Our trip was winding down. We spent the last few days near Durango, Colorado where the kids and grandkids met us. We had beautiful weather and many fun filled days of activity. This was the perfect way to end our trip!
Awesome view of lake from our kitchen table...
The horses were an immediate hit.
I think Lucy really wanted a selfie with her and the horse.
Baby Apple was too young to ride but sure was fun to pet.
Ryan was the first one on the water!
It was a beautiful day for paddling - sunny and very little wind.
The water was ice cold but these kids didn't care.
Our group before the river.
Safety First ... The river was running at 2000 cubic feet a second. Much more than that and the smaller kids wouldn't be allowed to go through the Class 3 rapids near the end of the journey. It was their lucky day.
Cora was ready to run those rapids.
Survivors!
Two river guides and three future river guides...
The Buskirk's at one of the many beautiful spots along the Durango to Silverton highway.
Ice cold snow melt...
Mom getting a little extra loving...
Is Ryan thinking about flying off the edge or is he thanking God for all the beauty?
Our traditional muscle bound pose that the boys do on every trip.
We found a little snow to make snowballs.
Haley in front of Pinkerton Hot Springs...
Lucy, Grace and Cora at the hot springs...
Rescuing the volleyball that went out in the lake was the perfect excuse for the boys to strip down to underwear and get wet.
Valliceto Creek trail is a thirteen mile out and back hike.... some of our group had had enough fun at about 1.5 miles out and so we turned around.
Grace and Haley
Haley, Gabriel, Grace and Lucy
This is as close as the kids came to finding a real bear!
Luca gets some nap time in the canoe.
Luca mastered the paddle board with a kayak paddling technique.
Volleyball player or teen model...
Row, Row, Row your boat...
Chipmunks were all over... we left them on a sugar high.
Gabriel caught this nice 17- inch rainbow at dusk.
Jake and Cora were out on the lake and were late returning. We were so proud of them that they didn't get spooked by the darkness that was setting in on them. Two ten year olds that have adventure in their blood and gained a new level of confidence in themselves.
Fish anatomy 101 includes how to clean a fish properly before grilling.
Agata returning from horseback riding...
Luca and Gabriel returning to the stables. Luca is on "Preacher".
Now that is a dirty kid...
More good eating!
Ryan's first Rainbow Trout...
It was spring in the Rockies.
Agata's birthday on June 15 and we celebrated with fresh grilled trout decorated with a pine twig candle. She said this was much better than having a cake. Gabriel caught all three trout!
It was Agata's birthday and she chose to go to see the cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde.
The dwellings were spectacular. Unfortunately, the most incredible dwellings like Cliff Palace and Balcony House were closed to visitors. That was a little frustrating but there were others like Spruce Tree House that were amazing.
Spruce Tree House hiking trail was closed so this was as close as we could get.
Please Poppy, don't throw me over the ledge!
Bill, I've been enjoying your trip as much as you have!!
ReplyDeleteYou've got a terrific family and they're going to remember this summer for the rest of their lives.
You and Sally are doing great things!!
Thanks Again,
Mike