Rafting

Saturday we checked out and headed south for rafting. This was out of our way home, but closer for Caleb and Jessica. And it is supposed to be the most rafted canyon in Colorado, so I guess it was better to do it than the Shoshone Rapids. Maybe another time for them.

Brown's Canyon begins just south of Buena Vista. We went with Noah's Ark, one of two outfitters right there at the put in. We had a great time. The sky clouded up a little but never rained. It did keep us cold though, that water is just one step up from snow melt. The first part is pretty easy, nice I and II level rapids. Then about half way through the river squeezes together and goes down hill. We had about 7 rapids that are II and III+, but most of those were split into several sections. Zoom Flume, and Toilet Bowl were the two memorable ones. There was also Pinball and Seven Sisters, Canyon Door, Screen Door, Three Amigos and Last One. It was a fantastic ride. Excitement enough for the boys and safe enough for Louisa.


Then we said good-bye to Caleb and Jessica as they headed to her home in Colorado Springs and we headed over the Monarch Pass to Montrose. I really couldn't get over the mountains, how beautiful they were. As you drive down from Vail to Salida there are a whole row of mountains over 14,000 ft among them Mt of the Holy Cross, Notch Mt, Mt Elbert (the tallest in the state), Mt Massive, Mt Princeton and 10!!! more. They make a huge long wall through the middle of the state. It is incredible.

We ended our week with a quick trip to Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP. Impressive again. Shear walls going down 2000 ft. It is hard to grasp the depth, but it is pretty wild to look at.

More Vail

One day the boys went golfing and the girls went shopping and took a walk through Betty Ford's Alpine garden. It was not as showy as I expected. They could have had tons of flowers in bloom, but it was more a scientific garden with different types of alpine plants from all over the world.


When we had done Vail we headed down to Eagle for the county fair. This was something unplanned and not known about till we arrived in Vail and saw the posters. It was a lot of fun. The fair was mostly 4 H (Head, Heart, Hands, Health) stuff, no adults involved in the entrys. We saw some livestock judging of lambs and showmanship. And we enjoyed the sights and smells.

The next night we came back for the Rodeo. They did an all out show, very impressive. The patriotic theme, the queen and attendants, the clown, the Rocky Mt Kid who jumped his motorcycle over the truck, and the calf roping, and bull riding were great. Caleb and Jessica had joined us by then and it seemed to make the trip a little better.

We also spent time swimming and reading and playing racquetball. It was a very relaxing pace from which I am still trying to get over.

Our time in Vail

We stayed at a condo in West Vail for the week. It was so perfect. Newly renovated, our unit at the end right by the Gore Creek. We could walk out our door, sit on the chairs and watch the water flow, listen to the birds and smell the pines. It convinced me again that I want a house on a river!

We enjoyed church in Avon, they had a song and prayer in Spanish and sent me back to reminiscing about Sherbrooke.
Then the Vail Sunday Market was going so we went over to enjoy the booths, wares, art, and music. It was a perfect day with lots of sunshine and good feelings. Loved the jazz quartet.

Next day we did miniature golf and took a tour of the resort.
It is huge!, not quite as big as Powder Mt, but more impressive in many ways since there are more lifts and all you can see for miles are mountains. Elevation about 11,000 at the top.

Next day Laura and Hyrum took some mt bikes on the gondola and rode on the mountain. They said they had a good time. Louisa and Russ and I drove around to see some of the other places I'd read about. First was Piney Lake. The 10 mile dirt road in was fun and in pretty good shape. The lake was incredible. The Ranch had some improving to do to be more tourist friendly.

So we took the loop drive over the Vail Pass then down to Leadville where we ate lunch and wandered up and down Main street before coming back for dinner with the "lovebirds" in Minturn.

Vail

For our family reunion this year we went to Vail Colorado. It is amazing what is so close to us that we never take the time to explore. We had a great time. Friends of ours let us stay our first night in their home in Grand Junction. Then we took a drive along the Colorado NM. It could look like Arches in some places. It was a good start.

Then we ate lunch in Glenwood Springs and there learned that the Shoshone Rapids was still closed to rafting. It sounded like the water could be dropping and might go low enough for us to get on the next week, but I did start looking again for what might be available.

Then we drove into Aspen. I have to say it was beautiful. I was entranced and want to go back. Much different than I expected. We followed the road up into the mountains and over Independence Pass. It was the beginning our our Rocky Mt High- elevation over 12,000 ft. The snow had been late in melting so the flowers were all in bloom, the grass was green it was gorgeous.