Friday, July 22, 2016
Happy Birthday Dad/Grandpa!!! We called with a birthday song
First thing in the morning then got going. Breakfast bars from the hotel this
morning and some time to let the tent dry out, and onward we went. Rocky Mountain National Park was AMAZING!
We drove in on the West side of the park
and visited the Kawuneeche Visitor Center. After a quick look around and
the kids had their Jr. Ranger books, we headed north. The Holzwarth Homestead was fun! We took a tour of the main house and then the tour guide
acquiesced to the kids' begging to get a personal tour of all the buildings.
They also used an old laundry system, scrubbing socks on the washboard and
turning them through the squeezer and then lassoed a 'horse' and wore a bison
jacket that the pa would have worn. The mile hike round trip was nice too.
After multiple quick pull-overs for pictures, we drove past the Alpine Visitor
Center, which was WAY too busy to stop at, we pulled over at the Gorge Ridge overlook and noticed lots of people walking down the hill. Against my
better judgment, and I regret that we did this because it messes up the ecosystem, we saw a herd of elk grazing
and lazing on the hillside and saw a Marmot! The hike back up was intense, but
we made it without too much drama.
Further down the road, we chose to hike up
the Alpine Tundra Trailhead and climbed the rocks at the top. I was
in awe of the views and the kids were crazy about the Marmot that was hanging
around at the top. This hike, with all it's drama causing, was completely worth
it, even Chuck Roast, 4, agreed!
Back down the mountain lead us to the Jr. Ranger
Headquarters, which apparently means that's where the rangers work on the yard
but don't interact with kids. We found a picnic bench and completed our
books. While the kids were off finding things, I just sat. Then a some-kind-of Jay came to visit, and what a beautiful bird that was!
Beaver Visitor Center was our last stop, the kids took their
pledge and their becoming Jr. Rangers was announced to the whole building. Then people clap, which is wonderful.
The
informational video was great and there was wifi so I was able to touch base
with the family for our upcoming trip together starting tomorrow (!!!). We
drove south on our way towards Colorado Springs, where we'll meet up with my
aunt and 3 cousins, took a wrong turn, and had a shared combination #3 dinner
at La Mariposa. We headed back SW a bit and found a strange, winding set of Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest sites, picked on on a hill in case the clouds come
our way, and settled in. The kids played outside while I set up camp and then
we all washed up and tucked in for some Uno and Skip-bo before bed. I found out
tonight that it is SO much less stressful to set up the tent, pads, and bags by
myself. Less arguing and micromanaging took place tonight :)
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