Paul and Patt: Visitors from the East

The apartments were full! in more ways than one! (if you get my drift). Julie, Caroline, Will and Eric were here. Much talked about, anticipated and looked forward too. The excitement, noise and general hubbub was well you get my drift. It was fun. and such happy times. One heck of a full breakfast table too.

The first morning we were off on a "short"approx. three mile hike into Hewlett Gulch. A valley we had hiked before and Luke's favorite. Note his appearance as the photos progress to get an idea as to why.

There are many stream crossings on this hike and the options for crossing are multiple. I chose to stay dry being on the crotchety side of sixty. Point should be made that I was not the only one who stayed dry on the trip as two thirty something first cousins did as well.

Help was available for the tricky option of staying dry and was offered freely and eagerly. Seems as if volunteers were called on to be "helped".

Having an engineer - a studied- engineering- in- college- engineer made for a rather serious design when it came to the locating and building of the lets-build-a-dam moment of creek play. Impressive to say the least. The kids did the building, but got some suggestions on placement I am thinking.

the return trip had some threatening skies and a few drops of rain did fall as we got to the trail head and parking lot.

Luke's return trip.

and obviously not the

"rocking egg"

at this moment.

Continuing in slow motion, the next morning, an early start got us up and out and on the way to the Rocky Mountain National Park. Visitors to the Park know that it is full of photo ops. This was one. Luke has become interested in and proud of his "take a picture".

Julie and Laura spent a lot of time together and it was nice to see them and their kids together.

there are rocks to climb

grandkids and nieces and nephews to be with

snowball fights to have

and be a big target.

the former Hawaiians were singularly excited to see snow / slush.

Wildlife got hoots and hollers.

and we did go on a serious hike involving altitude too. Starting at over 9,000 feet going up another 1000 past a series of lakes.

The views were astounding over the cliffs and points along the path up the valley toward the ice fields.

one of the lakes that we hiked too.

like I said we did have some serious views the afternoon hiking back down from the upper lake.

those would the "the Rangers" checking the water temperature. Will and Caroline lead the kids into forming a Club and Julianna Lydia and Isaac sure had a good time climbing over rocks and moving through the forest. Eric felt a little left out at times, John Paul and Luke continued to be in worlds of their own.