Day 7 - Part 1 - Hanging lake with a celebration

 Early morning for a BEAUTIFUL hike to hanging lake.  I remember Rachel messaging us in April to make reservations for a parking spot (hiking was limited due to COVID) she said the hike was one of the best in the area.  The early morning hour was ideal for all the activities planned for today.  Off we all go!The photos and landscaping kept changing as we hiked.  It was Rachel and Alex, our family, my sister's family, Russ, Raela and Katie!  Great to hike and chat

Such a beautiful spot - you literally round a corner and here it is.  Its filled by a mountain stream and refreshingly beautiful

Kids enjoyed bounding along the rocks

This photo depicts why Alex has received the 'fun cousin' label!

Here are some more great captures from my sister's camera

Gotta give a shout of to Raela for rocking the hike and Rachel.  Rachel struggles with glaucoma and is almost legally blind.  While she isn't alway stable on her feet - she doesn't seem to let that slow her down.  She had a hiking stick and was happy to keep up!

My sister apparently caught me posing and I had to post it.

A little break time story from Alex

This view with these adorable dudes - the younger mountain goat version

These 2 adorbs!  This hanging lake is a science teachers dream!

Thank you to the kind hiker that captured our group with a panoramic photo

Here we all are - remind me, is the down harder?

Day 6 - bring on the family and extreme golf

What better way to start the morning than with BREAKFAST pizza from the local gas station.  Alex raved about it and we HAD to get 2 for the team.  We popped over to their home to enjoy it all together.

It was great to walk with them in the area.  They have 2 sweet dogs - Penny and Walter - the best personalities!  We walked down to the Colorado for more rock throwing and even a little time in the water to cool off!

They had some great free range chickens that we got to hang out with too.  It was so nice to get the chance to see there slice of life.

Back at the camp ground - look what the boys spotted - Yup!  taht means Aunt Louise and Uncle Ken are here!  Throw in some of our cousins - Matt, Jeff and Linsey too.  Its a full camp ground!

My sister and family came in from Denver (they flew in late last night and stayed closer to Denver to get some sleep)  as soon as they got to us Jason headed out with Chris, Nick, Shane and Dad to explore a pretty unique golfing opportunity.  They were in AWE and if you have an appreciation for golf you gotta watch this video.  You might be a bit of motion sickness - but hold tight and check it out.  It was hot - super dry - Shane got a blister and than stung by a bee!  pour kiddo!

https://youtu.be/-4Igvlfv0Xw

Meanwhile back here we had sandwiches for the crew.  Than at some point the lever to flush the toilet was stuck and got left on.  There is nothing cool about this.  I went in to find the water flowing over the toilet and out the trailer.  No what?  Remember when I said we weren't hooked up to a sewer drain line?  Yup, no way to clear that out.  Well, not really a fun way to clear it out.  I spotted a 5 gallon bucket that might be helpful.  My sister was kind enough to offer help.  Chris thought it would be just the auxiliary tank.  Mostly water.  Tried that.  Still wont flush (or rather filled to the top)  We knew it wasn't the grey water......  therefore we (I) needed to address the black water.  Now to 'fill' the bucket enough that you can carry it to 'dump' it.  Lets just say there are some very fertilized weeds nearby. BLAH!  DONE.  Thank you Stacie - #memorable.

Now to 'clean off' a little beach entry to the Colorado river.

Here are some other photos of the crew cooling off.  The water was VERY refreshing.

We walked into Glenwood to check out an adorable little Mexican restaurant and loved finding these wings everywhere in the city.

Loved this capture of Riley grabbing Oma Sue's hand - treasure.

They get to move in!  Everyone has a cabin (with AC) on this cute row.  They are so pumped!

 

Day 5 -We make it to Glenwood

The drive to Glennwood takes us right through Vail.  We opted not to drive through.  While Chris is pretty good at manuevering with the trailer attached, backing up and small areas are still not preferred.  Plus our favorite way to see Vail would be covered in white.  These photos will be just enough for not.

I can imagine this being quite the Mecca

This final RV spot was literally RIGHT off the highway - to the point when the GPS said we were close we really couldn't believe it.  Then we saw it.  

By far our FAVORITE site to be!  The Colorado river rushing RIGHT behind us.  Plenty of space.  IT took QUITE a bit to pull in and get situated.  Chris had some help from a local rafting guide.  

Success!  Time to enjoy some cornhole

The spot was ideal - getting into it - not so easy.  This spot (being so close to the river) didn't have sewer hook up - something to note for a later story.

Love the camping idea and how everything just keeps coming with us with very minimal effort.

Chris booked us some time at the local vapor spa.  Its been around since the early 1900s.  Natural spring that is 140 degrees.  CRAZY hot.  to the point you really cannot touch it.  There are several caves (they are quite DARK down below.  

I was thankful Chris and I were together because it kind of has a creepy edge to them, but very medical.  They recommend 10 minute and than coming 'up for air'  We would lay there and after 5 minutes (which I though was SURELY 10 minutes) and than each minute after that was an eternity!  But the outside air felt awesome.  We did it 3 times before we opted to move on.

Loved capturing all the different colors of the rocks

Isn't this just the perfect place for chilling and snacking.  That tree must have been HUGE!

The icing on the cake for the day - seeing the bride and her hubby!  Her and Alex, Raela and Russ and my folks were all there!  

 

Day 3/4 in Breckenridge

This RV park was MUCH different.  In order to stay we had to apply and submit the type and age of the truck and trailer.  There were PLENTY of very high end RVs, adorable cabins.  We pulled in between 2 cabins.  Parking was a bit of a challenge and tried multiple times.  while it wasn't perfect it worked great.  After connecting everything we went into town to figure out the bike rental situation.  We could pick them up at the end of the day!  Now to hike the slopes we would one day like to ski.

Another photo I wish we took - we walked right by a directional sign that said - 'Sundown'  one of their trails!  How perfect right?  Here is Drew being artistic.

And me not realizing how long my hair is!

And here is Drew being a goof - Thank you to the rest of my obliging crew.

Not a bad view right?

Ready to ride?

One of the many benefits of close quarters - breakfast in bed!

Now to bike our brains off!  First loop - Blair witch was great - the landscape is so different than what we are used to.  Lots of tall very straight trees.

Not sure the photos do it justice - every mountain top looks like a potential ski mountain (in Nick's mind!)

Second loop had lots of up.  I mean LOTS - and it was HOT - very hot, and we were out of water.  Those things right there had Drew, Shane and I turning back.  Nick and Chris road on and we are thankful they did as they came back saying the views and landscapes were worth it for them!  Not for us and Eric's burgers and fries were calling our names=)

We got back that night and enjoyed the evening strolling the park and than soaking up the hot tub and pool.  Kids were playing a game of hot tub jackpot where one person would be in the hot tub calling the numbers and tossing the ball.  Funny as 2 teenage girls seemed to join the party.  One leadbetter was tremendously shy, another giggly and willing to chat with them, the 3rd - splashed them and completely treated them like sisters......

I am passing NICK all the credit for this breakfast - French toast with limited ingrediencies (no cinnamon, no vanilla a few eggs)  Strawberries looked pretty good through!  Time to move to the next spot