Day 11 - Still in Colorado

This morning we enjoyed breakfast on Aunt Vicki again...she sent some leftover bacon and sausage with us and the hotel we stayed at didn't have a continental breakfast, but it did have a microwave and plates...so we were all set. We were searching for something to do in Estes Park that we hadn't really done yet during our vacation. We decided on rafting...as we had suspected the boys weren't old enough. The rivers are wild there...and thought we'd check into it anyway. Sure enough...had to be 7 and weigh 50 lbs. They had the 50 lb. part down, but not the age. So, we looked around at a few of the shops downtown and got some suggestions from the locals on what to do. We were on the hunt for wildlife...and things the kids would enjoy. One lady was very helpful...she suggested packing a lunch and heading up into the Rocky Mountain National Forest to hike...which Gavin has been wanting to "climb" a mountain throughout the trip...so we stopped at a deli and got some sandwiches and drinks and headed that direction. We went to Sprague Lake and walked around the nature walk there...then headed up the hills...to find out that making our own trail wasn't such a good idea. We headed back down to find some actual hiking trails...and off we went. We walked about 2 minutes and the boys were hungry...mostly Maddox. We talked them into walking a little further and Gavin found a perfect spot to eat. There was a huge rock alongside the river just the right size for spreading out our things. So quiet...even the boys were amazed by the sound of the river and the cool air coming off the water. I thought we'd see other people along the trail...we didn't. We saw horse trails...I thought the horseback riding sounded like a cool way to actually get around and see MORE. I enjoyed the hiking...but it was warmer than we were used to...and Maddox isn't a fast walker...he gets easily distracted by pine cones...other trails...THE RIVER...cliffs...you know, that sort of thing. Larry is afraid of horses...I didn't know this. He swore the boys were too young to ride and that they would cause the horses to run out of control...etc. etc...so we didn't ride horses. We were all grouchy today...except Gavin...I don't think he was at all...Larry had his moments...Maddox had his moments...and I did too. Honestly, after it was all said and done we decided that it was the heat...not that it was even that hot, but in comparison to what we were used to...it was. A front blew over and things cooled off...and we were fine. We finished our hiking experience. It was fun...the boys could run, climb, find ants, pick up rocks, sticks, whatever...they were in heaven. It did start to sprinkle as we were done so we drove around the mountains for a while...didn't see any wildlife...just people enjoying their horseback riding...and let me tell you...those horses were SO out of control. I made that comment to Larry...I think that might have been one of his "moments".

We headed into town to check out a place that everyone had mentioned to us that is great for kids. It was...we rode go-karts, bumper boats, bumper cars, played mini-golf and enjoyed the nice afternoon. We then said goodbye to Estes Park and headed to Lakewood to see Larry's Grandma. We are really glad we took our slight detour. We saw more mountains, but it was a different kind of mountains...the rockies are different. We were just surrounded by rock on our drive in and out of town. Amazing! On the way into traffic was crazy busy on I-25 headed into Denver...not sure why...it was about 7:00 when we got close to there. So, we took a little different route and grabbed some supper and headed to find a hotel close to Grandma Utley's. The boys didn't swim tonight...early to bed...long day!

Tomorrow's plans...meeting Grandma Utley and Aunt Denise and her kids...going out for breakfast and heading to the zoo.

Good night!