Colorado 2007 June 28 2007
Thursday: Family day; no Kid Camp for Kelly. We planned a short hike in Wild Basin in Rocky Mountain National Park. For children it's the journey, not the destination so we were trying to keep the distance reasonable. Three tenths of a mile to Copeland Falls then 1.8 to Calypso Falls. Kelly will walk forever in The City so we figured three plus miles, round trip, wouldn't be a problem. Child had other ideas. Kelly in Sylvan Gear Kelly was decked out and ready to go (note the totally fab hiking boots). For those wondering where our tax dollars are going, it's not to the national parks. The entrance fee for our car was $20, but the pass was good for 7 days. (For comparison the Mohonk Preserve is $15 per car for one day.) Interestingly, none of the rangers knew who the Secretary of the Interior is. Things went well as we journeyed to Copeland Falls. Kelly was energetic and happy to be in "The Forest". Copeland Falls Note the lack of Mother, Child or Father. Kelly was petrified of the flowing water and refused to have anything to do with a photo. Flowers and food keep a Munchkin motivated. Kelly Says "Cheese" And a pretty flower... Yellow Flower of Unknown Variety We continued our sojourn. More photo opps presented themselves, but Kelly's fear of rapidly flowing water continued unabated. Rapids She reached the point where it was time for contemplation, not travel. Pensive Child Then pouty... Not a Happy Hiker And then it was time to go... The Little One Prepares for the Journey Home Goodbye forest... Homeward Bound It started to drizzle as we left the park so we decided to take a short drive to Estes Park. Estes is a small town at the main entrance to RMNP with a 4 lane highway running down the middle and a ton of tourist shops along the way. A very nice innovation is a river walk which runs behind the shops and along a waterway. We spent a grand total of one hour, which included the purchase of candy. We've driven past this magnificent Catholic Church a dozen times over the past week. Finally a picture. St Malo's Back at The Ranch, Kelly insisted on swimming; this despite the 60 degree air temps. But first, the hot tub... Mother and Daughter Get Cooked A mother's love knows no bounds. The pool is heated, but I froze sitting alongside writing this and taking pictures. Leapin' Little Ones And another shot from the side... Airborne A totally unrelated shot of a hummingbird I got last night It Doesn't Know the Words Dinner was roast pork lion with twice baked potatoes and a veg of unknown origin (no one ate it). Dessert was a chocolate nut surprise. (Kelly had Strawberry ice cream.)
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Colorado 2007

June 28 2007

Thursday: Family day; no Kid Camp for Kelly. We planned a short hike in Wild Basin in Rocky Mountain National Park. For children it's the journey, not the destination so we were trying to keep the distance reasonable. Three tenths of a mile to Copeland Falls then 1.8 to Calypso Falls. Kelly will walk forever in The City so we figured three plus miles, round trip, wouldn't be a problem. Child had other ideas.

Kelly in Sylvan Gear

Kelly was decked out and ready to go (note the totally fab hiking boots). For those wondering where our tax dollars are going, it's not to the national parks. The entrance fee for our car was $20, but the pass was good for 7 days. (For comparison the Mohonk Preserve is $15 per car for one day.) Interestingly, none of the rangers knew who the Secretary of the Interior is.

Things went well as we journeyed to Copeland Falls. Kelly was energetic and happy to be in "The Forest".

Copeland Falls

Note the lack of Mother, Child or Father. Kelly was petrified of the flowing water and refused to have anything to do with a photo.

Flowers and food keep a Munchkin motivated.

Kelly Says "Cheese"

And a pretty flower...

Yellow Flower of Unknown Variety

We continued our sojourn. More photo opps presented themselves, but Kelly's fear of rapidly flowing water continued unabated.

Rapids

She reached the point where it was time for contemplation, not travel.

Pensive Child

Then pouty...

Not a Happy Hiker

And then it was time to go...

The Little One Prepares for the Journey Home

Goodbye forest...

Homeward Bound

It started to drizzle as we left the park so we decided to take a short drive to Estes Park. Estes is a small town at the main entrance to RMNP with a 4 lane highway running down the middle and a ton of tourist shops along the way. A very nice innovation is a river walk which runs behind the shops and along a waterway. We spent a grand total of one hour, which included the purchase of candy.

We've driven past this magnificent Catholic Church a dozen times over the past week. Finally a picture.

St Malo's

Back at The Ranch, Kelly insisted on swimming; this despite the 60 degree air temps.

But first, the hot tub...

Mother and Daughter Get Cooked

A mother's love knows no bounds. The pool is heated, but I froze sitting alongside writing this and taking pictures.

Leapin' Little Ones

And another shot from the side...

Airborne

A totally unrelated shot of a hummingbird I got last night

It Doesn't Know the Words

Dinner was roast pork lion with twice baked potatoes and a veg of unknown origin (no one ate it). Dessert was a chocolate nut surprise. (Kelly had Strawberry ice cream.)

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