So I hear that Budweiser is going to raise the price of beer. Hmmmm...the brew tour @ Anheiser in Ft. Collins was cool; but I gotta say that my secret desire is that Miller Coors (Coors Original, Blue Moon, Leinenkugels...) responds by holding steady or dropping prices. That would make for a happy fall and lots of good campfire fun at the Osborne home. =)

Home. It is good to be here. Trying to get back into a routine AND maintain the peaceful easy feeling of a week out West. A few more thoughts...

God's sense of humor. No wildlife to speak of; Kari is in the van praying for something, anything wild in nature. What pops its little head up, but a marmot. Wild to be sure. You gotta laugh -- He does not disappoint, just does not alway give you exactly what you are asking for...

Kristyn, Brady and Em -- they are hiking kids! give them rocks to hop, dirt to walk, tree branches for walking sticks, they are happy as a lark!

Rest -- we ran everywhere, went and went and went on vacation. But it was restful -- something about the pines and mountain air that had us sleeping well and feeling relaxed thew whole trip. I'm grateful and excited to return...

The trip is coming to an end

Well all,

We headed out on our trip back "East" now. We packed up this AM and headed to Coffee on the Rocks shop to have the kids get a fly fishing lesson from a 40 year fly-fishing veteran. He was phenomenal and the kids got the hang of it, especially Kristyn. It made her daddy so proud. Then, the trek back East led us through Big Thompson Canyon which was breathtaking. We drove and the kids read as we headed to the next destination and final stopping point on our Colorado journey, (Budweiser Brewery to see the Clydesdales and get a drink). After a half hour tour of Fort Collins, we made it to the brewery to see the horses, sample a drink and eat a bite of lunch in the car. As we headed for Kearney, Nebraska, thunderstorms built up behind us as temps soared to 95 ( a far cry from the cool Colorado air!) After a potty and gas break, we rolled into the Ramada Inn at 6:30 after losing an hour. We ordered Dominoes pizza and unloaded a bit. Then, time for a dip in the "cool" pool and off to dreamland. The kids aren't too psyched about the 5 hour trip home tomorrow, but it will be good to sleep in our own beds finally. Thanks for following us on this wonderful family vacation!!! It has been amazing at every turn. God is so good!!!

Monday

We have had an absolutely epic adventure. We went into this vacation thinking it would either be the only week long normal American family vacation we would take or it would be the first of many. The latter is definitely the case!!! What a ball we've had. One more day to go. Highlights from today:

Our goal of knocking out as many RMNP patches (there are little sew on patches for every trail and many of the peaks in the park) in one morning. 4+ miles and a few thousand vertical feet up and down later, we can proudly say that the kids earned 5 trail or lake patches today. The day was perfect for hiking and we took advantage, as did approx. 1,000 other people at every turn. Starting at 9:45, we hiked up to Alberta Falls

Then up to Bear Lake

Then up more to Nymph Lake for a quick trailside lunch

Then up MORE to Dream Lake, which is guarded by Hallet Peak, and some well fed chipmunks!

We considered another 1/2 mile to Emerald Lake, but little legs and bodies let us know it was time to head down. We went back to the Y and played some mini golf, and swam, then into town for dinner. After some shopping, it was up to Sprague Lake for a short lake side hike and some fly fishing.


We took one last quick spin through the park to see if we could see any of the bigger animal life (the ONLY disappointment of the trip was the lack of anything bigger than mule deer during most of our time in), then back to the camp to pack and get to bed. We have had the time of our lives here...The kids are mountain goats when it comes to the rocks; Kari has led the hikes up the hill and overcome (slightly) her fear of large carnivorous mammals, and I am truly relaxed. This is what vacation really should be - rest, good food, play with the kids, lots of good beer, and miles under my feet on the trails. I could not have asked for a better trip heading into the school year.

Tomorrow it is up, a quick breakfast, load the van (can't have stuff out there because of the bear activity at camp), a 9 am date at Coffee on the Rocks for a fly fishing lesson for the kids (my heart is SO PROUD!), and then to Ft. Collins via Big Thomson Canyon for the Budweiser Brew tour around noon. We figured we should end our Colorado time the way it began...then onward to Kearney for an overnight, hoping to arrive in DSM Wed. evening sometime. More pics tomorrow!

Sunday

Great day! Breakfast and coffee @ Coffee on the Rocks; church at Rocky Mountain Bible Church; downtown Estes for lunch and a bit of shopping (the boy got his first pocket knife!), then back to the Y camp for some horseback riding (Kari and Kristyn) and a hike up the short but steep trail to Bible Point for me, Brady, and Emersyn riding in the backpack. All of us had amazing times! Then into the park, up Fall River Road to the Alluvial Fan and Endovalley. We had backpack stove Mac and Cheese for the kids, and omelets for for the adults. Amazing how good they tasted (as did the Coors Original!) cooked outside and after a long day on our feet. Tomorrow it's into the park again; Bear Lake/Sprague Lake/Alberta Falls and maybe some fly fishing in Moraine Park. Looking forward to it!

Hope you all are safe and dry -- sounds like the weather has been HEAVY there!

Picture Dump

Here are pics from Friday and Saturday...again, thanks to my uploading ineptitude, in no particular order. They are from Tenderfoot, trainride, and Rocky Mtn Natl Park. Enjoy!

Ups and downs

We had a GREAT day yesterday -- up and down Tenderfoot Mtn in Frisco. Up the pass and down to Silver Plume to down a tremendous dinner aboard the Georgetown Loop Railroad. Down the pass, down to bed...

Today was more of the same; up and down the pass, up and down Berthoud Pass near Winter Park, up and over Trail Ridge Road in RMNP, down to Estes Park.

We were up and down mentally, too; really great moments, and moments of near manic energy as we are all tired and a touch out of sorts. Add to the fact that we moved out of a swanky Frisco condo into a cramped hotel style room at the Y w/ a window fan (thank God Colorado is cool!) and sleeping for six in a room that 12x12.

All in all...great great times! More to come as we conquer Estes Park.

Thursday?

I tend to lose track of the day when I'm on vacation. Thursday it is...highlights are as follows.

Up, French Press coffee, oatmeal, etc. Sleep was awesome last night!

Salt Lick Creek trail in Silverthorne; we had a great hour or so on the trail along the creek, through the aspen groves. Kids did great, had some snacks, etc.

To Breckenridge -- rode the Peak 8 ski lift up the mountain, down on the alpine slides, lunch at the park, panning for gemstones, then downtown Breckenridge. Lots of shops, some more coffee, treats for the kiddos. Cold rain over the mountains chased us back to the 'condor' (Em quote!)

Dinner in Frisco after a short snooze in the chair, music in the park, then home for showers and bed!

A full day to be sure; the kids are doing well except when they get hungry. Summit County has been a ball thus far...hoping for a great final day here before we pack up and head northeast to Estes.

more day one pics

Here are some from my 'perspective'! In reverse order: Nebraska sky, our family Christmas Card, kids in Clear Creek, the mountains to the east of the condo off the deck, and the fam. The day has dawned bright and beautiful; indeed, God is great and His glory fully on display!

Day 1

Pics from Kari's camera today; just a sampling of our adventure. Left home around 2:15 am; 4 am had us in Omaha, Brady awake sort of, and me praying like crazy he'd go back to sleep. 5:30 found us outside Lincoln, driving into a storm with some wicked lightening. Ole's for breakfast, tightrope walking railroad ties at a gas station to burn some energy, and then the Coors Brewery tour in Golden. The kids and I hung out by Clear Creek while Em napped with Kari in the car. Another hour and we moved into our temporary home in Frisco. Headed to the Dillion Dam brewery (give a church guy vacation and it becomes a brewery tour!) for dinner, then up the Old Dillion Reservoir trail for a post meal hike. Brady led the way and we all had a ball. Kids are sleeping now, and I'm right behind.

The cross picture -- we were headed after dinner to Silverthorne to walk around, and Kari spotted a perfect cross in the clouds above one of the mountains. Served to confirm what we had been seeing all along today; He has gone before us to clear the road, keep us awake, keep the weather at bay...that was a nice 'Glad you are here' moment for us.

Until tomorrow...