Strange Behavior

For some reason every time it rains when the grandkids are at our house lately, they want to play in the rain. It was a warm rain so I guess it feels good and we can ask Nathan whether it tastes good as well.

Kylie was practicing her handstands.

They had a great time just running, dancing and singing.

Austin looks a little less enthusiastic, but I think he was just tired after a week of football practice. Except for the five sets of soaking wet clothes, the rain was lots of fun for the kids and a welcome site for our lawn.

In Christ Alone

We sang this in church this morning and I have been singing this all afternoon in my head. Christ is truly my all in all.

Black Powder Pass Hike

Another day, another hike. This one starts at tree line near Boreas Pass, although the hike is called Black Powder Pass. Near the trailhead is a small museum that includes a railroad section house built in 1881, restored as a museum. The Denver South Park and Pacific Railroad built this Highline Railway over Boreas Pass in the 1880's.

As we start the hike this is the view back to the Breckenridge Ski Area.

Steve is in front of Bald Mountain....the saddle between this mountain and Mount Eccles is our destination.

We followed a stream for much of the first part of the hike.

This is the view from the saddle looking east to the French Creek Valley.

I am standing at 12,159 feet looking back toward the mountains to the west of Breckenridge. The hike was about 5 miles roundtrip with the second half of the ascent having a steep grade. The view at the top was fantastic.

Black Lake Fishing

Black Lake near Vail Pass is one of our favorite spots. It is so picturesque and serene. Last year Steve caught two large trout here and we grilled them for dinner that evening. Steve went fishing here the day after our 11 mile hike and I accompanied him and just read and relaxed.

Steve tried lots of lures and live bait and he fished for hours, but the fish were not biting much.

This is a closer view of the mountains beyond the lake. In some photos they seem small and distant, but as you can see the are quite formidable.

Although Steve caught just three small fish, we thoroughly enjoyed the cool weather, sunshine and the the beauty that God has provided.

Mesa Cortina-South Willow Falls Hike

I chose the Mesa Cortina hike because it was just 5 miles round trip and the elevation gain was only 600+ feet. We had the choice of continuing on to South Willow Falls, but that would mean double the length and another 600 foot elevation gain. I also chose the hike because the description said that you hike through aspen stands, which I love, and along South Willow Creek. A beautiful stand of aspen with the sun peaking through.

I tried shutter priority on my camera to get this effect on the water. After we arrived at this spot along the creek which was about the 3 mile mark, we felt so good that we decided to tackle the hike on up to South Willow Falls despite its' elevation gain. After we went about one mile out of our way, we returned to the correct trail and made the additional 3 mile trek to the falls.

The waterfall was refreshingly cool and a gorgeous site.

This was the view from the falls, part of the Gore Range.

Steve is approaching the aspen groves as we hike the 5 miles back to the trailhead.

The view of Lake Dillon and Keystone ski area in the background. Our legs were very tired after the 11 mile hike. The trailhead and our car were a welcome site.

Melissa in Colorado

We were so excited that Melissa came to join us for a few days in Colorado. First order of business was to take the 14 mile Vail to Frisco bike ride. It was gorgeous and fun as usual, except for my bike crash on the way down! Thanks to Lanie Taylor for lending the bike for Melissa and Shauna to ride.

Melissa enjoying the SuperSlide at Peak 8 at Breckenridge ski area.

Melissa and Shauna at break time at Peak 8 Fun Park.

Steve, Melissa and I. We are hoping that David will be able to join us next year.

Loving her ham and cheese crepe in Breck.

Melissa with nephew Andrew on our Shrine Ridge hike.

And with niece, Kylie.

Melissa with her dad at the top of Shrine Ridge Trail. I think she enjoyed her hike in the Rockies.

We spent an afternoon in Vail just checking out the town, shopping and lunch sitting outside enjoying the beautiful weather. The landscaping in Vail is gorgeous. Steve and I will cherish our memories of Melissa's visit to Colorado as well as our times with Shauna and family.

Breckenridge Crepes

One of our favorite new dining spots is the Crepes a la Cart in Breckenridge. We have visited three times in the past two weeks. They offer numerous choices for both sweet and savory crepes.

We enjoyed crepes ranging from ham and cheese, country crepe with vegetables, bananas foster and "funky monkey" (banana, nutella and chocolate). All our choices were equally delicious.

Andrew loves the chocolate chip dessert crepe.

Crepes are a thing of beauty to savor!

Shrine Ridge Trail Hike

Shrine Ridge Trail is about a 5 mile round trip hike. Steve and I, the Alexander family and Melissa hiked the trail. The rugged Gore Range to the north is a beautiful range and the trail is highlighted with spruce and fir trees which are not effected by the pine beetle.

Our first stop was by a stream and had a nice big log to sit on and rest.

The weather was perfect....cool with lots of sunshine.

Melissa and I as we are hiking up the trail.

The group on a rock formation about half way up the trail.

Near the top there are a couple of snow fields and the kids slipped, slid, and made snowballs for quite a while.

A beautiful columbine, the Colorado state flower. They only grow naturally at high elevation.

We had a really great time feeding the chipmunks some nuts....

....and even an M&M, which the chipmunk eventually discarded.

Everyone was enjoying the 360 degree view from this rock.

The "explorers", Steve and Melissa at the top of the trail.

We thoroughly enjoyed this hike. It really has everything you could desire for a hike in the Rockies. Andrew and Kylie were real troopers and completed the 5 mile hike with relatively little complaint.

Peak 8 Fun Park

After Melissa arrived in Colorado, we decided to enjoy a fun morning at Breckenridge Peak 8 Fun Park. There are a number of fun activities to do there and the highlight was the SuperSlide. The photos below are each of the group enjoying the SuperSlide. Hi Andrew and Mark!

Slow it down Kylie.

Shauna zipping by.

Hey Melissa....don't forget to apply those brakes.

And last but not least, Steve.

Kylie did back flips on the Sky Fly Power Trampoline.

She was really bouncing high.

Kylie climbing the rock wall.

This ride is appropriately called "The Spin Cycle". It made me queasy to watch.

Shauna and Andrew taking a break and we all warmed up with coffee and hot chocolate.