July Colorado Trip with Cardonas

I can't believe that July is over and done with. It didn't even really feel like a July in Iowa. Usually July is the hottest, driest month in summer, but it was quite mild, and we had plenty of rain. The good thing is, our garden is doing really well.

Back of house where the garden is.

Huge zucchini



One of our main events was going to Fraser, CO with my niece, Mitzi, and her family, Al (husband), and sons (Christian and Nicholas). They had never been in the mountains and they really we amazed. Mitzi, however, found out she get altitude sickness. Fortunately, she got over it. But she didn't get over the fear of driving in the mountains. You just have to concentrate on the beauty and forget the fear. There are many pictures to follow:


Before we left Al and the boys had to put in new fence poles since a section of the fence had blown down.





Then Bob and I and the boys took off for CO. We took the Loveland route over the Trail Ridge Road where there was still snow. We hiked up the trail to 12,000 ft. Why? Because it was there. Later, the boys even made snowballs and threw them at each other. We also got some closeup views of some elk there. They looked very much at home. Mountains are beautiful, but driving in them is a little scary.

When we got to Fraser we stayed at a condo with many amenities. There was even a racquetball court. So Christian learned how to play racquetball, we learned that Al plays a mean racquetball, and Bob and Lucy still can play. Bob also taught Nicholas how to play tennis.

Mitzi and Al joined us the second day in Denver where we went to the Coors Brewery and Casa Bonita's. Then we all drove up to the condo together (in 2 cars). Mitzi had to drive since Al had taken advantage of the beer samples at Coors. She did a fine job even though she was pretty nervous.

Our first main outting together was at the Winter Park Resort where we bought day passes. We could do whatever we wanted all day long. We rode the alpine slide quite a few times, played miniature golf, and rode the ski lift several times. It was lots of fun, but that was the day Mitzi had altitude sickness so I don't think she really had much fun.

The next day was the day we played racquetball and tennis. Then we went to Grand Lake and shopped in this quaint little village. I think we had ice cream too.

That night we went to the Rodeo. I guess they have the rodeo every Sat. I can't say that I'm a rodeo person, but others seemed to enjoy it. It was a bit chilly though. It had rained that day, but it had stopped for the rodeo. That was a good thing.

The next day was a more quiet day. We invited some of my cousins from the Denver area to come up and visit. I hadn't seen Cheri for about 40 years, but it was like we had been close for years. Also we met her husband, Bill. He was very nice. My cousin, Bill, also came. I've visited with Bill a little more, but not much. It's fun to make those family connections when you have the opportunity.

Monday we said good-bye to Mitzi and Al. Then for the next two days the boys and I continued our fun. We went to Grand Lake where the boys did some horseback riding, Bob and I hiked to Adam Falls, and we took a tour boat ride of the lake there. We also went to Glenwood Springs and went white water rafting (oops no pictures) and to the hot springs pool, one of my favorite places.

Then it was time to go home. And just to enjoy the mountains one more time we went home the Trail Ridge Road way to take the last pictures of the mountains. Beautiful. Good-bye mountains.