Holiday Inn Express La Junta

... Skippy to Annie's house. Flynn was at wrestling practice, so we gave Annie all the "care and feeding" instructions. I hope we didn't overwhelm her with TMI. Spent a restful night at the motel; really needed it -- we were exhausted. I hope we can sleep as well on the long flight!

Although we had been slowly gaining altitude after leaving Kansas, it had been a slow flat climb across a slightly tipped table of dry plains. We had another 75 miles of this slow climb after leaving La Junta and then we reached the Rockies. Now we were twisting up mountain passes and the twinkling yellow aspens replaced the golden soy bean fields and the acres of waving sunflowers on our Golden Road. And as we got deeper into the mountains and ...

... staring at my stuff, while second-guessing every purchase I've recently made wondering if it is truly something I will need, yet in entering the unknown I can never actually be sure. I think that Peace Corps forgot to mention in its emails the confusion one faces before entering into service. I thought (while looking at the situation on the surface) that I had it all ...

Tuesday 27 May We drove out of the State Park and headed for the Great Sand Dunes National Park about 15 miles away arriving about 10 am. The kids started another Junior Ranger program and we didn't get to the dunes themselves until around 11:30 am. We had lunch and headed out to walk to the top of the dunes we could see. At first we easily walked across a very shallow stream and across a rocky stream bed but soon we reached ...

Tuesday 27 May We drove out of the State Park and headed for the Great Sand Dunes National Park about 15 miles away arriving about 10 am. The kids started another Junior Ranger program and we didn't get to the dunes themselves until around 11:30 am. We had lunch and headed out to walk to the top of the dunes we could see. At first we easily walked across a very shallow stream and across a rocky stream bed but soon we reached ...

On the 7th day we did the trek to the hanging glacier. It was only 2 and a half hours trek to go up see the glacier and comeback. I have to say that the glacier wasn't more impressive from the top... but the way to the top was so beautiful, it was like walking in the farries land. The trees were covered with little green leaves, and the ground was totally green and there were little red ...

... that most Colorado trucks pull huge RV's behind them on the way to the mountains. I saw one with a tandem axle RV and then a tandem axle boat behind the RV. We Americans are really into towing our possessions with us in order to relax when we arrive at our favorite location. We got an early start and rode about 75 miles accross the front range to LaJunta Colorado, which means juntion in spanish. The Santa Fe ...

... We then went to a natural stream with a swinging rope where you just jump in a cool off with the little fishes! It was such a great fun day today - can't wait for the Grand Canyon tomorrow! 23/05/05 Oh my gosh, I am so tired!!!! And we have the Grand Canyon to hike down today!!! So, we arrived, and did the classic thing where our guide Michael, same one as yesterday (who was pleased to see we were wearing more practial clothes ...

... cute! Karen and Jane (from work) , you would absolutely love it here - the jewelry is so beautiful here - you girls would spend a fortune! 21/05/05 Kim's getting married today! I am very sad as I really did want to be at the wedding! Kim and Sarah, I hope it all went well! Instead we did what felt our first bit of relaxing round the swimming pool and sunbathed most of the day. It was 101 degrees today, so nice!

I don't claim to be an expert skier, heck I don't even claim to be a good skier, but I would have to say some of the best skiing I have experienced in my life was in the mountains of Colorado. The slops provide skiing for every class of risk taker from the beginner to the expert. Some of my favorites are the slow and leisure slops that simply wined down the mountain giving you the chance to take in the scenery and the experience.