfM3EkZMQb9GLGBUxGt33gTuObkHzbULafFgNF92A_FHnUGxr0Rtwur2lW7zGMyS_o5dRtQ6WD4EQAWXtLjwHcaZZSLVuukq7JzibcVNVIKlraMyjom_Qcn8VEoMROLMvtznwlchhcRpjczHGhjFIkPEXfCUNJNLRMJxYo78tGiTCE/s6850/pic%20(5).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="3786" data-original-width="6850" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2HPw_9dHNSUrVIfM3EkZMQb9GLGBUxGt33gTuObkHzbULafFgNF92A_FHnUGxr0Rtwur2lW7zGMyS_o5dRtQ6WD4EQAWXtLjwHcaZZSLVuukq7JzibcVNVIKlraMyjom_Qcn8VEoMROLMvtznwlchhcRpjczHGhjFIkPEXfCUNJNLRMJxYo78tGiTCE/w640-h354/pic%20(5).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>The steady elevation gain is easy to hike up, but Denisa was certainly glad that she didn't have to pedal her bike up that incline.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJ0l_vwTXSc9rbzjhA-IHHlF-RvM6sAXp4RV3d4UjK8mXOJZ2hZsIABUD4_8Yx4XEFyUoooj9eXsgSz7fCKwlnQ59TFgOg8tT6r4XXcU2pvOukCLSd_n6gPZj8y2TAyjPNbhgET-EFe197WOO7i1tnqyUwOJd5FSl_i1lN3ji2-Zp9fKF9lhDk3KiClU/s3986/pic%20(6).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="3011" data-original-width="3986" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJ0l_vwTXSc9rbzjhA-IHHlF-RvM6sAXp4RV3d4UjK8mXOJZ2hZsIABUD4_8Yx4XEFyUoooj9eXsgSz7fCKwlnQ59TFgOg8tT6r4XXcU2pvOukCLSd_n6gPZj8y2TAyjPNbhgET-EFe197WOO7i1tnqyUwOJd5FSl_i1lN3ji2-Zp9fKF9lhDk3KiClU/w640-h484/pic%20(6).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>About one mile into the hike, we came to the first biking obstacle. While it was easy to hike over this rocky terrain, we knew we would have to carry our bikes over that section on the way back.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphenypYt-EmLdCA2hGrv43UwSIvkZLu65VBe11Rz2sgN1410pWc8cVJZnZr1MA1eUs_Og_OANmxgliKgidoxYe2m5xJpDVOU6QWK0zRbxM6mOeq-UREuuAhcVqjXLJJlAbPs5a6ImSu6CuUCLOa3AJ7RiX0r8OruBbuWaM3p7HcUDiJlCdV1ERGCSveOtg/s4032/pic%20(4).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4032" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphenypYt-EmLdCA2hGrv43UwSIvkZLu65VBe11Rz2sgN1410pWc8cVJZnZr1MA1eUs_Og_OANmxgliKgidoxYe2m5xJpDVOU6QWK0zRbxM6mOeq-UREuuAhcVqjXLJJlAbPs5a6ImSu6CuUCLOa3AJ7RiX0r8OruBbuWaM3p7HcUDiJlCdV1ERGCSveOtg/w640-h422/pic%20(4).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>While we were hiking on the side of a 14,275-foot mountain, we had better views of 14,196-foot Mount Princeton. That's Chalk Lake below us. If you look very closely, you can see Agnes Vaille Falls pouring out of Mount Princeton. That's one of the hikes we took last week.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkB3vWLN7qR0lxtCsh8wM3NTgTMkb12Bt7H7ELQ4UKbyERWtqcQ0753dpHDxNkZtjaPb6b7VoON0gRcZmKg53khTai8MomC8YR8ASosQ9fWXNbm7_r1tdgcl84eF1TE-VVHsRIitw2XhyphenhyphenrPwaHtDuOQtuv_oWFU5l6P9u7WxtEa07x1p1LdE0Jb2nNDQ/s4032/pic%20(7).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkB3vWLN7qR0lxtCsh8wM3NTgTMkb12Bt7H7ELQ4UKbyERWtqcQ0753dpHDxNkZtjaPb6b7VoON0gRcZmKg53khTai8MomC8YR8ASosQ9fWXNbm7_r1tdgcl84eF1TE-VVHsRIitw2XhyphenhyphenrPwaHtDuOQtuv_oWFU5l6P9u7WxtEa07x1p1LdE0Jb2nNDQ/w640-h480/pic%20(7).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>We started with blue skies, but the white puffy clouds were forming interesting shapes on our horizon.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoy7Lt6eCDzVw_I8NzFsT1zztlyZVm3jYQ4Lp8sEbUjfk6HoN46GEOkUAA8oX5JjvbHVDF4HP8-6UDzzH8EvpmWmHQ_L4B6I77K5mUeuMVRVcutl9MuHG8x3SggzNMvwsc1iClye4C5LuIba2r_-vh47YWJUrvDPSxH1B7ywF0lNoAdKiEF9DlaQrnhcI/s4025/pic%20(8).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="2669" data-original-width="4025" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoy7Lt6eCDzVw_I8NzFsT1zztlyZVm3jYQ4Lp8sEbUjfk6HoN46GEOkUAA8oX5JjvbHVDF4HP8-6UDzzH8EvpmWmHQ_L4B6I77K5mUeuMVRVcutl9MuHG8x3SggzNMvwsc1iClye4C5LuIba2r_-vh47YWJUrvDPSxH1B7ywF0lNoAdKiEF9DlaQrnhcI/w640-h424/pic%20(8).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>The Narrow Gauge hike was a 4.2-mile out-and-back trail. So we were hiking the 2.1 miles out. We knew we were getting close to the two-mile mark when we began hearing the roar of the cascades along Chalk Creek. We could peek through the trees to see the water cascading down the rocks below us.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7olBBOgd4dnC8Jlq_GuAwvz2KhkvIbB-spSPr8Zkj1ld8cO-VjVI2xynIWKySBfrfHGMiaGAsG0BTqRVVe8Ebzz9va-AczgA1S9N34xSTe6gDzJiJb4D49fzdo5ZgAhGcQxyPBz79nVziojvW2BgLSwbhZkiX1PxQOYf9s00wlOzMUu8_PAXo51hKtg/s3980/pic%20(9).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="2768" data-original-width="3980" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7olBBOgd4dnC8Jlq_GuAwvz2KhkvIbB-spSPr8Zkj1ld8cO-VjVI2xynIWKySBfrfHGMiaGAsG0BTqRVVe8Ebzz9va-AczgA1S9N34xSTe6gDzJiJb4D49fzdo5ZgAhGcQxyPBz79nVziojvW2BgLSwbhZkiX1PxQOYf9s00wlOzMUu8_PAXo51hKtg/w640-h446/pic%20(9).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>We finished our hike to the west end of the trail, and it was time to unlock our bikes and carry them to the trail head.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ26JcTEcFLbh4TZBV2PUx0KCjj_pPDfBh6Z56wwoGRjwiRk15843CiIwzY4nE-UhmrBZdSSVRCHAHld5Te9oHF4AnjF5s8R3BJlaW-pSCDjk8Quvs9YWgKqSqI0NL4Y8LzbbuUlVsd-4F-HDyfX0wRGcumIpEaNdos8fuTJOzmRbaAlKUfP2SjC90ASs/s3193/pic%20(10).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="2545" data-original-width="3193" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ26JcTEcFLbh4TZBV2PUx0KCjj_pPDfBh6Z56wwoGRjwiRk15843CiIwzY4nE-UhmrBZdSSVRCHAHld5Te9oHF4AnjF5s8R3BJlaW-pSCDjk8Quvs9YWgKqSqI0NL4Y8LzbbuUlVsd-4F-HDyfX0wRGcumIpEaNdos8fuTJOzmRbaAlKUfP2SjC90ASs/w640-h510/pic%20(10).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>The beginning was a little rough, and we had to roll the bikes over some of the big rocks on this end of the trail. Then it was time to start the easy bike ride back to the pickup. We could see the highway below us as we started the downhill ride.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg3pBD1OtNdb3E12xGBw67rhG_jsIkdFW8ItJ3q9BeuEU-W4pkeq3aVdM9n3Mb69EusrzqkqhWSwBniw3NgXrE3Kp_wiDfWmUyOc6TqexsqIC7iPYZuZrQHVqzMgRb3R64XPySwRvk3ECnLw4iPhiv3mHJIfVXAsIaBTsbM7mk93V_zPuGaoVt9y5V1tA/s3626/pic%20(11).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="2656" data-original-width="3626" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg3pBD1OtNdb3E12xGBw67rhG_jsIkdFW8ItJ3q9BeuEU-W4pkeq3aVdM9n3Mb69EusrzqkqhWSwBniw3NgXrE3Kp_wiDfWmUyOc6TqexsqIC7iPYZuZrQHVqzMgRb3R64XPySwRvk3ECnLw4iPhiv3mHJIfVXAsIaBTsbM7mk93V_zPuGaoVt9y5V1tA/w640-h468/pic%20(11).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>The good news was that it was down-hill all the way back on our bikes! </span><span>While the railroad bed was a little narrow at times, we always had enough width to ride our bikes through.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfugSlehZpdGg0EEKulFqmkCr-DcxLtMFBpHD2DI8bZo5-Rc0oNVmghd_H-Fra_Fwypel2GrKRzezRscxgD7LIaQqMBfrsjBz_ZNFAp2J7w0D9CBs0wSelmnZ-Ed6pQR96RYF3unOIcji1hHY4z4ctQRNvf29moYq0ejpjjzJgPyMSaOOAFbI0DS8nt4/s4032/pic%20(12).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfugSlehZpdGg0EEKulFqmkCr-DcxLtMFBpHD2DI8bZo5-Rc0oNVmghd_H-Fra_Fwypel2GrKRzezRscxgD7LIaQqMBfrsjBz_ZNFAp2J7w0D9CBs0wSelmnZ-Ed6pQR96RYF3unOIcji1hHY4z4ctQRNvf29moYq0ejpjjzJgPyMSaOOAFbI0DS8nt4/w640-h480/pic%20(12).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>It was good to be able to preview the trail while we were hiking up. We knew that we would have five different bridges and rocky places that we had to get off our bikes and roll them beside us.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-GFAxsqhtt9GNL9M45hle22j8IcDT4fuzLWvTXC0rAmAguAbM6cvbDM1_yBPdi_IQsuQbhN4Z_Na37GTZEJoogAQROJIPMuRdSi8JZpUYd9HwenYGXQ5Uph7IeO3QPT52PUTKrvWIUYt-06AxNK-wXNCXQosORVMZfjuR2GKnxUDmVYtkh9GT0iD1Y40/s3632/pic%20(13).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="2538" data-original-width="3632" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-GFAxsqhtt9GNL9M45hle22j8IcDT4fuzLWvTXC0rAmAguAbM6cvbDM1_yBPdi_IQsuQbhN4Z_Na37GTZEJoogAQROJIPMuRdSi8JZpUYd9HwenYGXQ5Uph7IeO3QPT52PUTKrvWIUYt-06AxNK-wXNCXQosORVMZfjuR2GKnxUDmVYtkh9GT0iD1Y40/w640-h448/pic%20(13).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Of course, we knew about the biggest rock obstacle at the half-way point where we had to carry our bikes.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YlQNAy60Dhyphenhyphen3LRNbVca3NHggq59I0hkcrUNKg26ST5WRimpy3H0OMtbjG6mXnCXxci0etDNpqW6toJaxXNBqy4s9Z5gTRJxclgwJKKPsDFLdbjpdluh5NtcpcY_T6p3Q7euP3LHukBlGPy0zYoGjs40TSB76R2rswE9iEtKyCSfZHl9YrEOUnT1cUqU/s4032/pic%20(15).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="2814" data-original-width="4032" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YlQNAy60Dhyphenhyphen3LRNbVca3NHggq59I0hkcrUNKg26ST5WRimpy3H0OMtbjG6mXnCXxci0etDNpqW6toJaxXNBqy4s9Z5gTRJxclgwJKKPsDFLdbjpdluh5NtcpcY_T6p3Q7euP3LHukBlGPy0zYoGjs40TSB76R2rswE9iEtKyCSfZHl9YrEOUnT1cUqU/w640-h446/pic%20(15).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></span></p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Wait! Wasn't that Denisa's bike that Mark was carrying? After carrying his own, he went back to carry Denisa's bike as well. What a gentleman!</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHX06TDkZ7RWXnmEyxXZSTiGps39aBu1OMGS96QjlQrk9V0w5x9B1ZybAavJCbfVnXUCu5hv4kmRxBSOrbHVggG4YJbeC4AfZu4F6Z0HVvATRMv12XjJpAKnDG5Q9ZTWzdYolooCs4I_tBvIEFu8pLMc3wZC7xt_14vs6ndHzlrtp8IIUllWySDKVkOJ8/s4032/pic%20(16).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="4032" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHX06TDkZ7RWXnmEyxXZSTiGps39aBu1OMGS96QjlQrk9V0w5x9B1ZybAavJCbfVnXUCu5hv4kmRxBSOrbHVggG4YJbeC4AfZu4F6Z0HVvATRMv12XjJpAKnDG5Q9ZTWzdYolooCs4I_tBvIEFu8pLMc3wZC7xt_14vs6ndHzlrtp8IIUllWySDKVkOJ8/w640-h458/pic%20(16).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></span></p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">While the biking took less time than hiking, we had more stops on that part of the trail. Several people recognized us as the hikers they had seen walking in the opposite direction. So we had to explain our tactic of dropping off the bikes first so that we could roll back. They liked our idea!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULL_kLI0O_EbQ2aPReynam4S-bT-tR1uk4MKFTLiyxXDB_5RTeSHQXbuGewgN3Q4yxTbu_nXfaP-9cA5FfV_vXv6Ygm-GsiRYaPKmDLNE7zZlZm_69geSon0TUfp4XdyyRDzYfVDICbvYQHmpyQxIsFs-j0TXU3uunLuFMowIS9yKAz7WzmEypMcjt3M/s4012/pic%20(14).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2519" data-original-width="4012" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULL_kLI0O_EbQ2aPReynam4S-bT-tR1uk4MKFTLiyxXDB_5RTeSHQXbuGewgN3Q4yxTbu_nXfaP-9cA5FfV_vXv6Ygm-GsiRYaPKmDLNE7zZlZm_69geSon0TUfp4XdyyRDzYfVDICbvYQHmpyQxIsFs-j0TXU3uunLuFMowIS9yKAz7WzmEypMcjt3M/w640-h402/pic%20(14).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>So did we! We never had to pedal the entire two miles back to the pickup. While the trail was a little rocky at times, and a little sandy at other times, even non-technical bikers like us had no problem. The trail was wide enough for ATVs, but it had barricades on both ends that prevented any motorized vehicles from starting the trail. So hikers and bikers can enjoy the trail in peace.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgILqD7VgL0T7OMd33t-HQqIjlPT_9ys4J3zXaTKDHs-Cy4Xhh-_jEXLLxR_ysn4tzgR3cFyP0bZJls61-VAfrunfWpZFAdeoBQ_0GkQq56Q90aUnvcD5jUHW6scvxBDxdH1WAAuVWvhKpY5w3bc0NUcf3w9h4F6QPVYzqlP2y5qRlAdiCzKgH02GN0Jw4/s2983/pic%20(17).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="2983" height="618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgILqD7VgL0T7OMd33t-HQqIjlPT_9ys4J3zXaTKDHs-Cy4Xhh-_jEXLLxR_ysn4tzgR3cFyP0bZJls61-VAfrunfWpZFAdeoBQ_0GkQq56Q90aUnvcD5jUHW6scvxBDxdH1WAAuVWvhKpY5w3bc0NUcf3w9h4F6QPVYzqlP2y5qRlAdiCzKgH02GN0Jw4/w640-h618/pic%20(17).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">After we loaded up our bikes, we headed back towards Buena Vista. With yesterday's long day, we planned a half-day of activities for today. But we didn't realize how interesting the next stop would be. The Gem and Mineral show started yesterday, and we could see vendor tents in four rows spread for almost a quarter-mile at the fairgrounds. Minerals and gems of every shape and color and size were for sale. Since we live in a motor home, we couldn't buy too many heavy rocks. But we were certainly tempted.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8SF1a8PD1YzKktWaGxhowS1-I5DxTJtgpdN4iDXDQVsG9jCLALFqWC1DDPD8kOcp1LNEs2f73xWJxw7nM_KmR3vopt5tVXQpNtQ6raZ7lT6-lZ7Fnln1HtNt9XImOQlGrvPhqmMd0MCC1PczIaS7oembSZeJdNhFRyAlZ_5tD80i86VW1e8qoBoyWuiw/s4032/pic%20(18).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8SF1a8PD1YzKktWaGxhowS1-I5DxTJtgpdN4iDXDQVsG9jCLALFqWC1DDPD8kOcp1LNEs2f73xWJxw7nM_KmR3vopt5tVXQpNtQ6raZ7lT6-lZ7Fnln1HtNt9XImOQlGrvPhqmMd0MCC1PczIaS7oembSZeJdNhFRyAlZ_5tD80i86VW1e8qoBoyWuiw/w640-h480/pic%20(18).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday's windy weather wreaked havoc on this outdoor show. Mark talked to several vendors, and found out that 22 different tents were destroyed by the wind the day before. Some of those people opted to head home, while a few stayed without the shade of a tent above their tables for the rest of the show. By the looks of the clouds, it looked like we were about to get another storm. But stopping at the gem and mineral show was certainly a good idea!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooH3bsrKGNxAVyUQF_ET73SH0q-a3RBx4tY4gJM4bXK0WAJMFEwhqppMb4FaaWFQaB1iYHy9I29DeGZkrs-gHiyaTY5Vyeq8jZ6tjN8yc57y-i_durSGqYQEJxckSDylvNClBUqthESEcqNKOu7zA7iTRs_OywspvBNaF9B6ifoVzsc_iEau7lYk9f24/s4025/pic%20(19).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2591" data-original-width="4025" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooH3bsrKGNxAVyUQF_ET73SH0q-a3RBx4tY4gJM4bXK0WAJMFEwhqppMb4FaaWFQaB1iYHy9I29DeGZkrs-gHiyaTY5Vyeq8jZ6tjN8yc57y-i_durSGqYQEJxckSDylvNClBUqthESEcqNKOu7zA7iTRs_OywspvBNaF9B6ifoVzsc_iEau7lYk9f24/w640-h412/pic%20(19).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">We had a couple more shopping stops in town, so we didn't get back to the motor home until after 4:00. We fixed dinner and got a report that our granddaughter had a good first day of school. As she recounted the day's activities her best quote was "My first day was a big record!" It felt like we all had a big record day filled with lots of good ideas!</span></p>Denisa and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870900598225088990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603551720303875027.post-34001985621883991702023-10-21T07:33:00.001-05:002023-10-21T07:33:33.149-05:00Long and Beautiful and Exhausting Cottonwood Pass Day<p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>We're way behind in getting travel posts published because we were having way too much fun traveling! So we won't be confused about when each "wandering" happened, we'll start each blog with its actual date.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>August 10, 2023</span> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Cottonwood Pass is one of the reasons we decided to come back and spend a month in this area. It's located on highway 306, which starts in Buena Vista and heads west into the mountains and the pass. We had already traveled this direction when we kayaked at Cottonwood Lake a couple weeks ago. But this day we planned to drive deeper into the mountains for a long "Cottonwood Pass Day." Our first destination was a confusing trail head that had only a few parking spots. We felt a little lost when we parked along Highway 306 for a hike to Lost Lake. Some of the reviews for this hike said that this informal trail was closed. The trail headed straight up into the mountains, and we were happy to see that it was open.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiESgaKvJPnn7NMMEy_Jbg7t7GB8O6YtRWtUvbjA6nUN0Cnke1X9CHQMmqjPIJOOFOorBLGNX255xSd-EiThDAH-VFLeeF8vAumNzIz-fSt5GA7SLLUJ7chPcyLIvYvVRA5jeu8rIPk6_ygYE-XHlQrgTWIS7hF7V1U3c0GezDhmiRnhQ6YM-OefT46Nbs/s5429/pic%20(267).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3110" data-original-width="5429" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiESgaKvJPnn7NMMEy_Jbg7t7GB8O6YtRWtUvbjA6nUN0Cnke1X9CHQMmqjPIJOOFOorBLGNX255xSd-EiThDAH-VFLeeF8vAumNzIz-fSt5GA7SLLUJ7chPcyLIvYvVRA5jeu8rIPk6_ygYE-XHlQrgTWIS7hF7V1U3c0GezDhmiRnhQ6YM-OefT46Nbs/w640-h366/pic%20(267).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">The first hikers we met coming the other direction told us that there was a moose close to the trail in just 150 yards. We sped up our hiking speed, as we were intent on seeing that moose. You should know that we have been bam-moosled more than once! That's the term that we invented this summer when we were told about moose ahead on the trail. It rhymes with bamboozled--which means tricked or mislead. So when you are told about moose that are ahead on the trail but you never see it for yourself--you've been bam-moosled. Now we have mixed emotions about getting wildlife sighting advice on a trail. It always seemed that those animals were gone by the time we got to the described sighting spot. Again, we hurriedly hiked the 150 yards and searched and found nothing but beautiful mountains. Some would say that's not such a bad sighting.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7dIRAfFeKyVyb-cLOKjPSivMHwpwjaWXH_nzWc8V7YJlEe-j0h28MsdB5RY30mdri7-uFT8_o9CyK0PaARHItbjtQa57oYSPp4r85XPd8qQsOKvag3Yi7rIbiHWY-AglRUtPSasX-PE8xL9Pj9SoUITzReSBcg8GVR6piDbJViIXomhd99jkuFoVaDI/s7380/pic%20(274).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3865" data-original-width="7380" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7dIRAfFeKyVyb-cLOKjPSivMHwpwjaWXH_nzWc8V7YJlEe-j0h28MsdB5RY30mdri7-uFT8_o9CyK0PaARHItbjtQa57oYSPp4r85XPd8qQsOKvag3Yi7rIbiHWY-AglRUtPSasX-PE8xL9Pj9SoUITzReSBcg8GVR6piDbJViIXomhd99jkuFoVaDI/w640-h336/pic%20(274).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Much further down the trail, we met another hiker that described the moose she had just stopped to watch--five more minutes down the trail. With her new descriptions, we hurried along to this clearing. Do you see it?</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3nFObq0tgL7RulNITTGfIxTDWgQaPCIPn3IJ4GdmLw-qUMnm4ncIxkmdVonBsoAA7x_m8srQ00qm0D2R9V9MesedOfR2cmU8hT2LQ7Y_O_DAjagBnqy0o7YZuwBVdGYPhcOYzjuTvYSby76oxypECSGyZjDPYni7oZUH71OVrtYPl8hco_r1TPhszEaw/s3324/pic%20(268).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2013" data-original-width="3324" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3nFObq0tgL7RulNITTGfIxTDWgQaPCIPn3IJ4GdmLw-qUMnm4ncIxkmdVonBsoAA7x_m8srQ00qm0D2R9V9MesedOfR2cmU8hT2LQ7Y_O_DAjagBnqy0o7YZuwBVdGYPhcOYzjuTvYSby76oxypECSGyZjDPYni7oZUH71OVrtYPl8hco_r1TPhszEaw/w640-h388/pic%20(268).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We wouldn't have seen it either without that last hiker's descriptions. Look again in the lower left hand corner in the picture above. We hiked closer and then zoomed in for a better picture. We could see that the moose had moved away from the trail, and was now closer to the trees.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgpEZeF19vyWfxrvsgSo2OkiYlV-uYqiBQ7u4N08sZMCyXJ2Z7LetGrhKT5SYrkb1dw2_n4u7fLDpbQcwgJf1jAySE8lYMXnsVSnaDextzuve_JMPRLkC8agyNXL5PojFS_mIq5QlQIEtPiiWQVWjWhNy7NSqfAZekK2NDN4aGDRW70RVXLwOy2Hlw2IA/s2457/IMG_5810.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1843" data-original-width="2457" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgpEZeF19vyWfxrvsgSo2OkiYlV-uYqiBQ7u4N08sZMCyXJ2Z7LetGrhKT5SYrkb1dw2_n4u7fLDpbQcwgJf1jAySE8lYMXnsVSnaDextzuve_JMPRLkC8agyNXL5PojFS_mIq5QlQIEtPiiWQVWjWhNy7NSqfAZekK2NDN4aGDRW70RVXLwOy2Hlw2IA/w640-h480/IMG_5810.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We weren't bam-moosled this time after all! And we have to take back our bad feelings about getting wildlife sighting advice. We would have never seen this big guy without knowing to carefully scan this area. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSKB4LBFN7oD0xjZmLRzlwXB-YbM4uLAQ5fiJG5a_zJkdQYimHAikO2c-8Fcs8SwP9xuVJ0Qu73D0tT9Ke6UfWM8ophDFlRKO15QY_dA3ymh5PHWUOa6dA402hbQWwmlJZjEjmm8OkZrribO-aF4IoCleVJ21gEHw1NsY7pho7JQKvDp_lBWMVpQJxj0/s1634/IMG_5820.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1185" data-original-width="1634" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSKB4LBFN7oD0xjZmLRzlwXB-YbM4uLAQ5fiJG5a_zJkdQYimHAikO2c-8Fcs8SwP9xuVJ0Qu73D0tT9Ke6UfWM8ophDFlRKO15QY_dA3ymh5PHWUOa6dA402hbQWwmlJZjEjmm8OkZrribO-aF4IoCleVJ21gEHw1NsY7pho7JQKvDp_lBWMVpQJxj0/w640-h464/IMG_5820.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We found out that he had been right beside the trail thirty minutes earlier, scaring the hikers into taking a very wide detour to stay away from him. Now we were wishing he was closer to the trail, but we stayed and watched him from a distance for a while.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSHh2RTpFy5PZHEjU2lDaij0V7Yhyphenhyphenekonr5Pi2kSFTsBdVyTBA3ZDq4jX3P0wpdo9YDlZ1feuMHV_KVYd5kpd9VJn4vhxz4zMXxq3YI0ARXVzfVx5lpOHglEdDHc4OlUsQF8-OxeK8-CSYkWxfNU_QSsOVwpzYvLDc6XmB5SBCWRCX3QrPiaimn9YLKY/s3429/pic%20(269).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2328" data-original-width="3429" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSHh2RTpFy5PZHEjU2lDaij0V7Yhyphenhyphenekonr5Pi2kSFTsBdVyTBA3ZDq4jX3P0wpdo9YDlZ1feuMHV_KVYd5kpd9VJn4vhxz4zMXxq3YI0ARXVzfVx5lpOHglEdDHc4OlUsQF8-OxeK8-CSYkWxfNU_QSsOVwpzYvLDc6XmB5SBCWRCX3QrPiaimn9YLKY/w640-h434/pic%20(269).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">As we continued, we found a spur trail that led to this viewpoint of the 14,000+ feet peaks that surrounded us. A sign indicated that on a clear day we could see Pikes Peak from here. The weather today was a little cloudy and hazy, but we could still see the famous peak in the distance. The sign also told the story of the day in 1893 when Katharine Lee Bates went up Pikes Peak and penned a poem that she originally titled "Pikes Peak." Perhaps you've heard of this poem that goes: "O beautiful, for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain, for purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed His grace on thee, and crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea!" Did you start humming as you read those lyrics? It was set to music, and became the song "America the Beautiful." See what things we learn on our hikes?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8YCnDeDPTnxLx67u0cINKGoXLPr8Su8R-WBmU-GdTV14enEEB5dQGnfID1sNKvDXrLo8jlAYCx-O-pmdV8g3-S7cSuRVTl4xg-9loHb2jmFHIkX4FuvGjFd0avrW1GOEZKHJMsN3z9XJUfKHG8XkoVPFvpCV-pgn8OYAsoxWEVPTNSC72vBceSD4TLVU/s3409/pic%20(270).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2158" data-original-width="3409" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8YCnDeDPTnxLx67u0cINKGoXLPr8Su8R-WBmU-GdTV14enEEB5dQGnfID1sNKvDXrLo8jlAYCx-O-pmdV8g3-S7cSuRVTl4xg-9loHb2jmFHIkX4FuvGjFd0avrW1GOEZKHJMsN3z9XJUfKHG8XkoVPFvpCV-pgn8OYAsoxWEVPTNSC72vBceSD4TLVU/w640-h406/pic%20(270).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It was a 1.4-mile hike to get to our destination. We had found Lost Lake!</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8r2ej3XqlKeI3Y-aoVkrcKpnMZUtBrjXbqJh64EMcsB_DqD-jw0rB8_MCaX2EozX5dkMj5Dxp8Fa1C5j54s639N4isi8SUZhBF4FN1eMPWumweirfgQ5WCOnoF9fV_VTJw3xDBegzlVcT8hB5jJogTarWgftGiih4lvhsLk2W7Xv6DrAW61EXaCFNHs/s4032/pic%20(272).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8r2ej3XqlKeI3Y-aoVkrcKpnMZUtBrjXbqJh64EMcsB_DqD-jw0rB8_MCaX2EozX5dkMj5Dxp8Fa1C5j54s639N4isi8SUZhBF4FN1eMPWumweirfgQ5WCOnoF9fV_VTJw3xDBegzlVcT8hB5jJogTarWgftGiih4lvhsLk2W7Xv6DrAW61EXaCFNHs/w640-h480/pic%20(272).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We hiked to this lake several years ago, and we had quickly snapped a picture at the water's edge with angry gray clouds all around us. We got soaked in the pouring rain and we waded through the mud to get back to the car that day. You can read about it in the blog titled "Cottonwood Pass on the Fourth of July" in 2020. With that experience in our past, you can be sure that our rain coats were in the backpack today. We were blessed with bluer skies this time, and we had the time to enjoy Lost Lake. We hiked around the end of the lake to get more views of the island in the middle, and the mountains that circle the lake.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqcOiLLgGOnNUanlZwLSX9LoaZmVpRnAtStyxF3wojcjODEB6QdGIBQcw9r-O8t41GbNAb-7YgboCZekSKowXQ4y5cPyGfjVkfCYi4vuJMVzY6lXRYnyt8i7OcBfszy7k0zU2KreXdSG5o5uE37vti-LlRen37IapGsUteVkHya7tkv8-J1i97PuMH6wo/s4006/pic%20(277).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2591" data-original-width="4006" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqcOiLLgGOnNUanlZwLSX9LoaZmVpRnAtStyxF3wojcjODEB6QdGIBQcw9r-O8t41GbNAb-7YgboCZekSKowXQ4y5cPyGfjVkfCYi4vuJMVzY6lXRYnyt8i7OcBfszy7k0zU2KreXdSG5o5uE37vti-LlRen37IapGsUteVkHya7tkv8-J1i97PuMH6wo/w640-h414/pic%20(277).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We hiked until the trail became a rock scramble. You can barely see Mark among the big boulders on the left side of the picture below. That meant it was time to turn around.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKwqWdM9JbM3iP3ewpWVhIarlZgIt6x35_SNMJiClQytqGhMoVeZVb1jcSQc8qI-ck_A62fOOrJcPKrNxIqEmEt39ayYG8n8A8EHwd5AOT23U0EjWCOHQqhpxiy1DP5ViubfVo9nO-2jLM78zpVdQQ1AWJ1GNFbkLi5x29YGK86LPyU3PCRJwBpeVPWk/s6539/pic%20(276).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3628" data-original-width="6539" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKwqWdM9JbM3iP3ewpWVhIarlZgIt6x35_SNMJiClQytqGhMoVeZVb1jcSQc8qI-ck_A62fOOrJcPKrNxIqEmEt39ayYG8n8A8EHwd5AOT23U0EjWCOHQqhpxiy1DP5ViubfVo9nO-2jLM78zpVdQQ1AWJ1GNFbkLi5x29YGK86LPyU3PCRJwBpeVPWk/w640-h356/pic%20(276).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">As we looked to the top of the mountain, we could see hikers playing in the snow above us. They were on the Continental Divide Trail that can be accessed at the Cottonwood Pass summit. We toyed with the idea of hiking up the very steep trail to join to the Continental Divide Trail--but then we came to our senses.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpevBF9u8MNIk-6cqP6UpgxzXGHjl0GqEvhU3oFiV9tvl4rJyr5iE0kzWw05Z8eJIZCfxjw9_tWvUQQEnZOZzB4X_v-5HJAaP4AhOhT1L_swM0CTNYmG7E42A8V-MPrbRJzQEM0iq0-FXMIqbi3137_PGsgnn93ca6QugZUvqmBYR3NDOBR3VUlmxh6Cs/s4012/pic%20(275).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2408" data-original-width="4012" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpevBF9u8MNIk-6cqP6UpgxzXGHjl0GqEvhU3oFiV9tvl4rJyr5iE0kzWw05Z8eJIZCfxjw9_tWvUQQEnZOZzB4X_v-5HJAaP4AhOhT1L_swM0CTNYmG7E42A8V-MPrbRJzQEM0iq0-FXMIqbi3137_PGsgnn93ca6QugZUvqmBYR3NDOBR3VUlmxh6Cs/w640-h384/pic%20(275).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We had one more look at Lost Lake, with its water that was so clear we could see every rock on the bottom.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgaTOgZnCKfGeByIpeQVbzJCqRW_ROxNu96cX2gdkfqEfBjPjh5lM2_8VAoAy4KMjMKh8Zcu9ToQXdxqeLzuRY8NvAdVqhLcGcwPWV973Jf4hjtethValOHgvSg9EhPBkKakb2TV0fb_JkBIJnpMTTBmUkAO2JwfLmkZ0GPESqCXeP62giygE4V4pIEs/s6502/pic%20(279).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3764" data-original-width="6502" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgaTOgZnCKfGeByIpeQVbzJCqRW_ROxNu96cX2gdkfqEfBjPjh5lM2_8VAoAy4KMjMKh8Zcu9ToQXdxqeLzuRY8NvAdVqhLcGcwPWV973Jf4hjtethValOHgvSg9EhPBkKakb2TV0fb_JkBIJnpMTTBmUkAO2JwfLmkZ0GPESqCXeP62giygE4V4pIEs/w640-h370/pic%20(279).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Denisa also paused long enough to take pictures of the flowers along the edge of the lake. The green stems are turning red at the top, indicating that their season is about to come to an end.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLk1bwBm9wu4Pe0M7c5p-AG-5SRZy1zLCG5GbOp9hvcSSL0dWYP-evs0U1NiliLkQzI4u22ebQ5lPIzLqs0K0rr-5Mj5ov8EoB9CIr6AUyRqLjCjQIUx5GBJRyfXFc0Q32-tXiLL6dRUY21_WENgKRmJy9ukBJW3gHbJ-XmODZZbfhix90H2_pLD-8d0/s2289/pic%20(281).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1718" data-original-width="2289" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLk1bwBm9wu4Pe0M7c5p-AG-5SRZy1zLCG5GbOp9hvcSSL0dWYP-evs0U1NiliLkQzI4u22ebQ5lPIzLqs0K0rr-5Mj5ov8EoB9CIr6AUyRqLjCjQIUx5GBJRyfXFc0Q32-tXiLL6dRUY21_WENgKRmJy9ukBJW3gHbJ-XmODZZbfhix90H2_pLD-8d0/w640-h480/pic%20(281).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We headed back down the trail, but Mark had noticed that there was an alternate hiking trail for the return trip. Sometimes his alternate paths can be tricky, but we decided to try it anyway. It turned out to be a very well-maintained path through the forest, with brand new interpretive signs along the way.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPI1Ev39wZSoXEqbu9sETx0HxUH6IepUK98NHOxfPSqLg9u2xzZlSuPUg7I6NJDlvyexwbOUWxDHC1lw1wqMisLl76sv1X_7pia4qo8c0xltTxwKVoiULX281NGj4FohkVC6q1kNykveHiY_rm-JgrOD5bH6kQrYKIf1Ekc1h1ychziHXezIrLy0m4Aho/s3469/pic%20(282).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2447" data-original-width="3469" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPI1Ev39wZSoXEqbu9sETx0HxUH6IepUK98NHOxfPSqLg9u2xzZlSuPUg7I6NJDlvyexwbOUWxDHC1lw1wqMisLl76sv1X_7pia4qo8c0xltTxwKVoiULX281NGj4FohkVC6q1kNykveHiY_rm-JgrOD5bH6kQrYKIf1Ekc1h1ychziHXezIrLy0m4Aho/w640-h452/pic%20(282).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We discovered that the forest service was working on a brand new trail head with new parking for the Lost Lake trail. There was still a gate over the new parking area and they were working on a new sign at the entrance. But Mark had accidentally found the new trail and access to Lost Lake. Hikers will no longer have to park in questionable spots along the busy highway. Doing it our way meant we still had a half-mile walk up the steep highway to get back to our pickup. But we successfully made it into a 4.1-mile loop hike (with only 522 feet elevation gain). We love a good loop hike!</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHYiE2ZMvGaQjAVV1N9MBEToCA8gvx2Mizt5z01KfXujYRTE1MUxzkA6A0AdYbN9R_bVZIOsIDszUo9wUBl6Mxoy1m84Z0jqxhEIm-SdluZ4wjNLgMDuWKZExV_Gb99NR6ZoYQe_TWgAqvUmPDoHzj_8vss97tXQ5ucFjZSiaCOMcvcLRhDW8zXkZIUw/s1993/pic%20(283).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1568" data-original-width="1993" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHYiE2ZMvGaQjAVV1N9MBEToCA8gvx2Mizt5z01KfXujYRTE1MUxzkA6A0AdYbN9R_bVZIOsIDszUo9wUBl6Mxoy1m84Z0jqxhEIm-SdluZ4wjNLgMDuWKZExV_Gb99NR6ZoYQe_TWgAqvUmPDoHzj_8vss97tXQ5ucFjZSiaCOMcvcLRhDW8zXkZIUw/w640-h504/pic%20(283).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It was just another couple driving miles up the road to get to the Cottonwood Pass day use area. We were over 12,000 feet in elevation, so we both needed our jackets in August for a hike up to the viewpoint to see the mountains to our north.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKxRBeOdTua9IRElAeUEnYgak_E1cWy7MNyvzyJJQiS-VxXwps5ygdxdAtnMtpkcfTt86JvwX78ZzrtowdanYCdoChEAldFCMWDN_qWtkvUxFBvtIrXwESV5JL0-wyroH-hHrO2NVZz60Aktrvnm91y11IHdE8llFVJtfQSbLhx5LLWdJ-bzul2GlXhU/s3442/pic%20(286).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2263" data-original-width="3442" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKxRBeOdTua9IRElAeUEnYgak_E1cWy7MNyvzyJJQiS-VxXwps5ygdxdAtnMtpkcfTt86JvwX78ZzrtowdanYCdoChEAldFCMWDN_qWtkvUxFBvtIrXwESV5JL0-wyroH-hHrO2NVZz60Aktrvnm91y11IHdE8llFVJtfQSbLhx5LLWdJ-bzul2GlXhU/w640-h420/pic%20(286).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">From here we could also look down to Taylor Reservoir to our west. On our last trip we drove the 16 miles down the Cottonwood Highway to see it up close. But the weather didn't look good to put the kayak on the lake, so we decided this distant view of the reservoir was good enough for us.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSeEfL84VgojnJrstrWWK482RNXfibdNLwUooLRJ4qlNQlZXoctIvdCeIHHqdYc_nJeNM36k43rziNg6L4sQG_Ty8CHdSV5bUKLfn2tu8g73AdZtNcBZ6eST1ia2X3ubWORYQQuuVic3mLUf5u5IlYFSySFOMafdGRI29atmXFmtdo7zyBkf2-ropttY/s3094/pic%20(287).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2139" data-original-width="3094" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSeEfL84VgojnJrstrWWK482RNXfibdNLwUooLRJ4qlNQlZXoctIvdCeIHHqdYc_nJeNM36k43rziNg6L4sQG_Ty8CHdSV5bUKLfn2tu8g73AdZtNcBZ6eST1ia2X3ubWORYQQuuVic3mLUf5u5IlYFSySFOMafdGRI29atmXFmtdo7zyBkf2-ropttY/w640-h442/pic%20(287).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The butterflies were enjoying the wildflowers still blooming at this high elevation. This little orange and black butterfly was so enamored by the blooms that he let Denisa take a picture.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEittvJjTh6gtqgvi4VtmW2U-fP97mhFKoZAVw0rmrgfkHjhSeVK6izC6wxlPKYDsuxMG7RIsCfi_XhsTJhMJXZZPHUqiM2Y2EgkodM1QPVyc6TQbu5RvanPkgGlen3_jOzHU8pf2zHp-R409QCpSVGqJc9X3HbA-dHalDq1tTQIZotJJs-9QBksFlTcmLo/s1239/pic%20(285).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="984" data-original-width="1239" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEittvJjTh6gtqgvi4VtmW2U-fP97mhFKoZAVw0rmrgfkHjhSeVK6izC6wxlPKYDsuxMG7RIsCfi_XhsTJhMJXZZPHUqiM2Y2EgkodM1QPVyc6TQbu5RvanPkgGlen3_jOzHU8pf2zHp-R409QCpSVGqJc9X3HbA-dHalDq1tTQIZotJJs-9QBksFlTcmLo/w640-h508/pic%20(285).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our next stop was the top of Cottonwood Pass. At 12,126 feet, this is where the Continental Divide intersects these mountains. According to the sign, it's also the dividing point between the San Isabel National Forest and the Gunnison National Forest.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxI_-fSm5CQqTCC2AdFm6VUavyPZtprgLWj9pLPviEX3bvCgmPdbm-vmGVKzvRhYl_8q5PzEWrp6BdPtvPzSuvq9UD_7JcMGQ3Q0Dgonw7ZRvNdQdN6jeQvaZeeezJzQN602PKgd6tmEvQSioTdfQ_SNvx5P6R9p0VupVlQQCvgUrdGLsDslba0TU_AQ/s3042/pic%20(284).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2853" data-original-width="3042" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxI_-fSm5CQqTCC2AdFm6VUavyPZtprgLWj9pLPviEX3bvCgmPdbm-vmGVKzvRhYl_8q5PzEWrp6BdPtvPzSuvq9UD_7JcMGQ3Q0Dgonw7ZRvNdQdN6jeQvaZeeezJzQN602PKgd6tmEvQSioTdfQ_SNvx5P6R9p0VupVlQQCvgUrdGLsDslba0TU_AQ/w640-h600/pic%20(284).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">From this parking lot we started a steep trail up to the summit viewpoint. It was a majestic view in all directions from the top.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfLdAv2UqpvymuRyO48ASQpPpu0_TZ3agncmElhNLMbtXcoZBYug3CC2AvZGJ4vmMiwtsvLy8apovY-7tXnuKnAKpEVAIOjbBZGYFG5DKPfrEcPjf1G3exnXz8Sa0Ko-r1A8nCEdfISOev6pSDBo38upkmyeP4NAGKFI3rXJ0tamfTplpmnUdcvmh4is/s3796/pic%20(288).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2775" data-original-width="3796" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfLdAv2UqpvymuRyO48ASQpPpu0_TZ3agncmElhNLMbtXcoZBYug3CC2AvZGJ4vmMiwtsvLy8apovY-7tXnuKnAKpEVAIOjbBZGYFG5DKPfrEcPjf1G3exnXz8Sa0Ko-r1A8nCEdfISOev6pSDBo38upkmyeP4NAGKFI3rXJ0tamfTplpmnUdcvmh4is/w640-h468/pic%20(288).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A panorama picture from the summit shows the mountains around us, as well as glimpses of the winding Cottonwood highway that brought us here.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_FRJMtB9b2nrh6N177CjaB90a9u0IET7rlsz_yce3uDLAg9y94bYMuZFsR_jNN3ceY1sZh1p2dqpuVVABNTMgwJVDM66CaiQyTFvv2YPmgSm4-tQcmNB2JNt0Ft6flIrtMO4jFzS3MJ-IeCcdcFgxr26V8pspMfb7lKKpLtMj9T7086b6d6IdZ5RlTs/s6716/pic%20(292).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3522" data-original-width="6716" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_FRJMtB9b2nrh6N177CjaB90a9u0IET7rlsz_yce3uDLAg9y94bYMuZFsR_jNN3ceY1sZh1p2dqpuVVABNTMgwJVDM66CaiQyTFvv2YPmgSm4-tQcmNB2JNt0Ft6flIrtMO4jFzS3MJ-IeCcdcFgxr26V8pspMfb7lKKpLtMj9T7086b6d6IdZ5RlTs/w640-h336/pic%20(292).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">While at the viewpoint, we heard the familiar squeak of a pika. These cute little mammals are related to rabbits, but smaller and with tiny ears. We often hear them squeak, but we seldom see them. It's almost impossible to get a picture because they quickly duck into one of their burrows. Today, however, this little pika decided to pose for a moment long enough to snap a picture.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4FPm3m_i5tphsLiTULLfdVtC_z3x-npoOjJoGs1kUVniDAWZTwznn1UQ1hrgzc7eJiWMuIS1LDPqe5ex2FC1W2a-vxBsURqIsMYUYH-3txEJ9NTdcCgVr4znuTtrqAcAKtu9ogLmWy8MZsX_EF_I-5Kk9M5m8X1tJBMN2qJMx9T9m0LK-6yH3XBd8aI/s1852/IMG_5836.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1391" data-original-width="1852" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4FPm3m_i5tphsLiTULLfdVtC_z3x-npoOjJoGs1kUVniDAWZTwznn1UQ1hrgzc7eJiWMuIS1LDPqe5ex2FC1W2a-vxBsURqIsMYUYH-3txEJ9NTdcCgVr4znuTtrqAcAKtu9ogLmWy8MZsX_EF_I-5Kk9M5m8X1tJBMN2qJMx9T9m0LK-6yH3XBd8aI/w640-h480/IMG_5836.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Enough people hike to the top so that we could trade picture-taking duties with another couple.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ufnJo5phbDWwKT9h6FHzMjbsaOyloplXcB2raMwY1PChflgiomXMxIRt5pCtNHx7v8vx_-YDomAkBWZh1GbWZSYVE3JgdRAYSZKL0e4JsnOqM_BbcMkIkNSe2u421m2zIWSydgGkGBCyp5329ZX6LDwr2tCr8dJj4D-R8DdYiE7GwXcdL_5XPcgqc-8/s3475/pic%20(293).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2315" data-original-width="3475" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ufnJo5phbDWwKT9h6FHzMjbsaOyloplXcB2raMwY1PChflgiomXMxIRt5pCtNHx7v8vx_-YDomAkBWZh1GbWZSYVE3JgdRAYSZKL0e4JsnOqM_BbcMkIkNSe2u421m2zIWSydgGkGBCyp5329ZX6LDwr2tCr8dJj4D-R8DdYiE7GwXcdL_5XPcgqc-8/w640-h426/pic%20(293).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">After that short summit trail, most hikers return downhill to the parking lot. But we can see another summit view if we head further uphill. This is part of the Colorado Trail (CT) and the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) that march across this state. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8tM_gV0dk5kXolU4eDZWbVintoSRMs38CR8y4rU1ajIyeLlBnrdW331atyWz5OVNaLX7DoVUyPFu5tevxwKgx7as4h7qkmQYQ87T0azHuia90vZZAwYuSDFKUhBUd0KVphyphenhyphensOYAD1ygbF9k8ETL2_shz14YQmUQ4gq2BXQFmdpSnyXAejbj7fMnVbWs/s3377/pic%20(300).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2401" data-original-width="3377" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8tM_gV0dk5kXolU4eDZWbVintoSRMs38CR8y4rU1ajIyeLlBnrdW331atyWz5OVNaLX7DoVUyPFu5tevxwKgx7as4h7qkmQYQ87T0azHuia90vZZAwYuSDFKUhBUd0KVphyphenhyphensOYAD1ygbF9k8ETL2_shz14YQmUQ4gq2BXQFmdpSnyXAejbj7fMnVbWs/w640-h456/pic%20(300).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Of course we headed upwards along the zig-zagging switchbacks to even higher views--and some snow.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZhZf6GQeQpevvplzsUunPM33t5FA_eBN36CaXnbWkJ0njL10WIM_jGDxqjsSAbbDcEoDsJ4SCLm3k52GCzFMVzhme7aSNzuEDdjPzB8zeuIp8-RDBmSxaCA48dQpzVmAYfRjdAcgaHrl_vMbnX-Y_fD1sdH_ZmgW_7ELEUvY__23bP583eZvv7y_GMsw/s4032/pic%20(295).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZhZf6GQeQpevvplzsUunPM33t5FA_eBN36CaXnbWkJ0njL10WIM_jGDxqjsSAbbDcEoDsJ4SCLm3k52GCzFMVzhme7aSNzuEDdjPzB8zeuIp8-RDBmSxaCA48dQpzVmAYfRjdAcgaHrl_vMbnX-Y_fD1sdH_ZmgW_7ELEUvY__23bP583eZvv7y_GMsw/w640-h480/pic%20(295).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MFx4h5K7i8kyrENpy1HNPn-ZQY5b2SHJYw2F_i9XcXbtC74WCh0Kr7v-e0FEcKAYRKXUfU_gSoQy70Er6xI5zAYLUcG6SLrPLDeVEHeamLGdLp1cp2de8gu6LT7viK9E-Xx2_ZjjR0nVMOK8cKfswRFU4oXNBiHLS0Vo8HJrhZfEl4NpmNkhVT_DDkQ/s6715/pic%20(296).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3740" data-original-width="6715" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MFx4h5K7i8kyrENpy1HNPn-ZQY5b2SHJYw2F_i9XcXbtC74WCh0Kr7v-e0FEcKAYRKXUfU_gSoQy70Er6xI5zAYLUcG6SLrPLDeVEHeamLGdLp1cp2de8gu6LT7viK9E-Xx2_ZjjR0nVMOK8cKfswRFU4oXNBiHLS0Vo8HJrhZfEl4NpmNkhVT_DDkQ/w640-h356/pic%20(296).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">It was windy at the top, and a u-shaped pile of rocks provided some relief from that wind.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3MDn9c7aKqhewLk-OkBW0SCAIyehr4akp6dhCnW74ejCZSUhtkBtuNIxsh9CSfV0uC95qU-yvuxtyDzRwz4CadxSu84JXzVWRAfqgTyDitP1ykwb9XIEuFD20sQ07nBeQEPeDYg35WMm4JAify1Wf6rf9uWEnVA3I-TUtGMib4MiSSQEUIa0PLfFGa0/s4025/pic%20(299).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2774" data-original-width="4025" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3MDn9c7aKqhewLk-OkBW0SCAIyehr4akp6dhCnW74ejCZSUhtkBtuNIxsh9CSfV0uC95qU-yvuxtyDzRwz4CadxSu84JXzVWRAfqgTyDitP1ykwb9XIEuFD20sQ07nBeQEPeDYg35WMm4JAify1Wf6rf9uWEnVA3I-TUtGMib4MiSSQEUIa0PLfFGa0/w640-h442/pic%20(299).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">CT and CDT hikers could take refuge here from the wind on the ridge. This was part of a seven-mile ridge section that doesn't get much protection from the elements. We talked to several through-hikers on the 567-mile Colorado Trail. They were trying to decide whether to continue the seven miles on the ridge today, or camp lower and hike that ridge stretch tomorrow. Our view while sitting in that little wind-break of stones proved that we had wandered into more of God's wonders.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHU2h5GFcLn-bMOFEHReZbMIGbFZX-7Hdwnh7xKseFUccsTxreZsvT663rbWDhN03RQY1eMSpbUBgz1fqYnOjsZUUG_tHTUSqaM0JwRi-_pGKnD6KNXt1jIOdVY-hQOo6xfQQGuuyAHthTIPfruKzK2podyS_TSeRJcQUxqZDOJ02h0koGhyphenhyphenkHigZV0Qs/s4032/pic%20(297).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHU2h5GFcLn-bMOFEHReZbMIGbFZX-7Hdwnh7xKseFUccsTxreZsvT663rbWDhN03RQY1eMSpbUBgz1fqYnOjsZUUG_tHTUSqaM0JwRi-_pGKnD6KNXt1jIOdVY-hQOo6xfQQGuuyAHthTIPfruKzK2podyS_TSeRJcQUxqZDOJ02h0koGhyphenhyphenkHigZV0Qs/w640-h480/pic%20(297).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We continued on the ridge, hoping to see Lost Lake from the top in a mile or two. But we were side-tracked by a couple wildlife sightings. We heard the cluck of an adult ptarmigan and spotted her on the side of the trail.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinvyjldg6Rog-8l8pRqoxNeRdjycPjcAHivdqu2C2LXg_0Gwg2Oyf5np9EYbBrtv8qTpFSxPhLQ-HSh8d_zFVqxcdml9rm2R_gng40qDcoyglfFtbR83MB7cYa3eC9yArCra-x1PittkX74pouMDQB9QGuVLMx0YvQ11t7XU2EZtr931B9pggt0uE-aP0/s1587/IMG_5861.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1392" data-original-width="1587" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinvyjldg6Rog-8l8pRqoxNeRdjycPjcAHivdqu2C2LXg_0Gwg2Oyf5np9EYbBrtv8qTpFSxPhLQ-HSh8d_zFVqxcdml9rm2R_gng40qDcoyglfFtbR83MB7cYa3eC9yArCra-x1PittkX74pouMDQB9QGuVLMx0YvQ11t7XU2EZtr931B9pggt0uE-aP0/w640-h562/IMG_5861.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In the winter, ptarmigans will have pure white feathers that help them to blend into the snow that will cover this high elevation home. But in the summer they have mottled feathers that help them to blend with their habitat. That makes them hard to spot among the grass and rocks. At the time we didn't realize that we actually captured two ptarmigans in this picture.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiuPEiEnv3JzyFhZ_fgJwfg3u5fDDn_gcVixa0hhP67kM7FKQI9ioNKYgYByRAdNnCXq7Taadz7DBVEZy99XkIVca3J8BWdrbBeNAZIjLPkYz5Fed1Ynn2dhoo8ns3bC2FX2oEz7-ht8I4B-2_RiEpjkozQkTqcH9dNKZuifrGWpYYRAfTBsxl3TiyHm4/s1895/IMG_5864.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1895" data-original-width="1666" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiuPEiEnv3JzyFhZ_fgJwfg3u5fDDn_gcVixa0hhP67kM7FKQI9ioNKYgYByRAdNnCXq7Taadz7DBVEZy99XkIVca3J8BWdrbBeNAZIjLPkYz5Fed1Ynn2dhoo8ns3bC2FX2oEz7-ht8I4B-2_RiEpjkozQkTqcH9dNKZuifrGWpYYRAfTBsxl3TiyHm4/w562-h640/IMG_5864.JPG" width="562" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We saw more movement around us, and realized that the mother was calling to her clutch of ptarmigan chicks. Do you see two of them in the picture below?</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Ss0AFWqNpeNyDBE_cSgfXL6-v-F-pqbFzTRb2708SkcitYBFWgUfROh0KtX0VteTP6WM1qOk4tBbiRbhqZ2kKd-E4OtdhdeOPgb5eGBMTpf-uPgwyFdyeA5H8cWcZO-4zdfS4TjmGw2R8TxuEA2OQGYkmnzSRFmEWPFbexlRFloKClTFvtY_uPdTZ3s/s1852/IMG_5845.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1237" data-original-width="1852" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Ss0AFWqNpeNyDBE_cSgfXL6-v-F-pqbFzTRb2708SkcitYBFWgUfROh0KtX0VteTP6WM1qOk4tBbiRbhqZ2kKd-E4OtdhdeOPgb5eGBMTpf-uPgwyFdyeA5H8cWcZO-4zdfS4TjmGw2R8TxuEA2OQGYkmnzSRFmEWPFbexlRFloKClTFvtY_uPdTZ3s/w640-h428/IMG_5845.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">They were easier to spot and photograph when they ran down the trail right in front of us. These birds nest on the ground and prefer to walk rather than fly. We would spot five adolescent chicks running towards the mother's clucking call. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLQX7MSqZJahkInYs8WzosUOZJDRW7sSOwbaqdrydb0WW_wcxbiWNWfWdYY5y61n3xzRvivaFmQi5y_d8opaZoa_ioBhhDuR-ewwl2d6vniW9q53vcUhWYbZqXXGXCGO_5N79tvzfP6alpuANUWxniibfvaW-UHiZwJ9X2imeImVs-jKCjRNlckogZ8w/s1210/IMG_5853.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="982" data-original-width="1210" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLQX7MSqZJahkInYs8WzosUOZJDRW7sSOwbaqdrydb0WW_wcxbiWNWfWdYY5y61n3xzRvivaFmQi5y_d8opaZoa_ioBhhDuR-ewwl2d6vniW9q53vcUhWYbZqXXGXCGO_5N79tvzfP6alpuANUWxniibfvaW-UHiZwJ9X2imeImVs-jKCjRNlckogZ8w/w640-h520/IMG_5853.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A little later down the trail we spotted another family of ptarmigans. This time two of the chicks were sitting very still among the overhanging rocks near the trail. That might have something to do with the raptor that we saw circling in the blue mountain sky a few minutes before.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8O8OZNS1NOrAPYdxWQoGSjF7W1P5mtpRid48eADVUdgiwkisLLcEwxJkKVhI4g0AzuzB4UfukeHwlGSWgIkY8_NzIht4Y3-earOZ880GtGzFkfiGGe8V03SYseBwQWurJTIzLg_8Uoo5sUQ2oFsghkhNxifAyZ8Gl7cFqxwaBY0I0g0TCR4VKRIh-fS8/s1852/IMG_5890.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1651" data-original-width="1852" height="570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8O8OZNS1NOrAPYdxWQoGSjF7W1P5mtpRid48eADVUdgiwkisLLcEwxJkKVhI4g0AzuzB4UfukeHwlGSWgIkY8_NzIht4Y3-earOZ880GtGzFkfiGGe8V03SYseBwQWurJTIzLg_8Uoo5sUQ2oFsghkhNxifAyZ8Gl7cFqxwaBY0I0g0TCR4VKRIh-fS8/w640-h570/IMG_5890.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Ptarmigans seem to be social birds that don't scurry away from hikers. They are the only birds in Colorado that live year-round in this high-elevation alpine region, and we certainly enjoyed spending some time with them high above tree line.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3-KYe4vwmPIvaDYahBbd71cTfd9OmagZ7OV-OKLVtbEVKoAOPQh9_DWrEaFms8CuOsR7hqA6mps66vVqogczTvGKtc65glCSHoqooQHEgSLfYd_M1yTqSbXWQyFOJoR3hzc_gIMGtef1gbY6HgYcDQ7S2np3GKLQgulkWXCdmm_soEKBuH_wLFb4K-Q/s1932/IMG_5894.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1710" data-original-width="1932" height="566" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3-KYe4vwmPIvaDYahBbd71cTfd9OmagZ7OV-OKLVtbEVKoAOPQh9_DWrEaFms8CuOsR7hqA6mps66vVqogczTvGKtc65glCSHoqooQHEgSLfYd_M1yTqSbXWQyFOJoR3hzc_gIMGtef1gbY6HgYcDQ7S2np3GKLQgulkWXCdmm_soEKBuH_wLFb4K-Q/w640-h566/IMG_5894.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">Our next tiny wildlife encounter in the alpine was a couple more pikas. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBiK-Zgg5upul1Nm0NRIyt4Tb71NGcce8lj70unQM8sYCF8tYqeIBOnnztH10A97497cZbuB53yksRcO_gEMLpiE2eqoUbQKnUgM4faSUu2Fwtc3ownJbKsUFLOwF6z1tF1Bwj3c6gIDH3QD5zRMw0ZBZ_XwyQZcSql_ifsthlv53W6K2aie6ETTDHNg/s1157/IMG_5882.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="1157" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBiK-Zgg5upul1Nm0NRIyt4Tb71NGcce8lj70unQM8sYCF8tYqeIBOnnztH10A97497cZbuB53yksRcO_gEMLpiE2eqoUbQKnUgM4faSUu2Fwtc3ownJbKsUFLOwF6z1tF1Bwj3c6gIDH3QD5zRMw0ZBZ_XwyQZcSql_ifsthlv53W6K2aie6ETTDHNg/w640-h444/IMG_5882.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">In over eight years of full-time travel, we've only successfully taken a couple pika pictures. So we felt very blessed to take a couple more today.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9FIGbixfk2vtb9lzTpalbLIBDEKRL38Iz28jcIOL0UhLZnC0Uk1fdMtIa-b9taSFyNp_kicovCoLXXu73rP9alU8Ap9fGJHtaI1Mkzt_yk0v_hziw-voN8VzJaFT0Nqos4A4hH-QqTx3Gk_fv-73y0LBq70h9PObhK4ACZOK5hYxROUGkLE1QAXs-XE/s1311/IMG_5879.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1311" height="524" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9FIGbixfk2vtb9lzTpalbLIBDEKRL38Iz28jcIOL0UhLZnC0Uk1fdMtIa-b9taSFyNp_kicovCoLXXu73rP9alU8Ap9fGJHtaI1Mkzt_yk0v_hziw-voN8VzJaFT0Nqos4A4hH-QqTx3Gk_fv-73y0LBq70h9PObhK4ACZOK5hYxROUGkLE1QAXs-XE/w640-h524/IMG_5879.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">While we enjoyed our time on the ridge above tree line, we couldn't help but notice that the clouds were thickening and turning an ominous gray. With no protection from storms at this elevation, we had to turn back before we saw Lost Lake from the top. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWID5j9U9LCs4Z_Nv1mHKUNppn8kRbWabZGZFtuU1bmnUPjS0OqD8XWNIOUYey1jYUtvdw5p7TyBeiDA2MNqLTFIevy-VqEouB8d3XYtpbhm6mpUIaghKOPUkEFWwn01AoW5mphETxTJ0Z85IT1qBsKSJok-rXcJ7tTfZLb_4nRfdQYXNnHEsyFcHQgY/s3855/pic%20(302).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2683" data-original-width="3855" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWID5j9U9LCs4Z_Nv1mHKUNppn8kRbWabZGZFtuU1bmnUPjS0OqD8XWNIOUYey1jYUtvdw5p7TyBeiDA2MNqLTFIevy-VqEouB8d3XYtpbhm6mpUIaghKOPUkEFWwn01AoW5mphETxTJ0Z85IT1qBsKSJok-rXcJ7tTfZLb_4nRfdQYXNnHEsyFcHQgY/w640-h446/pic%20(302).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It was a zig-zagging switchback trail back down the Colorado/Continental Divide Trail to the pickup. We got some sprinkles of rain, but we didn't get wet.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXFyoDTu5FoGoM2LUIB0537PnF60CUGbRuut7Y-96zu-yIf8MX4WlCDWoHIgCMV50-QQ08DDbqbPT0GMw_Ve7tWI2zY8quzsfjaA2UOM2VD7xq0NssEAjnFXKULCXPvHAZvze29OUFGOdeCk6U3WrPw1ibtZS31N_I_vm4tWMI4Dx27ry3XjXkThouRA/s3816/pic%20(294).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2565" data-original-width="3816" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXFyoDTu5FoGoM2LUIB0537PnF60CUGbRuut7Y-96zu-yIf8MX4WlCDWoHIgCMV50-QQ08DDbqbPT0GMw_Ve7tWI2zY8quzsfjaA2UOM2VD7xq0NssEAjnFXKULCXPvHAZvze29OUFGOdeCk6U3WrPw1ibtZS31N_I_vm4tWMI4Dx27ry3XjXkThouRA/w640-h430/pic%20(294).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">That was our last stop on the Cottonwood Highway. We had a great August day with temperatures that never got out of the 60s. We were blessed to get to spend the summer months in the mountains! Our long day on Cottonwood Pass meant that we barely made it back to Buena Vista in time for the 6:00 concert in the park. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh78e_ZhOKGduZh3X_VMskpPma1fuIOfS7r05VvWg-3_4G3wWHRAnIgCCERTIoNbRXo4oIQMg9F8BgDp49IENzHnxZnQyI2cZsrXVea8dEA2hBzVPfcKW9-KEkobjRI2TcCeTbGuazaX4beNf8nqTQkDbHz6T8ZEg1apDIc45s1jlAuWu3GPbkiWsRIONI/s2426/pic%20(304).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1896" data-original-width="2426" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh78e_ZhOKGduZh3X_VMskpPma1fuIOfS7r05VvWg-3_4G3wWHRAnIgCCERTIoNbRXo4oIQMg9F8BgDp49IENzHnxZnQyI2cZsrXVea8dEA2hBzVPfcKW9-KEkobjRI2TcCeTbGuazaX4beNf8nqTQkDbHz6T8ZEg1apDIc45s1jlAuWu3GPbkiWsRIONI/w640-h500/pic%20(304).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The bluegrass group handed out spoons and kazoos to the crowd, and we all felt like we were part of the band. A good time was had by all!</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVuLcDXOsuWKsKwXmux1bLYprxdVAGCWymO4r4QXmpxp2DpJPYYtvBRgVtMJD8jTmMw-0vx0HXu3QtEPdI5igvxtF6CPeFeKFlrc6SmBjZN7OZ5Zjquo0wq9kEaAHS4OUZyqzjp7f-4eF8jHJh5VKLoDhyphenhyphenn8iQwpn0Ad40KxIVoK1sRq2ch2TWck5mDA/s3606/pic%20(306).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2407" data-original-width="3606" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVuLcDXOsuWKsKwXmux1bLYprxdVAGCWymO4r4QXmpxp2DpJPYYtvBRgVtMJD8jTmMw-0vx0HXu3QtEPdI5igvxtF6CPeFeKFlrc6SmBjZN7OZ5Zjquo0wq9kEaAHS4OUZyqzjp7f-4eF8jHJh5VKLoDhyphenhyphenn8iQwpn0Ad40KxIVoK1sRq2ch2TWck5mDA/w640-h428/pic%20(306).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We left the motor home early this morning, and we didn't return until 8:30 in the evening. It was a long and beautiful and exhausting day along Cottonwood Pass.</span></p><p><br /></p>Denisa and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870900598225088990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603551720303875027.post-27814247141020810062023-10-18T21:15:00.001-05:002023-10-18T21:15:56.801-05:00Anniversary White Water Rafting<p><i><span style="font-size: large;">We're way behind in getting travel posts published because we were having way too much fun traveling! So we won't be confused about when each "wandering" happened, we'll start each blog with its actual date.</span></i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">August 8, 2023</span></p><div><span style="font-size: large;">What do a couple of wanderers that have been married for 42 years do to celebrate such a momentous anniversary? We are blessed to get to wander God's wonders every day, so what experience could make a wedding anniversary special? How about a splurge on tickets to go white water rafting with a guide?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWbxvhchCO2KIaNuE1DxjTBMBObdUUYt95YoR7tAokUl9MUdaNeB4h4lH-n4EYZYX914I-3KkzYz4fNGs3GjK-HevgEHbUOTvjw51vKxU-IgY7IvCDSMbunaBDHkOR9MiY3M8bDnY8Aq4g7t1XiDPI-UQCrAxaXFjru2iODtTj2UKAKIrJrl7FpB5I4w/s1224/pic%20(1).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="1224" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWbxvhchCO2KIaNuE1DxjTBMBObdUUYt95YoR7tAokUl9MUdaNeB4h4lH-n4EYZYX914I-3KkzYz4fNGs3GjK-HevgEHbUOTvjw51vKxU-IgY7IvCDSMbunaBDHkOR9MiY3M8bDnY8Aq4g7t1XiDPI-UQCrAxaXFjru2iODtTj2UKAKIrJrl7FpB5I4w/w640-h384/pic%20(1).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We chose the Browns Canyon section of the Arkansas River. With Class III to IV rapids, we knew we were going to get wet. So we didn't take a camera with us in the boat. (But we went back to the Arkansas River days later to get some pictures of the area. So most of the river pictures in this blog were taken after our anniversary.) We arrived at Dvorak Rafting at 8:30, and they took us and our raft to the start of the canyon at Fisherman's Bridge. We were inside the Browns Canyon National Monument at this site. This was a very popular put-in site for raft trips. On the day we were taking pictures for this blog we couldn't believe how many rafts were starting here at the same time! We counted 15 rafts full of people in the picture we took at Fisherman's Bridge!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOB5UdTAeSKDZwxHCX6huZ6Ouw3OobifxNaPF2j-5IGmr7ElmJa9N5vf8qGwuXQnCc7u_yuqjzL4X6Yxj7uE5oH-P-0x-ab087T9CrPdDNKNzlC16OAUbbRAkvpvpLsLgYJZ5p_DG4pDT7O4gewuhdUJKFSce4UVhyphenhyphenOGdAVd8fehk5q96VqCSJm_LYA_Y/s4032/pic%20(139).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2204" data-original-width="4032" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOB5UdTAeSKDZwxHCX6huZ6Ouw3OobifxNaPF2j-5IGmr7ElmJa9N5vf8qGwuXQnCc7u_yuqjzL4X6Yxj7uE5oH-P-0x-ab087T9CrPdDNKNzlC16OAUbbRAkvpvpLsLgYJZ5p_DG4pDT7O4gewuhdUJKFSce4UVhyphenhyphenOGdAVd8fehk5q96VqCSJm_LYA_Y/w640-h350/pic%20(139).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">It was chilly the morning of our raft trip, but sunny. We started with our safety lesson on what to do if we were thrown out of the boat. We were sure hoping that didn't happen. But before our day was over, we did see that rescue plan in motion when a child fell out of a raft right in front of us. Our guide appropriately cinched up our life jackets so tight that we could barely breathe. If we didn't die of drowning, it looked like we could die of oxygen deprivation. They were serious about safety and things that can go wrong on this river, and they weren't afraid to put a little fear into their passengers.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilN8mcbt5ltgUhcZ_jzx3UotCFUhLF375lqFmUcclyLJTCNEHy_8MDVP5BpqN3dIxQ7Ea-LRECUnbQI7nnxli3sENDJh3mJR2Ba_e_urETXCrwzDUuKxvPGD9kgQgcL0gFipIKpSugkK1eccyFMLZCESQuPfsjgcESA4MqeQGzMLzJtOIncLSJtUudR28/s3527/pic%20(144).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2558" data-original-width="3527" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilN8mcbt5ltgUhcZ_jzx3UotCFUhLF375lqFmUcclyLJTCNEHy_8MDVP5BpqN3dIxQ7Ea-LRECUnbQI7nnxli3sENDJh3mJR2Ba_e_urETXCrwzDUuKxvPGD9kgQgcL0gFipIKpSugkK1eccyFMLZCESQuPfsjgcESA4MqeQGzMLzJtOIncLSJtUudR28/w640-h464/pic%20(144).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The Arkansas River is well below the parking lot at Fisherman's Bridge, and we had to get our raft down that steep hill. We were the only two in the raft with our guide, Jose. We can tell you that getting that big raft down the hill was hard work for three people. Most rafts have 6 or 7 people to manhandle their raft down the steep slope. It looks like that sleek metal launching rail will make it easy, but it was still hard work.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKD51nhX9MOpiAx-3HNA_sfEagAUi6k8I3NlXyT-OEoxfc1zEPfh7f2ZCx24xizMCRMJjkb4ALaOfCkOwWqsSwkVOHnDF1xuhO4O4kIGjbdvnjtMiyfyg9WkWPL9DqcPyAuYC0gipAWvG9iUWcU4XTDK-aQmo5uGfrwaMMUMpv0bGRMAJL1UthmLN009U/s3324/pic%20(137).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2197" data-original-width="3324" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKD51nhX9MOpiAx-3HNA_sfEagAUi6k8I3NlXyT-OEoxfc1zEPfh7f2ZCx24xizMCRMJjkb4ALaOfCkOwWqsSwkVOHnDF1xuhO4O4kIGjbdvnjtMiyfyg9WkWPL9DqcPyAuYC0gipAWvG9iUWcU4XTDK-aQmo5uGfrwaMMUMpv0bGRMAJL1UthmLN009U/w640-h424/pic%20(137).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We had more instructions and pep talks as we got to the water's edge. While it was busy when we were taking pictures, we had the place to ourselves early on a Tuesday morning when we were launching.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_hSPLDrQOSijo4W6B1y-Nz_qAUAmoGHyhoC3Tp5Cc4GNT7XQA2uk7OaxLDuwZE1H4IlOZbRxXqPYx7F62GyK27WjD69nWJ1JN5DUFMM2k5p9cVvWu_v0le3710FuC9eH2TpPkrAqqfPIXOuyWTwLJ20kBzrBY0yT1GhQkTj4RUqndaEtSgXoBRnpTZQ/s2288/pic%20(138).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1568" data-original-width="2288" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_hSPLDrQOSijo4W6B1y-Nz_qAUAmoGHyhoC3Tp5Cc4GNT7XQA2uk7OaxLDuwZE1H4IlOZbRxXqPYx7F62GyK27WjD69nWJ1JN5DUFMM2k5p9cVvWu_v0le3710FuC9eH2TpPkrAqqfPIXOuyWTwLJ20kBzrBY0yT1GhQkTj4RUqndaEtSgXoBRnpTZQ/w640-h438/pic%20(138).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">The first section of the Arkansas River we encountered was pretty calm, so it was a good time to practice our rafting skills that Jose was teaching us. He would yell, "Forward!" and we were both supposed to row forward; and "Back!" meant we were both supposed to row backwards. But if he yelled "Left Back!" you have to do some calculations and remember what side of the boat you were in. "Left Back!" means that Mark rows backward because he's on the left, but Denisa must row forward because she's on the right. You need to figure this out and move appropriately very quickly. That's because tricky instructions like that were needed to maneuver around a rock or hit a rapid at the best angle--things that happen very fast.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Ep2inqidaQWeQFtWwxCbguM9tEC4sGfroDprj18kVqDFXBXDbSOYA6vvfVy8oJithRI63A7N6GO2_hpE4KJRC_D7ES_XjAmmt5dc9sWX9413EQXgSxCDyloK9IRHY7aasDBpD0D4ninasYWGwekWJ2Viq6Osbvs9WZm9pU9upfLjHawfbl_V2hG53M4/s3239/pic%20(141).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2381" data-original-width="3239" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Ep2inqidaQWeQFtWwxCbguM9tEC4sGfroDprj18kVqDFXBXDbSOYA6vvfVy8oJithRI63A7N6GO2_hpE4KJRC_D7ES_XjAmmt5dc9sWX9413EQXgSxCDyloK9IRHY7aasDBpD0D4ninasYWGwekWJ2Viq6Osbvs9WZm9pU9upfLjHawfbl_V2hG53M4/w640-h470/pic%20(141).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">Jose would also yell, "Forward hard!" which means that we needed to give big effort to get out of a jam. If he yelled, "Lean!" you must hang on to the rope at the side of the boat and lean into the center. If he yells, "Oh Shit!" you should jump into the bottom of the boat and start praying. We were glad that we didn't hear that last command very many times.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37Ee-ywrGo9jp_wLPhbmsq8MqBj5r7wmAcUjOnP067ODc_zW-usIdjTtnDxYLwCCWDffHGKJe5_0s2hj3WWjKXtEDV9FAxN0-Nt8sNq6KArAqvm_j3krr1QSAMJnNiLbve70wHznhyphenhyphenkLkobHdtBici1jDqGfxDI05DNr1jCvlAUp4u7rs-Q_6OA4i2bE/s3265/pic%20(168).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2421" data-original-width="3265" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37Ee-ywrGo9jp_wLPhbmsq8MqBj5r7wmAcUjOnP067ODc_zW-usIdjTtnDxYLwCCWDffHGKJe5_0s2hj3WWjKXtEDV9FAxN0-Nt8sNq6KArAqvm_j3krr1QSAMJnNiLbve70wHznhyphenhyphenkLkobHdtBici1jDqGfxDI05DNr1jCvlAUp4u7rs-Q_6OA4i2bE/w640-h474/pic%20(168).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Jose also taught us the three rules of white water rafting: 1) never let go of your paddle; 2) hang on to the paddle if you fall out; 3) don't stand up in the boat. After the initial quiet section of water, we entered the more turbulent part of the Arkansas River right after Cottonwood Creek empties into it. It seemed like we just recovered from one set of rapids when another set appeared around a bend in the river. Mark couldn't wipe the smile off his face!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPaCw9mOr6PyUed3wPRzdm5cd3jzpbSw8g1k2j2K7EsFeQusTwfP0L4Amx8MwZqid_HXeiKirGeIJWsoQSk8JlBT5YrEGUNXhalrDhj3pmrn59BcnHJLOtHvbaKHDllvk4wph7LTlqO9W-qQ8hI5Lo8m4lH2qQaJA7SqQXGCnnh0__X2HNDHyvj_G4YPQ/s2277/pic%20(140).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2277" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPaCw9mOr6PyUed3wPRzdm5cd3jzpbSw8g1k2j2K7EsFeQusTwfP0L4Amx8MwZqid_HXeiKirGeIJWsoQSk8JlBT5YrEGUNXhalrDhj3pmrn59BcnHJLOtHvbaKHDllvk4wph7LTlqO9W-qQ8hI5Lo8m4lH2qQaJA7SqQXGCnnh0__X2HNDHyvj_G4YPQ/w562-h640/pic%20(140).JPG" width="562" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We went through a series of class II and III rapids as we got into the groove of the raft. These different drops and rock sections have comforting names like "Pinball," "The Raft Ripper," "Widowmaker," and "The Big Drop." "Pinball" is named for the section of large rocks in the river that a raft must ping between like it was inside a pinball machine.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGKenNJ23_-uqiH-JwVm7J7MfQ3jfwxUGcNspv4q_J48gRDPAKgeWy7qv5DezJmJcIlrDMYiRvMtiSqs88RPMKXS-CBSDhDuRWH5cwtlk34baaZfdIZ_GaDI8_a9Wd6y1exQkwsxRU0QgOFScx7kyT8aZrP594iDg64dUt0FxHnWOruUdkyJMy0YJlz0/s3567/pic%20(174).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2768" data-original-width="3567" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGKenNJ23_-uqiH-JwVm7J7MfQ3jfwxUGcNspv4q_J48gRDPAKgeWy7qv5DezJmJcIlrDMYiRvMtiSqs88RPMKXS-CBSDhDuRWH5cwtlk34baaZfdIZ_GaDI8_a9Wd6y1exQkwsxRU0QgOFScx7kyT8aZrP594iDg64dUt0FxHnWOruUdkyJMy0YJlz0/w640-h496/pic%20(174).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">The "Big Drop" is . . . well, a big drop. We didn't have a picture of the one on our route, but here's another section of the Arkansas River with a little drop. Mark loved these technical sections of the river, while Denisa just hung on for dear life.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPG6HP9vtH6J2QrrtJe5G4tU_lWf7E4-9LAZdvZB-Z3H57CWIr9JTKUxGivqcrZMTMl-D67yswN9sIARHJG4vnPC2TVK24SAIeVEOjFnLkvLcyjbd-5spv_g4Z_QmX8ZR3_Aq7qKwMVoJmde9gm08M_eeynzVoxqb7J7XYMSneboDXvP2xagiocWwmcE/s3901/pic%20(162).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2591" data-original-width="3901" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPG6HP9vtH6J2QrrtJe5G4tU_lWf7E4-9LAZdvZB-Z3H57CWIr9JTKUxGivqcrZMTMl-D67yswN9sIARHJG4vnPC2TVK24SAIeVEOjFnLkvLcyjbd-5spv_g4Z_QmX8ZR3_Aq7qKwMVoJmde9gm08M_eeynzVoxqb7J7XYMSneboDXvP2xagiocWwmcE/w640-h426/pic%20(162).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We found out there are many rafting companies in the Buena Vista area. In the pictures in the blog today you will see yellow rafts, red rafts, blue rafts, turquoise rafts . . . with different insignias on them. Each one of those are different rafting companies, with over twenty in the area. How could we ever decide which one to go with? We wanted to go on our anniversary, and in the morning to avoid afternoon storms. Some companies don't have trips at that less popular time of Tuesday morning. We found several companies had groupons that reduced the price considerably. We decided on Dvorak because they had great reviews, they had a groupon, and they would guarantee us a Tuesday morning trip even if no one else signed up. No one else reserved a trip that morning, so we had the raft and the guide all to ourselves. We found that to be a blessing and a curse. The curse was that we had less help in rowing and carrying the boat. On another day we found another couple rafting with their own private guide, but that was certainly not the norm. The blessing is that we had a romantic anniversary paddle with a guide. Imagine a romantic gondola ride--but with white water rapids.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-clfJcX11DfMyzLSjywn7oALyRu4x6uT9K6lecapNJ4mioPP57BjphHuotPAGwEqYdSzA6svEFduNDokvSJt6OdTCBVrS8WrwQigX503VXshQX-qeGgHQjVkYPHQhLkvDYTJ-zhm_bTIjM4v1Ncumr9uxeAo6rHmNLpXmBFvd0NpSVHwjCx4zWHXZVgo/s3186/pic%20(167).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2191" data-original-width="3186" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-clfJcX11DfMyzLSjywn7oALyRu4x6uT9K6lecapNJ4mioPP57BjphHuotPAGwEqYdSzA6svEFduNDokvSJt6OdTCBVrS8WrwQigX503VXshQX-qeGgHQjVkYPHQhLkvDYTJ-zhm_bTIjM4v1Ncumr9uxeAo6rHmNLpXmBFvd0NpSVHwjCx4zWHXZVgo/w640-h440/pic%20(167).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We made one stop along the way at a sandy beach area with a high cliff. Mark jumped off the cliff, but we have no pictures since we didn't have a camera. We could have described the beautiful swan dive that Denisa made off that high cliff. But we must be truthful and just say that Denisa was happy to be a spectator. We were one of the first boats on the river the morning of our float trip, but later we got passed by rafts with more people in them. A six-person raft has six "motors" while we only had two. We had to row more than we expected, and the river got more crowded as the morning progressed.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PxfTfd515LvprFabUsUVOvcCfesjIsCcHEasJV_PvRJXUn5BNaQAIiRv6baYkkAgNIcZkZ-4epzgLZWx6-z-FdoXWs6MMO_K8JEFLPk-RLlRd8Sh141idQx6MorpQE2LCLuplFTKHcPqZOJdh7ZP2QWBUyjghltAMhTgBEmiW0ebkGtrpkxNdsLrNmc/s3239/pic%20(141).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2381" data-original-width="3239" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PxfTfd515LvprFabUsUVOvcCfesjIsCcHEasJV_PvRJXUn5BNaQAIiRv6baYkkAgNIcZkZ-4epzgLZWx6-z-FdoXWs6MMO_K8JEFLPk-RLlRd8Sh141idQx6MorpQE2LCLuplFTKHcPqZOJdh7ZP2QWBUyjghltAMhTgBEmiW0ebkGtrpkxNdsLrNmc/w640-h470/pic%20(141).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We enjoyed some beautiful views with the mountains towering over us . . .</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3IEaUJQKmm7CvD-cCPP43ZsvOc-m63T712yKwWzOTDifZ6scKBTyjn-fkzQa8B6IpqE6VHngpGGA8r7U6xQVp5I5-L4VU1jKylwa8VXduuRxcqncGalJCmzG08pA1i82T6L3uiUa5_9Rn_R62EzZB2hKG6Tismg-D6dOVz5uOikPTPqBDmRdQE3nE41E/s3003/pic%20(142).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2021" data-original-width="3003" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3IEaUJQKmm7CvD-cCPP43ZsvOc-m63T712yKwWzOTDifZ6scKBTyjn-fkzQa8B6IpqE6VHngpGGA8r7U6xQVp5I5-L4VU1jKylwa8VXduuRxcqncGalJCmzG08pA1i82T6L3uiUa5_9Rn_R62EzZB2hKG6Tismg-D6dOVz5uOikPTPqBDmRdQE3nE41E/w640-h430/pic%20(142).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">and the walls of Browns Canyon National Monument around us. We had wandered into another of God's wonders on this anniversary.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqV6gx74lpHGZeyLyeOKLa95qptdG6GnbFjEEGjlO1PPu0r_cuaJM5vZGuoVVyt-B5Z6Y4lbolFaiUTJmIdy5dzGJCSOfG3wSjA6ny4-lqK7gsM-11jDnFYBuvfqKuH8ODIvBofkXUTQBHhnshPyGIldQYAqBYnHmztEHrW-vjl-QZwjEo9asKX7tfBg/s3685/pic%20(150).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2814" data-original-width="3685" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqV6gx74lpHGZeyLyeOKLa95qptdG6GnbFjEEGjlO1PPu0r_cuaJM5vZGuoVVyt-B5Z6Y4lbolFaiUTJmIdy5dzGJCSOfG3wSjA6ny4-lqK7gsM-11jDnFYBuvfqKuH8ODIvBofkXUTQBHhnshPyGIldQYAqBYnHmztEHrW-vjl-QZwjEo9asKX7tfBg/w640-h488/pic%20(150).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">It turned windy towards the end of our journey, and we had to row hard just to go forward in a tranquil section of the river. Our legs were tired from tensing up and gripping through sections of the most intense rapids. Our arms were tired from long periods of intense rowing. By the end of our half-day float, we were both tired! We can't imagine going on a full-day float! </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We really enjoyed our time in the raft with Jose. He had lots of stories to tell about his rafting career. He was from Costa Rica, and he loved it when he found out that we went on a white water rafting trip when we visited Costa Rica in 2014. He spoke five languages because he moves around the world to be in rafting weather all year long. He has led rafting trips in Italy, Norway, Germany, Brazil, Costa Rica, Switzerland, Australia, and many locations in the United States.</span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Nld-U86nl4r__xMX5NdqzYiYS-k8jMmOqiI234J5YhKeBSZsql5iuL8_9aOcInippGfuNn2rinwaBb5KIivPDD46IZGIuwmp6ZOEn6uX89TAKiQVG1q3ak86432neVHh38DZa2hitUdxFllQHl2nNfMv7sOb-qs1bZeYW4g1398cLua3Gi2EXxbvK54/s587/pic%20(3).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="587" height="580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Nld-U86nl4r__xMX5NdqzYiYS-k8jMmOqiI234J5YhKeBSZsql5iuL8_9aOcInippGfuNn2rinwaBb5KIivPDD46IZGIuwmp6ZOEn6uX89TAKiQVG1q3ak86432neVHh38DZa2hitUdxFllQHl2nNfMv7sOb-qs1bZeYW4g1398cLua3Gi2EXxbvK54/w640-h580/pic%20(3).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We got out at Hecla Junction, in a quiet section of the Arkansas River.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFxfmAO1Q517jalbafopOiT75PcHFlDjnCDJoMhPwQBC23oWUkLF6BUxe6XF-QspftatxOvzsdsukjkO3S29UKuVQ-5wJG5GxXg71iL23Bl2ywrhd6ftSQBEyyrnsPOOmqdVNxN_MIiBiLbBcVrxU06leNmQiwG7OamSO7Wl90X38RiFaBoFpjwAuF8U/s3829/pic%20(145).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2263" data-original-width="3829" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFxfmAO1Q517jalbafopOiT75PcHFlDjnCDJoMhPwQBC23oWUkLF6BUxe6XF-QspftatxOvzsdsukjkO3S29UKuVQ-5wJG5GxXg71iL23Bl2ywrhd6ftSQBEyyrnsPOOmqdVNxN_MIiBiLbBcVrxU06leNmQiwG7OamSO7Wl90X38RiFaBoFpjwAuF8U/w640-h378/pic%20(145).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">This is where all of the half-day Browns Canyon rafting trips get off the water. The parking lot was full of big buses to transport the big companies' customers back to their cars parked at their shops. Because Dvorak was a small company, we had a van waiting for us.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVwEcSC9FA1YPGVd0wCyBr7G9L04K95H8ld-J8Uusva4VDV5XNuVAQ10ZW2uMpsTpBsH7yLkVYgvGbZb9L4fd65OtrrSttUlUNT4LUvdRsGiBwqlKFebzhlJS_iiYLCH2O6IQzvjt722riPzdxPsC0fHcaiVl_hZd1E4njI57LLxJAAVdRymueCddFiqE/s3724/pic%20(155).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2401" data-original-width="3724" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVwEcSC9FA1YPGVd0wCyBr7G9L04K95H8ld-J8Uusva4VDV5XNuVAQ10ZW2uMpsTpBsH7yLkVYgvGbZb9L4fd65OtrrSttUlUNT4LUvdRsGiBwqlKFebzhlJS_iiYLCH2O6IQzvjt722riPzdxPsC0fHcaiVl_hZd1E4njI57LLxJAAVdRymueCddFiqE/w640-h412/pic%20(155).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">Jose had his phone in the van, and he took a picture of the three of us in the raft at the end of our trip. He emailed them to us so we did have three pictures of our anniversary day and our white water adventure. Of course, we could have bought the pictures that the professional photographer took as we screamed through one of the white water sections. But at $37 per picture, we liked Jose's free pictures better.</span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeqKtuSMP1OZtZjlk5eeolrtWfLWLCQbaGILav77a8r34I77iDJCOIguVbdaVtO44OXJ7VxM3wqzI0hbE1SWnUrFXpMBbcxPTkFl0goi_BR5LmaZbqAZCCdGxGaRZgGMsDE1WlF1a6lg9HAKlOMAk6plhw7IQpDnEbj8uu8kBzwhxrnzHGvoYeNEicuUs/s1430/pic%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="737" data-original-width="1430" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeqKtuSMP1OZtZjlk5eeolrtWfLWLCQbaGILav77a8r34I77iDJCOIguVbdaVtO44OXJ7VxM3wqzI0hbE1SWnUrFXpMBbcxPTkFl0goi_BR5LmaZbqAZCCdGxGaRZgGMsDE1WlF1a6lg9HAKlOMAk6plhw7IQpDnEbj8uu8kBzwhxrnzHGvoYeNEicuUs/w640-h330/pic%20(2).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We were finished in the early afternoon, and we were tired! Our arms and legs were surprisingly tired from this rafting trip. We deserved a nap before we went out to eat at Quincy's Steak House for our anniversary dinner. What a great way to celebrate a 42nd wedding anniversary!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Denisa and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870900598225088990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603551720303875027.post-2348878162340858802023-10-14T21:48:00.001-05:002023-10-15T22:22:43.525-05:00Living like a local in Buena Vista<p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>We're way behind in getting travel posts published because we were having way too much fun traveling! So we won't be confused about when each "wandering" happened, we'll start each blog with its actual date.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">August 2023</span></p><div><span style="font-size: large;">We have seldom stayed in one location for a whole month, but being in the mountains in the middle of the summer was a treat. So we worked at becoming locals as we got to know our new community of Buena Vista, Colorado. The first step was to learn the local pronunciation of the town name. While we all know how to pronounce "Taco Bueno," we had to forget any semblance of Mexican pronunciation when it comes to saying Buena Vista. The locals say something that should be spelled Buna, and begins like the sound in "buick" or "beautiful." So every time you read Buena Vista in this blog, think beautiful Buna Vista. Or you can try another local trick and just call it BV.</span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">We were looking forward to becoming regular customers at the local farmers' markets. The first Saturday we hit both the Buena Vista and the Salida farmers markets because we love summer farmers markets! While we purchased a few things, we have to say that the prices were very high and we didn't find a vendor that we looked forward to seeing every week. Denisa was disappointed, but we recognized that Colorado was an expensive place to live and shop for fresh produce.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxfir3xEJwlSCe-JojTya_6upodU_fVhg9dxOz45pmUlYY6Su6Twr6dSYxsSP8yHn2apbz_lwErbNZKNfcTV0KgN97Ib7j1v068XQgRi1aY_QKyYukV6L2lj4rKo6ACDHr-JoqxQGwFenMzqluiUu6UoyOICZ169eye3P1q8yIM6pcBfeUAf2Nk2T2JhU/s2059/pic%20(301).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1974" data-original-width="2059" height="614" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxfir3xEJwlSCe-JojTya_6upodU_fVhg9dxOz45pmUlYY6Su6Twr6dSYxsSP8yHn2apbz_lwErbNZKNfcTV0KgN97Ib7j1v068XQgRi1aY_QKyYukV6L2lj4rKo6ACDHr-JoqxQGwFenMzqluiUu6UoyOICZ169eye3P1q8yIM6pcBfeUAf2Nk2T2JhU/w640-h614/pic%20(301).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Speaking of fresh produce, we were not far from Palisade, Colorado, famous for the best peaches in the country. In downtown Buena Vista we had a tent where they sold Palisade peaches every day. We stopped in to buy some, but left empty-handed when they were $6 per pound or $60 for a small box with only two layers of peaches! To top it off, the fruit was looking bruised and soft from being too long under that tent. So we were glad when the local grocery store had a special on Colorado peaches for 99 cents per pound. We were feeling like locals because we downloaded the grocery store's app to start receiving digital coupons. We don't often stay in one place long enough to claim a local grocery store. We bought a bunch of peaches, and made four-layer-peach-delight more than once. Denisa got the recipe out of the newspaper when it won the Palisade Peach festival grand prize when we were visiting there several years ago. No pictures of the desserts because we ate them faster than the camera could focus.</span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Arkansas River rolls through the town of Buena Vista. A nice trail along the river was a popular place any time of the day. We always saw kayakers in the water, practicing their skills on the eddies and play areas.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJFZ9_NLQoEZQc8SIT_P-lUKXzekFIDjSy9VDcDI5OY6p5KV8tDCW89TDG6gj_uLhidUTICkpRiIHLSU6K1kRY0RpFpqipWlYlzWPbOk3PTGryLwTPYRJIiiDr83SEnrKr2RBu_iOP60ZOsyMF26cXprDwRkALXluy5sj6ELUWzs4qgqnK_7B4RauiRpY/s3002/pic%20(135).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2361" data-original-width="3002" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJFZ9_NLQoEZQc8SIT_P-lUKXzekFIDjSy9VDcDI5OY6p5KV8tDCW89TDG6gj_uLhidUTICkpRiIHLSU6K1kRY0RpFpqipWlYlzWPbOk3PTGryLwTPYRJIiiDr83SEnrKr2RBu_iOP60ZOsyMF26cXprDwRkALXluy5sj6ELUWzs4qgqnK_7B4RauiRpY/w640-h504/pic%20(135).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><div><span style="font-size: large;">Experienced kayakers can hold their position in the churning water, or practice flipping upside down and then righting their boats. The antics of more inexperienced kayakers provided entertainment to the people strolling along the trail.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5xUOj26_eXWeforzFnu5aPh7ev_CM6pfsprhMhQhaghgp8IrJEGERa5fEjKPyyj_px_Ul190jydPiPhN9u5mpBxUoFXxzb4ZXu534XZxXuPJ36MhYObjjcIW5NjO6HnIrMrvR_Zx2dL_ja13DTYe-P7AHtwLFgJQHeAQLCYKPCEW2srGcb_ioyFWwkp0/s2688/pic%20(133).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2013" data-original-width="2688" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5xUOj26_eXWeforzFnu5aPh7ev_CM6pfsprhMhQhaghgp8IrJEGERa5fEjKPyyj_px_Ul190jydPiPhN9u5mpBxUoFXxzb4ZXu534XZxXuPJ36MhYObjjcIW5NjO6HnIrMrvR_Zx2dL_ja13DTYe-P7AHtwLFgJQHeAQLCYKPCEW2srGcb_ioyFWwkp0/w640-h480/pic%20(133).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">A bridge on both ends of the town trail allowed walkers to make a loop, and enjoy the views down the Arkansas River.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDNTzV-txnjy501IYIG5x2AG5m6rZkDXyIeZrrQV9hkrQanmdSPHRjV2F-PzPvI-2TbZGTUQo5xPQw7LCCG6cDAKQzp8IpyZ9oZ5tMQhtvbX_Ib0dmmDDKaoLTBQrfpWnK4dDR5zdR51ahJFHu4aGf6PpOn5F15PaFLn5_H2bkxDs0ythwlHdB210KRg/s3442/pic%20(143).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2578" data-original-width="3442" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDNTzV-txnjy501IYIG5x2AG5m6rZkDXyIeZrrQV9hkrQanmdSPHRjV2F-PzPvI-2TbZGTUQo5xPQw7LCCG6cDAKQzp8IpyZ9oZ5tMQhtvbX_Ib0dmmDDKaoLTBQrfpWnK4dDR5zdR51ahJFHu4aGf6PpOn5F15PaFLn5_H2bkxDs0ythwlHdB210KRg/w640-h480/pic%20(143).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Another local thing to do was to sit in the park just above the river. Especially on the weekends, the restaurants and bars were crowded. But we could always find a place to sit. We especially liked this cement and tile all-weather living room that came complete with tile family pets.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidh9DfnP1uN2Q5JB5yrHUoHnORMA88CwHBCT5p1Xo9eHL7JY7DXEU0hBetZ-441Z-njAjBbMQz4lrN_E2MVto9wUHsubkyU4KAyFV0qkUTdL-tHyIlD9Bm5O3FSxem9g3opElBcI0xKXReWaLKkMaQIYuwyCYh6H85-DHbSWqk5-AHjT14oALF6ywbnDg/s3324/pic%20(137).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2434" data-original-width="3324" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidh9DfnP1uN2Q5JB5yrHUoHnORMA88CwHBCT5p1Xo9eHL7JY7DXEU0hBetZ-441Z-njAjBbMQz4lrN_E2MVto9wUHsubkyU4KAyFV0qkUTdL-tHyIlD9Bm5O3FSxem9g3opElBcI0xKXReWaLKkMaQIYuwyCYh6H85-DHbSWqk5-AHjT14oALF6ywbnDg/w640-h468/pic%20(137).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Families bring their picnics to the park, and street performers bring their guitars to play for tips. One evening a couple brought their props and performed in the park. She was doing aerial silk acrobatics suspended from a 25-foot metal frame, and he was in costume and walking on stilts. It felt a little like a circus at the park.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTTGVTGv2ADyrPui67eFlWr-U7Gunpe_fE_Pf87u7YjcE9DEtprMDN787nAtDHMY3ri7Ke736hD4mDHmwWRecvpY6qJhsFW8NPSdcRDEmtlsQjzGj2K0qy3WgGLl4lukBdSIXobs3i4UUpapk4Q81U7xmKfTfgpPximyP3E9kADrbOTcGQNBUQPrQeHo/s2976/pic%20(138).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1613" data-original-width="2976" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTTGVTGv2ADyrPui67eFlWr-U7Gunpe_fE_Pf87u7YjcE9DEtprMDN787nAtDHMY3ri7Ke736hD4mDHmwWRecvpY6qJhsFW8NPSdcRDEmtlsQjzGj2K0qy3WgGLl4lukBdSIXobs3i4UUpapk4Q81U7xmKfTfgpPximyP3E9kADrbOTcGQNBUQPrQeHo/w640-h346/pic%20(138).JPG" width="640" /></a></span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Occasionally, a more famous performer had a private concert in the park. We found out that a singer/guitar player named Trace Bundy was performing the evening we were strolling. While they put up a black screen to keep everyone out that didn't buy a $35 ticket, the music flowed right through the screen.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhRFLoDUl3Lgs4J7XCn8Z1Zb4tgtGdgosbjGWuw-h7t5-HXWWDI_9KWlhRhwAV2-68njsj2LrhNre-mfXBAthPE_KjaoHNr5aHcrApCK-Oseg4SGDv64rHpRglJWfYupPVM4t74DNkzfETiNfYCKENf1zBRurS7dxrYj1__f653woI_Q-bIbgStS94q4/s3783/pic%20(144).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2027" data-original-width="3783" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhRFLoDUl3Lgs4J7XCn8Z1Zb4tgtGdgosbjGWuw-h7t5-HXWWDI_9KWlhRhwAV2-68njsj2LrhNre-mfXBAthPE_KjaoHNr5aHcrApCK-Oseg4SGDv64rHpRglJWfYupPVM4t74DNkzfETiNfYCKENf1zBRurS7dxrYj1__f653woI_Q-bIbgStS94q4/w640-h342/pic%20(144).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We found another seat close to that side of the park, and enjoyed $70 of music for free. We were proud to say that our hiking had kept our hips in shape this summer. We both squeezed into that ski-backed chair to listen to the music.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7mKQvCoLxlFGsSshN2Kdm-OEbUEuE7Hm9jSPHJpjrrMg0Hfmt7otNjDbiIJlL-YZ3-gPAZRRl-AzbWs5AAKw_Nop-EjlWFgkzEK6FDxaJjDGd8_IWqq7tYKoJmYgF1XFPK6iHU2MffhEFWR0oXijmD5UEkDd0KhpNf-tx2odJkWorzEh8-zDEmHb_w4/s2834/pic%20(145).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2834" data-original-width="2622" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7mKQvCoLxlFGsSshN2Kdm-OEbUEuE7Hm9jSPHJpjrrMg0Hfmt7otNjDbiIJlL-YZ3-gPAZRRl-AzbWs5AAKw_Nop-EjlWFgkzEK6FDxaJjDGd8_IWqq7tYKoJmYgF1XFPK6iHU2MffhEFWR0oXijmD5UEkDd0KhpNf-tx2odJkWorzEh8-zDEmHb_w4/w592-h640/pic%20(145).JPG" width="592" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">When we were looking for a local place to go to church, we were excited about the chance to go to the same church for several weeks in a row. Mark had it narrowed down to a couple different churches, but we ended up at the Lutheran Church. Denisa thinks the decision might have been made based on the fact that they were having an anniversary party after church that first Sunday, to celebrate the completion of their pastor's first year in Buena Vista. He often uses the availability of cake to help make important decisions.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We also enjoyed getting to know some of our camping neighbors. Our favorites were Ronnie and Connie, who come here every summer to avoid hurricane season on the Gulf Coast. Ronnie's Buena Vista hobby is panning for gold. We were intrigued by his gold-panning equipment, and he let us watch the process. It's a good day when you find "some color" in your pan. This day he even found a little nugget that might be worth around $10. Connie pointed out that the $3,000 gold panning machine he uses will never get paid for in gold, because a nugget was a rare find.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJe0WfJAwwmBnfOEj8IQify1jwTmfyL7ASJjfgC9DYokAUJkN20xCB5MctQuDTTKCgZa6RpVMp7t6yEEf64egGQ7IcYEN8zfllEX75SJOUaD-CnWzH4dxy7FYcsMA0opVoGlRyqa0_xaCcVk0AVShKqm3dC-sXSSb6rGRT2hhXfncICXLU--B_IQLA65g/s2695/pic%20(132).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1987" data-original-width="2695" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJe0WfJAwwmBnfOEj8IQify1jwTmfyL7ASJjfgC9DYokAUJkN20xCB5MctQuDTTKCgZa6RpVMp7t6yEEf64egGQ7IcYEN8zfllEX75SJOUaD-CnWzH4dxy7FYcsMA0opVoGlRyqa0_xaCcVk0AVShKqm3dC-sXSSb6rGRT2hhXfncICXLU--B_IQLA65g/w640-h472/pic%20(132).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We went to most of the free concerts in the park. Buena Vista was proud of the brand new covered stage in McPhelemy Park, where they hosted a concert every Thursday evening. There was also a monthly all-day music festival that we attended on a Saturday. In between acts, a local juggler performed, and she needed someone to help her. Denisa was just like a local, volunteering to learn some juggling skills. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZuOlTMr8th8og7COo4Nf6D8R1TkQ3MLepy7PNrzUyTcv1Oikev37qlEQRxNiQ3mXmi07LGgBQgyHWfIbUcE2x9e6vQJWMP1yoFRQ9BsIwD6yoI-s7Nga1iCPFDaS3kzhl9vXdleqNA17CRyhR7Ee5GR5-3SbVuHOSZJSGYGmF6nmb1UbDF9kIK9y3JDg/s1698/pic%20(146).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1646" data-original-width="1698" height="620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZuOlTMr8th8og7COo4Nf6D8R1TkQ3MLepy7PNrzUyTcv1Oikev37qlEQRxNiQ3mXmi07LGgBQgyHWfIbUcE2x9e6vQJWMP1yoFRQ9BsIwD6yoI-s7Nga1iCPFDaS3kzhl9vXdleqNA17CRyhR7Ee5GR5-3SbVuHOSZJSGYGmF6nmb1UbDF9kIK9y3JDg/w640-h620/pic%20(146).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Buena Vista had six new pickleball courts that were available for anyone to use. We learned that playing pickleball at over 8,000 feet in elevation will really get your heart pounding. We also tried the morning league that met three days each week, where we got to meet some locals. But we were obviously focused on playing, because we always forgot to take a picture of the nice new pickleball courts.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Even though we got haircuts right before we started our summer travels, we were both in dire need of a trim by the time we got to Buena Vista. The plan was to ask a local (sporting a good haircut) for a salon recommendation. But we found that no one seems to cut hair in the mountains. Denisa's hair would grow to look like a big white bush was growing on top of her head, and Mark's was the longest it had been since 2020. Denisa took this picture while riding behind him on the four-wheeler. While his cap usually covers his hair, the unusually long ends were blowing in the Colorado wind.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5caKxc86ClWEPPYKFkt1OnLU9pKtqpfKSsw7s3rg_yODex3RmTVHtSrAiaq3015j6KupRKP1bSG17r9suLGOyupumowPV-kjr7qQzN8bPJzWNbH2FsuwuxsoYWXdRn5T_wMmEes-YfplNHsAaSl-o9-XRE3UrcC6NNmfw5AD_KgJuLwqXzT4klYsLtUQ/s3134/pic%20(160).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2604" data-original-width="3134" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5caKxc86ClWEPPYKFkt1OnLU9pKtqpfKSsw7s3rg_yODex3RmTVHtSrAiaq3015j6KupRKP1bSG17r9suLGOyupumowPV-kjr7qQzN8bPJzWNbH2FsuwuxsoYWXdRn5T_wMmEes-YfplNHsAaSl-o9-XRE3UrcC6NNmfw5AD_KgJuLwqXzT4klYsLtUQ/w640-h532/pic%20(160).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">He begged for a haircut, and Denisa finally agreed. It was the shaggiest he had been since Covid when you couldn't go to a barbershop. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZ90UeN4ubqghZMdIWuDeUEHAgr5FuXCmS7dZcYwHIer61BRTmK9cWYYTLhHvcGeTsjjhcCZ2UDtnb31MbiHZTovaUBbMWclV-eEKaMD4rUREiaExVFVc3xkU5kXlsfIU2jWqndDUwPC4wYHmuKspGnWnnsjV7kRfm100j7Z1-FMRANGFTeKJgLTIIro/s2898/pic%20(264).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2893" data-original-width="2898" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZ90UeN4ubqghZMdIWuDeUEHAgr5FuXCmS7dZcYwHIer61BRTmK9cWYYTLhHvcGeTsjjhcCZ2UDtnb31MbiHZTovaUBbMWclV-eEKaMD4rUREiaExVFVc3xkU5kXlsfIU2jWqndDUwPC4wYHmuKspGnWnnsjV7kRfm100j7Z1-FMRANGFTeKJgLTIIro/w640-h638/pic%20(264).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">We forgot to take a picture of the finished haircut, but Denisa was relieved to know that his hair was usually covered with a cap. Besides, hair will grow, right?!? It's all part of living like a local in Buena Vista.<br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div>Denisa and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870900598225088990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603551720303875027.post-91594901661786767502023-10-12T07:43:00.001-05:002023-10-12T07:43:23.673-05:00We're ready for a challenging hike to Lake Ann<p><i><span style="font-size: large;">We're way behind in getting travel posts published because we were having way too much fun traveling! So we won't be confused about when each "wandering" happened, we'll start each blog with its actual date.</span></i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">August 7, 2023</span></p><div><span style="font-size: large;">We were ready for a challenging hike, so we picked one from the long list of hikes in this area around Buena Vista, Colorado. We headed to the Lake Ann trail head, which was a 23-mile drive away from our campground. The last 12 miles was on CR 390, a bumpy rutted road that made us glad we had a 4x4 pickup. But that road wound through some scenic views of the Sawatch Mountains.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1W14WFrn8nrlYah7EADVxi_MMxuej63nOIF7JPMwWXaFnyJLfwMMpmOo_B7mEZldrOzeUVPq5UnwYMzxGfBxyZgEXR7Bw4nGgF8QRD-NKiJZx-IsZrhvEpA__MRElDSpnO50ezEyxEZYs2J1b5Nj00wL_tO6PNakozAv1wzy8Qx9BU1XRJtVe0oSlhWo/s5473/pic%20(234).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3630" data-original-width="5473" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1W14WFrn8nrlYah7EADVxi_MMxuej63nOIF7JPMwWXaFnyJLfwMMpmOo_B7mEZldrOzeUVPq5UnwYMzxGfBxyZgEXR7Bw4nGgF8QRD-NKiJZx-IsZrhvEpA__MRElDSpnO50ezEyxEZYs2J1b5Nj00wL_tO6PNakozAv1wzy8Qx9BU1XRJtVe0oSlhWo/w640-h424/pic%20(234).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The gravel road went from bad to worse, and Denisa finally insisted that we park the pickup and hike the rest of the way to the trail head. Mark thought the pickup could make it, but one of us to had to have some sense in this family! As we walked the road that Mark wanted to drive, Denisa got some pictorial evidence that it was the right decision.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkaeXVyib38KtX6yOnH3CHaizhgIC9Ln0ijUfns2PMtAPgJG0_Lsso9qL0Ke3TRJHf75ZdLOE85uhX-bajiNmEZ2u6AG-gN63rdssJkTrffKW3wcMfmvVdRuKilk_RENZTWFqNouM2zYzuVPNDsbsUcly4DBz1hTAeLXwIIcJNVj7YAv-haM2OEVLQTPU/s4032/pic%20(261).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkaeXVyib38KtX6yOnH3CHaizhgIC9Ln0ijUfns2PMtAPgJG0_Lsso9qL0Ke3TRJHf75ZdLOE85uhX-bajiNmEZ2u6AG-gN63rdssJkTrffKW3wcMfmvVdRuKilk_RENZTWFqNouM2zYzuVPNDsbsUcly4DBz1hTAeLXwIIcJNVj7YAv-haM2OEVLQTPU/w640-h480/pic%20(261).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">The Lake Ann trail was supposed to be 7.2 miles long, with 1,374 feet of elevation gain. That would be a challenging hike. But since we had to hike uphill for almost two miles to the trailhead, it became even more challenging. Once we were actually on the trail, we entered the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness of the San Isabel National Forest.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6VwpNkZe_A5-eS54vSrynSEHItdKKY71TyVoRsDOjB2OCnVFs8sjn2LldqAadhO-Ksq_2tPgFu0eB-6iPsMdt9tlOLo1GpO4Th1JLtzmYbbFKe_wmQJq1tLzYVi9yWkEIh0ezGUezbeQlp_ivRJ3Jo2ljknmgv24xBrtgVsnRuY6x3NZ-CjovoXpFFY/s2288/pic%20(235).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1719" data-original-width="2288" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6VwpNkZe_A5-eS54vSrynSEHItdKKY71TyVoRsDOjB2OCnVFs8sjn2LldqAadhO-Ksq_2tPgFu0eB-6iPsMdt9tlOLo1GpO4Th1JLtzmYbbFKe_wmQJq1tLzYVi9yWkEIh0ezGUezbeQlp_ivRJ3Jo2ljknmgv24xBrtgVsnRuY6x3NZ-CjovoXpFFY/w640-h480/pic%20(235).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">It's called the Collegiate Peaks because the biggest peaks were named for famous universities. We've seen Mount Princeton, Mount Harvard, Mount Yale . . . With eight 14ers in the Collegiate Peaks, it possesses the highest average elevation of any wilderness area in the lower 48 states. Another group of mountains known as "The Apostles" were peaking out over the pine trees as we hiked.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf_o_jCdmd0X5esxlXwMB6Soxg-LhNykUYfVCK6xG9zewNaYaRt2nMURqJOLF1ZUZTSoEw8T1KzH4oN-58sLpj7iUBHk2xawF3obeddklzB-r0Gse6TmPU33d64bqgwc4AxKrS7RdsyQqbL-_aX4GgZLuMnc6y6mnXdovzDtdPdN-rlk6XRys3XWfPzY0/s3776/pic%20(237).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2703" data-original-width="3776" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf_o_jCdmd0X5esxlXwMB6Soxg-LhNykUYfVCK6xG9zewNaYaRt2nMURqJOLF1ZUZTSoEw8T1KzH4oN-58sLpj7iUBHk2xawF3obeddklzB-r0Gse6TmPU33d64bqgwc4AxKrS7RdsyQqbL-_aX4GgZLuMnc6y6mnXdovzDtdPdN-rlk6XRys3XWfPzY0/w640-h458/pic%20(237).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><div><span style="font-size: large;">We started the hike at 10,500 feet in elevation, so it was cool even in early August. After a challenging hike up the trail, we arrived at Lake Ann at 2:00 in the afternoon. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidvB0vqBcH7ZyrlS5_J2oG7D8nY9CG7ihVOfyKWFRD9huySG__pchsPRd0mxuYOofYoblrb8Rdne0TbIQjPh6vHTGfsW5aNCKz5wXiQAO2RG5anIo3SzXKcXB2HUrSbOdpWo03k-St03asMLGflpKgg7kCloUziSZFIGpYgViyJ0Uo8cwcXn6HI5Cn1kU/s7115/pic%20(241).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3810" data-original-width="7115" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidvB0vqBcH7ZyrlS5_J2oG7D8nY9CG7ihVOfyKWFRD9huySG__pchsPRd0mxuYOofYoblrb8Rdne0TbIQjPh6vHTGfsW5aNCKz5wXiQAO2RG5anIo3SzXKcXB2HUrSbOdpWo03k-St03asMLGflpKgg7kCloUziSZFIGpYgViyJ0Uo8cwcXn6HI5Cn1kU/w640-h342/pic%20(241).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Denisa didn't sleep well last night, so she decided that this was a great place for a little nap. The ground was soft and sloped and made a nice bed for a little snoozing on the shore of the lake.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiheQGKsZngqUlEvX08WUz2eEOxxrAZUP3u-2Etu-IhywE3_TjVZTv6rO75ylsdzOR2EFhzzo9JbmafGw72mLnJGXGZTWRnUyzEsyRM88cjnbM95uhxttKWcikQGCkJ37msKhu8HgDi7WfaTsNGdwTcYM21ODpPs3TZr1MAgg1r3T0WXRIENGhX_SXMLWM/s4915/pic%20(242).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2814" data-original-width="4915" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiheQGKsZngqUlEvX08WUz2eEOxxrAZUP3u-2Etu-IhywE3_TjVZTv6rO75ylsdzOR2EFhzzo9JbmafGw72mLnJGXGZTWRnUyzEsyRM88cjnbM95uhxttKWcikQGCkJ37msKhu8HgDi7WfaTsNGdwTcYM21ODpPs3TZr1MAgg1r3T0WXRIENGhX_SXMLWM/w640-h366/pic%20(242).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">While she was napping, Mark was hiking around Lake Ann. He added another half-mile to this already lengthy hike.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxnAaRtiUszqR6sAL5ZXOcG_oh4lfcuiWb01m8NL4VlEtVEr-K2wbxqwu3ral9sCULo_SNsbH2NI3V1DbfjkwMo6BJyhE2Z_wdCsqg-agi07_pDDkV_sdbFIoZbVKMfFBES0QNnVrRlfx5mqJVRCFLyNN-WevvMWm-FjRie7RubXk-DIdk42ikZMsK7g/s9094/pic%20(245).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3754" data-original-width="9094" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxnAaRtiUszqR6sAL5ZXOcG_oh4lfcuiWb01m8NL4VlEtVEr-K2wbxqwu3ral9sCULo_SNsbH2NI3V1DbfjkwMo6BJyhE2Z_wdCsqg-agi07_pDDkV_sdbFIoZbVKMfFBES0QNnVrRlfx5mqJVRCFLyNN-WevvMWm-FjRie7RubXk-DIdk42ikZMsK7g/w640-h264/pic%20(245).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">He hiked half-way around the lake and up to the snow for different views of Lake Ann. We have wandered into another of God's wonders!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbN50rg-HMMd8iyrmw1H1iV4tOx3CvRNhV1zQmwsFJwZ9jSIpfkv6cDgpO3FcjHzn5ufN1f30UVXaqyM2NZxrTtiM1W0lHxnF6hmd_9gXGc_7SVYb6rHeOORncG4dVZ3C90YNgdKKSiUntXy-_LxuF6xtxzk78IXeWoKnDMwgaSv0BclC-fwFcXK2SX-E/s4019/pic%20(248).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2768" data-original-width="4019" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbN50rg-HMMd8iyrmw1H1iV4tOx3CvRNhV1zQmwsFJwZ9jSIpfkv6cDgpO3FcjHzn5ufN1f30UVXaqyM2NZxrTtiM1W0lHxnF6hmd_9gXGc_7SVYb6rHeOORncG4dVZ3C90YNgdKKSiUntXy-_LxuF6xtxzk78IXeWoKnDMwgaSv0BclC-fwFcXK2SX-E/w640-h440/pic%20(248).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">This is a great place to stop and camp for the hundreds of hikers that will complete the Colorado Trail this summer. In fact, one hiker told us that she thought this was the prettiest place on the entire 567-mile-long Colorado Trail. She was setting up camp to enjoy the views of that pristine blue-green water overnight.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJLYc7XwvhkmNzq75pMvCPMj00lgU6riOjh5tncigZ1w_ygsP79BSzgZi1xzQHjRHVoLXW1ogrHhg5wDL5ksFmOqcLa2dM6HKaG7a4C5EOmWFcssKeUyOUfeYexCdWG-7yHKkwdA6tQdvCEKcnrKb3iWKJRcoXKQ1AZkjb-sk1EcOX7RIXY6zkoRJKZ0/s6697/pic%20(251).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3724" data-original-width="6697" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJLYc7XwvhkmNzq75pMvCPMj00lgU6riOjh5tncigZ1w_ygsP79BSzgZi1xzQHjRHVoLXW1ogrHhg5wDL5ksFmOqcLa2dM6HKaG7a4C5EOmWFcssKeUyOUfeYexCdWG-7yHKkwdA6tQdvCEKcnrKb3iWKJRcoXKQ1AZkjb-sk1EcOX7RIXY6zkoRJKZ0/w640-h356/pic%20(251).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">From the lake, we also had views of Mount Huron. This massive mountain is 14,012 feet high, and we were thinking about hiking it later in the month. We could see from its bare mountain peak that much of the hike would be above tree-line. Hikers have to start in the dark of early morning to try to get to the summit, and then back off that exposed peak before the afternoon storms turn them into lightning rods.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMhWxMMGL0ux4z9F7CbgyDCuxcZ9rs5naAXXQlOFSCjra-bUWk6VVXyA1h2SyTIY4blQm5JnveWl70Al-6l-u9ySgqgTrE8znJ1EY9MJFb9tCZO-RPi2fY7VhrW8bNsKaEbp9-SUq1q2W01p1LNKg9H7PkyqqTYd8mQfihXeF07k2T2Gz4R6IAlhhnCRA/s3724/pic%20(252).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2106" data-original-width="3724" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMhWxMMGL0ux4z9F7CbgyDCuxcZ9rs5naAXXQlOFSCjra-bUWk6VVXyA1h2SyTIY4blQm5JnveWl70Al-6l-u9ySgqgTrE8znJ1EY9MJFb9tCZO-RPi2fY7VhrW8bNsKaEbp9-SUq1q2W01p1LNKg9H7PkyqqTYd8mQfihXeF07k2T2Gz4R6IAlhhnCRA/w640-h362/pic%20(252).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">After lingering at Lake Ann, we headed back down the trail towards home. Much of our trail overlapped with the Colorado Trail and the Continental Divide Trail. We have come to recognize these two trail insignias because we have seen them many times this summer. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GkRAzLBdEUqqPQ1dCMiv22SktuacKw-W6fngL2MyydOVNdbLEXyFsxx_ZGl4OV903ii9016wJtGMx99g5e5gnW5OIaFIyBuHlQZlvXsb7MUUQaSLC_AHg1Uz67HzRGNAUL-Yy6akw8xSJnWxrbWLr6ti_26ZgYl2yrKBOyVAWy84q8FKmHNKTD3MOJA/s2904/pic%20(255).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2643" data-original-width="2904" height="582" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GkRAzLBdEUqqPQ1dCMiv22SktuacKw-W6fngL2MyydOVNdbLEXyFsxx_ZGl4OV903ii9016wJtGMx99g5e5gnW5OIaFIyBuHlQZlvXsb7MUUQaSLC_AHg1Uz67HzRGNAUL-Yy6akw8xSJnWxrbWLr6ti_26ZgYl2yrKBOyVAWy84q8FKmHNKTD3MOJA/w640-h582/pic%20(255).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We met ten different Colorado Trail hikers--six women and four men. Most of them were hiking solo, and glad to visit with other wanderers. These hikers just made it over Hope Pass, and they were headed towards Ann Pass. So this is an arduous, but beautiful part of the trail. Most hikers allow five weeks to make the 567-mile trek, but one girl was taking seven weeks. She had the journey plotted at 11.6 miles per day, but she had to hike further if she ever wanted a rest day. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-DmLwVVGIUq5kDGGchdxHg9WnyJTt_SvXkLiFFJTzI81oPvG5yyzbPImy1388-QDyHRg2QozFwDQsxFP3TcUVuMJDPGI71cMzm9ccEGrbxp6ItCaqfMRXkHuMci2wuvgaRbK_dZZY3LD1mw38oZ1jIslCfI_hyteve2WEHz8HBN1hAtVykPt6jH-uJbg/s3665/pic%20(256).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2427" data-original-width="3665" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-DmLwVVGIUq5kDGGchdxHg9WnyJTt_SvXkLiFFJTzI81oPvG5yyzbPImy1388-QDyHRg2QozFwDQsxFP3TcUVuMJDPGI71cMzm9ccEGrbxp6ItCaqfMRXkHuMci2wuvgaRbK_dZZY3LD1mw38oZ1jIslCfI_hyteve2WEHz8HBN1hAtVykPt6jH-uJbg/w640-h424/pic%20(256).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">While we would hike close to her average this day, we were feeling the elevation. We must say that most of the long-haul hikers we met on the trail didn't look like they were having much fun on this beautiful day. It was lots of work!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdInjKU5wc9JmdtzU-Z2LUadAMFne4NkUmIsUvO0bn1qfygwz9RPxDnqhA8ZDXlYJi3_DM9rFZxOdMM4GxaprX7G82b4eTNxpM4fohmIDbk9cH-iH0N5M-ZUGBZJSOOprXGfwIzP7Xenn2_A2NWhm9VOkBJTFxkZuKd-X3hy0p4dXP3l205n9UaGjnRS8/s3389/pic%20(258).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2342" data-original-width="3389" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdInjKU5wc9JmdtzU-Z2LUadAMFne4NkUmIsUvO0bn1qfygwz9RPxDnqhA8ZDXlYJi3_DM9rFZxOdMM4GxaprX7G82b4eTNxpM4fohmIDbk9cH-iH0N5M-ZUGBZJSOOprXGfwIzP7Xenn2_A2NWhm9VOkBJTFxkZuKd-X3hy0p4dXP3l205n9UaGjnRS8/w640-h442/pic%20(258).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">When we got back to the trail head, we still had another two miles to get to the pickup. Mark was pointing to the rocky road, indicating that we should have driven further. Denisa still thinks that we made the right decision to not put the pickup (and its passengers) through this section. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPu3p92cbf3y4GggpppZzgfdkS8CskPUP7IycTWHWP8w-mAGuVClcTKwfqwdRQ7bFySi1bB3c7gNiTrS1ucB5wNNtQd86jzJlzKpklPqaLHe5QuJ6ef4ia_lP5E_hUCN-9ex2lGEGydiPuPA0z7kykhXpQkC6X32mgradz6OAhF4b7ypzHysk4xaLfdM/s3219/pic%20(260).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2644" data-original-width="3219" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPu3p92cbf3y4GggpppZzgfdkS8CskPUP7IycTWHWP8w-mAGuVClcTKwfqwdRQ7bFySi1bB3c7gNiTrS1ucB5wNNtQd86jzJlzKpklPqaLHe5QuJ6ef4ia_lP5E_hUCN-9ex2lGEGydiPuPA0z7kykhXpQkC6X32mgradz6OAhF4b7ypzHysk4xaLfdM/w640-h526/pic%20(260).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span>We finished up with 11.2 miles on this hike--four miles further than we had planned for this challenging hike. We had wanted to come back to this same trail head to hike to the top of Huron Peak just to say we had done a 14er. But now that we know how bad the road was, and that we must add another four miles to an already strenuous hike, and drive a rough gravel road twelve miles, and arrive at 4 a.m. for a 14er hike . . . So we probably won't be back to this trail head to hike to Huron Peak. But we're glad that we came here once for our day in the Collegiate Peak Wilderness with our challenging hike to Lake Ann!</span><br /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Denisa and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870900598225088990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603551720303875027.post-90069394675035357632023-10-09T22:00:00.000-05:002023-10-09T22:00:25.216-05:00We loved the Leadville Boom Days Burro Races!<p><i><span style="font-size: large;">We're way behind in getting travel posts published because we were having way too much fun traveling! So we won't be confused about when each "wandering" happened, we'll start each blog with its actual date.</span></i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">August 6, 2023</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When we were looking for festivals to attend this summer, Denisa was ready to plan the entire season around this one. We were lucky to see that Leadville Boom Days was right in the middle of our planned stay just thirty miles away from our campground. So it was on our calendar from the beginning, and we planned to take in a whole day of activities. We drove to Leadville early, because we wanted to be in place for the beginning of our favorite event--the burro race. Just like in all major sporting events, the television cameras were out early. They were filming top athletes and interviewing them about their race strategy.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Jv4_6LagPFZi3pEP_S2IOAvLC-thHSeK6L8H0Di4nYEKv0UZ-TfLvDQS1uIwYYUrKvBkcYpwp6ikc7nWX6QBkbp0nX66MsHqsiGO8737_bzL9_GZNdXS1yzrGAME2T3ArpPxuavLEqr3GtHxSe2gmRgzhLxenX5MtEoEVtzPHyNP8PZVTJ7ZM-b3kHc/s1987/pic%20(181).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1810" data-original-width="1987" height="582" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Jv4_6LagPFZi3pEP_S2IOAvLC-thHSeK6L8H0Di4nYEKv0UZ-TfLvDQS1uIwYYUrKvBkcYpwp6ikc7nWX6QBkbp0nX66MsHqsiGO8737_bzL9_GZNdXS1yzrGAME2T3ArpPxuavLEqr3GtHxSe2gmRgzhLxenX5MtEoEVtzPHyNP8PZVTJ7ZM-b3kHc/w640-h582/pic%20(181).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The streets of Leadville were lined with people that had driven from afar to witness the beginning of the race.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7ptBTLmFYbCkAtzOX8VXnvkro7zZQhiArqX1XtDbZyF-iEb8TWkIT4MKp7kDO03RoMqH_jj1vEGdmK5OaOMmnTx0mSnaUHQMJ7bHDDncrsHuAIIkGuEPUsUZwpjee1cg-0HSbq8PgUzRx3UR2evqk-ba8Yo2h-ddBCh0o9GPpItLFbo-ImeZO9OWXgk/s4025/pic%20(185).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2545" data-original-width="4025" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7ptBTLmFYbCkAtzOX8VXnvkro7zZQhiArqX1XtDbZyF-iEb8TWkIT4MKp7kDO03RoMqH_jj1vEGdmK5OaOMmnTx0mSnaUHQMJ7bHDDncrsHuAIIkGuEPUsUZwpjee1cg-0HSbq8PgUzRx3UR2evqk-ba8Yo2h-ddBCh0o9GPpItLFbo-ImeZO9OWXgk/w640-h404/pic%20(185).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">One of the main fundraisers of the day involved spectators paying to make their guess of when the winning burro would cross the finish line. While we're not usually gamblers, we made our donation. Denisa guessed that the winner would arrive in 3 hours, 58 minutes, and 20 seconds. If she was right, she would win $800.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqptMUQejtQkMop_RcOF7gjypSRkGg-QK9KrRSpWZhJBEy-NPE61sackSYF-uHyE_4O4E4BBaakTRw4RhtjCduHrpUoc6EKvJPf-LB_LxGJ2_inqKnJRrfBjOhXCUz0_Gp26C8M4C7PkFjOcJ1XtNlEDCWpJ5hHQdyTYqkWR8GegbVnQfJgNPCAKIYBPE/s1980/pic%20(184).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1725" data-original-width="1980" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqptMUQejtQkMop_RcOF7gjypSRkGg-QK9KrRSpWZhJBEy-NPE61sackSYF-uHyE_4O4E4BBaakTRw4RhtjCduHrpUoc6EKvJPf-LB_LxGJ2_inqKnJRrfBjOhXCUz0_Gp26C8M4C7PkFjOcJ1XtNlEDCWpJ5hHQdyTYqkWR8GegbVnQfJgNPCAKIYBPE/w640-h558/pic%20(184).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">At precisely 10:00, the gun sounded and the race began. Several of the burros were skittish with that gunshot, and the entire street came to life with racers and burros. Remember the faces of the runners and their burros at the front of the pack, because we would see them again.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL3wEyJ6N1q0ky8ow9NUi7FjQ4d4As8zAqASLFTfAEm0vfNIp_Q70wFc_lIBKJn9JKnh-GnOPQfwJyfRFLn9dfbsKJuu05Y-nIksMSL2HvPPMS5bm6im-0kYgsBsOpcSKhcFhUrABzTqB66We1AKegif005tfJxFDdthpC1Y70RBxB2EdWyqMAmRBU5aM/s2537/pic%20(186).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2512" data-original-width="2537" height="634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL3wEyJ6N1q0ky8ow9NUi7FjQ4d4As8zAqASLFTfAEm0vfNIp_Q70wFc_lIBKJn9JKnh-GnOPQfwJyfRFLn9dfbsKJuu05Y-nIksMSL2HvPPMS5bm6im-0kYgsBsOpcSKhcFhUrABzTqB66We1AKegif005tfJxFDdthpC1Y70RBxB2EdWyqMAmRBU5aM/w640-h634/pic%20(186).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">This year's race included almost 100 burros. While you might assume that the burros would be ridden, that's not the case at all. This is a historical race that recreates the miners that flocked to Leadville in the 1800s with the discovery of precious metals in these mountains. The burro was used to carry the pack with the mining supplies needed. So each burro must carry a shovel, a pick, and a gold pan in their regulation pack. The runner must stay attached to the burro's rope, but never rides the animal.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnLFrBFKRxo2LCbsIXYbIPZ024iz1C6tsy8P99ge37uC5conYQI9crEUP5p8gN7TTAZFzW3_mVrz4Iu2EI63rfCQO-lk-PwmKYWSfANOVYAKEMWjVPf9imNqVUWA1DmLdN_eKg4sja1SlFIvP0n5cv66GWuSrxEjF97NsRRF2gBH_-GbRuPxsBawEzGs/s4032/pic%20(187).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2231" data-original-width="4032" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnLFrBFKRxo2LCbsIXYbIPZ024iz1C6tsy8P99ge37uC5conYQI9crEUP5p8gN7TTAZFzW3_mVrz4Iu2EI63rfCQO-lk-PwmKYWSfANOVYAKEMWjVPf9imNqVUWA1DmLdN_eKg4sja1SlFIvP0n5cv66GWuSrxEjF97NsRRF2gBH_-GbRuPxsBawEzGs/w640-h354/pic%20(187).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">They have two race courses in Leadville, and we studied the routes they would run. The long race is in red in the map below, and is 22 miles in length. It goes all the way up to Mosquito Pass at 13,150 feet in elevation, and then back down. The group that left at 10:00 was running that course. The short course racers left at 10:15, and their 15-mile blue loop will not include Mosquito Pass.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxvmRLrpSNFHcfe9_ECEJtGVTPPW8jqScU9pXeYAzeaR6jeCz0ZWUS8UuFsE-UO5Juv3W_UBp-BxqQnuFCUT4slnp3PqhqlUguvWSNob_XBo6gKL4Wnz8ba6KGiNeFuBKDVPh45RwEPROWHzBsKCUuvhGCs-PBjqqFuWXJnnS_bvxqpK9t2Hbgyv2SSQ/s3258/pic%20(182).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1823" data-original-width="3258" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxvmRLrpSNFHcfe9_ECEJtGVTPPW8jqScU9pXeYAzeaR6jeCz0ZWUS8UuFsE-UO5Juv3W_UBp-BxqQnuFCUT4slnp3PqhqlUguvWSNob_XBo6gKL4Wnz8ba6KGiNeFuBKDVPh45RwEPROWHzBsKCUuvhGCs-PBjqqFuWXJnnS_bvxqpK9t2Hbgyv2SSQ/w640-h358/pic%20(182).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">As hikers, we look at the elevation gain on trails so we have a good understanding of what the elevation charts feel like. The long race has an elevation gain of 3,977 feet, while the short race will gain 2,458 feet. Those are both monumental hikes on any day. But to try to run it as fast as possible towing a burro is crazy!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOLaacJDAleUdjNrFduVq2xf-Yuh05O5RgfFLCsdFcIny5keNk7JTacKmIJkurZAJxNDzLic1iaiBc2PcQYcg_YjTqPy2TNVItih6YUTGp2JHZVXrq-yG6S5NMeRhdVelsAWutGO8TPEj2pCriDkbRDumYX4vNhLB2g3Yl3gY0bpBnxXD9UqXeWlBpFU/s3228/pic%20(213).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1596" data-original-width="3228" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOLaacJDAleUdjNrFduVq2xf-Yuh05O5RgfFLCsdFcIny5keNk7JTacKmIJkurZAJxNDzLic1iaiBc2PcQYcg_YjTqPy2TNVItih6YUTGp2JHZVXrq-yG6S5NMeRhdVelsAWutGO8TPEj2pCriDkbRDumYX4vNhLB2g3Yl3gY0bpBnxXD9UqXeWlBpFU/w640-h316/pic%20(213).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">A crowd favorite was a racer that sports a long white beard. We were told that he is more than 70 years old, and his burro is also a senior citizen at 29 years. They weren't the fastest duo, but both would finish the long course today.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9OWyM-oprtZXCVaqXN3P3CQTKOYaAJD6Qf9Bsmt-HjFiKBhLxbq8D5ndlRA8UZoCWmyXz945UtipuC4uXPnAHmLqJOQ9z6MCfgA3CP_WgG_UVD95EfDgPlOn_vuBS038ffAeDn9-zpS-ni1HgJ937trSkrsx_SkGRGJQZcnDHF-4E11YNUC9IkXavIo/s1797/pic%20(189).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1509" data-original-width="1797" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9OWyM-oprtZXCVaqXN3P3CQTKOYaAJD6Qf9Bsmt-HjFiKBhLxbq8D5ndlRA8UZoCWmyXz945UtipuC4uXPnAHmLqJOQ9z6MCfgA3CP_WgG_UVD95EfDgPlOn_vuBS038ffAeDn9-zpS-ni1HgJ937trSkrsx_SkGRGJQZcnDHF-4E11YNUC9IkXavIo/w640-h538/pic%20(189).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Because we have experience at following our son on his half-marathon races, we knew that we could see the race from more than one perspective. So we ran a few blocks from the crowded main street to see the racers as they curved around in another section of town.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3MriZea93LGsQINT0hXEyRy6wNxy5GJfjAv7Q9bvkEgF7xbTahaGaPugaFz7Zj3SVnsFpYF4w5t_PEaChtWRkn_S2m7e6U8-DeoGKW6f7XTrr9XBbNZ_cLoaMRZcScf3_WWPfVy4owdkaRRTElx2MzGDhCVh2RJljUM6mnR62J2ESWW-9I3btSEkWgI/s2596/pic%20(190).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1758" data-original-width="2596" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3MriZea93LGsQINT0hXEyRy6wNxy5GJfjAv7Q9bvkEgF7xbTahaGaPugaFz7Zj3SVnsFpYF4w5t_PEaChtWRkn_S2m7e6U8-DeoGKW6f7XTrr9XBbNZ_cLoaMRZcScf3_WWPfVy4owdkaRRTElx2MzGDhCVh2RJljUM6mnR62J2ESWW-9I3btSEkWgI/w640-h434/pic%20(190).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">From our new viewpoint, we had a great view of Massive Mountain on the outskirts of Leadville.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiciWI5gdkEa7gCuph_Sks77u7ISSDp55njoso81EfJiK3dRmgFYoWCAEp_Ybgd6--UVaOHGjm7ONOAIxvejWme6a-T-xce9P26MSQ8Wt0q9cy0eWenBD4YTsVtK-eNWuQShBLqgPc43EYHxPKCCRPJufy6_vP517Y2KJzDPo7OyCMFjpdBFGVUYVVB1Cw/s2944/pic%20(193).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2014" data-original-width="2944" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiciWI5gdkEa7gCuph_Sks77u7ISSDp55njoso81EfJiK3dRmgFYoWCAEp_Ybgd6--UVaOHGjm7ONOAIxvejWme6a-T-xce9P26MSQ8Wt0q9cy0eWenBD4YTsVtK-eNWuQShBLqgPc43EYHxPKCCRPJufy6_vP517Y2KJzDPo7OyCMFjpdBFGVUYVVB1Cw/w640-h438/pic%20(193).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We watched as the leaders in the short-race sprinted by us. You will see those runners again in this blog.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhycNNzk6vGPiCm80OBjjBetytW0ZbWWCQiwfFkfHh795po31jab-jovSpw3j10wHrNv2IFquvoMJIqw7N85J0258AHUw4Aon_DHuyXN4QhhmnLIq_Jyqg6JFluVDjKYo1vIqngI77ErFTb_J7dBf7EE0wzobmc24fXLMYo1AG-v-1TuUKv866XpB2IhWE/s2688/pic%20(195).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1659" data-original-width="2688" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhycNNzk6vGPiCm80OBjjBetytW0ZbWWCQiwfFkfHh795po31jab-jovSpw3j10wHrNv2IFquvoMJIqw7N85J0258AHUw4Aon_DHuyXN4QhhmnLIq_Jyqg6JFluVDjKYo1vIqngI77ErFTb_J7dBf7EE0wzobmc24fXLMYo1AG-v-1TuUKv866XpB2IhWE/w640-h396/pic%20(195).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The longer we watched, the slower was the racers' pace that passed by us. We heard that the racers could be divided into three groups--the runners, the joggers, and the walkers.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTZ2azceN0FqLXnEpmH2A7h7DcdYlicNq5EeF9nowZPrgFlzPu0jtI6CJbOUfZSeCPEANV-8r2agQ3hrF0RlwGZCqBsC1EkhLlw5FGIJWxg0I7TNaDjwNY4rq2xAEfpCU4KJpieCrz6lHOT-0khkrMRGTegAiwDtjcm2PZTvE3UDBpcCMvCdtKJO7lF8/s3364/pic%20(197).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1718" data-original-width="3364" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTZ2azceN0FqLXnEpmH2A7h7DcdYlicNq5EeF9nowZPrgFlzPu0jtI6CJbOUfZSeCPEANV-8r2agQ3hrF0RlwGZCqBsC1EkhLlw5FGIJWxg0I7TNaDjwNY4rq2xAEfpCU4KJpieCrz6lHOT-0khkrMRGTegAiwDtjcm2PZTvE3UDBpcCMvCdtKJO7lF8/w640-h326/pic%20(197).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">They were less than a mile into the race, and this burro was already refusing to move. We watched as racer #48 tried everything to get this stubborn burro to go forward. It's going to be a long race for both of them.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHnTnsiNutIXY6Vank1Ugp8RryR3MO_zWJKy2uomJGvk48S8Dwbq2vP3iuAfI6qckZv_28sqHZ1twUbMTJ3pnobL8m7m-qXnQT7wizR8P9Aa-b4GdcVvzu04TqzmccwBPjQZ5l0RZcYoXvuV3FqBKVQgmpx2c7mkkhw5jsj4uyzri9RnAaaDROpCQV7zM/s2845/pic%20(198).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1895" data-original-width="2845" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHnTnsiNutIXY6Vank1Ugp8RryR3MO_zWJKy2uomJGvk48S8Dwbq2vP3iuAfI6qckZv_28sqHZ1twUbMTJ3pnobL8m7m-qXnQT7wizR8P9Aa-b4GdcVvzu04TqzmccwBPjQZ5l0RZcYoXvuV3FqBKVQgmpx2c7mkkhw5jsj4uyzri9RnAaaDROpCQV7zM/w640-h426/pic%20(198).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">After the burros were out of town, Boom Days hosted competitions to keep the crowds busy. One was the miners' drilling competition. A team of three miners must drill three straight dynamite holes inside a small square. The drilling has to be perfectly straight, to avoid running into the other holes. Considering that each hole is about twelve inches into solid granite, it's a tough task.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXd03ucuQ9wsX1OoDuj8IkFVbFA_ilz3PbPoraE8pFRKIPUayHpoiWFJkIHWltB9M9cv16G8IUtvSy2074vdUHDjuE32oCpLsawzSLjH8-ZcRkdkg5V3HRtVMNvO-J152UTjbroXUooCdtqynnppk5Gtp-ZhMtYnlwBCbCmPMMqeL2PHTa8yo6dKdcwzU/s3049/pic%20(199).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2014" data-original-width="3049" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXd03ucuQ9wsX1OoDuj8IkFVbFA_ilz3PbPoraE8pFRKIPUayHpoiWFJkIHWltB9M9cv16G8IUtvSy2074vdUHDjuE32oCpLsawzSLjH8-ZcRkdkg5V3HRtVMNvO-J152UTjbroXUooCdtqynnppk5Gtp-ZhMtYnlwBCbCmPMMqeL2PHTa8yo6dKdcwzU/w640-h422/pic%20(199).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">Back on Harrison Street, we watched "the mosey." Some people had worked on their period costumes for a year, waiting to mosey down the street and convince the judges that they were the best dressed.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO7NqKLQRQNVn1FbsIcraY7j3BBKuAOvF2MzeMbGItQEy7THnDqa8tj1_9Ob4gH3OFb-N3ra-pmNM23ttzuvvoBPdz4pg40FWY5aK4ByEYHKpOpP-sWpBnVeutz0N9Lx5iBlYhEwDc8bEUo5_ttwv-nMku_eTGWUQivQ8fnIv7rkI0MW-Zygzbcm_gKps/s2283/pic%20(200).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2283" data-original-width="1777" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO7NqKLQRQNVn1FbsIcraY7j3BBKuAOvF2MzeMbGItQEy7THnDqa8tj1_9Ob4gH3OFb-N3ra-pmNM23ttzuvvoBPdz4pg40FWY5aK4ByEYHKpOpP-sWpBnVeutz0N9Lx5iBlYhEwDc8bEUo5_ttwv-nMku_eTGWUQivQ8fnIv7rkI0MW-Zygzbcm_gKps/w498-h640/pic%20(200).JPG" width="498" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile, we saw that #48 had returned to the starting line. The cameras were recording her disheartening comments about her unsuccessful attempt at getting a stubborn burro to race 15 miles. The top contenders will bring their own burros that they train with regularly. But many of the visiting runners will rent a burro that they met the day of the race. We're guessing that she was not happy with her rental burro on this unusual blind date.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7VW2sAxo0VQZ3xNtfMorrQHkqp1D3q4HXkW0amEHXnTShzg-gHBW-euX8Gu96VQPi9o6b2c-GnrRD6hH3Kw2W2FGKtjAgbIty5M0q_qE6pBjekGgi9wfuhlf3H5Ye8VglpS2-30t7K88ubQvoOoQyRzUx6GROnX9ez6wNI_U9-K-frgsHzOtPm5Ggo0/s2675/pic%20(201).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1653" data-original-width="2675" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7VW2sAxo0VQZ3xNtfMorrQHkqp1D3q4HXkW0amEHXnTShzg-gHBW-euX8Gu96VQPi9o6b2c-GnrRD6hH3Kw2W2FGKtjAgbIty5M0q_qE6pBjekGgi9wfuhlf3H5Ye8VglpS2-30t7K88ubQvoOoQyRzUx6GROnX9ez6wNI_U9-K-frgsHzOtPm5Ggo0/w640-h396/pic%20(201).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Another group was readying for a competition, and it looked they were starting it with a prayer. They were down on their knees with bowed heads.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDYlY0_YxHwjG1Hl3eUHYd6vZu4P8A4npbQBmEaa1TbRkul0qg8ynQ86xXCpmIhoRJX5_eUgZOyLL4euuEcqaIknd_ae8KnSmgJHJhBWC-8GiWcOx5YHvPKIANQDUtQCz772wBtaEOhRBzQ_QeL2uBtK1aXr-YPW6Wc5UVYSHEGHUjFhLoVKCxFE-Af4/s2865/pic%20(203).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2257" data-original-width="2865" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDYlY0_YxHwjG1Hl3eUHYd6vZu4P8A4npbQBmEaa1TbRkul0qg8ynQ86xXCpmIhoRJX5_eUgZOyLL4euuEcqaIknd_ae8KnSmgJHJhBWC-8GiWcOx5YHvPKIANQDUtQCz772wBtaEOhRBzQ_QeL2uBtK1aXr-YPW6Wc5UVYSHEGHUjFhLoVKCxFE-Af4/w640-h504/pic%20(203).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">But they were actually preparing for the pie eating contest. They each had a piece of peach pie covered in whipped cream on the table in front of them. The first one to lick the table cloth clean was the winner. Looking at all those hungry men poised and ready to eat, we were surprised that a skinny woman was the winner.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76AKOecbOGNdv3ql1NF7DomeDFtzayoqCqp55n3HnlGU8uQkzxPpZl5_A3pabgrMRbsfK9O1ZEIW5iRBvE9PEh_vT_mloN8GsqPCfH9Qx0oxyxd-TDhZeyvxTlrbderfaYdF4M-En6OaD7mO_qzF8aigXp9cgM0u8dhmWlzGp_lu-G5vXIRzbWcFZABw/s2859/pic%20(202).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1529" data-original-width="2859" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76AKOecbOGNdv3ql1NF7DomeDFtzayoqCqp55n3HnlGU8uQkzxPpZl5_A3pabgrMRbsfK9O1ZEIW5iRBvE9PEh_vT_mloN8GsqPCfH9Qx0oxyxd-TDhZeyvxTlrbderfaYdF4M-En6OaD7mO_qzF8aigXp9cgM0u8dhmWlzGp_lu-G5vXIRzbWcFZABw/w640-h342/pic%20(202).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We watched the egg toss contest as the long line of couples threw raw eggs between them. It was a good thing that the water balloon contest was next to splash all those broken eggs (and burro poop) from Harrison Street.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikw4ksy4jQojAGqGB6Mzcbfl5H0yEbgoREIEzIYj7chtx8155APoL0TNt02bDlQLWBI8kmBV4HODXmPV8fE9WefZK2aqBJkIFtpbLPIgHGUkxRjW6JIUEfOusYDqa1oWQsaOBA_ovBW9vm5NbjJegr1L9r0npFeOashjto4eQRAPTDy06QCSR67wDFJDA/s3062/pic%20(205).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1758" data-original-width="3062" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikw4ksy4jQojAGqGB6Mzcbfl5H0yEbgoREIEzIYj7chtx8155APoL0TNt02bDlQLWBI8kmBV4HODXmPV8fE9WefZK2aqBJkIFtpbLPIgHGUkxRjW6JIUEfOusYDqa1oWQsaOBA_ovBW9vm5NbjJegr1L9r0npFeOashjto4eQRAPTDy06QCSR67wDFJDA/w640-h368/pic%20(205).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We were at the finish line as the first of the short racers appeared. You should recognize these two young men as two of the leaders at the beginning of the race. They ran those 15 miles, and their burros were just a couple feet apart at the end of the race. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4r84x2fn_rK0OQBxCxgbsW-9hpz2LgmB6fnqD5mqcdAHyas5XvMv81MwV6estwNVxz0Y1IrnTzONrxNmhIHh5FSB8NHbzG4XQBZsNYrHEX2XXalvv5v1VgRHtB6fTHJ_CnkkuAo0u2oVqAR4kwXTTqoU-qNWUgJ2iGpdmTkvMJtKKMkeVrMDaRVpIrB4/s3101/pic%20(206).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2013" data-original-width="3101" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4r84x2fn_rK0OQBxCxgbsW-9hpz2LgmB6fnqD5mqcdAHyas5XvMv81MwV6estwNVxz0Y1IrnTzONrxNmhIHh5FSB8NHbzG4XQBZsNYrHEX2XXalvv5v1VgRHtB6fTHJ_CnkkuAo0u2oVqAR4kwXTTqoU-qNWUgJ2iGpdmTkvMJtKKMkeVrMDaRVpIrB4/w640-h416/pic%20(206).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-size: large;">It doesn't matter when the human crosses the finish line. The timer doesn't stop until the burro crosses the line. It turned out to be a photo finish as these two young guys and their burros were sprinting at the end. (We would later find out that these two burros were owned by the family of the boy in second place. He let his friend have the faster burro for the race in Leadville today. The two friends had a good race!)</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrv8dUfVpFBPVSTdqxSYQDZkqb3Pl08C6ndTro8uSswK_DzOQWeGuotPyF59VS1rNI4qvDrPycqzjsqex3-bBhls0iG5Jt-2YzH02psLUU-iKO1CWZaVE8HCv9c335cEDdrQTBktPaYSx8rnk6yBulXe8piXBF5UwBk0ISB9W5nXiSKyyakiCnTDQ0eU/s2970/pic%20(207).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1844" data-original-width="2970" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrv8dUfVpFBPVSTdqxSYQDZkqb3Pl08C6ndTro8uSswK_DzOQWeGuotPyF59VS1rNI4qvDrPycqzjsqex3-bBhls0iG5Jt-2YzH02psLUU-iKO1CWZaVE8HCv9c335cEDdrQTBktPaYSx8rnk6yBulXe8piXBF5UwBk0ISB9W5nXiSKyyakiCnTDQ0eU/w640-h398/pic%20(207).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Another fun finish was the father who picked up his baby girl for the final block of the race.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85jz0ODOKfJN3PeqIY_RmGhO2Jbxu0pjQj7Dlxo3jmpYRkgx01Oiq6VPEhJm9hYcGi8XgDjJUKz-6hlQ9KwUqItJtEwcPClYc6oI8w4dJKtJknv9EoGFj2_RofBo0KAJCXrZy4oLHNw-kZop7g2q6T1l5zFvvDrSNSn2Tc3fTY9iFC7xRLRtmTJxUhig/s1836/pic%20(210).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1836" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85jz0ODOKfJN3PeqIY_RmGhO2Jbxu0pjQj7Dlxo3jmpYRkgx01Oiq6VPEhJm9hYcGi8XgDjJUKz-6hlQ9KwUqItJtEwcPClYc6oI8w4dJKtJknv9EoGFj2_RofBo0KAJCXrZy4oLHNw-kZop7g2q6T1l5zFvvDrSNSn2Tc3fTY9iFC7xRLRtmTJxUhig/w640-h512/pic%20(210).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">She was hanging on to the rope as their burro approached the line.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7h0bsTyOH-dAf1QVFkW3QCY2b89cxxHYR9HHRP_Vm3OW3DqtaJiOg3ISRTdc7jAlZ2l05f-oflmLiJ73USuXDNY9dp4jS6AIuJ23-01vBI_qVyjd2an2b1UPJD6amWFMAEpX8yZ0jdwA96fgBns79Z_omKmIGONHdMZcwgOGCSomlKt4Q9Yi5-OCnSoI/s1607/pic%20(211).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="1607" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7h0bsTyOH-dAf1QVFkW3QCY2b89cxxHYR9HHRP_Vm3OW3DqtaJiOg3ISRTdc7jAlZ2l05f-oflmLiJ73USuXDNY9dp4jS6AIuJ23-01vBI_qVyjd2an2b1UPJD6amWFMAEpX8yZ0jdwA96fgBns79Z_omKmIGONHdMZcwgOGCSomlKt4Q9Yi5-OCnSoI/w640-h422/pic%20(211).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We have learned that burros like to run in packs. These two burros and their two runners train together and keep each other motivated.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_BTjTWHQBK3gPQWgj7j3A0Q__QVljRNGpjSq6RCRAN7VsT5ebOD7Y_byyfRP-8uQlBWLSS28y9Ka7beqnnPvNYEa3CV0QKsDxOPLzMDsbcnTZ6b8TIDJZJUnL-886LKlx_dr3n4ZJVwnJck_Ob2ryu1034FE_L4UwTRUAuvapQMgzSXf3dQl72p78h8/s3409/pic%20(212).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1968" data-original-width="3409" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_BTjTWHQBK3gPQWgj7j3A0Q__QVljRNGpjSq6RCRAN7VsT5ebOD7Y_byyfRP-8uQlBWLSS28y9Ka7beqnnPvNYEa3CV0QKsDxOPLzMDsbcnTZ6b8TIDJZJUnL-886LKlx_dr3n4ZJVwnJck_Ob2ryu1034FE_L4UwTRUAuvapQMgzSXf3dQl72p78h8/w640-h370/pic%20(212).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">While we usually saw runners leading their burros, occasionally the burros led the way.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sKSzzYOCuTWcvfpP0Q7iNfSvIEtS54-TsPLfjvwCEkYvMmDoOtRdoOgmVTbgQmDYQeaZjI6vOE3g2DVf5LNlBxRPYwVoqvK-q7XzTLnS9Zf0cNR-7xcgrwxhDIQS0hwDJ8GpswIYM8B1c5L4ptZle5JKmugM_2UH5OtXemSYLe0G-rRcTYzI_MiTUF8/s1626/pic%20(215).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1325" data-original-width="1626" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sKSzzYOCuTWcvfpP0Q7iNfSvIEtS54-TsPLfjvwCEkYvMmDoOtRdoOgmVTbgQmDYQeaZjI6vOE3g2DVf5LNlBxRPYwVoqvK-q7XzTLnS9Zf0cNR-7xcgrwxhDIQS0hwDJ8GpswIYM8B1c5L4ptZle5JKmugM_2UH5OtXemSYLe0G-rRcTYzI_MiTUF8/w640-h522/pic%20(215).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">We often saw that there were embraces after the finish line. The runners were either loving their racing burros, or hating them by the end of the race.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVnrfraou7SVRMxzD4-xfoJiA_-s6Fv8-ewxS0q7tgDZlg4hxrbb7GOjyjfFdUo8SIUHmOg5vWm1Dd91zMM3sHvoxW9kqpuGasJia8mixeivO08beTKRw4EFvZFykKWMaWuXa_gVaKYHdbtrDSpAYg1q2qlaiuQxpYK2xl1RolO_pk5Y_sFeSnMzhHxRQ/s2045/pic%20(216).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1843" data-original-width="2045" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVnrfraou7SVRMxzD4-xfoJiA_-s6Fv8-ewxS0q7tgDZlg4hxrbb7GOjyjfFdUo8SIUHmOg5vWm1Dd91zMM3sHvoxW9kqpuGasJia8mixeivO08beTKRw4EFvZFykKWMaWuXa_gVaKYHdbtrDSpAYg1q2qlaiuQxpYK2xl1RolO_pk5Y_sFeSnMzhHxRQ/w640-h576/pic%20(216).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Some burros freak out when they see the mob of cheering fans. That might mean they run faster, or they stop completely. Some have a hard time crossing things--like the white finish line painted on the street.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0kV8xo27eWtm7OT2OcDqVB0p02a4SGFTSfZWOaAVrm_wr-2Idne2NcAntHbEHl5Zap5HsaCRNcfGy9M4MXtEwmqT9SlrVAndfmW96vAbGsi8JV53uUiYKoO6UhEf4jPNFLl5oqZ321V0lbCJS9Fp5dThuUBpHcVfB370nzpCbq72gGG0Qjuk4GxMyCJU/s1960/pic%20(214).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1529" data-original-width="1960" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0kV8xo27eWtm7OT2OcDqVB0p02a4SGFTSfZWOaAVrm_wr-2Idne2NcAntHbEHl5Zap5HsaCRNcfGy9M4MXtEwmqT9SlrVAndfmW96vAbGsi8JV53uUiYKoO6UhEf4jPNFLl5oqZ321V0lbCJS9Fp5dThuUBpHcVfB370nzpCbq72gGG0Qjuk4GxMyCJU/w640-h500/pic%20(214).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">After 15 miles, some burros have to be coaxed to go another step.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbeS-_7w2k31ElBL4J__AZD5JbbnKi6JBDsmsqePNUUNkwnHr7ZTxb4pOKoqnWrn1CvRxEiJHnqCjXka5ewbEz558Cha9ZxkKMdOI_FVx1esie5kZvIeCbAe42oUta8Gb8pgYj9OOuz3UmWunnf8LaT5_EbccfqtHV4LEWggJv_RmJLANUZJhS2Xf49rI/s2288/pic%20(217).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1718" data-original-width="2288" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbeS-_7w2k31ElBL4J__AZD5JbbnKi6JBDsmsqePNUUNkwnHr7ZTxb4pOKoqnWrn1CvRxEiJHnqCjXka5ewbEz558Cha9ZxkKMdOI_FVx1esie5kZvIeCbAe42oUta8Gb8pgYj9OOuz3UmWunnf8LaT5_EbccfqtHV4LEWggJv_RmJLANUZJhS2Xf49rI/w640-h480/pic%20(217).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Do you remember seeing the guy at the front of the long racers this morning? He and his burro had gone 22 miles, and they were arriving with some of the 15-mile racers. The winner was Santiago Salvador, and his speedy little burro named Buttercup. They won the race in Fairplay last weekend, so this duo was the favorite for the trifecta title after next week's burro race in Buena Vista. The winning time of the long race was three hours and 48 minutes. That was ten minutes too fast for Denisa to win the $800 with her guess of 3:58.20.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitykKSKURubvWq2an3YVrGvrWOniIIyafeWD5BFzzXsMEHrFupS5GCCPeRjEz1eX0IMmBb6sdVJja5H1RG1zz6rYjULm5arrL84VIUNpz4UOOgzqrSPf2cayJVW6w87qiprKyWTGKXcpT5SfD_aJUTwhyOsUBZScSM7udkUPAaYsm6rz53cCbsLPZcs1g/s1724/pic%20(218).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1411" data-original-width="1724" height="524" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitykKSKURubvWq2an3YVrGvrWOniIIyafeWD5BFzzXsMEHrFupS5GCCPeRjEz1eX0IMmBb6sdVJja5H1RG1zz6rYjULm5arrL84VIUNpz4UOOgzqrSPf2cayJVW6w87qiprKyWTGKXcpT5SfD_aJUTwhyOsUBZScSM7udkUPAaYsm6rz53cCbsLPZcs1g/w640-h524/pic%20(218).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">After we tired of watching the burros and racers come in, we walked a couple blocks to the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUViCmilT1BSQ5HeC1TPv8lzz46d928HCGBcgMMY9p96hhhy4yoH3TOIAK73Uv-oloAEvtRli-BGJDUHbYF93izJnzOQIHfbp9gtm0H32FIBQ4vUg6t-YF5qtMdgpg0jDne2TGq5jUQ-ZL2fiFYWCHAnl2_Dx0C8b2sB8PZrOAkK_KuYuVIvXODHYARgg/s3652/pic%20(224).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2782" data-original-width="3652" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUViCmilT1BSQ5HeC1TPv8lzz46d928HCGBcgMMY9p96hhhy4yoH3TOIAK73Uv-oloAEvtRli-BGJDUHbYF93izJnzOQIHfbp9gtm0H32FIBQ4vUg6t-YF5qtMdgpg0jDne2TGq5jUQ-ZL2fiFYWCHAnl2_Dx0C8b2sB8PZrOAkK_KuYuVIvXODHYARgg/w640-h488/pic%20(224).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Normally there was a charge of $15 to visit this large museum, but it was free during Leadville's Boom Days. Parts of the museum were dark and made to look and feel like visitors were down in the mines in the mountains of Leadville.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNHEr447MEdC-DSTxhv8A9GKg36TwwJaZTyOKgHLJdisq0iYMtyWfTR3DKSkGka1nPJDZ4UPnZ4SWq7OX3sQafQq1rk9kU8Vz3mirQaUB-MEIVWHofeZpgbXHqRiW0itPP498BaUD8teFldd80yDXwp6iqqgS1U9JBmzaZlMUXSNBoOm-D9ks2acJh4E/s4032/pic%20(222).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNHEr447MEdC-DSTxhv8A9GKg36TwwJaZTyOKgHLJdisq0iYMtyWfTR3DKSkGka1nPJDZ4UPnZ4SWq7OX3sQafQq1rk9kU8Vz3mirQaUB-MEIVWHofeZpgbXHqRiW0itPP498BaUD8teFldd80yDXwp6iqqgS1U9JBmzaZlMUXSNBoOm-D9ks2acJh4E/w640-h480/pic%20(222).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">We enjoyed the minerals section of the museum, with some beautiful rocks like this large purple amethyst.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVPCGZTqXvHdxQ8XLdD9GZP4sNyN9MxALtCnPJ95vRUCGaNCkpiytbElWya0sqR4_hGmeZYsPrkfub_FzDUv_eFBYYHt6Iz_7GSXIhYnhUWnGV4GTmkTcgkELwkb1-lAQ-xFbMPkqrp67EZWV2nohipXO1qQUmvFoipY0JiBTjLWQDm0m8VXLX6osp4k/s3816/pic%20(220).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2539" data-original-width="3816" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVPCGZTqXvHdxQ8XLdD9GZP4sNyN9MxALtCnPJ95vRUCGaNCkpiytbElWya0sqR4_hGmeZYsPrkfub_FzDUv_eFBYYHt6Iz_7GSXIhYnhUWnGV4GTmkTcgkELwkb1-lAQ-xFbMPkqrp67EZWV2nohipXO1qQUmvFoipY0JiBTjLWQDm0m8VXLX6osp4k/w640-h426/pic%20(220).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">We returned to downtown to eat at one of the food trucks, and to cheer on the runners and burros that were still arriving at the finish line. Anyone that finished one of these arduous runs deserved some encouragement when they got to the last section through downtown.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZHwAnFrS6fhRqp7RT7HcZ795qRKRZkd25y_4Gu4A0kkZVJFDg4t9fxP5shGrwwveVw7FVFL5-a5BYXrk1LnMktBvDGe_5zu_jKu-uldoQuTZT2aRvIYdHH3zHHQpoNc6TNVlLgCy8nTqRb_Xk1Ca_jbw2ig-hZvCTzL9i8Gay9vAp01jjtJWYaVYmf0/s2125/pic%20(225).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1719" data-original-width="2125" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZHwAnFrS6fhRqp7RT7HcZ795qRKRZkd25y_4Gu4A0kkZVJFDg4t9fxP5shGrwwveVw7FVFL5-a5BYXrk1LnMktBvDGe_5zu_jKu-uldoQuTZT2aRvIYdHH3zHHQpoNc6TNVlLgCy8nTqRb_Xk1Ca_jbw2ig-hZvCTzL9i8Gay9vAp01jjtJWYaVYmf0/w640-h518/pic%20(225).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We admired the spirit of this young lady. Her donkey had obviously cooperated better during the rest of the race, or she wouldn't have gotten to this final section. But just two blocks from the finish line, the burro absolutely refused to go any further. She pulled on the rope from the front . . .</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04J7oq2IZ86WbWd9TNwUsduNq1uRSYklydsjS-ft2ZDX3jAv30SmyoffQ0lFzpT8qEJ4ld5Mz-moNm9f0MCPkYsu_AGApKvqGxbrf5SEeeEaTbYeRNCvFKzKr2RkJ9NZ3T-y0s62pe0xnxgb-fIiahZa7Td2cZpeRWn6htDeg_33CgKp6Hdv883RRmG8/s3003/pic%20(226).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1719" data-original-width="3003" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04J7oq2IZ86WbWd9TNwUsduNq1uRSYklydsjS-ft2ZDX3jAv30SmyoffQ0lFzpT8qEJ4ld5Mz-moNm9f0MCPkYsu_AGApKvqGxbrf5SEeeEaTbYeRNCvFKzKr2RkJ9NZ3T-y0s62pe0xnxgb-fIiahZa7Td2cZpeRWn6htDeg_33CgKp6Hdv883RRmG8/w640-h366/pic%20(226).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">she tried the over-the-shoulder technique . . .</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXjoixXB1nvFx-UcZe6L8Sp7_8TqF8uBvsKQ0g8C58OoxCCJV5gIasnBP9h_lSU2go6buZgyWnzYWkXi_qje2j-t6l1DLhTpVym-CsyZRE-32iibmKWPVMU5KfbYHTJ1J6CB0jywnT73RRvLuAoPe0XQtUhVFiWo_hKzcDeHiR2ISu9vyFb9xxwZt7OvU/s2249/pic%20(227).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1423" data-original-width="2249" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXjoixXB1nvFx-UcZe6L8Sp7_8TqF8uBvsKQ0g8C58OoxCCJV5gIasnBP9h_lSU2go6buZgyWnzYWkXi_qje2j-t6l1DLhTpVym-CsyZRE-32iibmKWPVMU5KfbYHTJ1J6CB0jywnT73RRvLuAoPe0XQtUhVFiWo_hKzcDeHiR2ISu9vyFb9xxwZt7OvU/w640-h404/pic%20(227).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">she tried pushing from the back. He wouldn't budge! We watched for ten minutes, and we so wanted to help her. But the rules don't allow for any assistance from the spectators. So we could only applaud her efforts and hope that her burro would finally decide to go those last two blocks.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7kwWyrvu6V13iX2HvmfSbgRv0XjXeNWBZVSBQLh500cTdtLLX5ji7BjKvoCkd_C6OPvpAfy7PEbiVKhra9MJZ-N-6xBIGpyMufOhd7tZSkaNFrT2EfwZKx6KIpYgGemyBTzvrA349moZiVrj5LwByorR3qcMnIHc9w7djV7DTPSFRIpOx61WGXgNpwLw/s1842/pic%20(228).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1548" data-original-width="1842" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7kwWyrvu6V13iX2HvmfSbgRv0XjXeNWBZVSBQLh500cTdtLLX5ji7BjKvoCkd_C6OPvpAfy7PEbiVKhra9MJZ-N-6xBIGpyMufOhd7tZSkaNFrT2EfwZKx6KIpYgGemyBTzvrA349moZiVrj5LwByorR3qcMnIHc9w7djV7DTPSFRIpOx61WGXgNpwLw/w640-h538/pic%20(228).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The burro was stopped right in front of the most famous restaurant in Leadville. We weren't hungry enough to eat at The Legendary Silver Dollar Saloon, but we had to snap a quick picture.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2EfH0y_m6dfkBrpvQqze90RKxwxevMVnbDdDheKaxDrARsfnbn2bPyeknUlF95oToNTpBI-Y3zhX3PzeGGa-afn-j6wVAWi8Y63OjXDB0CL3hfR_CE_nwYgj4IxkV4pkZoW1VPkugFK3H65HUxGNgohJPfqdTryehdisDrs7qTygrSpYOAO__FrrDlD0/s3822/pic%20(229).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2558" data-original-width="3822" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2EfH0y_m6dfkBrpvQqze90RKxwxevMVnbDdDheKaxDrARsfnbn2bPyeknUlF95oToNTpBI-Y3zhX3PzeGGa-afn-j6wVAWi8Y63OjXDB0CL3hfR_CE_nwYgj4IxkV4pkZoW1VPkugFK3H65HUxGNgohJPfqdTryehdisDrs7qTygrSpYOAO__FrrDlD0/w640-h428/pic%20(229).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">As we left town at 4:00, we saw a couple more racers still on the trail. They started six hours ago, and they were still running. We were tired from our six hours of just standing around Leadville, while these racers have ran up and down mountains on the 15- or 22-mile course. What a day! We had never seen a burro race before, but we enjoyed it so much! This won't be our last!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAX7X1hZIGC3QG3EfpM5O5Q3e-6KSgWSVsDS7dRmqY5xbz4X00js9-vApZXhohCsgsQRwCSRsxqT1XC-ShF5ogJtzNyChywd2iyasWtGGA7s1C9I19O8lVmd7lvc2KSGA08-YTkKI7lbnyt_5BnRjbuxK7rk4b20KtWLwWatRM6dGenP_xUYQICoA7J0/s2288/pic%20(230).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1719" data-original-width="2288" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAX7X1hZIGC3QG3EfpM5O5Q3e-6KSgWSVsDS7dRmqY5xbz4X00js9-vApZXhohCsgsQRwCSRsxqT1XC-ShF5ogJtzNyChywd2iyasWtGGA7s1C9I19O8lVmd7lvc2KSGA08-YTkKI7lbnyt_5BnRjbuxK7rk4b20KtWLwWatRM6dGenP_xUYQICoA7J0/w640-h480/pic%20(230).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Denisa and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870900598225088990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603551720303875027.post-8010951927895447602023-10-07T22:27:00.001-05:002023-10-07T22:27:33.894-05:00A Special Day on the Ranch<p><i><span style="font-size: large;">We're way behind in getting travel posts published because we were having way too much fun traveling! So we won't be confused about when each "wandering" happened, we'll start each blog with its actual date.</span></i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">August 5, 2023</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We remembered that Mark's cousin and his wife, Wyatt and Charlie, lived somewhere around Buena Vista. So even though we hadn't seen them for around ten years, we hoped to run into them while we were in this area for a month. Without a phone number to call them, we were glad that we found them at the ranch rodeo at the Chaffee County Fair last week. After dancing the night away with them at the cowboy dance, it was like those ten years had vanished. The next weekend they invited us to the ranch where they live. Wyatt has managed this ranch for more than twenty years, and Charlie manages 55 nurses at the Salida hospital ICU and med-surg units.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLkDWFx6piP5gxKl0tJc6h_WrxygAI3CqjjgAbuMLyHiuaKkQH9MIt7D1USfygiH1UBvcCL6PcJqepav2c9IazySEgOFRYn1wbJEIjzEHrTiHbEARjTrXV5p2eyERJBxOGvMhKTKdg3KaDND-p0UFxdwPVsjunQUl6WF09XEq4eCvrnkOe5irWVlleWgY/s3652/pic%20(157).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2571" data-original-width="3652" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLkDWFx6piP5gxKl0tJc6h_WrxygAI3CqjjgAbuMLyHiuaKkQH9MIt7D1USfygiH1UBvcCL6PcJqepav2c9IazySEgOFRYn1wbJEIjzEHrTiHbEARjTrXV5p2eyERJBxOGvMhKTKdg3KaDND-p0UFxdwPVsjunQUl6WF09XEq4eCvrnkOe5irWVlleWgY/w640-h450/pic%20(157).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">The ranch sits in the valley south of Buena Vista, with some spectacular views of Mount Princeton right over the corrals. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLqf1uhL8YKlHQGiY6dpyKjRbLtPTA8YWbC1BA20w0M0qGcWL-98KnRFFuBma45yS13WtIUANL4y0AQ1m7CYS78ttfnGkExs85FwtCyycQtcwvhJ-GwM565oRHmsbl8wt-1didPVr3keoSJwNan8NQX6y7mP07ZUUGFp9TO6gJacYtmHHpNtZPWKTuEQ/s4032/pic%20(155).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2197" data-original-width="4032" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLqf1uhL8YKlHQGiY6dpyKjRbLtPTA8YWbC1BA20w0M0qGcWL-98KnRFFuBma45yS13WtIUANL4y0AQ1m7CYS78ttfnGkExs85FwtCyycQtcwvhJ-GwM565oRHmsbl8wt-1didPVr3keoSJwNan8NQX6y7mP07ZUUGFp9TO6gJacYtmHHpNtZPWKTuEQ/w640-h348/pic%20(155).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">Likewise, we could see more 14ers as we looked southwest. We had wandered more of God's wonders, and we hadn't even started our tour of the ranch. We were learning about the mountain ranges and their characteristics since we had lived here for a week. The mountains to the west are in the Sawatch range, and include 14 peaks that are over 14,000 feet in elevation. These mountain have rugged granite tops as they tower above tree-line.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsTlOOTBsS4O-ayyJrv4McGSe-CsCXpkLk07gL1nXVVpLN50jYAZx7fll_mcTlBUEFgvJa6SI0dzWlz-hse4rSpvrYNmYYiLgzpQ21FzN8fOfNIf-cpP1qlVwgcaYtCAep84jRv9iG8i5_irIwQW3xL7ANKIrg3VKcNRW6axYxYJ1bcQK8yhqSg3gPGq4/s4032/pic%20(154).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1961" data-original-width="4032" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsTlOOTBsS4O-ayyJrv4McGSe-CsCXpkLk07gL1nXVVpLN50jYAZx7fll_mcTlBUEFgvJa6SI0dzWlz-hse4rSpvrYNmYYiLgzpQ21FzN8fOfNIf-cpP1qlVwgcaYtCAep84jRv9iG8i5_irIwQW3xL7ANKIrg3VKcNRW6axYxYJ1bcQK8yhqSg3gPGq4/w640-h312/pic%20(154).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Looking to the east, we could see the southern end of the Mosquito Range of mountains. They are lower in elevation, and are covered with pines.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-9ifyWYHnjL9bsBNfFA887wc4rpzWly6R9bphXOQNNb6LUhYlX7eUbheGWbc7qTheHcjTRNwd9evKZtRefkhqnx8v0EDvLJTkTQdD4XQuD7doPYsIOBnIV0_RLsGesiaQqw6423_pyI7-eSynOFMPpK4qOOTcTXT-BPv6LpUxoCjDtKFtmNlGLODX5I/s3710/pic%20(156).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2585" data-original-width="3710" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-9ifyWYHnjL9bsBNfFA887wc4rpzWly6R9bphXOQNNb6LUhYlX7eUbheGWbc7qTheHcjTRNwd9evKZtRefkhqnx8v0EDvLJTkTQdD4XQuD7doPYsIOBnIV0_RLsGesiaQqw6423_pyI7-eSynOFMPpK4qOOTcTXT-BPv6LpUxoCjDtKFtmNlGLODX5I/w640-h446/pic%20(156).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The cousins own four-wheelers that are used on the ranch, and we went for a nice afternoon ride into the foothills of the Mosquito mountains. Even though we were not crazy about the name of this mountain range, we were glad to say that we didn't see any mosquitoes this afternoon. In fact, we haven't been bothered by mosquitoes this summer. Sometimes, being dry has its blessings.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcw74BfWR6texh72S8VgwSRyXwdjTnnmFZ6BuE8VbmaKXZFBXJWfAqxii-ZQ0X5eQH1YwwwhI1-SYompyoFoNmfBUVyskt36WRIh1Yi2wJ-tbiH9E_k3eQNHJ5H_McVXrlg_nxYDH_q452l8uoRpkJobuLT3a1m9o3maI6XR6ZfGR38Q3Rw6kkpPaeuLM/s3147/pic%20(159).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="3147" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcw74BfWR6texh72S8VgwSRyXwdjTnnmFZ6BuE8VbmaKXZFBXJWfAqxii-ZQ0X5eQH1YwwwhI1-SYompyoFoNmfBUVyskt36WRIh1Yi2wJ-tbiH9E_k3eQNHJ5H_McVXrlg_nxYDH_q452l8uoRpkJobuLT3a1m9o3maI6XR6ZfGR38Q3Rw6kkpPaeuLM/w640-h458/pic%20(159).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">One of our first stops was the "honeymoon cabin." Time has taken its toll on this little log cabin that once housed the newly-married couples on the ranch.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheuS8OMEiPpQ99UkH8kQNNp6NjUy38kxtSMK_Uk4glHYRMWBTaEM5hbKFi08_cjTVdb4DELtnxD0g1pZtrx1TAJPjf7403GwmSm_DpVO1UgIZ5Rh1-yxXuKb51W4nKu7Jwd3Kw1Uo8dBlRJwQozl3c-TgglN_x55Cgg4MyIoGhazyOVpQyce-tBN1zdQ0/s2930/pic%20(163).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2637" data-original-width="2930" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheuS8OMEiPpQ99UkH8kQNNp6NjUy38kxtSMK_Uk4glHYRMWBTaEM5hbKFi08_cjTVdb4DELtnxD0g1pZtrx1TAJPjf7403GwmSm_DpVO1UgIZ5Rh1-yxXuKb51W4nKu7Jwd3Kw1Uo8dBlRJwQozl3c-TgglN_x55Cgg4MyIoGhazyOVpQyce-tBN1zdQ0/w640-h576/pic%20(163).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Today, its only inhabitant was this mountain lizard.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPHKNjuYUp1mqUqqJ8h-0HEmPgEmdpushod_EzieeMqyVLk8N6yuMR1W633pVDNUHueAHbWMvH1OJXXA4kazPdzmr3K7tnTWz8L21ORLIx-UnkLtCxMQfTq8PFIIiq5xwXAry68KZSaj7ZkHQGpZrtjeHkos0iFwcBNSi65I7FD7GFvan6dAku61dgWw/s2649/pic%20(164).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1719" data-original-width="2649" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPHKNjuYUp1mqUqqJ8h-0HEmPgEmdpushod_EzieeMqyVLk8N6yuMR1W633pVDNUHueAHbWMvH1OJXXA4kazPdzmr3K7tnTWz8L21ORLIx-UnkLtCxMQfTq8PFIIiq5xwXAry68KZSaj7ZkHQGpZrtjeHkos0iFwcBNSi65I7FD7GFvan6dAku61dgWw/w640-h416/pic%20(164).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">We followed Wyatt and Charlie's four-wheeler through the pinion pines.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVrCAMeItI9uH5fWG5RP6B4PBsOYze5GumhdoTNm8O5dmOFFIfC1qj9IQ3k2cbCW3vbDgoSM_iTVGzeZPmsULKplKEfezk2hs3wsarV050aUZRr21ocKnwBY78P6oOEGC2ziM-ydelo_tikO7cHj9oaXNF5Tp3cnEkta5e9331jNu_2wEU4AXx2VEK1c/s2688/pic%20(161).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1883" data-original-width="2688" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVrCAMeItI9uH5fWG5RP6B4PBsOYze5GumhdoTNm8O5dmOFFIfC1qj9IQ3k2cbCW3vbDgoSM_iTVGzeZPmsULKplKEfezk2hs3wsarV050aUZRr21ocKnwBY78P6oOEGC2ziM-ydelo_tikO7cHj9oaXNF5Tp3cnEkta5e9331jNu_2wEU4AXx2VEK1c/w640-h448/pic%20(161).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The ranch borders the Browns Canyon National Monument. This area received that designation in 2015, and the yellow signs dotting our path let us know that the ranch is on the property boundary of the national monument.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKuwd9JlbJBrb_L6V1y6pFYEPGH5NjWjwLSDw-9csFbzbpywly9HWUzetkcKhlyXZBA6NUbNdJ9chTCM5UbypDjKAnfzofJRKZmhIG4xZySclyXToRwpeiYypxCs14nRt9gEn0Ek50dBXM1cgja45f7q94B5SKjvjLvxrG3EJUPikIpnWtxpzhf_GOibs/s2596/pic%20(166).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1725" data-original-width="2596" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKuwd9JlbJBrb_L6V1y6pFYEPGH5NjWjwLSDw-9csFbzbpywly9HWUzetkcKhlyXZBA6NUbNdJ9chTCM5UbypDjKAnfzofJRKZmhIG4xZySclyXToRwpeiYypxCs14nRt9gEn0Ek50dBXM1cgja45f7q94B5SKjvjLvxrG3EJUPikIpnWtxpzhf_GOibs/w640-h426/pic%20(166).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">It was a great experience to get to ride through this land that few people get to see.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkvDvuOPib5At76kr366fTFWCAB1a9Ry5zTEBHAYB1I-va0bt-3o5j01JnoU05n_EyzvuV760wzvNbsUoYEfPgQ6nV8rUNDfDHFW62PmEkXSoS1qffxNnmrLYjIgOnhlodrEXSnqKkXWFfzSw-EANfB6T0qN0jTPtu4kIAaiOlT-6fc-Y32nt9lX8x_Q/s3580/pic%20(165).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2605" data-original-width="3580" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkvDvuOPib5At76kr366fTFWCAB1a9Ry5zTEBHAYB1I-va0bt-3o5j01JnoU05n_EyzvuV760wzvNbsUoYEfPgQ6nV8rUNDfDHFW62PmEkXSoS1qffxNnmrLYjIgOnhlodrEXSnqKkXWFfzSw-EANfB6T0qN0jTPtu4kIAaiOlT-6fc-Y32nt9lX8x_Q/w640-h466/pic%20(165).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We were surrounded by granite out-croppings, and we stopped in front of one of their favorites. This one included a rope to help with the climb to the top.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7t63EkpR3uV_6IiT4trVt3JCBTj63Nvji9zv-P6Ij1KnxFaKBWjwwIVWXgsn_Cwl1AejM03U7XmZDhQD1mMFAj7C1eXPlZJKLGNiE7fW-Fgo79BU61yY3pSLaS4i0uaR3HEuMlRflt0dKwhuALrBc2NMptJyi2sOzjRv-5D-xDrQd2WkBq6UztVETZLI/s3298/pic%20(168).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3298" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7t63EkpR3uV_6IiT4trVt3JCBTj63Nvji9zv-P6Ij1KnxFaKBWjwwIVWXgsn_Cwl1AejM03U7XmZDhQD1mMFAj7C1eXPlZJKLGNiE7fW-Fgo79BU61yY3pSLaS4i0uaR3HEuMlRflt0dKwhuALrBc2NMptJyi2sOzjRv-5D-xDrQd2WkBq6UztVETZLI/w640-h586/pic%20(168).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">It would be near impossible to make it all the way to the top without the help of the rope. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ggOeCsGWqO1ChawQKKA88TumYwaC-1zEyPfb9A__xwdNuxVj4Oe9XX_r6q0zNfa_UkZeJEx7Zzb4EUNZic1Oym7T48MrhNbR2_R1vkcW6NsEvpTXfNkoU6TfguTiOg9foB-IWQa1NzmyJ7N0quaCLkPlxk8QDCIgKx2OcjYVqGILQV0jLcDOIgwW-2s/s3390/pic%20(170).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2761" data-original-width="3390" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ggOeCsGWqO1ChawQKKA88TumYwaC-1zEyPfb9A__xwdNuxVj4Oe9XX_r6q0zNfa_UkZeJEx7Zzb4EUNZic1Oym7T48MrhNbR2_R1vkcW6NsEvpTXfNkoU6TfguTiOg9foB-IWQa1NzmyJ7N0quaCLkPlxk8QDCIgKx2OcjYVqGILQV0jLcDOIgwW-2s/w640-h522/pic%20(170).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">While it was handy for some summer sight-seers, it was placed there for the fall hunters. This was a great place to spot the area wildlife in season, and Wyatt pointed out where they had spotted bear on one of those hunting days. They were looking for bear day beds. We had never heard this term, but it is a hunting term for the spot where a bear rests during the day. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJMGwbitEoqSY-h7vZejpU0mXio8At9y1f32NBnZhZPXtnAhjsM8-8g6NteuuFMlSpgPSe1R-Ez_EHtKLuz_9UiTTvLXgI_4m8OEZRP8g7rpo7275NjGleW7QN-WA67cmEhrBryP_uQAJOvnyIDY9NMkEsE5yCrY9BzIOxO6VCHHVuoXL5Cn0VXLjZfc/s3094/pic%20(171).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3094" height="626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJMGwbitEoqSY-h7vZejpU0mXio8At9y1f32NBnZhZPXtnAhjsM8-8g6NteuuFMlSpgPSe1R-Ez_EHtKLuz_9UiTTvLXgI_4m8OEZRP8g7rpo7275NjGleW7QN-WA67cmEhrBryP_uQAJOvnyIDY9NMkEsE5yCrY9BzIOxO6VCHHVuoXL5Cn0VXLjZfc/w640-h626/pic%20(171).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">While they had shot one bear from this perch, most of the sightings were too far away. Most of their hunting in this area was for elk, and they gifted us two elk steaks. </span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikggLWJE9XasU78L9VVOaUpkQLPz3GoFLhJQnGh_f80XlZCSAUwIer6LW86ajzGdlGZAzZf3hxMU_xubQ-EreK3qTaaD1ZuQ3IQ3uXE_52t0CiUkhlnSopPc5LfwmTckcuavHAUEuIBsEoO5LiGgbPu__4zZL5VXDiogUt2_wS2-Fk-NkhnNOyx0xnbqU/s4032/pic%20(173).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikggLWJE9XasU78L9VVOaUpkQLPz3GoFLhJQnGh_f80XlZCSAUwIer6LW86ajzGdlGZAzZf3hxMU_xubQ-EreK3qTaaD1ZuQ3IQ3uXE_52t0CiUkhlnSopPc5LfwmTckcuavHAUEuIBsEoO5LiGgbPu__4zZL5VXDiogUt2_wS2-Fk-NkhnNOyx0xnbqU/w640-h480/pic%20(173).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The view over the valley with the mountains in the back drop was stunning.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDD0ots1cUPMfdkvQIKgm0iKgxc2nnz37iE8i3EdQLw3pzlMKXC-N2SDAaRWs8VvgYPOaPLeLs7_BGWWMNW0j95P4uiTcTxS7pzQOWWLQGHsezmSLkXxHhBfI2sqT4ZhdJRYcTPkpjWyMOab5FqVh8EjtuBFNDrdYQxFrbMrfXpBCJ7ocXqM_1qybFf-0/s4032/pic%20(172).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2020" data-original-width="4032" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDD0ots1cUPMfdkvQIKgm0iKgxc2nnz37iE8i3EdQLw3pzlMKXC-N2SDAaRWs8VvgYPOaPLeLs7_BGWWMNW0j95P4uiTcTxS7pzQOWWLQGHsezmSLkXxHhBfI2sqT4ZhdJRYcTPkpjWyMOab5FqVh8EjtuBFNDrdYQxFrbMrfXpBCJ7ocXqM_1qybFf-0/w640-h320/pic%20(172).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We took a different route down, and we have to say that the rope route would have been much easier.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbp8_IrONt_xj9PR1TMYCBJ4w6SSQAjuphBS0h7gHR703oBTx-NBQL8SS4jHrme-h36K164cf0UJpmyCdeu49V9SBYJCKyCVKO97UfPavWt6VGB3nvj3Wft2cVMour_1LARqu5x-uInNlrN2aI30o6eHTP5L1I2T4KnPjC5fBcDp_PwxFs6clubEs-xk/s3437/pic%20(176).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3437" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbp8_IrONt_xj9PR1TMYCBJ4w6SSQAjuphBS0h7gHR703oBTx-NBQL8SS4jHrme-h36K164cf0UJpmyCdeu49V9SBYJCKyCVKO97UfPavWt6VGB3nvj3Wft2cVMour_1LARqu5x-uInNlrN2aI30o6eHTP5L1I2T4KnPjC5fBcDp_PwxFs6clubEs-xk/w564-h640/pic%20(176).JPG" width="564" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">We rode miles on the four-wheelers, seeing areas that were too far for hiking. <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJrEK8fKu0cAwExC7gFS0f6yzPJ3phfO2RLz0smzdWuwkGlS-R7Nkeco59mgej4S6_etkfhsXWLTvWy2i2TvAQCxk1pLQdzGz2wfat3JLyF_zL82_aLfRu6YEz1SxaYiezPVXNu-Yc6Dnr22S7jHhJp5ddptoFCSPdr7BF22TaS6Tb-O7zn5lhWnFrQGY/s3029/pic%20(177).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1935" data-original-width="3029" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJrEK8fKu0cAwExC7gFS0f6yzPJ3phfO2RLz0smzdWuwkGlS-R7Nkeco59mgej4S6_etkfhsXWLTvWy2i2TvAQCxk1pLQdzGz2wfat3JLyF_zL82_aLfRu6YEz1SxaYiezPVXNu-Yc6Dnr22S7jHhJp5ddptoFCSPdr7BF22TaS6Tb-O7zn5lhWnFrQGY/w640-h408/pic%20(177).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">It was a rare treat for a couple of wanderers! We were blessed with this opportunity to see the mountains from a different mode of transportation.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHfgMhWmqXLLj5dEJiYDAHAZI8Uj5uWPID7-_h9WQwiHSSJzG8PpQ5pvRzglqu4qToPIPnDJYcpuqN8E-9J4jlMzInUU16LJ8JnqMYvvPcSULRN2ehmCwoo-gPmcgnZqlHI8kKlOyhplYMHVi2CaQTGqkusffwAIUCn4yBaLixDsvnagghLceEMPEFVs/s3147/pic%20(179).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2001" data-original-width="3147" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHfgMhWmqXLLj5dEJiYDAHAZI8Uj5uWPID7-_h9WQwiHSSJzG8PpQ5pvRzglqu4qToPIPnDJYcpuqN8E-9J4jlMzInUU16LJ8JnqMYvvPcSULRN2ehmCwoo-gPmcgnZqlHI8kKlOyhplYMHVi2CaQTGqkusffwAIUCn4yBaLixDsvnagghLceEMPEFVs/w640-h406/pic%20(179).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Then we headed back to the house for another rare treat--a ranch-raised beef roast with all the trimmings for dinner. It was topped off with dessert that Charlie just got out of the oven--homemade fresh Colorado peach pie with homemade ice cream for dessert.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqiifE27LoTKpfZzq0m4h0Dv7aMGdWZK4-jOaUNVpChSb1TmhgIqQdnEiUg3ZLikO6ACE_TnqQmdyhxCt_Cpk1U3yKws6mhLz5pkUDiUdaC9JZz7_LoHzFD6Q6ddbZuGUcH_22y_kIDsBgdQK2w8PE0R17c1Z1-qFL_NVBQMKkKvz0twMGIOky6E3Lpzs/s3587/pic%20(180).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2834" data-original-width="3587" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqiifE27LoTKpfZzq0m4h0Dv7aMGdWZK4-jOaUNVpChSb1TmhgIqQdnEiUg3ZLikO6ACE_TnqQmdyhxCt_Cpk1U3yKws6mhLz5pkUDiUdaC9JZz7_LoHzFD6Q6ddbZuGUcH_22y_kIDsBgdQK2w8PE0R17c1Z1-qFL_NVBQMKkKvz0twMGIOky6E3Lpzs/w640-h506/pic%20(180).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">It was a perfect day with family that we hadn't seen in a long time. Mark and Wyatt's fathers were brothers, and they spent good times together at family gatherings when they were growing up. We love that our travels sometimes allow us to spend a special day on the ranch with family.<br /></span><div><br /></div>Denisa and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870900598225088990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603551720303875027.post-76866089201829510162023-10-05T22:25:00.001-05:002023-10-05T22:25:32.897-05:00Independence Pass Day - Should we go further?<p><i><span style="font-size: large;">We're way behind in getting travel posts published because we were having way too much fun traveling! So we won't be confused about when each "wandering" happened, we'll start each blog with its actual date.</span></i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">August 3, 2023</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our plan this morning was to kayak on Twin Lakes. But when we arrived at the lake, the wind and the white caps on the water convinced us that is was a better day to go for a hike. Should we go further down the road?</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUyYQ2vvov0713Lp8YHgh_xIntNq7HXglnm-Ui01nzJye-ty0ZttqdLpvS1WJz6lk0u3b10rsE-eYNGJf-8eZnWOjqTjlrrMkuZytSVkBjFwmmbdGBEpHNAWx8JEzKgKzUCnrVfSfCMClyEFN99qtadGm-gAWkN20NvWvI8KCH35N__nOqhMnyS0iNWk/s3744/pic%20(89).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2014" data-original-width="3744" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUyYQ2vvov0713Lp8YHgh_xIntNq7HXglnm-Ui01nzJye-ty0ZttqdLpvS1WJz6lk0u3b10rsE-eYNGJf-8eZnWOjqTjlrrMkuZytSVkBjFwmmbdGBEpHNAWx8JEzKgKzUCnrVfSfCMClyEFN99qtadGm-gAWkN20NvWvI8KCH35N__nOqhMnyS0iNWk/w640-h344/pic%20(89).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Of course we should! So we left Twin Lakes and headed west on State Highway 82 towards Independence Pass. Signs at the beginning of the road warn that no vehicle over 35-feet long is allowed on this road because of the hairpin turns. We were in the pickup, so the turns were no problem as we gained elevation quickly. We could look down to see the highway beneath us as we zig-zagged up the Independence Highway.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_dv5m6jejOD8dZ4mvimA4AqVT4ZJL76gc9wxbzsGFh9Mu3o-CYq4w4x4S6xQFPggN1ku4WzF01xyRGl1cptJUFI78h4zfFth4vRuKUJUon87Q_kHJ1F6KeuAsrMe-MYTvk6M6zFnUN5J8S-ueOa1GnamxQI3hvInK0f4Kgw09TjcXJxUbd8gomkSmec/s3514/pic%20(90).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2217" data-original-width="3514" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_dv5m6jejOD8dZ4mvimA4AqVT4ZJL76gc9wxbzsGFh9Mu3o-CYq4w4x4S6xQFPggN1ku4WzF01xyRGl1cptJUFI78h4zfFth4vRuKUJUon87Q_kHJ1F6KeuAsrMe-MYTvk6M6zFnUN5J8S-ueOa1GnamxQI3hvInK0f4Kgw09TjcXJxUbd8gomkSmec/w640-h404/pic%20(90).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The top of Independence Pass is at 12,095 feet in elevation. It's the highest paved road in Colorado, and it typically closes from November until Memorial Day because of the amount of snow at this high elevation. Denisa has an odd hobby of taking pictures of bathrooms in beautiful locations, and this one deserved a photo. The bathroom doors of the vault toilets were painted like a topographical map of the area, and looked out over a host of 14er peaks. Should we go further?</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioK-3WIeesRzbHsBiSQbPzjv2kPEVo_lMprO8l5l245LaNzhtcdPtpFHJilH3M1ZgVld68mxvXW-x9rAmVGogZ3etwm681s--TgRKZXPd4Jnfhwu12feaRxWmJ4MvD1jvrgt0bt8qSqpypLNbCyzYchuXMehkoLdVg_V4RAcmDSYWHi3ufwK0RSfvS_jU/s3848/pic%20(91).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2021" data-original-width="3848" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioK-3WIeesRzbHsBiSQbPzjv2kPEVo_lMprO8l5l245LaNzhtcdPtpFHJilH3M1ZgVld68mxvXW-x9rAmVGogZ3etwm681s--TgRKZXPd4Jnfhwu12feaRxWmJ4MvD1jvrgt0bt8qSqpypLNbCyzYchuXMehkoLdVg_V4RAcmDSYWHi3ufwK0RSfvS_jU/w640-h336/pic%20(91).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We definitely should! We drove just a little further down highway 82 to a trail head that starts right along the road. Our new destination for the day was to hike to Independence Lake. We probably should have gotten started earlier, because afternoon storms were in the forecast. At 10:30 it was already cloudy, and the temperature was 54 degrees. We love hiking in the cool mountains in the summer!</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJe7SRMhVb9hN8HgHIZt43vpF4s4m89mxac9iMkk-psFqUxMKJigVDuH6tf-0TFgdwoWKEI8m27rzcKST4jYVGj7Eekt9PtJr905jyO1g3LvFeWg-a4Hh6l3kv16IyvXstZbOPBc56eCfRRhzxk8pCJyMYweXZT7D7TbRfEvj4hxa117qHtM9gW-g66gE/s3324/pic%20(92).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2184" data-original-width="3324" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJe7SRMhVb9hN8HgHIZt43vpF4s4m89mxac9iMkk-psFqUxMKJigVDuH6tf-0TFgdwoWKEI8m27rzcKST4jYVGj7Eekt9PtJr905jyO1g3LvFeWg-a4Hh6l3kv16IyvXstZbOPBc56eCfRRhzxk8pCJyMYweXZT7D7TbRfEvj4hxa117qHtM9gW-g66gE/w640-h420/pic%20(92).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">About a mile into our hike, we scanned the mountain-side, and noticed a little movement. When we zoomed in, we saw the fawn that caught our eye. We would later see that there were twin fawns hiding in the brush.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIgTgydhfSDioXhCSyo4G6kTRd1olmOlsgdp_XAi_OtxwberiH_P9AnR6-nAbguPWlL0Wp3zfLty8XnSpkpRG_dYR39GHzJkyOfp9igcGBMY4TY0g3LHcUlvgEMtMYJSCvMzu-ZWeoRxEp9l3pHWTwLReHySzFBlpDqqPD8vCSiIy_HYUxeHB2r4Ki2k/s1444/IMG_5638.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1195" data-original-width="1444" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIgTgydhfSDioXhCSyo4G6kTRd1olmOlsgdp_XAi_OtxwberiH_P9AnR6-nAbguPWlL0Wp3zfLty8XnSpkpRG_dYR39GHzJkyOfp9igcGBMY4TY0g3LHcUlvgEMtMYJSCvMzu-ZWeoRxEp9l3pHWTwLReHySzFBlpDqqPD8vCSiIy_HYUxeHB2r4Ki2k/w640-h530/IMG_5638.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">Two hundred yards across the mountain-side we saw the mother doe, now turning towards her babies.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1hGtgVAuwMKaUU6AvJoEPB2k7z_ydKalcmeQA_RuqaRi3-zFZcwmf9hgkYMEUEslf9Mk-GQVQ2jUiM0Z7APsQLyHfx4er7tYGJeQXlikVfpYa6c5WphQzBiSdA7yWZGozAoDOzaVc6DDzyPkZE8lwqzixV232XAZTqHxY6RMSCIXG-eqB7MW3ui03XM/s998/IMG_5643.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="998" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1hGtgVAuwMKaUU6AvJoEPB2k7z_ydKalcmeQA_RuqaRi3-zFZcwmf9hgkYMEUEslf9Mk-GQVQ2jUiM0Z7APsQLyHfx4er7tYGJeQXlikVfpYa6c5WphQzBiSdA7yWZGozAoDOzaVc6DDzyPkZE8lwqzixV232XAZTqHxY6RMSCIXG-eqB7MW3ui03XM/w640-h518/IMG_5643.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><div><span style="font-size: large;">She must have given them the signal that it was time to come out of hiding. It was fun to see the twins as they scampered across the side of the mountain.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9tWKR8qMbsUljP9hACdxXZHQ5qbAiRpyrw3Lt_9A4t8v6cQ3-dRYZB0fC2hyc55aeOzX4oEW9aoeUx88-8P4Ak6XEM1i2zcsE2p0VTpmt8oblvS9DzP0ARZPWHeJiiIgktlos7SUUYdQ9eKC8i7eb2JgjnmkMQ9eH6zPIp5vZzDCugScvNPiO04gHNt8/s1024/IMG_5644.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="728" data-original-width="1024" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9tWKR8qMbsUljP9hACdxXZHQ5qbAiRpyrw3Lt_9A4t8v6cQ3-dRYZB0fC2hyc55aeOzX4oEW9aoeUx88-8P4Ak6XEM1i2zcsE2p0VTpmt8oblvS9DzP0ARZPWHeJiiIgktlos7SUUYdQ9eKC8i7eb2JgjnmkMQ9eH6zPIp5vZzDCugScvNPiO04gHNt8/w640-h456/IMG_5644.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We were wishing for our good camera that we lost this summer. But we still got a blurry picture of the reunion greeting . . .</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8JR9psemf3h7zPQaCqqpSEifoPMghaSbJKIAsqtYrvnispKF5S_QB9q1TSNEfoNBIAbyMYljoGEhC4gNxsf9hZNCyM14qe4Bfn3cYMaE2AA8PNt59EfN9Cm4T6CnkSRx3XBp_gvisKF5ndzJNL-7zINortEG1-UEX1bZnHIwKqbETyp-FMUO2oKYtqHg/s1003/IMG_5645.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="791" data-original-width="1003" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8JR9psemf3h7zPQaCqqpSEifoPMghaSbJKIAsqtYrvnispKF5S_QB9q1TSNEfoNBIAbyMYljoGEhC4gNxsf9hZNCyM14qe4Bfn3cYMaE2AA8PNt59EfN9Cm4T6CnkSRx3XBp_gvisKF5ndzJNL-7zINortEG1-UEX1bZnHIwKqbETyp-FMUO2oKYtqHg/w640-h504/IMG_5645.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">that was followed quickly by breakfast.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJx7ItjDRecZpUUGtWW3CWYQLDbtUvQjVNZaiA6T4et2ot77SyLcU6L6pGXT24vsV2gWdBQnyBS_GMVaBUOU16V_bfdbsXUukK0LKRGpzzKUI3ROo_a3JDqEHKoojQEuiYRF2B87VE8DmrXC6avsrOzphmXwAl9W07RZSEhfgYy7JOmJcyVx4qgLrnRY/s796/IMG_5647.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="643" data-original-width="796" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJx7ItjDRecZpUUGtWW3CWYQLDbtUvQjVNZaiA6T4et2ot77SyLcU6L6pGXT24vsV2gWdBQnyBS_GMVaBUOU16V_bfdbsXUukK0LKRGpzzKUI3ROo_a3JDqEHKoojQEuiYRF2B87VE8DmrXC6avsrOzphmXwAl9W07RZSEhfgYy7JOmJcyVx4qgLrnRY/w640-h516/IMG_5647.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">While the spring wildflowers are past their prime, at this high elevation we were still seeing some blooms. We found pink elephants on the trail . . .</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpZRrgXo-62Eu775eLc3JK53TQuFyla_pcGnqNHXCYTE4Ju9Qyxkl4NXrV18Dabne94ea7T6yzxGY-hz8FktnK-iC9Qo6HQYkWLKVZ_G1PEbI6A1BfemIiSpr9t8veXkdGe4Gy1x9cleGCemKRz-tPinGmiPJF9dHwejUluNu_p_9FvU1oc_11AbcW8Y/s2029/pic%20(93).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2029" data-original-width="2028" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpZRrgXo-62Eu775eLc3JK53TQuFyla_pcGnqNHXCYTE4Ju9Qyxkl4NXrV18Dabne94ea7T6yzxGY-hz8FktnK-iC9Qo6HQYkWLKVZ_G1PEbI6A1BfemIiSpr9t8veXkdGe4Gy1x9cleGCemKRz-tPinGmiPJF9dHwejUluNu_p_9FvU1oc_11AbcW8Y/w640-h640/pic%20(93).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">as well as these burgundy blooms that were stunning. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJjfeC73YvCz7vIBquInA_KOLLQtnvxoJt4FxyYh6TrAXEIsKDKf2jHq_Qq7cbZXeSVVJ4007eWBxMLz9SqUC_qiNdzY3bZVsT0eSxsfZK_RDcys88ItSU6MHcqxeoHF6UelspjYZcxH1L7EZrk1D_wK5LhELw2_X5lp8rAyTbiQbRL7RES9YP7xHw3k/s2964/pic%20(98).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2119" data-original-width="2964" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJjfeC73YvCz7vIBquInA_KOLLQtnvxoJt4FxyYh6TrAXEIsKDKf2jHq_Qq7cbZXeSVVJ4007eWBxMLz9SqUC_qiNdzY3bZVsT0eSxsfZK_RDcys88ItSU6MHcqxeoHF6UelspjYZcxH1L7EZrk1D_wK5LhELw2_X5lp8rAyTbiQbRL7RES9YP7xHw3k/w640-h458/pic%20(98).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">The clouds were following us, but this was a beautiful hike in beautiful weather.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLu_d_CGuRTY7PxZfHciZOksiT2NPzjiK8rSC6PleAkGpgvV8eKXtJQBPj_laCDwn4P4l7jV6D5jC93ABI9xG03ZcsmqTZ-XHkBWTSKqG1rzPAVmrg0aNXDArai15ueyvYUHxQmFDXcfmviz6nZnscezb7Bw56jIEbv5m9jgC6lQAO_A8QyLAvdfQNzM/s3888/pic%20(94).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2597" data-original-width="3888" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLu_d_CGuRTY7PxZfHciZOksiT2NPzjiK8rSC6PleAkGpgvV8eKXtJQBPj_laCDwn4P4l7jV6D5jC93ABI9xG03ZcsmqTZ-XHkBWTSKqG1rzPAVmrg0aNXDArai15ueyvYUHxQmFDXcfmviz6nZnscezb7Bw56jIEbv5m9jgC6lQAO_A8QyLAvdfQNzM/w640-h428/pic%20(94).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">We arrived at our destination--Independence Lake--at noon.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEtM80E1I0VZUZNnmft1i46XrXDSsEOE02NOBx5Q7i6PMUobBKbpB6OOQwWLXK_Vf8A3rniC22ukCDBoAvZMvexvNWaTd7N-Xf8f297G0PHk2beJ5VphMUPhxm8WAobE1enFta7GyJxmF4DsHCnngH359A6_ogGIfTr69Bf9B2B7M-ZcJrvIZhASVl9cM/s3770/pic%20(97).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="3770" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEtM80E1I0VZUZNnmft1i46XrXDSsEOE02NOBx5Q7i6PMUobBKbpB6OOQwWLXK_Vf8A3rniC22ukCDBoAvZMvexvNWaTd7N-Xf8f297G0PHk2beJ5VphMUPhxm8WAobE1enFta7GyJxmF4DsHCnngH359A6_ogGIfTr69Bf9B2B7M-ZcJrvIZhASVl9cM/w640-h424/pic%20(97).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Just past the lake was a high ridge that was calling our name. Should we go further and add the extra half-mile and steep elevation gain just to stand on that saddle and see the next lake?</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkQZkTGV9o02xNiMued4ONHQo80tGhiWFaZ_JOkOVfZdh9tN2s9lTD1odCGtrtikrtc_SKZBCVoU57g-8XHJq3SCkwue-g6CXPIKeF_eorFe6fuDquyGaUeJlk8V2q7_mRPL1rhUysYSk3O5EBey1bH-S-1y3O_7KWnrNp-ftIjt5DRMy4obP1mfMCns/s3691/pic%20(95).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2525" data-original-width="3691" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkQZkTGV9o02xNiMued4ONHQo80tGhiWFaZ_JOkOVfZdh9tN2s9lTD1odCGtrtikrtc_SKZBCVoU57g-8XHJq3SCkwue-g6CXPIKeF_eorFe6fuDquyGaUeJlk8V2q7_mRPL1rhUysYSk3O5EBey1bH-S-1y3O_7KWnrNp-ftIjt5DRMy4obP1mfMCns/w640-h438/pic%20(95).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Well of course we should! We started up the steep grade and said good-bye to Independence Lake . . .</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS156y68-iGEc1PgD3AYa7HnHH6zGgN253b44_8TISK6G0BCSSj8JN0epNXyyMq-XE-szPbl3OFUVf73iDrnGq00ei-HkGXVKOU5-YjhIJJt_rWftaMbheOdpkRWCIv5m4-8usfMayHnyeiYHgW9Sn55KwknNaviZKXIqQzcNOcw2KIubFLldlO0loZWA/s3566/pic%20(99).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2506" data-original-width="3566" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS156y68-iGEc1PgD3AYa7HnHH6zGgN253b44_8TISK6G0BCSSj8JN0epNXyyMq-XE-szPbl3OFUVf73iDrnGq00ei-HkGXVKOU5-YjhIJJt_rWftaMbheOdpkRWCIv5m4-8usfMayHnyeiYHgW9Sn55KwknNaviZKXIqQzcNOcw2KIubFLldlO0loZWA/w640-h450/pic%20(99).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">and hello to Lost Man Lake. From the top of that saddle we got our first glimpse of the far lake that was surrounded by more mountains.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFvJgBxiUuR8ZFzxL3fkPNb7oYfs_mfiP7TDgsatmy2UGgmVHeoKdW8Es2pf9tim_aCAj0qQ4b-pHlQBdmzUsf6PMUG_qVYm-LFn06HyMtQLkwJk9aeBIo01N-M0yyejfQhc-TV24p4aCIhigfG0x0ovBu1BdP0XoG7o3onRIO2t_Od1QtopM9k_yWZsI/s3829/pic%20(123).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2604" data-original-width="3829" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFvJgBxiUuR8ZFzxL3fkPNb7oYfs_mfiP7TDgsatmy2UGgmVHeoKdW8Es2pf9tim_aCAj0qQ4b-pHlQBdmzUsf6PMUG_qVYm-LFn06HyMtQLkwJk9aeBIo01N-M0yyejfQhc-TV24p4aCIhigfG0x0ovBu1BdP0XoG7o3onRIO2t_Od1QtopM9k_yWZsI/w640-h436/pic%20(123).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Because there are fewer hikers that continue to this lake, the marmots were out enjoying the views with us.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7suWo7iVWQ4DFrDqRuV3no7BDQss__kXrZ4fapnacISiRWPfjGXOa6rrm7u1kZpzs44YUYLFHMAe0ouLhUiLLATD9k-bCGj6rmOYbIhO0u5LJKIeucZQBGrqPt2xrzGExW-ygtQ6Dpww-h0nMDk4DkSF7qzbzF1BI-4o0NurYTp4JV-p6-DO_8elr7U/s1852/IMG_5667.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1391" data-original-width="1852" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7suWo7iVWQ4DFrDqRuV3no7BDQss__kXrZ4fapnacISiRWPfjGXOa6rrm7u1kZpzs44YUYLFHMAe0ouLhUiLLATD9k-bCGj6rmOYbIhO0u5LJKIeucZQBGrqPt2xrzGExW-ygtQ6Dpww-h0nMDk4DkSF7qzbzF1BI-4o0NurYTp4JV-p6-DO_8elr7U/w640-h480/IMG_5667.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">But then we met another hiker that had been on this trail many times before. She offered to take a picture of us together at the top. We had wandered into another of God's wonders!</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAX0WVuQs2tfKZloZzlJd26epQlXyTt0qPuJcDJOcHFpo8li2LiljxcCtNQ2hX9K5l6WoQDu-zzyfaRDwohattvQpIR1WRhOEVBdk0p1Ks3GaWk7Ll5sm__Tp9vGI05RqupFyQC59VcDia5aY-WXQzRVadx7VZVsy3cu1LCzEttS3DLW3tkXTUKQ-sSu8/s3934/pic%20(105).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2952" data-original-width="3934" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAX0WVuQs2tfKZloZzlJd26epQlXyTt0qPuJcDJOcHFpo8li2LiljxcCtNQ2hX9K5l6WoQDu-zzyfaRDwohattvQpIR1WRhOEVBdk0p1Ks3GaWk7Ll5sm__Tp9vGI05RqupFyQC59VcDia5aY-WXQzRVadx7VZVsy3cu1LCzEttS3DLW3tkXTUKQ-sSu8/w640-h480/pic%20(105).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">Then Denisa moseyed over to the rocks where the marmots were on alert. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1r8qTPOOYSEf2yRs4HjCywFgek8kp8iJKUSbPiIjjNBAQwjPBJfoxVs0mkfbVanoTcf4dD3SeZXVaf6zTrW1favdSOPrjd7rrB9aFuEIg6bVVZz1OdW-IlHgTeeqtxKmVH_xEe3SkVQoIeyNpHu6L3n5QoR_kd2lqg5YeGvYXwfzPDZKrCa8rzVqzep0/s2149/IMG_5668.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2033" data-original-width="2149" height="606" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1r8qTPOOYSEf2yRs4HjCywFgek8kp8iJKUSbPiIjjNBAQwjPBJfoxVs0mkfbVanoTcf4dD3SeZXVaf6zTrW1favdSOPrjd7rrB9aFuEIg6bVVZz1OdW-IlHgTeeqtxKmVH_xEe3SkVQoIeyNpHu6L3n5QoR_kd2lqg5YeGvYXwfzPDZKrCa8rzVqzep0/w640-h606/IMG_5668.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">These curious yellow-bellied marmots just can't help themselves from being friendly. They were peeking out from their burrows, trying to get a good look at the visitor that had wandered into their territory.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjNNWj44-LHUAmCF0zf9h2wNEKkFzKTVWKK2s58BbqmFfqm3DFNEsB99fbKuBWBUOM_z9jDohstxziIvBOlyLBR_WUpbcy0VHvHE0yXZJmiMxDioiztTz633_sccTGZUHcf5BG0yy9_gKEjkGPfj7M3pYIdJnqOwnRtzSku_3pxOwsBhUdqjO2ahBlDhM/s1635/IMG_5673.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1492" data-original-width="1635" height="584" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjNNWj44-LHUAmCF0zf9h2wNEKkFzKTVWKK2s58BbqmFfqm3DFNEsB99fbKuBWBUOM_z9jDohstxziIvBOlyLBR_WUpbcy0VHvHE0yXZJmiMxDioiztTz633_sccTGZUHcf5BG0yy9_gKEjkGPfj7M3pYIdJnqOwnRtzSku_3pxOwsBhUdqjO2ahBlDhM/w640-h584/IMG_5673.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The rock at the top was a great place for a marmot to enjoy the view of Lost Man's Lake.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KhSWKCtP9kDuzXjICCSFDu1HE-Qd97_9iCJvjPhV4tefhUiEclHC-Bf6l29E5ABLipo0zYFcEoBp7tnZ39xNCVz--Xiv5Tld8JEfSJVghPPNcnT9o177sfCiIM-VluQTmGcQpDHIgbaravpCjy5IgkjyTsJ50qCrFWh1lZXNH4AdvAgagI2WlrQBQqk/s2967/IMG_5671.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1635" data-original-width="2967" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KhSWKCtP9kDuzXjICCSFDu1HE-Qd97_9iCJvjPhV4tefhUiEclHC-Bf6l29E5ABLipo0zYFcEoBp7tnZ39xNCVz--Xiv5Tld8JEfSJVghPPNcnT9o177sfCiIM-VluQTmGcQpDHIgbaravpCjy5IgkjyTsJ50qCrFWh1lZXNH4AdvAgagI2WlrQBQqk/w640-h352/IMG_5671.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Denisa sat in the middle of the rocks, enjoying the views and the animals. She could count half a dozen marmots at one time.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSzzznAtgDg9wSkFVSzzNaAtS8cgoIOwSaXXx1uGEq7JuanPRblHIIOft9l7CyRMh9PNGqCicJgND0nekak8tnuomHKq023b5XgU-wV5ync_pVGiX-HsZRKbZ2TLTxiDfROd092MNbfc8HmL5kuwtn9z5xJV_0VKzw52wiF8MXM_kBGyFrpS176m9qQc/s1460/IMG_5674.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1392" data-original-width="1460" height="610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSzzznAtgDg9wSkFVSzzNaAtS8cgoIOwSaXXx1uGEq7JuanPRblHIIOft9l7CyRMh9PNGqCicJgND0nekak8tnuomHKq023b5XgU-wV5ync_pVGiX-HsZRKbZ2TLTxiDfROd092MNbfc8HmL5kuwtn9z5xJV_0VKzw52wiF8MXM_kBGyFrpS176m9qQc/w640-h610/IMG_5674.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">This would be one of her favorite pictures of the day, with the marmots in the foreground and the lake and mountains in the background. Have we mentioned that we have wandered into another of God's wonders?!?</span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilx0qx8q8rE7DECkV7q_l-UbB3-z5FQAglapG2xcGf-Dmg5SJ5jFz0Dn4xbYtUMOpNW5fHpJk02yMLP83b8ch0VW3aE9J2j2IEPZ0MZZfwJ-Al4lZAw5fkyVDc2WbhUJZN7kpPr9PN1ZESFf9uwXiuqNW6sANt32oamVpby2nDgkksaslQjy5hpVqeMY/s3528/pic%20(103).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2788" data-original-width="3528" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilx0qx8q8rE7DECkV7q_l-UbB3-z5FQAglapG2xcGf-Dmg5SJ5jFz0Dn4xbYtUMOpNW5fHpJk02yMLP83b8ch0VW3aE9J2j2IEPZ0MZZfwJ-Al4lZAw5fkyVDc2WbhUJZN7kpPr9PN1ZESFf9uwXiuqNW6sANt32oamVpby2nDgkksaslQjy5hpVqeMY/w640-h506/pic%20(103).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">While we were watching the animals and the lake from the top of the ridge, we noticed a group of hikers near the edge of Lost Man Lake. Surprisingly, they were turned away from the lake watching something else. Should we hike further down off this ridge (knowing that we would have to climb back up this steep incline)? Well of course we should! Before we knew it, we were standing right beside Lost Man Lake and the blanket of yellow wildflowers.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSqkIa5DveXXjOyKAz4boAKhrPDqZdmk_dV50TFsiedWACVhjWJC_E8rmqI0P4NvMu5vxl8sboNvID3JZ0t01tGh9XZiNq7CINJW185irMxdf9SLzYx-kkBKYC8JILc8mWxoLHVaa59ggCy_ZTHtvErTK9q62AJeF6KNzOJ6F80jEvranV0tOY7pTp7A/s3770/pic%20(108).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2801" data-original-width="3770" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSqkIa5DveXXjOyKAz4boAKhrPDqZdmk_dV50TFsiedWACVhjWJC_E8rmqI0P4NvMu5vxl8sboNvID3JZ0t01tGh9XZiNq7CINJW185irMxdf9SLzYx-kkBKYC8JILc8mWxoLHVaa59ggCy_ZTHtvErTK9q62AJeF6KNzOJ6F80jEvranV0tOY7pTp7A/w640-h476/pic%20(108).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">That's when we found out why the hikers were not looking at the lake. It was because they were looking at the mountain goats!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmcW9-KQfLCp42xlnYrfxhqzB8fUPjCMDIVTWLB6i-3Zayq1CYV5uQHmfHWoGzOUO7TywlcN7zJZNY78zWI8D3EYENxcFglGmj3IS_lKtKt89Lf23sWcnNfmR0yAJDLjWEJ0p8WoqDNZCwE8NOSDu5A-A3fxj5rezYo4JJ5V3t2Z5rG_9Cb6XZueE8wY8/s1852/IMG_5706.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1391" data-original-width="1852" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmcW9-KQfLCp42xlnYrfxhqzB8fUPjCMDIVTWLB6i-3Zayq1CYV5uQHmfHWoGzOUO7TywlcN7zJZNY78zWI8D3EYENxcFglGmj3IS_lKtKt89Lf23sWcnNfmR0yAJDLjWEJ0p8WoqDNZCwE8NOSDu5A-A3fxj5rezYo4JJ5V3t2Z5rG_9Cb6XZueE8wY8/w640-h480/IMG_5706.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><div><span style="font-size: large;">Two adult goats were in different stages of shedding their winter coats on this August day.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsWvYq1JXFoazPDghIB4T4N_hhwjBiMUJdHBc6gaixtTYyonc3aqokTDzUeco36V-5ItHl1ODJWMAE-WcarwLv0pY4AvLVulFQi85NNU5SDjj0G3eEUeExGIMZnTrsCPzZJzexTzx6yXb1bEB1KgcCPBFYsleCvJVY-MI09yQvT_4-UBlTQF4r8V5mtSA/s1853/IMG_5705.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1551" data-original-width="1853" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsWvYq1JXFoazPDghIB4T4N_hhwjBiMUJdHBc6gaixtTYyonc3aqokTDzUeco36V-5ItHl1ODJWMAE-WcarwLv0pY4AvLVulFQi85NNU5SDjj0G3eEUeExGIMZnTrsCPzZJzexTzx6yXb1bEB1KgcCPBFYsleCvJVY-MI09yQvT_4-UBlTQF4r8V5mtSA/w640-h536/IMG_5705.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">But the cutest member of the goat family was trailing behind them.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS23uC0Jfa4YNKpaBw5plVZHzP8y0-zeSfeO29QP1638maobl7Ftu4xcaKrNysl5GFP2MSLQ0a4FS9_8IuefnMFVyMZaxO82WUUSfc6Y_7YcMLWLDZaui5k-5MJ95Pz_arkakXsyKmDiE6wKdki3_-wAjdIm2xks5deG53xtPi86ItnbJY45EtJ8OsBz8/s1003/IMG_5779.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="1003" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS23uC0Jfa4YNKpaBw5plVZHzP8y0-zeSfeO29QP1638maobl7Ftu4xcaKrNysl5GFP2MSLQ0a4FS9_8IuefnMFVyMZaxO82WUUSfc6Y_7YcMLWLDZaui5k-5MJ95Pz_arkakXsyKmDiE6wKdki3_-wAjdIm2xks5deG53xtPi86ItnbJY45EtJ8OsBz8/w640-h522/IMG_5779.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">We sat down on one of the rocks by the lake, and had a front row seat to the mountain goat show.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJn_YamVra0Bf_2qa7c0yyesIQxk8rIqMQIC5pq66GaLWdY5uc04kojCD9dT0iqhQ5vhzj7DQziO_siWI2mv7bD34-2wWISsXwIcK0UbCC35mp4LBBjGdBC6VEokW0fvkbDVcw4DINo2K3tSp7YsngSdUTt9u-C3I-6DDpK7StpI8wPrj6DSaXQRyiyO0/s2128/IMG_5696.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1566" data-original-width="2128" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJn_YamVra0Bf_2qa7c0yyesIQxk8rIqMQIC5pq66GaLWdY5uc04kojCD9dT0iqhQ5vhzj7DQziO_siWI2mv7bD34-2wWISsXwIcK0UbCC35mp4LBBjGdBC6VEokW0fvkbDVcw4DINo2K3tSp7YsngSdUTt9u-C3I-6DDpK7StpI8wPrj6DSaXQRyiyO0/w640-h470/IMG_5696.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We watched their sure-footed climb towards the rocks above our heads.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQjMpluSs0yba7whuaeSJSritnAbe8uCnlDB7mXrG_uvqb8DRrWPBHqWF0FJCfmm94K9PKlEFdlavgEc_5Gwsb2f27gH0iXBPIP7b2yrCa_kpzFyr7NCOSNmkhWxCKubmj0Hhe74fSbJjN3156yVhGeZ_ZYjra7mmULZcIn0aFn4jVdO_FYT1SQmYnYqo/s1380/IMG_5727.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="1380" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQjMpluSs0yba7whuaeSJSritnAbe8uCnlDB7mXrG_uvqb8DRrWPBHqWF0FJCfmm94K9PKlEFdlavgEc_5Gwsb2f27gH0iXBPIP7b2yrCa_kpzFyr7NCOSNmkhWxCKubmj0Hhe74fSbJjN3156yVhGeZ_ZYjra7mmULZcIn0aFn4jVdO_FYT1SQmYnYqo/w640-h522/IMG_5727.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Have we mentioned that we have wandered into another of God's wonders today?</span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzq5ckzUnWnWp8hMzmwKmpCpnp5-4MBkJXceeaV76RzPPF30txE3YC6RObTsyJIkCOV9UpTA4LWNAVMaJiMTO8iO1efz8tLbP9dVsnUQhMH8uOX1L8ekUCXIBxpA5ujnMU8S9zL4wAgghLLiJ2E1RMU7MVLWkn_p5rEh15JuG5UmynwtvXMm9cBFlXwoc/s6641/pic%20(114).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3845" data-original-width="6641" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzq5ckzUnWnWp8hMzmwKmpCpnp5-4MBkJXceeaV76RzPPF30txE3YC6RObTsyJIkCOV9UpTA4LWNAVMaJiMTO8iO1efz8tLbP9dVsnUQhMH8uOX1L8ekUCXIBxpA5ujnMU8S9zL4wAgghLLiJ2E1RMU7MVLWkn_p5rEh15JuG5UmynwtvXMm9cBFlXwoc/w640-h370/pic%20(114).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The goats seemed to circle us on our perch, always keeping within easy sight of us. We took way too many pictures, and couldn't decide which ones to delete. So hang on for too many mountain goat pictures.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMgpIWXfZLc4wll9twlKcTQtsnudltc7bnNvAWBDi0NYXbe9OdTRADK5229-cQE10QUs5N5yJ-vrMJoL8OTZs8UuAEUVOY8ooRhueJ2HO0hwx4MozqrY9BSXYbn1xMaVJPgRdhcBCa1PLICOGZcz5E2Eke3gpjJjB0DzD-hKw3OSncb4j_DSHzCsOPFA/s1093/IMG_5739.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1093" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMgpIWXfZLc4wll9twlKcTQtsnudltc7bnNvAWBDi0NYXbe9OdTRADK5229-cQE10QUs5N5yJ-vrMJoL8OTZs8UuAEUVOY8ooRhueJ2HO0hwx4MozqrY9BSXYbn1xMaVJPgRdhcBCa1PLICOGZcz5E2Eke3gpjJjB0DzD-hKw3OSncb4j_DSHzCsOPFA/w640-h484/IMG_5739.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdt8y-6GzrkBU5B3xBtHXC1XBOvQyhgIuDjko4nopNVU_Gwhs2Bf8Fxf6ZeyKOE9mXID2K1Y8ANWKGLrjD2WYMmW9DOR53lI_7qpPWuyhYtPiCPs6G5j3wEFP8kB5Juu1ngLQ7Xe4ezOck6zFuC7pXVO-dnavZDl84fD9v6jyy5GNBM7FHRQGFcEsxEXs/s2330/IMG_5752.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1630" data-original-width="2330" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdt8y-6GzrkBU5B3xBtHXC1XBOvQyhgIuDjko4nopNVU_Gwhs2Bf8Fxf6ZeyKOE9mXID2K1Y8ANWKGLrjD2WYMmW9DOR53lI_7qpPWuyhYtPiCPs6G5j3wEFP8kB5Juu1ngLQ7Xe4ezOck6zFuC7pXVO-dnavZDl84fD9v6jyy5GNBM7FHRQGFcEsxEXs/w640-h448/IMG_5752.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WjPKpNfXmwWjCyyat5o4CDv7iPLHre5vTPj4eCX7o-J-AqLWTPWE8y9rC5EamAjLWBUq4tljuW3L69rx_L7Lc0i_5Sfgf7hhBoog4bm_ZxmD5VTe_9omxw_rxayrOJhJzdCVW9htesz0DSPF7BEBt9yKkdBpjyjO4Sd4BO2ejyjX93z1dTRn0keEJ7s/s2298/IMG_5745.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1731" data-original-width="2298" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WjPKpNfXmwWjCyyat5o4CDv7iPLHre5vTPj4eCX7o-J-AqLWTPWE8y9rC5EamAjLWBUq4tljuW3L69rx_L7Lc0i_5Sfgf7hhBoog4bm_ZxmD5VTe_9omxw_rxayrOJhJzdCVW9htesz0DSPF7BEBt9yKkdBpjyjO4Sd4BO2ejyjX93z1dTRn0keEJ7s/w640-h482/IMG_5745.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Who can resist a fluffy white kid standing in front of the fluffy white clouds?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qUTHYNJjjqFdE2JQo6mAFkGNNhQYjC2LjynulU3C4YO6F46mKYq9nYSmvJPf90daJh7AcBLiNSTJ8sRz8FnFL7e5-l-rH2mEGLW5-ncj9fQsk5fMZxEoiXlbO2MDJd26VzEH8Id_XoDXfkwgeWUrCX6qecybQvF5gp3AZO1jx5KCpuF5868JpLn-fw0/s891/IMG_5761.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="891" height="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qUTHYNJjjqFdE2JQo6mAFkGNNhQYjC2LjynulU3C4YO6F46mKYq9nYSmvJPf90daJh7AcBLiNSTJ8sRz8FnFL7e5-l-rH2mEGLW5-ncj9fQsk5fMZxEoiXlbO2MDJd26VzEH8Id_XoDXfkwgeWUrCX6qecybQvF5gp3AZO1jx5KCpuF5868JpLn-fw0/w640-h550/IMG_5761.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">We even took pictures of Denisa taking pictures. You can see how close the mountain goats would approach us, as we never moved from our spot on the rocks.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgekOfQigysSuKipcqzA1U-aJCekC8X50-MUp0GlmgAPwlxw1BVn2jv8hcn4_qTSQJ3RP1wT-CnV2l70mZwRnOFIZNeHkmXY8pp8wu_S8ydRTzKFMrjYhKSsrpmuvKlygbSprwiGOXIjuN1vJH2Ej4t3gsJMLs98gAj-8C7z4wNwAbZxPaJgnaL0M4Wbok/s1882/pic%20(116).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1633" data-original-width="1882" height="556" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgekOfQigysSuKipcqzA1U-aJCekC8X50-MUp0GlmgAPwlxw1BVn2jv8hcn4_qTSQJ3RP1wT-CnV2l70mZwRnOFIZNeHkmXY8pp8wu_S8ydRTzKFMrjYhKSsrpmuvKlygbSprwiGOXIjuN1vJH2Ej4t3gsJMLs98gAj-8C7z4wNwAbZxPaJgnaL0M4Wbok/w640-h556/pic%20(116).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuLNZMndE6aiFwBY96CEUZdzwVfxi5bW1zCAZ6Zwkp_aSRAJA1lbDWM3PwT_JMNswE6Bn3x42ddiJQs3Be5eGcjVVg5T37Rh37ypmcA_e9fHewbiAVHuVsFxhWgautMueoXEqd-Jv5BuXov_f1rtWQM4WErqwjY_UNV2KkkoJw7Ru611l24ZM33UYpJQ/s2022/IMG_5777.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1609" data-original-width="2022" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuLNZMndE6aiFwBY96CEUZdzwVfxi5bW1zCAZ6Zwkp_aSRAJA1lbDWM3PwT_JMNswE6Bn3x42ddiJQs3Be5eGcjVVg5T37Rh37ypmcA_e9fHewbiAVHuVsFxhWgautMueoXEqd-Jv5BuXov_f1rtWQM4WErqwjY_UNV2KkkoJw7Ru611l24ZM33UYpJQ/w640-h510/IMG_5777.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxrhRWRMaw1LeG9FRdzXx1l8Q9YiMcvylF7EyD8R6H_pIdAI5FUE0jf3YjxgHr5LJLx5XKkLVomnWfMYVjjMxdmevRD1ZvKOrsfZuTkUfPU_gthPnAj0CKwFz0W1Wl_cMZHFK7Jp6-YqSFQpz3uwClx_nzYNDpBsMs0R5WwpFY01Foo-UAUImndv7PRg/s2479/IMG_5715.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="1933" data-original-width="2479" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxrhRWRMaw1LeG9FRdzXx1l8Q9YiMcvylF7EyD8R6H_pIdAI5FUE0jf3YjxgHr5LJLx5XKkLVomnWfMYVjjMxdmevRD1ZvKOrsfZuTkUfPU_gthPnAj0CKwFz0W1Wl_cMZHFK7Jp6-YqSFQpz3uwClx_nzYNDpBsMs0R5WwpFY01Foo-UAUImndv7PRg/w640-h500/IMG_5715.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4yRCGKI7pvwZuqp1KSFTb_XfYzurlzYiaZCcChKyvgLNSGgJsnr3oMmpFMn6c9mkWnqweLQE9rX1rto5Z00nSa_AkXdHf1PwwIMDHBczjhEP_k1BtZLRFYl8HycruB90RI5ZqI7gtgg5xf4bjjuKc44FzyoN9awVDmj9lBd66INk0kdE8LF8pq-CqtQ/s2192/IMG_5782.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1519" data-original-width="2192" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4yRCGKI7pvwZuqp1KSFTb_XfYzurlzYiaZCcChKyvgLNSGgJsnr3oMmpFMn6c9mkWnqweLQE9rX1rto5Z00nSa_AkXdHf1PwwIMDHBczjhEP_k1BtZLRFYl8HycruB90RI5ZqI7gtgg5xf4bjjuKc44FzyoN9awVDmj9lBd66INk0kdE8LF8pq-CqtQ/w640-h444/IMG_5782.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqGtJ4kNiOv9KJRTLGzrH8A-AoEezJK-vQPWXIum7hCi2rGlaUQtRDkEU7o50VkbSuwhLO5oeQ-ERnJXUlikj594ufviIgXFz8vHDUarkPXgK0XXdG0XaBJlMAAh_wGs-GP5a1-Z4YLf_BkW94cOCMcubJQ7bp9UPFOfnUB4yL3PaRk7ZSKVRUtiVVkU/s987/IMG_5787.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="987" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqGtJ4kNiOv9KJRTLGzrH8A-AoEezJK-vQPWXIum7hCi2rGlaUQtRDkEU7o50VkbSuwhLO5oeQ-ERnJXUlikj594ufviIgXFz8vHDUarkPXgK0XXdG0XaBJlMAAh_wGs-GP5a1-Z4YLf_BkW94cOCMcubJQ7bp9UPFOfnUB4yL3PaRk7ZSKVRUtiVVkU/w640-h528/IMG_5787.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">Yep, this hike took a lot longer than planned with all these wildlife sightings! We still hadn't gotten rained on, and we were having a great time!</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtQNlKSLnakE1LLYm-MrD2xr_5LBjdhukmcMjvAZ45wr0qTK0WFO6ESk7uLL2qu_0nhJxVhRu_T4PfaC9de0HitPo0obBTgvbOaie4T4QGvzDMCh3z-PLtNDaLDgaSOrEIC7c_GD0OlPp1B43GemPKoUHXc3x_czGq7QxcPxMeP1toEO7w1TRdpwjFC4/s4043/pic%20(118).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3294" data-original-width="4043" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtQNlKSLnakE1LLYm-MrD2xr_5LBjdhukmcMjvAZ45wr0qTK0WFO6ESk7uLL2qu_0nhJxVhRu_T4PfaC9de0HitPo0obBTgvbOaie4T4QGvzDMCh3z-PLtNDaLDgaSOrEIC7c_GD0OlPp1B43GemPKoUHXc3x_czGq7QxcPxMeP1toEO7w1TRdpwjFC4/w640-h522/pic%20(118).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Denisa has always speculated that Mark was part mountain goat. He hiked to the top of another ridge to take a picture of our surroundings in this magical place. (You might notice that Denisa was content to stay near the lake on her rock.)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9xCguEIg3wOFVZxLM_jbUYdY6teTVEQyTfjzgVZpLHkd1RecpF-Oa13lQ4-d20ehTkuv-Q9UCEaxjlt3dlx9lSyzFjWAfD9nn8zFtQrw2VDcbEM2gqj4xKHU1lthH1gMV5QRm0lIAHIOUZK_sbadpckb3adtyGVxZtD2536zplw2rMfTUCkBrw30Jcc/s3914/pic%20(119).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2656" data-original-width="3914" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9xCguEIg3wOFVZxLM_jbUYdY6teTVEQyTfjzgVZpLHkd1RecpF-Oa13lQ4-d20ehTkuv-Q9UCEaxjlt3dlx9lSyzFjWAfD9nn8zFtQrw2VDcbEM2gqj4xKHU1lthH1gMV5QRm0lIAHIOUZK_sbadpckb3adtyGVxZtD2536zplw2rMfTUCkBrw30Jcc/w640-h434/pic%20(119).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Then he hiked to the top of the rocks to get a view of the valley beyond. Should we hike further over this ridge?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtsoxeliglBXnIiuUVInMTP2_WLrKD2U_UG0B7jLyeyW0Ac9bY9HJL04AXVs413lnFU5xGaC0kBmM9IIMi16OwPew8FZrD6yYQSKHO7U_QV6IRFXY0uVMIRjRKxzTC9A0BSgNGcAe2vxQ5_e3WVzoqkz60frtklczIR1q0_ogpYJC-XzW5ONcPDXh8z4/s3685/pic%20(120).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2197" data-original-width="3685" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtsoxeliglBXnIiuUVInMTP2_WLrKD2U_UG0B7jLyeyW0Ac9bY9HJL04AXVs413lnFU5xGaC0kBmM9IIMi16OwPew8FZrD6yYQSKHO7U_QV6IRFXY0uVMIRjRKxzTC9A0BSgNGcAe2vxQ5_e3WVzoqkz60frtklczIR1q0_ogpYJC-XzW5ONcPDXh8z4/w640-h382/pic%20(120).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkuqL46yiZ9jVcJconkdOHj-mC_6Rk0oiUBse_-aSx8cPFyFSOwzCG54Ab4Z0DAUg7B_4RKl9AVt4bPXQHF5YKiHOy1tvPAwyUXTfpO3TYQmwTa49qN-ZhVdE7sV4YFEftuPwuOu6M_uzDU285BXReOmj6Xb7Hdad-yZUuYAiemcQGTwIX3LLclwys4OA/s3815/pic%20(121).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2492" data-original-width="3815" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkuqL46yiZ9jVcJconkdOHj-mC_6Rk0oiUBse_-aSx8cPFyFSOwzCG54Ab4Z0DAUg7B_4RKl9AVt4bPXQHF5YKiHOy1tvPAwyUXTfpO3TYQmwTa49qN-ZhVdE7sV4YFEftuPwuOu6M_uzDU285BXReOmj6Xb7Hdad-yZUuYAiemcQGTwIX3LLclwys4OA/w640-h418/pic%20(121).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">This time we decided that it was time to turn around and head towards the pickup. The mountain goats were still hanging out close to the lake.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1tfMDCA5YYhvJNzPK__DqhgVastYRrTiGThny7F_b-9_Of1HhRJGvjQhvKfAVxM4Kism69kGg1VUnvhcnm5qNZiZyWAAVrveiP-YkrDduJppynl6qwlS80HHeCGz8CSxeBEsWEbKav-Pt3XbGiKqj-d1IOjjY9ghcwg6Urx7INEx-kmy-fKgIQz-Seq4/s1263/IMG_5792.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1041" data-original-width="1263" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1tfMDCA5YYhvJNzPK__DqhgVastYRrTiGThny7F_b-9_Of1HhRJGvjQhvKfAVxM4Kism69kGg1VUnvhcnm5qNZiZyWAAVrveiP-YkrDduJppynl6qwlS80HHeCGz8CSxeBEsWEbKav-Pt3XbGiKqj-d1IOjjY9ghcwg6Urx7INEx-kmy-fKgIQz-Seq4/w640-h528/IMG_5792.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">It was a great decision to extend our hike to Lost Man Lake, but now we had to tackle that steep hike up and out of the lake bowl.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0QzxVPeTIL2sny9V6bbSsLbtzr0fzOR1PlLjksLk8QYGHRNfpff5CGtfXcKB1ZVV8udspmvOQgFgRtJmqk3oEdaA79ewO5soirW4_LuHRe-LGC-aB1KTcI4bOx3FHO8kWvNt-dZM2YRXm4FOsSF_4gsbixvxf0fU7KGrF24RVhV-S9yAXwosFZIruWng/s3848/pic%20(122).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2827" data-original-width="3848" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0QzxVPeTIL2sny9V6bbSsLbtzr0fzOR1PlLjksLk8QYGHRNfpff5CGtfXcKB1ZVV8udspmvOQgFgRtJmqk3oEdaA79ewO5soirW4_LuHRe-LGC-aB1KTcI4bOx3FHO8kWvNt-dZM2YRXm4FOsSF_4gsbixvxf0fU7KGrF24RVhV-S9yAXwosFZIruWng/w640-h470/pic%20(122).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">We made it back to the saddle between the two lakes. Mark took a panorama picture that included Independence Lake on the left, Denisa in the middle, and Lost Man Lake on the right.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6I0q5grOJzyaKwvV26UnnLvQ86I1krNQRx8Ipb1rml2JomHwLwb-m5ATuwu9y7VA-xyuG4qKyzZP4KF7StlWOkwgcba_PwJ-7zyZCFGHuT0lLn8N96T5HGhVlUW_5LrFB2YmafvWGiQQv8BdfvSyFsLq5WKYsH_QFqnFDBI7HuzvbBN0ixO4QG_EF_g/s11791/pic%20(124).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3696" data-original-width="11791" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6I0q5grOJzyaKwvV26UnnLvQ86I1krNQRx8Ipb1rml2JomHwLwb-m5ATuwu9y7VA-xyuG4qKyzZP4KF7StlWOkwgcba_PwJ-7zyZCFGHuT0lLn8N96T5HGhVlUW_5LrFB2YmafvWGiQQv8BdfvSyFsLq5WKYsH_QFqnFDBI7HuzvbBN0ixO4QG_EF_g/w640-h200/pic%20(124).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">From there it was downhill all the way. We hiked past Independence Lake . . .</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioWap6Lhn8fTE4RCpMhyQMLTkK3H_cj_gvzQcm6To0SdGCImdL3F5t8xYDfsilXUJ0IJwQCYq4IIQp5x3-SqJLk38b4tSy-i8qQb4DVH3hMk3Beb_WGhVSxGVYLK8wibvLyWt53-QOFqO-7xnn7DFljiRxrVG2hA4tkrhCCkpI0_DcomPMz_Yf-x1qW-A/s3914/pic%20(125).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2631" data-original-width="3914" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioWap6Lhn8fTE4RCpMhyQMLTkK3H_cj_gvzQcm6To0SdGCImdL3F5t8xYDfsilXUJ0IJwQCYq4IIQp5x3-SqJLk38b4tSy-i8qQb4DVH3hMk3Beb_WGhVSxGVYLK8wibvLyWt53-QOFqO-7xnn7DFljiRxrVG2hA4tkrhCCkpI0_DcomPMz_Yf-x1qW-A/w640-h430/pic%20(125).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">and enjoyed more of the wildflowers still blooming at 12,000 feet.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTxUksoyb5lWOsKBnU_eiQwDsFRFSxIFgVnkP1yv3lfBUoBxF4HlRv9e8QhzqzCghuuXa47Ax9xY_gRYE16XlBsQFr_7ZpKeLRz8_ajkMCbBbCnAMGTXESsY6p3uYNn4tr1KZv3m1rLyZtIEmpPN6JBIGP4iOGvuz91rNp_hNOeVqKM4erbSZUz0asAI/s4032/pic%20(128).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTxUksoyb5lWOsKBnU_eiQwDsFRFSxIFgVnkP1yv3lfBUoBxF4HlRv9e8QhzqzCghuuXa47Ax9xY_gRYE16XlBsQFr_7ZpKeLRz8_ajkMCbBbCnAMGTXESsY6p3uYNn4tr1KZv3m1rLyZtIEmpPN6JBIGP4iOGvuz91rNp_hNOeVqKM4erbSZUz0asAI/w640-h480/pic%20(128).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMt9UeKW0G_agaFdNf_FsGcgJFCe4zNJNrxSBVXN1cNqvEDNRhUf240mIQA5RITiyH6qt9k6IA8AhqNFiW4nywF4weoRSODHanJkKwn_v5tSvvH54tnvSfcAEzXRr0DvPzu2DSCov0waSat8ebNChEl6hXcTZ9eJzZC_8qg5-_sgohfEccB427D4N9s9M/s2452/pic%20(127).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1981" data-original-width="2452" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMt9UeKW0G_agaFdNf_FsGcgJFCe4zNJNrxSBVXN1cNqvEDNRhUf240mIQA5RITiyH6qt9k6IA8AhqNFiW4nywF4weoRSODHanJkKwn_v5tSvvH54tnvSfcAEzXRr0DvPzu2DSCov0waSat8ebNChEl6hXcTZ9eJzZC_8qg5-_sgohfEccB427D4N9s9M/w640-h518/pic%20(127).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">It was while hiking down an easy section of the trail that Mark took a tumble. He has a bad ankle that gives out on him at unexpected times. He's too big for Denisa to carry him home. So he sat for a while, and then hiked a couple more miles like nothing happened.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNUpSyxoQyBIyzZu77wblgCa8rVy68JfwQYH_xXSr5Slayn0PktO4_JddKitHGr1Z7WKKH_WF-7dg_oCFEbWf8yTr0JGH1Ye5jN57xD-QaQyogqolpiVWXOXs73Ep0RaICQQzGxzl2yhqLCRPWrE_0-6dkRiiPvoQYz-5IbvsRMpvtF3S2l4jNuXE9QwY/s2826/pic%20(129).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2316" data-original-width="2826" height="524" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNUpSyxoQyBIyzZu77wblgCa8rVy68JfwQYH_xXSr5Slayn0PktO4_JddKitHGr1Z7WKKH_WF-7dg_oCFEbWf8yTr0JGH1Ye5jN57xD-QaQyogqolpiVWXOXs73Ep0RaICQQzGxzl2yhqLCRPWrE_0-6dkRiiPvoQYz-5IbvsRMpvtF3S2l4jNuXE9QwY/w640-h524/pic%20(129).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">His ankle was hurting, but he had to make it back to the pickup. He was glad when we spotted the Independence Pass highway. In the picture below Mark was pointing to the highest paved road in Colorado, carved into the side of the mountain.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74WktpReg6ZZRiaM7Mmt3K-c0UMXF3umtsed-xLDynP9_UGfI9M_xgGjrRjp8QMwzx6NhxBtcdEknu41AiHjDkHZzpjBN5WFCimcAZ03Ne7OjA7k8PbnfqoKLQX_IwKFqF9CzJigJACa8F3R2HD7jTBfTPDw8VJL1k5O9bgrsGA_ZJupmBEHDUYUarBc/s3475/pic%20(131).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2558" data-original-width="3475" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74WktpReg6ZZRiaM7Mmt3K-c0UMXF3umtsed-xLDynP9_UGfI9M_xgGjrRjp8QMwzx6NhxBtcdEknu41AiHjDkHZzpjBN5WFCimcAZ03Ne7OjA7k8PbnfqoKLQX_IwKFqF9CzJigJACa8F3R2HD7jTBfTPDw8VJL1k5O9bgrsGA_ZJupmBEHDUYUarBc/w640-h472/pic%20(131).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">This was a 6.2-mile hike with 1,657 in elevation gain, that was supposed to only be 4 miles long. But we decided to go further, and we would recommend that to others. It took us more than five hours to complete the hike because of all the animal sightings and all the pictures taken. Should we go further? Definitely! We hustled back into Buena Vista for the Thursday evening concert series in the park. But we were so tired that we only had enough energy to dance to a couple songs. After a full day enjoying Independence Pass, we finally couldn't go any further.<br /></span><p><br /></p>Denisa and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870900598225088990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603551720303875027.post-79064234481400477372023-10-03T07:57:00.001-05:002023-10-03T07:57:46.509-05:00 It's a Ghostly Kind of Day <p><i><span style="font-size: large;">We're way behind in getting travel posts published because we were having way too much fun traveling! So we won't be confused about when each "wandering" happened, we'll start each blog with its actual date.</span></i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">August 2, 2023</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We woke up to a face-time call early this morning. Our grandchildren are early risers, and they are an hour later in the central time zone than we are here in the mountain zone. So we were awake early and ready to start a day of exploring. We started on a drive west of Buena Vista, to the Narrow Gauge Trail. This is on the rail bed that was built to support a train that brought miners up and precious metal down the mountain.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHcuoDVfv83K-90-E0BQRSx_b7qldZBDm815z35QHtxQPbpvolgc3YlAuftJ8milk6MAeDaYm_BKELonqC6rlYZKCLsv31mZrFIfWKt1_HlGktABu01sNJhcEL-jb6rdZSdyYKDKkzajFdCuxJyBc3ryvLzID8FaNYRQ5a5rSHpl-h3CIkr8osyARkD0/s4032/pic%20(41).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2558" data-original-width="4032" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHcuoDVfv83K-90-E0BQRSx_b7qldZBDm815z35QHtxQPbpvolgc3YlAuftJ8milk6MAeDaYm_BKELonqC6rlYZKCLsv31mZrFIfWKt1_HlGktABu01sNJhcEL-jb6rdZSdyYKDKkzajFdCuxJyBc3ryvLzID8FaNYRQ5a5rSHpl-h3CIkr8osyARkD0/w640-h406/pic%20(41).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><div><span style="font-size: large;">The rails have been gone for years, and it leaves behind the ghosts of trains past. It looks like the only passengers going up are flying overhead. One bird left a orange-veined feather behind. Nice!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1NZvGoK31pBVAawV9tFXaRgu-srw-QdE5SER-7tj8S3InTNfWnX65ITn3W6yGrS8rk8qirf2buyxmJCySnIrfZuAiOGFVb_5FxCBAJV3AdQ9g_47j8yrT4bzvkWRqGdAfbR-d7R2guwCSlM1TtK1BYjCJ2NWAx_uNsFuZjowjWTnF3vyVEDBG7kjI2E/s3783/pic%20(40).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1718" data-original-width="3783" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1NZvGoK31pBVAawV9tFXaRgu-srw-QdE5SER-7tj8S3InTNfWnX65ITn3W6yGrS8rk8qirf2buyxmJCySnIrfZuAiOGFVb_5FxCBAJV3AdQ9g_47j8yrT4bzvkWRqGdAfbR-d7R2guwCSlM1TtK1BYjCJ2NWAx_uNsFuZjowjWTnF3vyVEDBG7kjI2E/w640-h290/pic%20(40).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">This is an unusually flat trail for this mountainous area, and we enjoyed the 2-4 percent grade that the railroad required. From the trail we looked out over Mount Princeton for a great view of the Chalk cliffs.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDL80kAKr-GHOTj4t_1ijihaDN4Xyo5BEiP5a44ghiADRsS63aTGtJ35mjNta3Pp7FJNM1LUI5PiU4hKXp-jI5b2z8gUuq6Xi_ZfOO-LCS-gQsW6J1SnYvj8yeKSy9c6S_6wOUZWWBYbrUBE2k6RiiJ3f-X5_kZJnoABeTBIi6-inyKm0iAab8GcxfNLk/s3455/pic%20(45).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2289" data-original-width="3455" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDL80kAKr-GHOTj4t_1ijihaDN4Xyo5BEiP5a44ghiADRsS63aTGtJ35mjNta3Pp7FJNM1LUI5PiU4hKXp-jI5b2z8gUuq6Xi_ZfOO-LCS-gQsW6J1SnYvj8yeKSy9c6S_6wOUZWWBYbrUBE2k6RiiJ3f-X5_kZJnoABeTBIi6-inyKm0iAab8GcxfNLk/w640-h424/pic%20(45).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">It was while we were enjoying the views of this very flat trail that we realized this would be a great place to ride our bikes. The bikes haven't gotten any use since we arrived in the mountains. So we decided to save this trail for another day. After just a half-mile, we headed back to the pickup today.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXPyDNa3rySiqMffGKHQxQXrB1AE9KARsEqai3dezFxFyQI7QhV4dDt1C7Ggrr3MrkyK2QECJVzZdeY3Zxaee74NHzCkgb7UUCh4b9aInGgDcZyH36y9I80OTHCHx2Lh0CGrX8ctvg3Lzt7BUkRk__NtD3BLXPbSeoSs4m9Z_vyvMlREd66HnMvLSBjc/s7494/pic%20(42).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3488" data-original-width="7494" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXPyDNa3rySiqMffGKHQxQXrB1AE9KARsEqai3dezFxFyQI7QhV4dDt1C7Ggrr3MrkyK2QECJVzZdeY3Zxaee74NHzCkgb7UUCh4b9aInGgDcZyH36y9I80OTHCHx2Lh0CGrX8ctvg3Lzt7BUkRk__NtD3BLXPbSeoSs4m9Z_vyvMlREd66HnMvLSBjc/w640-h298/pic%20(42).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We drove further into the foothills, where we stopped to check out Cascade Falls.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHjZjgdlsLDzJS6kEAC910jGajM5PRpQetyHDhiAjzgvG2QRfzFzeHUDOV8Wx9T8jcMjr4bl_Fb-Q0sy6EmGjszALBcH1C12VMLsYjwtiB-GqVmq4yoZCWeJPT9BPTe5KXazYDxxkqS3XKXx_CAoFjt6v7p7lLvYAygqFez1IBnpN2XEs1r_iPww8Nxo/s3812/pic%20(46).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3552" data-original-width="3812" height="596" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHjZjgdlsLDzJS6kEAC910jGajM5PRpQetyHDhiAjzgvG2QRfzFzeHUDOV8Wx9T8jcMjr4bl_Fb-Q0sy6EmGjszALBcH1C12VMLsYjwtiB-GqVmq4yoZCWeJPT9BPTe5KXazYDxxkqS3XKXx_CAoFjt6v7p7lLvYAygqFez1IBnpN2XEs1r_iPww8Nxo/w640-h596/pic%20(46).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">With a little rock scrambling, we could get right next to the river that helped to form this valley between Mount Princeton and Mount Antero.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ58-U7LccyFZeRBSPmjdF6jHtQpKO0njjmTRllv6cIinfdaRug3hFOa6qCku7srwJygF9ppdUWXst618oDP4cmfcKb7SfOAxwpJBUPRRBl_56eNilryFTIJ0gHklfPBh_QS2JVwcwZw8nYfcQsCzzYbX3jaSgHPGiRuyMUbPJCEl7poQEz_4t4__KJeI/s4517/pic%20(47).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4517" data-original-width="3864" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ58-U7LccyFZeRBSPmjdF6jHtQpKO0njjmTRllv6cIinfdaRug3hFOa6qCku7srwJygF9ppdUWXst618oDP4cmfcKb7SfOAxwpJBUPRRBl_56eNilryFTIJ0gHklfPBh_QS2JVwcwZw8nYfcQsCzzYbX3jaSgHPGiRuyMUbPJCEl7poQEz_4t4__KJeI/w548-h640/pic%20(47).JPG" width="548" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Even though we have enjoyed a couple stops already, our real destination of the day was to the town of Saint Elmo. We found there to be miles of aspen between here and there.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI22PHmTkNa-XqZqM81Ow4M0hRv3hwwEoGuIEJVTstzNdZzrRjVBGQMeL9RKx9tRQpY9eJ3Lh0K4rT67M0YpTydovyEcK461cDS35q__t_7WqlsDcGujCfmU230aHK7Sq6C5f3nJpRek_QJ8qbWLM4pcN7KsYVhemrWdYBJtdyf5-JQhNfIhjWpIfWs40/s4032/pic%20(48).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI22PHmTkNa-XqZqM81Ow4M0hRv3hwwEoGuIEJVTstzNdZzrRjVBGQMeL9RKx9tRQpY9eJ3Lh0K4rT67M0YpTydovyEcK461cDS35q__t_7WqlsDcGujCfmU230aHK7Sq6C5f3nJpRek_QJ8qbWLM4pcN7KsYVhemrWdYBJtdyf5-JQhNfIhjWpIfWs40/w640-h480/pic%20(48).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">St. Elmo is an old mining ghost town situated at the base of more of the high peaks of Colorado.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7O76C5eU8q_SEiZj0Zyp0DJdNMtnYHzCp2y7_8J4kp4OMhpyplCvyZ0yLX2KXs0yftpW7485Qls8P0qIq1U7lkfnROyyJ1v1v61GkM8m-ReXzkMdCEvyK8TCyOoyDekrmn766s80YxGSuQsXPA1UTxrhB4v_WAgxDIBecWuUZY40Ve8oHtJjhazMwy4/s3704/pic%20(74).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2394" data-original-width="3704" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7O76C5eU8q_SEiZj0Zyp0DJdNMtnYHzCp2y7_8J4kp4OMhpyplCvyZ0yLX2KXs0yftpW7485Qls8P0qIq1U7lkfnROyyJ1v1v61GkM8m-ReXzkMdCEvyK8TCyOoyDekrmn766s80YxGSuQsXPA1UTxrhB4v_WAgxDIBecWuUZY40Ve8oHtJjhazMwy4/w640-h414/pic%20(74).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">This is one of the most accessible and best preserved ghost towns in the west. It is a popular drive with beautiful scenery that attracts lots of tourists in the summer months. This town sprung up in 1880 when gold and silver were discovered in these mountains.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgteHRbds2Exazx8GpkR95lAJIwACrPowCumm6-S1CM1fxyVe5e3AKIqXgTosIOctV9oNMHOUbAuSGWY9q_tawubRqjsOSay1zqk9rSTi-vwL9In4p2lfb1PypzMAPC-KzQpZPZ-MhDbxzJFc7IBO5gQA5FY-UmW8W0lEr9iOQbSkBGehQHrUvMx-gzyS0/s3796/pic%20(63).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2309" data-original-width="3796" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgteHRbds2Exazx8GpkR95lAJIwACrPowCumm6-S1CM1fxyVe5e3AKIqXgTosIOctV9oNMHOUbAuSGWY9q_tawubRqjsOSay1zqk9rSTi-vwL9In4p2lfb1PypzMAPC-KzQpZPZ-MhDbxzJFc7IBO5gQA5FY-UmW8W0lEr9iOQbSkBGehQHrUvMx-gzyS0/w640-h390/pic%20(63).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">But when the metal market collapsed, it didn't pay to run the railroad to this remote location to transport people and gold and silver any longer. Most of the town's inhabitants rode the last train down off this mountain in 1926. Dishes were left in the sink and food was left in the cupboards as the 2,000 citizens made a mass exodus. The railroad company literally pulled up the tracks right after that last train ride.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhsujtnzcPEllpDVZkTdOi8tTEXU8nabQuiFcMHBfDd5r044XSgFTcN4bQ0OuvvyfBeChIVoUzd_3BRCo21rrHPpKqJUgNVk3nAap_ViE7jg4r6EY9AvTz3Ppn3vvde5K3os4BUK6_s7b4TjsC2vBStxsD_MHg65vU1tx2Jk5StmQ1l3d6mrrHcGkdoNU/s3704/pic%20(64).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2814" data-original-width="3704" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhsujtnzcPEllpDVZkTdOi8tTEXU8nabQuiFcMHBfDd5r044XSgFTcN4bQ0OuvvyfBeChIVoUzd_3BRCo21rrHPpKqJUgNVk3nAap_ViE7jg4r6EY9AvTz3Ppn3vvde5K3os4BUK6_s7b4TjsC2vBStxsD_MHg65vU1tx2Jk5StmQ1l3d6mrrHcGkdoNU/w640-h486/pic%20(64).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">One family chose to stay. The Sparks family would buy up the property in town as it went through foreclosure. They kept the roofs repaired so the buildings didn't fall down like most ghost towns. They also stayed around to protect their property from looters. So visitors today can walk the streets and see the 38 buildings that look much like they did in 1880.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-yv3tnNcJqUZFVlMXO0qhJJoYQU7kZdlvNdITge4shfZsPzqOWExJpq-FrX_PNm7cBW_Lam0WLTiH2tcbVrRyTZPlDyESEz03Q32aLLMolvqoe0BlsQMvstPxTTa20ZeitbDJxVrO40b_Q2opYUTD_ztRWBshOMuFzMQ8I9MMyZoWfKNam9yt5oPpkkc/s3586/pic%20(66).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2506" data-original-width="3586" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-yv3tnNcJqUZFVlMXO0qhJJoYQU7kZdlvNdITge4shfZsPzqOWExJpq-FrX_PNm7cBW_Lam0WLTiH2tcbVrRyTZPlDyESEz03Q32aLLMolvqoe0BlsQMvstPxTTa20ZeitbDJxVrO40b_Q2opYUTD_ztRWBshOMuFzMQ8I9MMyZoWfKNam9yt5oPpkkc/w640-h448/pic%20(66).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">As we walked the dirt streets, we found the church, and the school house, and the fire department. For some reason "St. Elmo's Fire" sounded familiar to us. A google search found that was the title of a 1985 movie--that had nothing to do with St. Elmo, Colorado.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGUbFLLlGu485nNaxNvcym1T9Hug8TzrGW1sFC7kdepq9Z7PkfjPdvztad275FO7NHjLd2EzT2giUEYevWfKl7fLqvPfDfNr9SOUwgzG0ynB7NawdL8bUyLhNLGzN0JdGAUhgGAHKekFlVWicz6B2YEOY-n8t1pfzQlEEWPijcFerbYJM7nAT_JMkREc/s3403/pic%20(58).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2020" data-original-width="3403" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGUbFLLlGu485nNaxNvcym1T9Hug8TzrGW1sFC7kdepq9Z7PkfjPdvztad275FO7NHjLd2EzT2giUEYevWfKl7fLqvPfDfNr9SOUwgzG0ynB7NawdL8bUyLhNLGzN0JdGAUhgGAHKekFlVWicz6B2YEOY-n8t1pfzQlEEWPijcFerbYJM7nAT_JMkREc/w640-h380/pic%20(58).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">After taking a picture for a three-generation family touring the streets of this old ghost town, they reciprocated and took a picture of us in front of the town's school house.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYQFhhEfOY0umQW1rHaYWbfpM_lh13jABgX5z8VfCmS0fLglXQCPLWAHi1AG2yiCGFMZ8R90MH3ljqH1JUNg0ortPcHXaQdqrKA441IMBIOMqDjNhG1fDAtwmp_a7O7BpguqPvkDUD4-1VBD51i7w_M9UwY1xNBfIXul8ynqkNaXOcaSaLnKRlM35t0U/s3140/pic%20(72).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3140" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYQFhhEfOY0umQW1rHaYWbfpM_lh13jABgX5z8VfCmS0fLglXQCPLWAHi1AG2yiCGFMZ8R90MH3ljqH1JUNg0ortPcHXaQdqrKA441IMBIOMqDjNhG1fDAtwmp_a7O7BpguqPvkDUD4-1VBD51i7w_M9UwY1xNBfIXul8ynqkNaXOcaSaLnKRlM35t0U/w616-h640/pic%20(72).JPG" width="616" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Just like the houses, the school was left intact, frozen in time.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxK8B9d4BwMscmQlmPdqBWQorLNqI5vRE6W8fYNiiAP3pSEoMRbjlhvHFouNAHpDyqVlCnnUV9u_IpH8LThWpj8Z8qKSBfjAls0pd4RxS3vr9djhyr6-C36WD2N5DnZhUY6VYjyuifK10KSZ4CuZrLCYx-hL1Sww_Pj2JGU9IGh93gewFL3ig1HN2IMcU/s3049/pic%20(73).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2086" data-original-width="3049" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxK8B9d4BwMscmQlmPdqBWQorLNqI5vRE6W8fYNiiAP3pSEoMRbjlhvHFouNAHpDyqVlCnnUV9u_IpH8LThWpj8Z8qKSBfjAls0pd4RxS3vr9djhyr6-C36WD2N5DnZhUY6VYjyuifK10KSZ4CuZrLCYx-hL1Sww_Pj2JGU9IGh93gewFL3ig1HN2IMcU/w640-h438/pic%20(73).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Totally unrelated to the mining ghost town, we noticed many of these blue bags stapled to the trees close to St. Elmo. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsjXbYYoEtc64tnfsj8HPWMhc2cMu6LS4dtjms8-5b8D8vW_cCYq3Fp4n7iiDAAAe5-fo25RgAGXyERJk_08gYy4y4QPqnQIo6GxkwE-iUIFVV6l67ecVuW_OYj5piWn5mt5dFDvOp9dnPkSk9sfKj_vTTMXxCHwGsNTp_Z80hlu9M8B_z8iTb5MrZBFA/s3573/pic%20(71).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2742" data-original-width="3573" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsjXbYYoEtc64tnfsj8HPWMhc2cMu6LS4dtjms8-5b8D8vW_cCYq3Fp4n7iiDAAAe5-fo25RgAGXyERJk_08gYy4y4QPqnQIo6GxkwE-iUIFVV6l67ecVuW_OYj5piWn5mt5dFDvOp9dnPkSk9sfKj_vTTMXxCHwGsNTp_Z80hlu9M8B_z8iTb5MrZBFA/w640-h492/pic%20(71).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-size: large;">A sign on the community building answered our questions. These are blue bags of repellant that are attached to the pine trees in the spring to protect them from the pine beetle blight. </span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8xKBPVKLr2Zan5UwJzxzdzucBpgASbCEwY_4hLuWpxM_6qr2WAOBfIyqR2eFNCrfxQgWwY75HBLxs_uT0anbxRzfS3HQ2RF70VAKd-aL03OieIuxk-dOs1hntOpZSkbLdGfr3qxoInolOMFXHO1SapXaT6ZRT3vvLyoUO3zWJbnPseNEwCf_iFP1r5U/s2727/pic%20(70).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2709" data-original-width="2727" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8xKBPVKLr2Zan5UwJzxzdzucBpgASbCEwY_4hLuWpxM_6qr2WAOBfIyqR2eFNCrfxQgWwY75HBLxs_uT0anbxRzfS3HQ2RF70VAKd-aL03OieIuxk-dOs1hntOpZSkbLdGfr3qxoInolOMFXHO1SapXaT6ZRT3vvLyoUO3zWJbnPseNEwCf_iFP1r5U/w640-h636/pic%20(70).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">While the old ghost town buildings were the main draw to most visitors, we saw that something else was drawing a big crowd on Main Street.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdcs0ptfledRcAYRKTB0pUqdZxtRBhLxH-31fMOqvyXx89y-cUEBOEhBijEOsUwFDET__BfI5JP13W0u0cdZNpO4AQLaXS9iXdpz--HVHetmmzt6VYCQCJKeakLrLlpvav4QKuNZUkSoA6G3X-QnniwFnBY7Z_uT6rxdmN3ijwmvNbf6JyuaSI5BzJH0/s3862/pic%20(75).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1889" data-original-width="3862" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdcs0ptfledRcAYRKTB0pUqdZxtRBhLxH-31fMOqvyXx89y-cUEBOEhBijEOsUwFDET__BfI5JP13W0u0cdZNpO4AQLaXS9iXdpz--HVHetmmzt6VYCQCJKeakLrLlpvav4QKuNZUkSoA6G3X-QnniwFnBY7Z_uT6rxdmN3ijwmvNbf6JyuaSI5BzJH0/w640-h314/pic%20(75).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">A colony of friendly chipmunks were the most popular citizens of this little ghost town. The local general store sells bags of chipmunk food for fifty cents. That's the hottest item for sale in St. Elmo.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlCHHuSqcSJMPxLKGZCHv56kLKfAVIZlA3ufdFyuBjqpQRMx0sn-FIA8ZDAUNDl8AEI-pBAEvjjONGE8xIMErNQ_gN5fI38kQkWLUx3eMWWMMpPLuyJLeGzrlyN2M1_4qluGUYZtZ9doN6Nh_1Y1cG_ubzCBpY20Em1T94QIy7uqc1YuSZOEG_VItAJ0/s1837/IMG_5570.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1598" data-original-width="1837" height="556" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlCHHuSqcSJMPxLKGZCHv56kLKfAVIZlA3ufdFyuBjqpQRMx0sn-FIA8ZDAUNDl8AEI-pBAEvjjONGE8xIMErNQ_gN5fI38kQkWLUx3eMWWMMpPLuyJLeGzrlyN2M1_4qluGUYZtZ9doN6Nh_1Y1cG_ubzCBpY20Em1T94QIy7uqc1YuSZOEG_VItAJ0/w640-h556/IMG_5570.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Young and old chipmunk feeders were instructed to display a hand-full of seeds and sit very quietly in one spot. These very fat chipmunks stuffed their cheeks as they accepted the handouts.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Z7HwefA2Whcwf21KZsga84j46sbDmKXUudLRieOF6MN4GHcyoO9zmaao3rpTb_Jk0Ano8TA2JRHa6SG-VwuJUVmjOAn4HFOwmt6Zyqon4z3Ar1LlJ6Em6BzpvD0pvIlos4ZRFd8IcBTJlqfNSAoyAqBFO8a9XK5_lemIEO82JQ1k4ofZ56pvKgUwvVE/s1667/IMG_5567.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1041" data-original-width="1667" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Z7HwefA2Whcwf21KZsga84j46sbDmKXUudLRieOF6MN4GHcyoO9zmaao3rpTb_Jk0Ano8TA2JRHa6SG-VwuJUVmjOAn4HFOwmt6Zyqon4z3Ar1LlJ6Em6BzpvD0pvIlos4ZRFd8IcBTJlqfNSAoyAqBFO8a9XK5_lemIEO82JQ1k4ofZ56pvKgUwvVE/w640-h400/IMG_5567.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">The other popular wildlife sighting was humming around the entrance of the general store.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcNcSbUwn_r0JuRhFVzxKGxC8xO2K2ttq9K2qplwhB1jqi3qIqpG6TmL8zZ2Mt4pSrVCHRlGpgEk2-0EgKKZhWTotNak36nHPYnl6QspG40K4c2166oak0CzuJoEu3DLITaxj0yh0VcYRH-V4HlgxPdr4LIJvkVojWZCGWMVMStkM5isSoaJipXDfegp8/s2138/pic%20(53).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1712" data-original-width="2138" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcNcSbUwn_r0JuRhFVzxKGxC8xO2K2ttq9K2qplwhB1jqi3qIqpG6TmL8zZ2Mt4pSrVCHRlGpgEk2-0EgKKZhWTotNak36nHPYnl6QspG40K4c2166oak0CzuJoEu3DLITaxj0yh0VcYRH-V4HlgxPdr4LIJvkVojWZCGWMVMStkM5isSoaJipXDfegp8/w640-h512/pic%20(53).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We spent some time taking pictures of the hummingbirds that were enjoying the nectar.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPFMB4HzGAhMwb7UuhWwgpJsXm71ND9MXJ0e9_dtaYRIE77qUpqIJnHKA1d9uvvPJyQfgtiuqJKv_-Hbbg_eJYRNpEJoat9i94fFAO8VO1KIU43nLHS-HytUuTaC6-kNZZLNUHXjKjqqK3ilJf-wK_x5cI2-c8hkTmQbF2nSv9R_xFuwF33avOqAcqQg/s1534/IMG_5580.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1349" data-original-width="1534" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPFMB4HzGAhMwb7UuhWwgpJsXm71ND9MXJ0e9_dtaYRIE77qUpqIJnHKA1d9uvvPJyQfgtiuqJKv_-Hbbg_eJYRNpEJoat9i94fFAO8VO1KIU43nLHS-HytUuTaC6-kNZZLNUHXjKjqqK3ilJf-wK_x5cI2-c8hkTmQbF2nSv9R_xFuwF33avOqAcqQg/w640-h562/IMG_5580.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We even caught this one with its tiny tongue still hanging out.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WU7iT7VDS00gCl2ml7qO3ahaqVHPF8ZFMCSAG62d0kyDBf9rlqEEQIVmvsoO5r3klL4UnsXrxK5ngIUoUn33ftQTesdkDksIXhlNBXw5hFs6W6ZYgD-GLj101YRVnHtw9lVBrGcA5S_ETBy9oXHdRP8q8e0LpCTqiDK7f1-gWPrOMwIEsUt351C06KI/s897/IMG_5584.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="897" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WU7iT7VDS00gCl2ml7qO3ahaqVHPF8ZFMCSAG62d0kyDBf9rlqEEQIVmvsoO5r3klL4UnsXrxK5ngIUoUn33ftQTesdkDksIXhlNBXw5hFs6W6ZYgD-GLj101YRVnHtw9lVBrGcA5S_ETBy9oXHdRP8q8e0LpCTqiDK7f1-gWPrOMwIEsUt351C06KI/w640-h378/IMG_5584.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The ruby throats glistened in the sunlight when they raised their heads.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9R6v06op3y0M8qYyxQrR2D3QDQdv4a6GsOueOE4U_I1IM3VOt5am3H_6gF6GulrRfapW1eH2bgXkjmldgvaE4YyiQC8ZJtgjiLZm8w9luT1uGm0jv5U8zrkz6w5EqxabXVSVkVFesPu6Qtege7qAVTEwqBYo49vVdPAXdwl1lWKvb70Cyse1VUN70Hf8/s653/IMG_5628.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="653" height="588" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9R6v06op3y0M8qYyxQrR2D3QDQdv4a6GsOueOE4U_I1IM3VOt5am3H_6gF6GulrRfapW1eH2bgXkjmldgvaE4YyiQC8ZJtgjiLZm8w9luT1uGm0jv5U8zrkz6w5EqxabXVSVkVFesPu6Qtege7qAVTEwqBYo49vVdPAXdwl1lWKvb70Cyse1VUN70Hf8/w640-h588/IMG_5628.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWcoQ5QGZcBhIFhDz4BJA9_wVaWZ-3G0zGBKoHJ5FoRtQIzAkRCtgYKiNbGkeYIcZYhfI9bcdYgPbmlz64b1swyuZbMAz5TRuZEieZyeYzRfehbAy6BW_sHdiz_mj90Yj6XsIrJWSQuKvX3x7NlB1_7WToNoarhghzHt12A96pmZa8cr6YPOevnSvGcMU/s467/IMG_5606.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="467" height="626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWcoQ5QGZcBhIFhDz4BJA9_wVaWZ-3G0zGBKoHJ5FoRtQIzAkRCtgYKiNbGkeYIcZYhfI9bcdYgPbmlz64b1swyuZbMAz5TRuZEieZyeYzRfehbAy6BW_sHdiz_mj90Yj6XsIrJWSQuKvX3x7NlB1_7WToNoarhghzHt12A96pmZa8cr6YPOevnSvGcMU/w640-h626/IMG_5606.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Several different types of hummers were posing for pictures around the feeders, and Denisa felt obliged to take pictures of all of them.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaft_NhMzY13YNAUVywEVtj2BFaGEZpsK3Dnkyd-l_Np8m39ESRMYECVWqm4VMFFd3qKJ2utovO0eOnn7TjTehmQBwlOMzqoxA2UNr-4Y-i5EquqTQfIsdRAIAC_3n-7PtcGzhJkdzz_aaZvMEBzbdtRYjj5W_LIpxr45YUtxJJqlpNVZOnK1YtZT3mXo/s1279/IMG_5590.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1110" data-original-width="1279" height="556" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaft_NhMzY13YNAUVywEVtj2BFaGEZpsK3Dnkyd-l_Np8m39ESRMYECVWqm4VMFFd3qKJ2utovO0eOnn7TjTehmQBwlOMzqoxA2UNr-4Y-i5EquqTQfIsdRAIAC_3n-7PtcGzhJkdzz_aaZvMEBzbdtRYjj5W_LIpxr45YUtxJJqlpNVZOnK1YtZT3mXo/w640-h556/IMG_5590.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqmZr45gLDRRiyGLFDX9hqm3fUDrdhfW6onwEz_bn9SfewIgghKR4w_F_wTkOOggdRcYJrrRqFob9xgZcrfXqjF4MfFlaxaXnfZBtGQL3T4HfeM8PfE1dHQXq1akqYisJJ-cpwgryiGRvuQmEUgCvIb_Tkywxm6uy-AeBqD8Z7N3ieuqYGrdB1PySPi0/s1169/IMG_5616.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1169" data-original-width="1136" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqmZr45gLDRRiyGLFDX9hqm3fUDrdhfW6onwEz_bn9SfewIgghKR4w_F_wTkOOggdRcYJrrRqFob9xgZcrfXqjF4MfFlaxaXnfZBtGQL3T4HfeM8PfE1dHQXq1akqYisJJ-cpwgryiGRvuQmEUgCvIb_Tkywxm6uy-AeBqD8Z7N3ieuqYGrdB1PySPi0/w622-h640/IMG_5616.JPG" width="622" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">St. Elmo was a fun place to visit, and we were surprised at the large crowd of people there on a summer week day.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1sqGKkN1lrusxEPa2tHZOp4HhJ_IWjAvq1LKZrcJjsIUE-T7woAuwHU2gyXM2oKjzCVQTyzBy4DF582UegUQdP8KzTgD4E7TdPuyb-B83qmRPLHOHA3xQ2uM6Sexdd5e9K80k8VQ2fRIHWz7gzBtHWPcZNRdZ-iARFJ5jpm34jw7k57EMGp6xoNx-YyU/s2288/pic%20(51).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1876" data-original-width="2288" height="524" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1sqGKkN1lrusxEPa2tHZOp4HhJ_IWjAvq1LKZrcJjsIUE-T7woAuwHU2gyXM2oKjzCVQTyzBy4DF582UegUQdP8KzTgD4E7TdPuyb-B83qmRPLHOHA3xQ2uM6Sexdd5e9K80k8VQ2fRIHWz7gzBtHWPcZNRdZ-iARFJ5jpm34jw7k57EMGp6xoNx-YyU/w640-h524/pic%20(51).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">As we headed back towards home, we took the longer scenic route to explore more of the area. Mount Princeton rose up straight in front of us, and it looked like the pickup would literally bump into this massive mountain.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJV1WEEHALhRka7YyPSaM3o86Gs0pc_D_ic3coTeZZ-AwwkKkioSeeHriUy8FJe2vVXPUjixSCQzqkPK-KpbrepHD4whhQY0T2hz3u74DIAIOkCI8W0WxzxunpILD0h2pBGBL3IM716xD6MGBJcLGO_fGvqXvO8w4l-oCigYzPHpoRvrrEFl5lgkstzkE/s4032/pic%20(76).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJV1WEEHALhRka7YyPSaM3o86Gs0pc_D_ic3coTeZZ-AwwkKkioSeeHriUy8FJe2vVXPUjixSCQzqkPK-KpbrepHD4whhQY0T2hz3u74DIAIOkCI8W0WxzxunpILD0h2pBGBL3IM716xD6MGBJcLGO_fGvqXvO8w4l-oCigYzPHpoRvrrEFl5lgkstzkE/w640-h480/pic%20(76).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Since we quit early on our first hike of the day, we decided to try another trail. From the beginning of the Agnes Vaille Falls Trail, we could look across the valley and point to the Narrow Gauge Trail that we were on earlier today.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06Hb1eJBSPKOjN54oeyEYQjXSXNpqzSjZwezTD93Bm3Es32nSEC8Ex5PETjvLhH9x5d4DcXNXc6PrI9YxNo9tBwk_KaK5idusF5-dO5Mjpd3Dm3Zc0YU-9Oyqwx2N9zlAnybra-BS0vz42GZ6pL9mGHFlbOqEmwYI-69OigTaj3tqZQd1Hk-4w9thJyo/s4032/pic%20(78).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06Hb1eJBSPKOjN54oeyEYQjXSXNpqzSjZwezTD93Bm3Es32nSEC8Ex5PETjvLhH9x5d4DcXNXc6PrI9YxNo9tBwk_KaK5idusF5-dO5Mjpd3Dm3Zc0YU-9Oyqwx2N9zlAnybra-BS0vz42GZ6pL9mGHFlbOqEmwYI-69OigTaj3tqZQd1Hk-4w9thJyo/w640-h480/pic%20(78).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">Then we headed up on this scenic trail that was named for a woman that loved to explore this area. Agnes Vaille was a young woman when she fell while she was hiking by herself, and then froze to death in these mountains. This sounds like a ghost trail! Knowing that these hikes can be perilous, Mark still insisted on exploring the caves along the way.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGvwLibZ7rt5XMMMLXqrr65KczXkIDnzUkwB2OJWCzIf4Lf69-SwsdJunyKqTI89OMPZlFT3g_VBa6QpbKAJCF8eQ2Up4EwdeS2yK6G8V5_geSEDNwYLwiWJd4yjw6Hz6hhUy7kL4vJPCBIYmVlMsPrFwjP_LCVjTl7vZYXK_UFW1Lzahxzybsi-fhjtY/s2328/pic%20(81).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1764" data-original-width="2328" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGvwLibZ7rt5XMMMLXqrr65KczXkIDnzUkwB2OJWCzIf4Lf69-SwsdJunyKqTI89OMPZlFT3g_VBa6QpbKAJCF8eQ2Up4EwdeS2yK6G8V5_geSEDNwYLwiWJd4yjw6Hz6hhUy7kL4vJPCBIYmVlMsPrFwjP_LCVjTl7vZYXK_UFW1Lzahxzybsi-fhjtY/w640-h484/pic%20(81).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">We climbed up a very steep spur trail to get our first glimpse of the waterfall. It was so far away that we could barely see it. It was an underwhelming view, and we were a little disappointed.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKbDSK7LSkouZ0-cJMH_Yk2ftoIoIVtWzRc9DN_EpJvk-CnUSaEW29URrqkw5x3j9NPZeTsdo-EyNvF93mAXZlknn0cw2ecapfC2ySS9oq-hjrkG95wmvm71ZRQu5sf7beI9Ypfc43pcs4_3pH5LlJnv2GEwTbkAx3IiVV_3e8uHwI7TWtjuiCqyjiCw/s4656/pic%20(79).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3948" data-original-width="4656" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKbDSK7LSkouZ0-cJMH_Yk2ftoIoIVtWzRc9DN_EpJvk-CnUSaEW29URrqkw5x3j9NPZeTsdo-EyNvF93mAXZlknn0cw2ecapfC2ySS9oq-hjrkG95wmvm71ZRQu5sf7beI9Ypfc43pcs4_3pH5LlJnv2GEwTbkAx3IiVV_3e8uHwI7TWtjuiCqyjiCw/w640-h542/pic%20(79).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Mark's theory is that "a waterfall hike isn't finished until you get wet from the spray of the falls." So we headed down from that viewpoint, crossed the creek, and then scrambled up the loose rocks.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidud3TuLJlgS_r_W9XPkUsfcMGIri9gZ4W_dTsFnqMgUv8zMjEZxEsWYY5gX0xHFKDjSuqH1Z_lhvu3t_jSl5HvFkwv9G6qSIEzGg6qbDxgJtdo_g1Bs3OLTdt-14L9QEvXdOPKbqfrb4ycxmAW6hKXCXW8dbV284-KuFtFoYcxgLFb_pH7ZUPKY_owm0/s5035/pic%20(85).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3412" data-original-width="5035" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidud3TuLJlgS_r_W9XPkUsfcMGIri9gZ4W_dTsFnqMgUv8zMjEZxEsWYY5gX0xHFKDjSuqH1Z_lhvu3t_jSl5HvFkwv9G6qSIEzGg6qbDxgJtdo_g1Bs3OLTdt-14L9QEvXdOPKbqfrb4ycxmAW6hKXCXW8dbV284-KuFtFoYcxgLFb_pH7ZUPKY_owm0/w640-h434/pic%20(85).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">Eventually we would both get wet from the water tumbling over the top of the mountain and spraying off the rocks below.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6nMIxfvPr1GIrMnU6Eos_oo3Xq7lQ0VCfRADx3kC8tiRXLkcsVAIHa5-HKQsJ_M-xHCNOBDic1gNUMT8sfY_ovpe3skX1rTxFSFT3k6LyaWetwMn1Hw8LhrYOrl4DegLyHu9VRAnnm1SUW-IZyVbafL4H9XQQMRCwV9-04yMJYk1Nz6AhG4U3ly4jQw/s4454/pic%20(83).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3518" data-original-width="4454" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6nMIxfvPr1GIrMnU6Eos_oo3Xq7lQ0VCfRADx3kC8tiRXLkcsVAIHa5-HKQsJ_M-xHCNOBDic1gNUMT8sfY_ovpe3skX1rTxFSFT3k6LyaWetwMn1Hw8LhrYOrl4DegLyHu9VRAnnm1SUW-IZyVbafL4H9XQQMRCwV9-04yMJYk1Nz6AhG4U3ly4jQw/w640-h506/pic%20(83).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Now that was a successful waterfall hike as we wandered under another of God's wonders.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1ZvdvVX8IICDiMq8uJVvifAexjPJmXU-F3g0zOq8njvvomMb1aSDC-3Y4CgyiwcWu5F_m1-if2yejFfCXvODQmRR5Syju0EBy_hxNSSfyWzOZMilA4Mu98NLFk_Us_4-Jc6Ve7V03VzmhgFl6wfEwgA2k5JgxxbqiFKttkYVNjmyfD_sePO53Hz82Tw/s4514/pic%20(84).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4514" data-original-width="3802" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1ZvdvVX8IICDiMq8uJVvifAexjPJmXU-F3g0zOq8njvvomMb1aSDC-3Y4CgyiwcWu5F_m1-if2yejFfCXvODQmRR5Syju0EBy_hxNSSfyWzOZMilA4Mu98NLFk_Us_4-Jc6Ve7V03VzmhgFl6wfEwgA2k5JgxxbqiFKttkYVNjmyfD_sePO53Hz82Tw/w540-h640/pic%20(84).JPG" width="540" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We were really enjoying all the tall mountain views and wonders around Buena Vista, Colorado!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb29ZDoQmbcCtyTW23uJW3vITtyyul7glnPvKKO7TFqvzc8Z6DhS1eMIHUxH9vbqnMraU-G01nI9dzLGeUuoZMhzHjSdWVoy0ovtoapbcrV8QlzdzzfVF6hOrWMEoFIgz4ME6nP6DjGc8PX2qowCTc1uDeXejGQah82E_AaX4XuJ1VkoXF6_cpKJelIMo/s3508/pic%20(86).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2591" data-original-width="3508" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb29ZDoQmbcCtyTW23uJW3vITtyyul7glnPvKKO7TFqvzc8Z6DhS1eMIHUxH9vbqnMraU-G01nI9dzLGeUuoZMhzHjSdWVoy0ovtoapbcrV8QlzdzzfVF6hOrWMEoFIgz4ME6nP6DjGc8PX2qowCTc1uDeXejGQah82E_AaX4XuJ1VkoXF6_cpKJelIMo/w640-h472/pic%20(86).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We had to hustle to get back to town in time for the 5:00 Army band concert in the park. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjby8f8VhyDLHYGwcOVGPtFf0T_7Yr60GwcOWfp_QUJuJ5Eo3kudBdbXoCVUMzYLro1DoNI07hKC4fPsPd1Me8j9OQsUDEyWjcUJ4hw_XfmTud5Gz9i05XwNq2xqYyHuuS7f2A4J3xyLtqx2pzyqXofDZTTXEEW64hQOUs__wItk-t0Bu7H2AL16Nv86hQ/s3416/pic%20(87).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3416" height="566" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjby8f8VhyDLHYGwcOVGPtFf0T_7Yr60GwcOWfp_QUJuJ5Eo3kudBdbXoCVUMzYLro1DoNI07hKC4fPsPd1Me8j9OQsUDEyWjcUJ4hw_XfmTud5Gz9i05XwNq2xqYyHuuS7f2A4J3xyLtqx2pzyqXofDZTTXEEW64hQOUs__wItk-t0Bu7H2AL16Nv86hQ/w640-h566/pic%20(87).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span>It was cut short when the lightning started at 5:45. We ran for the cover of the pickup as Buena Vista got the biggest rain of the summer. </span>The rain continued for the rest of the evening as we had a soggy view out the motor home window. We wanted to take personal responsibility for bringing the much-needed rain to this dry valley. Perhaps the summer monsoon season had finally arrived after our ghostly kind of day.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzdo5ZWoz9HLrWm5kiL_NXk7BVfZvMbb8kFfy_L7Hf5U6d9k2MpFAAMd7h9LPP5qo58YQvQQlS4cnqe6gmuRiHWpI8XLsG2AL1v02M5PRr-iM-FCrLev4VOjtOMY-YDhdgM0UVy8j7jvkyGzmAfDglt0KJjh6YT6Ugs2bBRPeRLGR5x60VcyRGHAZkuU/s4032/pic%20(88).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzdo5ZWoz9HLrWm5kiL_NXk7BVfZvMbb8kFfy_L7Hf5U6d9k2MpFAAMd7h9LPP5qo58YQvQQlS4cnqe6gmuRiHWpI8XLsG2AL1v02M5PRr-iM-FCrLev4VOjtOMY-YDhdgM0UVy8j7jvkyGzmAfDglt0KJjh6YT6Ugs2bBRPeRLGR5x60VcyRGHAZkuU/w640-h480/pic%20(88).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Denisa and Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870900598225088990noreply@blogger.com1