Monday, August 18, 2008

Photobucket WiFi Connections -

have been BAD here....I think it has something to do with the storms the past few days. I've had no connection at all for the past two days. I ended up posting Day 5 photos - and journal entries. I'll add photos as I have connections and time.

We are packing up camp and leaving for a new location tomorrow. If you don't hear from us - we're meandering home.

©2008 D.R.G.
Photobucket Day 14 - Lions, Tigers & Dinosaurs....



We made it to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo today. This is the only zoo in America that is built on a mountain. It was great fun. We’ve tried to make it for 3 or 4 days and have been rained out. I’ll post photos later. Highlights of the trip were two grizzly’s playing and fighting on the other side of the glass. The zoo has a new baby tiger….he was fun to watch too. I bought our standard souvenir of a magnet and deck of playing cards. Lynn called while we were at the zoo. We’d hoped for another meeting to chat but it wasn’t to be this trip. Never fear, Lynn, we’ll be back. ::snort:: The zoo cost us $70. We got a military discount AND $2 off per ticket...sometimes a large family is expensive.

It began to rain as we left the zoo grounds. What great timing. We drove back out to Woodland Park and visited the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource center. This was also a fun spot for the kids. We added to our magnet and playing card collection. ::snort:: Photos to follow. The Dinosaur Center was $50 (again with a military discount).



Today's outings cost us more than any other day of the vacation....but we were thrilled to be able to fit both outings in today.

I had put round steak in the Crock Pot before we left in the a.m. so we had a nice dinner waiting when we got back to the trailer. We stopped by the BX for some souvenirs.

The boys and Mike took down tents, folded up chairs etc while we got dinner on the table. We move on tomorrow. There is so much more we'd like to see and do here, but we do need to start heading home.


©2008 D.R.G.
Photobucket Day 13 – Sightseeing Continues

The morning was sunny. We decided to try the zoo again. We had pancakes, packed a lunch and headed out. It started raining (A LOT) as we drove to the zoo.

We detoured and found the Colorado Springs Pioneer Museum. We braved the rain, rushed up the steps, only to find that they didn’t open for another hour. We used the time to go over to Prospect Lake and to drive through neighborhoods with amazing Victorian homes. (Sorry – I forgot to whip out the camera).

We drove back to the Museum. It was a nice museum and the price was right – free. LOL There are some wonderful sculptures scattered around the downtown area.

Next, we headed for America the Beautiful Park for our picnic lunch. The kids really enjoyed the playground and I enjoyed wandering around and checking out the rest of the park.

It began to rain again as we toured the park.

We drove up I25 to Woodland Park and found a Dinosaur Resource center. It was closed but if it rains tomorrow we will head there. ::snort::

We have been trying to make contact with a chaplain family that moved from TX this summer. Mike made phone contact tonight – that will have to do for this trip.


©2008 D.R.G.
Photobucket Day 12 – Visiting with Family

It stormed again all day.

We drove over to visit Mike’s ½ brother and family. Earl and Mary’s 3 children were there (Crystal, Jenny & Jerome); Crystal’s new husband Samo and her son Dominique, Jenny’s boyfriend John, Jerome’s girlfriend Rachel, and Kathy (Mike’s ½ sister). It was a great day to reconnect with family.

Poor Mary ended up serving us not only lunch, but dinner, as we enjoyed each other well into the evening. The boys played all sorts of capture the flag, tag type games all day. Arielle watched DVDs. The women visited. The men talked. The men then watched a Bronco/Cowboys game. We had a tea party. Stacia enjoyed using a tiny little tea set that Mary had for her girls when they were young. Stacia claimed “Miss Pistol” (Crystal) as her very own and enjoyed lots of time playing with Crystal.

The conclusion of our evening was watching Mark Phelps win his 8th gold medal at the Olympics. I thought it great that it was a team medal. We cheered, piled into the van and came back to the soggy campsite.

I’ve not been able to get connections again all day. Received phone messages and texts that the girls are safely back in WA. We miss them and Josiah. We wonder how long it will be until we are used to counting 6 heads again instead of 9. ::snort::


©2008 D.R.G.
Photobucket Day 5 Photos - Bishop's Castle

I hate to take time with shakey connections to find links...so google Bishop Castle, CO and you should find hits on this spot. Discovery Channel was filming here on the 15th.

To read what I said about our day at Bishop Castle click here.....and here are a "few" (about 1/3) of the photos we took of the day. ::snort::

The connection is not sure enough for me to do more entries with photos, but these will give you lots to look at. It BUGS me that some are small. LOL It really grates that they aren't in order. ::snort::

Stacia didn't like the girls' music
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Bishop Castle
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Jim Bishop - built this by HIMSELF - did I mention he is a "bit" eccentric?
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Cy - this top ball used to rotate - YIKES. He plans to glass it in and make it the biggest disco ball in the world.
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Dragon head can shoot flame
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Some of the stained glass windows
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Nolan & Zander in jail
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THIS is what you climb on - 75 feet up
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Close up of the metal "stairs"
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Yep - a bit too scarey for my taste. LOL
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Nolan near the top
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Zander in jail
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Steep stairs....
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See how narrow they are?
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Shoot why are THESE small?
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Girls on the "throne"
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Boys on throne
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Showing the walkways etc
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Jared & Josiah in jail
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Signs like this ALL over...
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This house/giftshop is next to the castle and where Jim and his wife live
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OK - this is HIGH up (3 stories or more) and that little bit of spikes is the ONLY safety feature
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Josiah
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Some of the kids in the top ball - 75+ feet up
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Showing the walkways
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Jamin & Mike
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Can you imagine fire?
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Josiah & Nolan (possibly Krista) at the top
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Mike at top
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Mike again in the ball...
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Closer shot of Mike
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Jamin
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Bre, Stacia & Jared
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Krista & Nolan at top
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Josiah hanging head out
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Zander
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Arielle & Stacia on throne
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Memorial windows
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Grumpy that *I* won't take her up
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Josiah
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Dragon's scales
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Kids
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::snort::
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Stacia & Krista
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Girls
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Zander
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3 Stooges Shot
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Boys
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Us
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Jim Bishop
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Stacia nears the top
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Mike takes photo of us as I take photo of him
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Bre & Stacia
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©2008 D.R.G.