Colorado....

Trinidad was a gorgeous place. The hotel we stayed at had indoor swimming pool, hot tub and glass across back to see the snow capped mountains. Tre' and Madge were in awe.
Evenings and mornings were nice and cool...could use some of that now!

The older girls had seen dandelions on the side of the road and were about to drive us nuts to stop and blow them. At their age and still wanting to do something this simple, or course we stopped.
Their laughter while doing this was a precious memory to me.

Beings we were just passing through Trinidad, the next day we headed to Durango....our next destination. There were lots of memorable sites to see...

on our way out...too many to put on here, but I do have them!!

For lunch, Barbie had planned a picnic to enjoy the outside from all the car riding. It was a fun time, but as you can tell, it was a COLD, FUN TIME! The wind was cutting through us.

In case you can't see the mountain, Grady is pointing it out for you : ) Actually, with all the driving he and Harold had been doing I think they were happy to stop and SEE something for a change.

Just about every rest stop between here and there, we visited. Didn't want to show favoritism. One stood out more to us than the others. The gorgeous flowers

and the just perfect trees to climb and take pictures


also to just use up energy. If you look closely,

you can see Tre's little head poking from the tree limbs.

Most importantly...to the men anyway,

were the nice, twin size, concrete benches. When you've driven this long and still are just at the beginning, this is probably very comfortable. After a little down time, we were back on the road. This time we were heading towards Wolf Creek Pass in the San Juan mountains of the Rockies. This area is 10,850 feet above sea level! It's really beautiful country.


Then along the trip somewhere between Trinidad and Durango is the Continental Divide or the Great Divide.
The older girls found it more interesting than the younger ones, but it's something they will remember....we're hoping : )

There were creeks to check out...

which were EXTREMELY COLD!
There were tunnels to go through... unexpected waterfalls to see.... and snow to play in! Where there is snow there are

snowball fights.... and snowmen to build...
this one being Barbie's creation.

Several of the places had their first initial, made of stones, inlaid on the mountains...

this one being for Durango.

Love the contrast from rock to the greenery.

Once we got settled into our hotel rooms, we were off to have a Chuck Wagon supper. This was sooooo cool! Everyone ate at long picnic tables outside...they do have cover if it rains. First the kids could take a short train ride

and ours took advantage of most things so we were pleased with that.

When supper time comes, you are served just as they cowboys did, on tin plates and tin cups. You went through the line (very quickly I might add) with the food being "plopped" on your plate. After meal time there was entertainment by a group of "singing cowboys", the Bar D Wranglers. At first you could see the "oh Lord" looks on the kids faces, until the elder of the group began singing The Possum Song. If you've never heard it, and I'm sure you haven't, Madge will gladly sing it to you. We bought the CD and the younger kids played it over and over until they learned it and another one of their favorites, Old McDonalds Misfit Farm. That night we laughed and laughed. There were little shops around the small area.

When they announced one of the visitors was in the movie Napoleon Dynamite, our kids went nuts. Afterwards we took their picture with her. She was the secretary on the movie. I haven't seen it enough to know, but they sure did.

It was late and we were tired...after 2 over 500 mile days and this day being over 200 our hotel rooms were calling us. Another day enjoying the beauty and fun provided by God.

Stay tuned for day 4 of our trip! Remember, this is a 10 day trip...but if you get bored, you don't have to read it.

e