Colorado x4 #3

My grandchildren melt my heart with just a gaze!

Trip number 3 we took Peyton and Evan. This time we stayed in a hotel in Canyon City,Colorado. 

I'm an early riser. Good thing because these guys would have slept till noon and missed all the adventures!!

Our first morning we went to a prison museum.  The real  prison with inmates was right next door.  The area we toured was the old women's prison.  But there was information about the gas chamber and, the youngest inmate incarcerated (eleven years old).

The gas chamber

We drove to the area that we would be white water rafting the next day.  These two guys are really good friends even though their brothers.  They watch out for each other. 

Later in the day we rode the Royal Gorge train.  My second time, their first time.  Everyone is laid back and enjoying the scenery. Until we got into the Gorge:

Do you see the same look of concentration on Grandfather and Grandson?

The open air car of the Royal Gorge train.

Scenes from the Royal Gorge Train.

  These little buildings were used for the men that monitored the pipeline, and dams along the gorge.  Canyon City built a pipeline along the gorge to provide water to the town.  Water levels  in the gorge go up and down. We could see in areas where the pipeline was ripped out by high water. We pondered how they got down to these buildings?  Flyers we received told us there was not enough room in the gorge for two sets of railroad tracks. Two railroad companies fought each other for the area to build the tracks. In some areas the gorge is only 30 feet wide!

Royal Gorge Bridge from below!

  Can you see the profile of John Fitzgerald Kennedy?  This is called JFK mountain!  View from Royal Gorge Bridge! 

Grandpa said the whole trip was worth it to see the the white buffalo!

Whitewater rafting

I didn't do rafting on trip #2. This time I was definitely going. Peyton and Evan also had not been rafting and we were pumped!!! Though nervous!!! The first instructions were a little nerve racking about what to do if our raft tipped over! I think Peyton, Evan, Grandma were a little anxious. When we got in the boat and got instructions from our guide we all relaxed. There were areas that were so calm the guide encouraged us to get out of the boat and float! Peyton and Evan were so brave! They jumped right out! Soon it was time for them to come back. I reached over to pull Evan up into the boat. I couldn't get him in, even though I pulled with all my might!!!! PLEASE GUIDE HELP ME PULL MY BABY BACK IN THE BOAT!!! Guide reached over and pulled Evan up by one hand by his life jacket. I was impressed! And enamored!!!

Every night of our trip the boys swam in the hotel pool.  They are such fish.  Canon balls that splashed to the ceiling,   Evan would latch on to Peyton's shoulders and they would do a double somersault under the water. they were such fun to watchy.

Garden of the Gods with Pikes Peak in the background!

Kissing camels at Garden of the Gods.

Manitou cliff dwellings.  Pressing pennies in the machines became a big souvenier with everybody!

So our third trip to Colorado was so much fun.  Especially for Grandma!

...farm living is the life for me.  Sanetha.

Colorado x 4 #2

I love my grandchildren so much that their simple looks melt my heart. 

Introducing my grandchildren to camping is important to me. This summer my daughter and I took her children camping trip in Colorado.

 

Our first night camping. 

This camp was called Lone Duck. Located west of Manitou Springs, Colorado. There was many fun things available. Levi fished in a little pond at the campground.  There was a swimming pool, arcade and play ground.   We were concerned about the tent.  It kept collapsing in one corner.  We managed.  Cade is wondering what we have gotten him into.  Cora is asleep in front of the tent.  It was a long day setting up camp and she needed a break.

Cora taking a break.

One morning we decorated camp flags.

We swam.

We toured the Manitou Cliff Dwellings.

We rode the Cograil train to the top of Pikes Peak.

Are they anticipating or worried?

 

Then we moved to a KOA near Royal Gorge. The tent stood up much better.  We were concerned that we were quite a ways from the bathroom.  Several middle of the night hikes to the B.R.  But this was probably our favorite place.  Across our road was a small hut, with a sweet woman that made breakfast.  This was so convenient.  We could eat there early then head off to our adventures.  Can you see the little pink pottychair?  

Toured Garden of the Gods.

We rode the train through Royal Gorge.

A very comfortable ride. We recomend this highly.

 

Levi and Cade on the open air car of the Royal Gorge Train.

Me with the grands. I wanted to hold onto something because the slats of the bridge were an inch apart so you could see all the way down under your feet.  Made me a little freaked out!  See the Kansas flag?

Just inside the front gate of Royal Gorge.

One evening we made a camp picture. Later we looked at the stars and had such a fun talk.

Unfortunately there was a burn ban on and we couldn't build a fire in our fire pit.  So we set up the Coleman stove and made s'mores over at propane stove!  Our family is definately resourceful!

I wish I had a picture here for the my grandchildrens whitewater rafting trip.  I stayed in the car with our Cora and couldn't take pictures. They had a great time and I'm so glad they experienced something out of their box.

I'm sure if they tested my blood it would have "OFF" insect repellant, wood smoke, s'mores and plenty of dirt. Sleeping in a tent and cooking outside is in my blood. I have loved camping since I was a girl.

As a young mother, my daughter and I camped at a lake in Kansas. It was cheap entertainment when I was a poor nursing student. A few nights before my daughter's wedding she requested we go camping again at that same lake. We had a wonderful evening watching the sun go down with wine coolers.
When I married my husband he introduced me to pre 1840's camping. We camped in a teepee and wore primitive clothing and cooked over a wood fire pit! My daughter met her husband at a pre 1840's rendevous.
I have camped in Kansas, Nebraska, Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, Arkansas, California, Utah, and Wyoming.
.farm living is the life for me. Sanetha