Playing the Waiting Game

Since the 7th of July, we have been in Broomfield,Co, imposing on Jocelyn and Kristian while having the hiker worked on. Our plan was to be here for a week and then head off to Wyoming but time moves differently at the place where the work is being done. Luckily for us the kids have been very accomodating. Last Friday we decided to give them a break from us and we took our tent and sleeping bags and headed for the mountains to go camping for real. Well, pretty much for real. We did have a shower for the first couple of nights. It was great to get up out of the heat and be in the the green again. I finally got to check out Glenwood Springs for more than a coffee on the way through. They have a fantastic hot springs spa there and with the Colorado River running through, lots of river rafting and kayaking. They also have a 16 mile bike path that runs by the river, up Glenwood Canyon. We had a nice workout riding our bikes up and back (it's actually pretty level), watching everyone come down the river. The highway has fantastic bridges overhead and the occasional train chugs by on the other side of the river so there's lots of action. Leaving there, we went all through the Rocky Mountain National Park where we camped for the last night. It's so, so beautiful. I especially loved the tundra. The highs up there (around 11,500 ft) are below 50 degrees so it was chilly. Lots of elk lazing around the meadows and bursts of color from the wildflowers blooming everywhere. In the morning we got up and went for a hike up to Cub Lake. So cool to come over the last rise and see the lake, covered with lilies. The only sad part was the acres and acres of dead forest from the pine bark beetle, due to drought and warming temps. It was unbelievable.

We are now back with our very, patient hosts and planning on (keep fingers crossed) leaving Friday. Pics will follow...