We are back from Colorado! Had a great few days there. Yes, only a few days, left on Thursday, spent the night in Amarillo, then on to South Fork, left on Monday, arrived home about midnight. Why such a short trip? We did the same thing when we went to see the Grand Canyon. It's the Brasher way.

South Fork is really pretty. I had a great opportunity to stay a a cabin that friends just bought and are fixing up. Get with me if you want to rent a place that is only 17 miles from Wolf Creek skiing. It is a cute place, on the edge of town, backs up to Rio Grande National Forest, and sleeps about 11 peeps (but only two bathrooms, so don't over-do it.) We spent time on the front porch rocking and watching the crazy hummingbirds. One reddish one on particular thought that he owned the place, so he kept running the other guys off. We went to Creede, and went to the underground mining museum. My kids actually paid attention to the tour guide, a former miner himself, who unfortunately is also now tethered to an oxygen bottle. Mining is not too good for your health.

After that we determined to take the Bachelor Loop outside of town and see the real ghost towns (or as Morgan now calls them-- ghost houses) and started up the hill, only to have John chicken out and go back down the hill. We then went the opposite way, since all the vehicles seemed to be going down the hill, not up the hill. Did I mention it was a one-lane road? Going up was cool. Lots of ruts (no pavement) and bouncing around, and once, when we had to scoot over for a pickup going down when we went up (you yield to those coming down) we scratched a nice reminder of the trip down the side of my van with the brush. I asked John if he wanted me to drive, since he was kinda nervous, but he said "HECK,NO" or something like that, and so I didn't. Going down was interesting, we were smelling a burning smell from the truck in front of us, but he pulled over and we continued down, only to realize quickly that WE were smoking too. John was freaking out thinking we had ruined the van. I got the brilliant idea (3/4 the way down) that perhaps we should put it in low gear. We obviously survived, but I don' think that was the relaxing experience I was hoping John to have.

The next day, Sunday, we went rafting (or as Morgan kept calling it, Raffling) and that was fun! It was a "self-guided" tour down the Rio Grande, which translates into you are on your own, but don't worry, we've never lost anyone on the short route before. I at least had the presence of mind to only go the short route. But it was fun! the time flew, and before we knew it, the 1 1/2 hrs were over.

Morgan was very insistent on rowing her own oar, which of course she let go of accidentally right at the beginning of the trip. What do you think she did? SHE JUMPED IN after it. Before we knew what had happened, she was in the water trying to get it. Jumped, not fell. Luckily she a) had a life jacket on b) it was only waist deep on her and c) she knows how to swim. The water was a very cold 59 degrees, but she warmed up quickly because it was sunny. We have never rafted before, so we couldn't control our raft very well, we kept going into the side of the river, hitting rocks, knocking into brush, etc. Good thing it was a sturdy raft! I told my kids that it is kinda a life metaphor, sometimes you can paddle and steer all you want, but you just wind up going into the rocks. That's why we need to rely on God all the time. I don't think they were impressed with my profound comments.

The Great Sand Dunes were next (yes on the same day) and we thought they were neat, but I wasn't about to go and climb them, but of course Morgan wanted to do it. She was happy we at least let her run ahead of us a good ways. We did see a whirlwind on the way back to South Fork. It seems like the valley landscape is a lot like west Texas, just add mountains in the background.

Our trip home was not too eventful, just a a couple of thunderstorms and blinding rain. I think the drive from Texas to Colorado is beautiful, but the drive from the Texas border to Amarillo, and then Amarillo to WF could just a well be on the moon, it is so desolate. I can't appreciate that kind of "Miles and Miles of Texas."

Now back home, we have washed clothes, restocked the pantry, gone to football 2-a-days, and I will go back to work tomorrow. John, however, is researching small towns in Colorado on the Internet. Is it fantasy or planning? Who knows, but I do know that if he gets in the mountains he'll never cut his hair, or his beard, again. I think that is his retirement plan no matter where he lives!