Courageous Joy

Monday, August 11, 2008

Day 3 – Exploring, Geocaching, Shopping….

We ran into town and began to explore Westcliffe. It has been suggested that females interested in Antiques need to make another run to town; alone. ::snort::

We ran up to Alvarado National Campground. We had a two-step cache that we wanted to find. It was GORGEOUS up there. We had a few “mis-starts”.

Here Jamin gleefully observes the rest of us looking for the cache he’d already found.
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We finally found the micro-cache with the coordinates for the second part. It was a 2 ½ hour hike. It rained.

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It really wouldn’t be a G family camping trip if we weren’t rained on a few times. We ran back to Westcliffe and found two more caches.

We came home to yummy stew, garlic bread and I even made cupcakes.
We played more games, talked and talked some more.

Day 3 - A few photos

Some photos of the day.

At the head of Rainbow Trail Stacia INSISTS she carry the caching bag AND she can “do it myself” when asked if she wants to be carried.

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Jamin watches from afar with a self-satisfied smile as we continue to search for the cache he’s found.

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It wasn’t long until she was on shoulders and backs of various male G’s– well probably about an hour?
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When we all found the first find, we were given the coordinates for the second step of this cache.

The rain can’t dampen the beauty.
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Arielle found it first – and it was POURING by this time. ::snort::
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We all thought it funny to listen to Bre and Stacia sing and sing as they walked along. Stacia often says, “Let’s sing about that” during our day.

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We found two more finds in the town of Westcliffe…what’s a bit of rain.

I cooked and cried – ah those onions.
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We played games, discussed all manner of topics, and turned in for the night.

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Thursday, August 07, 2008

Day 3 - PHOTO

Other photos loaded, cache coordinates found....time to post one last photo......Stephanie, this isn't the circle one...but it shows what we are enjoying most today......

It's too wet for the circle picture...but we'll get it before we leave. LOL Now I must go play. We'll upload journal entries and photos when we make it to town....

©2008 D.R.G.

DAY 2 – Josiah’s Adventure

It appears that though the “state troopers don’t care if you go 4 miles over the limit”…..they really do. If they follow you for miles, it would be good to go the exact speed limit.

Josiah was pulled over for going 2 miles over the limit. Then the adventure began.

Trooper: “Do you have a reason for speeding?”

Cy: “Yes, my foot gets sore and I don’t have cruise control.”

Trooper: “Step out of the car, Sir.” (He must have thought Cy was drunk or abducting Jamin.)

Cy stepped out the car.

Trooper: “Where are you going?” “Who’s that other guy?” “What’s your relationship to him?” “Why do you have a dog in the back seat?” (Checking out the back seat.)

Trooper: “Why is your car registered in AK – you have two months to change that.”

Cy: “We’re military.”

Trooper: “Why do you have a TX license?”

Cy explained. Trooper then went over and asked Jamin questions.

Trooper: “What’s your relation to the guy over there?”

Jamin: “He’s my brother.”

Trooper: “Where are you going?”

Jamin: “I don’t know.”

(Both boys agree we should have seen his face). ::gulp::

Trooper finally told Josiah, “I’ll give you a warning because you were only going 2 miles over.”

Trooper also asked about the dog. I do think the trooper pulled him over because he had a minor in the passenger seat. He’d followed them for several miles. He had Cy outside of the car, at the back, while he talked with Jamin. It makes me feel good that TX State troopers are on the lookout for things that look "strange". LOL

Day 3 Westcliffe

Mike found a hot spot in this little town. He told me to "post blogs, check the weather and find geocahce coordinates." Gotta love that man.

It RAINED a lot last night. Poor boys in the tent. They decided not to tackle the mountain today as it is still wet and raining off and on. Instead we are exploring Westcliffe.

Deja and Debbie - stew is in the crockpot and I thought of you as I fixed it.

There's a really, really bizarre old man with a long twisty beard....and long twisty fingernails staring in my window....Cy stayed to keep me company.

Well, I'm going to look for coordinates while photos load and then post a few photos and yesterday's entry.

DAY 2 – CLAYTON, NM ~ GRAPE CREEK – WESTCLIFFE, CO

We got a fairly good start this a.m. We only had 200+ miles to drive today. We planned to arrive early, set up camp, and wait for the others to arrive.

Along the way we stopped for…..

GAS in Raton, NM…

Then again in Walsenburg, CO.

We arrived at Grape Creek RV Park and managed to get our site moved to the back row – Mike says the wee bit of whining I indulged in paid off well. We decided we needed a tent site and an RV site. The tent sites are along the creek. Our site was across the park. They let us move to the one slot left on the back row….our view is THIS….

Zander was supposed to tell Mike when to stop. ::snort::

Anyway, this view sure beats the shower house. ::snort::

Everyone pitched in to set up camp.

I made lunch and we ate it while marveling at the mountains.

Unfortunately, my cell phone died and so we have no communication with our traveling family. We decided to explore the area as we waited.

Monkey in the Middle

Grape Creek

Wildflowers

We have no picnic table or fire ring here…no s’mores. Ah well that takes care of the marshmallow dilemma…we still are enjoying sitting around camp, viewing the mountains, reading, playing games, (Mike’s studying) and WAITING for the others….

This phrase was oft repeated this afternoon as a storm blew in, “it feels so GOOD to be cold again.” ::snort::

1900 and none of the older kids are here. My cell phone has died. Mike’s phone is NOT for “personal business”. We drove in to Westcliffe and called them from Subway – 4 cell phones and not ONE of them picked up…..we’ll try in a few more hours. Meanwhile we'll play games and eat popcorn.