Webster Dewangen Germany Exchange Trip 2015

Webster Dewangen Friendship Club

Germany 2015

            Hannah and I had the trip of a lifetime. I was lucky enough to make a return trip to Germany with the Webster Dewangen Club so I’m doubly lucky. I went with Tyler in 2011, and was pleasantly surprised at how many different places we visited this time. The Germans are incredible hosts, and it never ceases to amaze me how they indeed go above and beyond in so many ways to pamper us. 

            The kids were definitely a big part of this trip’s success. Noah Thurston, Kayla Kirchmeier, Lindsey Vogl, Karlee Chapin, Abby Kwasniewski, and Hannah worked hard to prepare and raise funds for the trip. They earned enough money to offset the costs that were not covered by the club. They, like the 2011 group, were appreciative, respectful, interested in the places our hosts had planned for us to see, and willing to try new things. Kristi Gaikowski and I were the two chaperones, and we enjoyed every bit of it. 

            We loaded up the van and Chris and LeAnn chauffeured and saw us off at the airport. The flights and connections all went well. I was one of the fortunate and able to sleep as we made our way across the Atlantic, others in the group passed the time with movies and music. We arrived in Stuttgart tired but excited to be on German soil. Herman, Tony and Sandy met us and following a long held tradition, treated us to pretzels and beverages in the airport parking lot. We drove about an hour to DeWangen and met up with our host families at the Hiking Club, which would often serve as our daily meeting place. 

Claudia, my host from my first trip, and her son Adrian were there with smiles. Hannah’s host family Lukas Zeigler and his mom Irene picked up Kayla and Hannah to give them time to get settled. The Graf family, Melanie, Hini, and Andrea hosted the group that evening at their home in Fachsenfeld. I was reminded how small the yards are in comparison to home. Their trampoline basically filled their backyard. I so enjoy walking through the neighborhoods and streets. The kids seem like they’ve picked up right where they left off in June when the Germans left Webster. I slept wonderfully in my room at Claudia’s – she and Sep make me feel so comfortable in her home.

Friday morning I found my running route from Claudia’s home, loving the rolling countryside and narrow village roads. Sandi and I met Tony, Lilly & Kristi in Aalen for brunch at a sidewalk café. Kristi was noting Tony’s soft boiled egg served in a little egg holder. Aaron had raved about these when he was here. Our kids went to school with the Germans for their final day before holiday. Hannah had fun at their Game Day, where they held races and activities. We met up with the kids at the fountain and had a tour of Aalen.

We met the mayor of Aalen and learned some of the history of the town. The cobblestone streets make for such European atmosphere. We enjoyed our first ice cream also! Supper was at Sandi’s house so I just walked the up the street and through a little playground area. I love that I can actually find my way on my own a bit! It was a pleasant evening, and it was easy to see the kids were having a great time.

Saturday was a Tripsdrill, an amusement park. The kids were in heaven with all the roller coasters. Several of the German adults joined us for the day, and we all had a great time. I did go on one of the wooden framed rides, but it was a little crazy for these bones, whipping around the corners, whiplash style. The kids were all in for the major loop-de-loop upside down ride. Hini tried his best to get us on this corkscrew type rollercoaster, and finally Kristi agreed. I shook my head, but next thing I knew, I had been convinced by the others that, “ It wasn’t that bad”. Truth be told, I loved it! I joined the group twice more.

Now that makes the blood flow! We all took a ride in a water barrel also.

It is just exhilarating and so fun to be with the kids in their element. They were great about having us adults tagging along and had a complete blast all day. There was a festival at a village that evening, so Claudia and Sepp and I joined the group for supper. It was a nice evening and we were able to visit with some of the others from the club that I’ve met previously.

Sunday we visited Neuschwanstein, the Disney castle.

It was a beautiful day and who can deny the thrill of walking through a castle. The gigantic doors, halls filled with portraits of royalty and amazing views from the windows down to the valleys of green below left us all in awe.

Monday was a somber day as we toured the Dachau Concentration Camp. One cannot help to be emotionally moved. It was enlightening to walk through the displays in the museum. It was set up in time order to illustrate how Hitler’s power in the Nazi party came to slowly take over Germany. The extermination of the Jews began with a number of discriminatory policies and evolved to the denial of rights and eviction from their homes, to the brutal captivity in the camps. The map showing all the camps and centers completely dotted the maps of Germany, Poland, and other countries. To think there were so many other places just like Dachau just left me shaking my head. There were so many heartbreaking photos and displays showing everything from a table used to strap victims on for a back lashing to their prison uniforms. The horrible inhumane conditions were beyond comprehension. Standing in the courtyard, I could envision the innocent standing at attention for hours, fearful of blinking an eye at the wrong time.  The merciless atrocities that took place here are hard to accept. Portions of the barbwire fence remained, and townspeople back then claim they did not know what took place until it was too late.

The sleeping quarters had bunk beds stacked three high, and they held at least triple the number of people for which they were built. We walked into the “shower/gas chamber room” and saw the incinerator.

The pit in my stomach grew as we walked along. As we exited the gate, I noted the German phrase inscribed, “Arbeit Macht Frei” which translates to “Work Will Set You Free.” Many troubling thoughts and remarks were shared as we made our way to the parking lot. A memorial such as this is difficult to see, but so important.

We drove on to Munich and enjoyed the sights. The clock tower, city center and shops were all impressive.

Most kids found some souvenirs. Of course the Hofbrau Haus is a must. This famous beer garden is a favorite among the Germans. We all enjoyed a snack and of course beer is nearly nonnegotiable. Supper was hosted by Lukas’s family.

Tuesday we toured the mine near Dewangen. It was interesting and the kids learned a bit about the process. When the tour guide, a cousin of Tony’s, shut off the lights to show us how dark dark can be, it was nothing but ooh’s and aah’s. The men who worked the mine were a tough lot.

The kids went to a natural pool afterwards for an outing.

Wednesday, we drove to Ulm, the home of the tallest church tower. Climbing the 768 steps to ascend 530 feet was a workout. Dragon gargoyles appeared out the tower’s exterior as we spiraled up and up. The market was open and locals were purchasing their produce. We had a great walk around the town, along with walking a portion of the city wall. We found a wonderful café for German pancakes, literally the size of a twelve inch dinner plate, and of course spaetzle, a traditional Bavarian noodle dish.  

We ended our touring day at an Optical Museum. A local gentleman has

collected a huge assortment of gadgets and items all designed around optical illusions. It was a hoot! We all loved it. From the most simple trick of using a wire wine top to look through to create an optical illusion, to a rolling barrel simulator, it was all amazing. “Come look at this, it is soo cool!” became the phrase of the day. We topped off the evening with a German style pizza feast in an authentic brick oven at Patrick’s, who is Tony’s nephew. This thin crust pizza had a white sauce and veggies and meat. Tasty! Patrick played a crazy hand slapping game with the kids around the campfire, and I had to take my turn. You had to rest your hand just above Patrick’s hand, which he held palm side up right above your thigh, and he attempted to slap your hand before you jerked it out of the way. Ouch! He had a quick hand, and all of us paid the price of the sting. If your hand didn’t get it, your leg took the brunt of it. Lots of laughs and simple fun. Many giggles and fun times.

Thursday we departed for a canoe ride. It was a bit of a challenge for all the crafts to stay on track, but the most memorable moment came when several canoes flipped when going over a small rapid. It was such a little dip, we were not prepared for the swim we took. Oh did the group get a charge out of that. Sandy, Kristi, and I all dripping wet. Alls well that ends well I guess. We were treated to supper at a traditional Bavarian style restaurant.

The adventures continued Friday at the High Rope Garden at Castle Langenburg.

We were all suited up with the ropes and carabineers. Kristi and I did pretty well, but as I inched my way across the last rope challenge, I knew I was done. Hannah and all the kids loved every minute of it, zip lining through the trees with yells and mighty cheers. We had a picnic on the deck as we watched the kids go “just one more time”. Monica, Sandy, and I walked into Rothenburg, the little village nearby. That night Cathleen’s family hosted us at their home. The Litz family lives in a condo type setting with several “apartments”, which Lindsey and Karlee called home. Another wonderful meal and time to relax.

Saturday morning Claudia and I went to a spa in Aalen, designed around a Roman theme.  

Perfectly relaxing and so refreshing. Lukas’s father is a pilot and had arranged for us to have airplane rides. The pilots were friendly and provided a midair few thrills. What a spectacular view! We also visited a monastery. It was the most elaborate church ever, with domed ceiling full of detailed gorgeous paintings. Such a delight to see the kids impressed with a church. It was beautiful. Later, Claudia took me shopping a bit and I found some great sandals and shoes. We also went to a mall and Hannah and I hit the jackpot with some fun purchases. That evening Claudia and I went to a nearby church for a concert featuring a group of high school vocalists. Once again, though I didn’t understand the words, the music was fascinating. Afterwards, we treated ourselves to the most luscious ice cream sundaes served in fancy colored parfait dishes. Indulgences !

Sunday, Claudia and I met Hannah and Kayla for Mass at a small church with Hini. I was so appreciative. Although it was all in German, we could follow along easily to the Mass parts.  The interior of the church was spectacular, with lots of painting and gold. We then went to see Claudia’s classroom which is actually a former castle. How fun - she holds the keys to the castle! She works with beginning teachers and guides them in weekly classes for a mentoring program. We took a bit of a lunch, some cheese, bread, and fruit and had a little picnic on the grounds. There was a labyrinth on in the open meadow area, and several white doves were pecking about. The view of the village below was again breathtaking. We took a bike ride to one of next villages, and oh the hills are real.  It was fun to see the countryside from a bicycle. The paved roads between villages are about ten feet wide, almost like an overgrown bike path back home. There is just enough room for one of their compact cards.

All too soon we were at our going away party. I had been talking about red beer throughout the trip, and Herman delivered this evening. He squeezed tomato juice from his garden produce and brought me a little container to mix in my beer. That’s the way to drink a beer! You would have thought I was drinking with three heads from the stares and amazement from the adults. They all vowed they’d have to try it if they make it to the Legion in Webster. We walked down to the intersection holding the Webster – Dewangen Friendship sign. The goodbyes started with people who would not be accompanying us to the airport, so tears were flowing. The closeness we experience with our German friends is so dear.

In the morning, more tears were shed as we left our dear Dewangen friends. What a wonderful trip. The sites are amazing, but the friendships that were built and strengthened trump everything.

Hannah’s take on the whole trip can be summed up by the fact that she is already planning a return trip. Her top favorites of the trip included the High Ropes Course, Canoe trip, Tripsdrill, Ulm, and the Optical Museum, but mostly meeting people from a different country and actually spending many days with them becoming good friends and knowing that they’ll truly be friends forever.

RASDAK 2016

RASDAK 2016

This year’s RASDAK route was close to home. We in the Webster Biking Club were feeling spoiled riding so close to home two years in a row. Last year we biked from Spearfish to Webster, and this year we are starting at Fort Sisseton, just a short hop up the road. I went to the Fort to have my biked checked over Saturday night, and I was happy to find my peoples! Ann and Janna had a few new biking friends, and Dawn, Dawn, and Lisa were all smiles. And like so many special friendships, although we hadn’t seen one another since last year, we picked right up where we left off. They were heading out at their usual pre-six o’clock ride time, and I was sleeping in my own bed one more night with plans to meet up with them in Britton. We had splurged on a hotel in Britton and Mobridge, and at the time, I didn’t realize how wonderful a real bed would be. It was a heaven after a day in the wind.

Sunday morning, I rode (slacking in a vehicle!) to the Fort with LeAnn and John, and we planned to meet up with Dave, Joe, and the other Aberdeen riders about 7. We had an easy ride to Eden, mostly down hill and with a tailwind. Eden had a wonderful breakfast spread for us. We were some of the last bikers to arrive, but with our decision to only take the 45 mile option, it’d be an easy day, except for that darn wind, which was in our face as soon as we headed west back to Britton. It was a tough one! Stopped in Lake City for a breather, and met up with Mike Dylla from the Andover way. He let me in on a secret – there was a ten inch strip of blacktop that is smoother than the rest of the shoulder. On a windy day, I’ll take any reprieve I can get, and I learned to watched for that on every road. We had time to waste in Britton, so we checked out the museum on Main Street. Before long, Dawn, Dawn, and Lisa had arrived and I was due at the hotel. Aaah, it felt like a five star hotel when compared to tenting in 90 degrees! We had great burgers at the Britton park, and on the way back, I met David, our biking friend we met in Marshall on the Tour de Kota 2012, We shared overnight accommodations with a very generous host, a State Farm Insurance Agent. David had his father biking with him, so we made a plan to get together on the ride to catch up. Nice to see him again, he was fun to be around. We each used our free ice cream cone ticket and that was enough to put us to sleep.

            Monday, we were faced with 100 miles to conquer to get to Eureka. We started early and stuck with it. We had a tough wind again, so it wasn’t all smiles, but we made it. In the true spirit of small town life, we found ourselves showering at a guy’s house who offered his home to shower as the Eureka High School had no hot showers, so there we three were walking down the street with our towels, shower supplies, looking for a cream colored house just up the street a bit, as Kasey describes. The fellow was very kind, even offering us his towels so we wouldn’t have to carry wet towels back to the gym to dry. An interesting note about the gym, there had been a city wide rummage in the gym, so there were tables all along the perimeter still filled with leftover sale items. I decided to shop, and my first find was a SDSU Sweatshirt for Hannah. I actually snagged several items, which was a fun surprise. As we were sitting there, a guy commented about a nice little black bag of chargers he found on a “free table”, which we would find out later belonged to Dawn, who inadvertently left it on the table. As she was telling about this lost bag the next day, both Lisa and I instantly knew that this “tall guy” had commented about such a bag. Sure enough we recognized the height on this guy a day later and the lost was returned, actually he ended up to be one of the Aberdeen riders. St. Anthony’s name definitely came up. Such a tale! As nights in the gym go, this ranked at an all time low. A terribly loud air mattress crinkled most of the night with every movement of its owner, and the snoring was out of this world. Most everyone noted that the sleeping conditions were far from ideal. Nonetheless, I did opt for the gym most nights, to avoid having to deal with setting up and taking down my tent, and they improved as the week went on.

            Tuesday was an 80 mile day and the winds were a bit better. Little did we know, the climbs would be tough and the road tougher! The Trail City donut stop was the absolute best. I’ve never had a donut fresh out of the cooker, still warm! That treat was a bright spot in the day, for heading south on SD Hwy 1806 became rather interesting. I had just bumped my way down a really steep hill which would have been lovely if you could take out the rough cracks in the road. It was heavy duty jolting all the way down and then making the climb back out. It was unpleasant to say the least. Then I could not seem to keep up with my group. I pedaled hard, but just couldn’t seem to make headway. After the next climb, I stopped at the top to catch a breath and realized my back tire was rubbing on my brake, in fact, the wheel would not even spin freely. Okay, shouldn't I get credit for double miles since I rode with my brake on for who knows how long! A fellow biker helped my tighten a bolt and off we went.  Well, at least I can say it was the bike and not me that slowed me down! The ride into Mobridge as the river came into view kind of made up for the earlier issues, plus we had a hotel room at the Wrangler, so all would be fine! We had a group meeting down by the river and a group photo, then enjoyed a cold beverage and great meal. I met up with David again so we had a chance to chat a bit. Sleeping in luxury in our hotel room was a treat. It takes but a few nights on a gym floor to make one appreciate a box spring!

            Wednesday, we had an easy 50 mile day into McLaughlin. Kasey wanted us to take our time as the rest stops may not be open if we headed out too early. Crossing the Missouri River is always a highlight.

This time, we had a pilot car to guide us across the bridge. Our breakfast stop was at the casino overlooking the Missouri, which provided a few photo opps. Our stop in McIntosh was excellent, with a wonderful breakfast spread. Our ride into Little Eagle had a heck of a descent with a smooth road and no traffic so I didn’t touch the brake and made it to 36.9 miles an hour. Thrilling! After lunch, we had to climb back out of that valley, and it was all I could do to keep 8 mph to stay upright. For every down, there’s an up as we know good and well, but knowing it and living it are two different things. Hills and I generally get along pretty well though. McLaughlin had a great little café, and we spent the afternoon just hanging out. A good night of sleep in the gym – quiet and air conditioned!

            To Lemmon we headed! This turned out to be a great overnight stop even though the gym was not air conditioned and it was hot as blazes. The riding went well. Lisa wanted to say she biked in North Dakota, so we went to Main and crossed the railroad tracks to get across the border. On our way back down Main Street we found an establishment, the R Bar, which provided a driver to come pick us up at the gym after we showered. Our new best friend in Lemmon is Sherry. The red beer went down so well, I had three! That was my yearly quota in one night. We visited with Karen and Kent from Sioux Falls. I had met Karen last year in Union Center when she, as a nurse,  and I were helping a young gal with heat exhaustion. We shared stories and she talked a lot about her backpacking trips on the Appalachian Trail, another bucket list item of mine. It was a fun night and we had our meal at the High Glass Museum. They had several people dressed up in buck skin reliving the days of the fur trappers and traders. It was another pleasant evening among biking friends.

            Lemmon to Buffalo was our second century ride of the week, and I was a little nervous.

99 miles and forecast calling for heat in the 90's. We were up and biking by 4:45, thus the first two stops were not open when we sailed through. Lunch was a tad early, we ate wraps and chips in Bison at 8:30 AM, with 44 miles in and 55 to go. As it turned out, it was the best 100 ever. The last portion through the Slim Buttes was really breathtaking, but the last 20 miles of smooth new road and downhill rolling hills made the day. Buffalo had a beautiful gym as well, and their supper was wonderful.

            We opted out of riding the last day, as technically we made it across the state. Day seven and I have not had the best relationship, so I was perfectly fine passing. John, our dedicated chauffer, had arrived the night before, so all we had to do was pack up and load bikes. I said my farewells to the two Dawns and Lisa, as they were determined to ride this last day.  

            It was fun to drive back over parts of our route, and oh how different the ride can be in a vehicle. Once again, I feel blessed to be able to enjoy this week of biking. We run the gamut from intense hill climbing to effortlessly coasting down the rollers, but the one constant is the camaraderie. Friendships, both renewed and brand new are gifts I cherish deeply. I’ve come to appreciate my connections to others more and more. Blessed I am.  

 

RASDAK 2016 Mileage

Day 1 Sunday – Ft Sisseton to Britton 45

Day 2 – Britton to Eureka 100

Day 3 – Eureka to Mobridge 80

Day 4 – Mobridge to McLaughlin 50

Day 5 – McLaughlin to Lemmon 70

Day 6 – Lemmon to Buffalo 100

Day 7 – Buffalo to Camp Crook and back, opted out with a smile  0

TOTAL 445 - Enough for me!

Colorado 2016

Colorado Trip for the Two Graduates 2016

Plans were underway for a summer vacation. Both Tyler and Hannah would graduate in May, and it seemed liked it was a must do. We didn’t want anything too far away, as Tyler could only spare a week with his full internship schedule. We needed someplace close enough to drive, yet far enough to experience a totally different landscape. Colorado was the best option. I started looking at various adventures, and Pikes Peak was on my list. I have taught about America’s Mountain for years in fourth grade. Katharine Lee Bates penned the words to America the Beautiful from atop the mountain. There is even a picture in our Social Studies book, and I usually have the kids belt out the first verse of the song. I’d always thought it would be fun to see it. In doing some research, I happened upon an adventure that caught my eye, biking down Pikes Peak. So the plan was born, and Colorado Springs was the starting point. Long’s Peak is another meaningful landmark, as it was the mountain Tim Fromelt was climbing when he fell and tragically died on the mountain in 1990. I knew white water rafting, a little hiking, and maybe zip lining were also on the list.

In keeping with tradition, we lined up the trip to leave as soon as school was out. School was dismissed at noon on Friday, and we were loaded and heading out by 2:00. It had been a whirlwind the weeks leading up to our trip with two graduations, end of the year concerts, programs, and all that goes with May.  I actually hadn’t booked our cabins until that week, which is unusual for this planner. But, everything fell into place, and soon we were headed for Valentine, NE, the first layover on route to CO. We had a fine meal at a local restaurant which supposedly closed at nine, but were more than welcoming to late comers. In the morning, Ron & I found a walking/running path and put in a few quick miles. Before long, Nebraska was in the rear view mirror.

We arrived in Colorado Springs in the early afternoon, and took time to visit Ron’s aunt Margie, who is living with her daughter Karen and her family. We had time to chat and catch up with Margie, who turned 90 in March. It was good to see that she is doing well.

The Timber Lodge was to be our home for the next four days, it was a little Mom & Pop type resort between Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs, a tourist town. We did a little exploring in Old Colorado City, and found our bike tour company to set up Pikes Peak. Saturday we had supper at The Stagecoach which remained Hannah’s number one meal. She had a grilled chicken sandwich on sour dough bread with a raspberry cream cheese. We took a little time to check out the sites. Once back at our cabin we broke out the cards and played a few hands of Hearts and Whist. We were in vacation mode.

Sunday morning, Ron and I went for a walk/run through the Garden of the Gods. Yikes, the hills are steep out here. The kids slept in, and then we went to Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, a small church on a narrow windy street. Tyler and Hannah were given special recognition as recent graduates, which they loved of course. After a little lunch at the cabin, we explored the Garden of the Gods, the Cliff Dwellings and made our reservations for Monday’s rafting trip to the Royal Gorge It was a relaxing day to start our week of adventures.

Monday we were up early and heading to Canon City, for our rafting trip through the Royal Gorge, which I later found out is where Shirley Naessig grew up. The rafting trip was amazing! We were the only ones on the tour, so we had a raft and guide all to ourselves. We all managed to stay in the raft through Class III and IV rapids. Very thrilling at times! Boy a ride like that makes your heart race. It was gorgeous with the granite canyon walls climbing hundreds of feet up on each side. Hannah and Tyler each chose the option to jump out and take a mild rapid on their own. They both said it was a blast and were back in the raft in no time.  We had grilled burgers cooked by our guide and fresh from the oven chocolate chip cookies.  Bonus! Afterward, we stopped at the Royal Bridge Center to walk across the bridge and check out the gondola. The wind was too strong, so we received a rain check for the gondola since we planned to return Wednesday for a train ride through the Gorge. Back in Canon City, we stopped at a winery, The Abbey, named for the former monastery which still stands on the grounds. Soon the weary were home again, we had snacks and beverages at the cabin with a few hands of cards. 

Tuesday morning was an early morning with Pikes Peak Challenge Unlimited. We had a simple breakfast of bagels and fruit at their shop. The weather looked fine, and they were just getting their season started, so we were the only ones in our group, which meant we had our own personal guides again. Tini, the owner, was friendly and easygoing. We each had a bike loaded and the two guides drove us to the Cog Railway. They would meet us at the summit of Pikes Peak with bikes, helmets, and all the cold weather gear we’d need. As we boarded the Cog, they talked a lot about staying hydrated and taking small sips of water which would assist your body in acclimating to the 14,000 feet we would soon experience. Normally, we don’t go anywhere without our water bottles, but this time, they were left behind. We would soon discover a little taste of altitude sickness. As the passengers were boarding, we watched a mechanic throw in some tools, a wrench the size of a baseball bat and a tool chest to match. Apparently, there was an issue up the track a bit, which was not the most comforting, but all was well. The ride was scenic, but freezing cold. The people next to us must have wanted to breathe in the crisp mountain air with the window open, so our ride grew more brisk with each foot we gained. Finally, they relented and closed the window after seeing our goose bumps and listening to our chattering teeth. The cog was a wonderful way to climb the mountain. Once at the top, those who wore winter coats zipped up with a smile and headed out. Those of us wishing for warmer gear made a beeline for the door to the chalet gift shop passing through a ten foot snow bank. The thermometer read thirteen degrees! Admittedly, I felt a little out of it, like I needed to shake the cobwebs out, that’d be the altitude adjustment. We found our guides waiting for us, and we started layering. I think each of us had triple plus layers. I know I had on three pairs of sweatpants, and each of us had our right ankles duct taped tight to avoid chain tangles. After a few pictures and final instructions-number one rule, stay in control of your bike, and always remember, brakes are your friends-we headed down. Our fingers were numb, but eyes wide with wonder as we began the descent. One guide was in the van behind us, and our leader was on a bike with us. We stopped about fifteen times to take in the view on this twenty mile ride. There were no guard rails, so it was critical that bikes don’t get out of control. The traffic was fairly light, but with the dozens of switchbacks and sharp turns there wasn’t a lot of time for gawking. At one stop, the guide even smelled Tyler’s brakes to make sure they weren’t hot. Apparently after every three trips down the mountain, the brakes are replaced on these bikes. We started shedding layers about two thirds of the way down. There was even a decent incline as we passed a dam that gave everyone a chance to use all the gears on the bikes. The guides shared a lot of information about the geology of the rocks, timberline, and plant life. With only about six weeks when the air is above freezing, it takes decades for trees to show any growth. Some of the pines were over 2000 years old. We had additional mini nature lesson along the way. Before long we found ourselves nearing the bottom of the mountain. Lunch was included in the tour, and we enjoyed some of the best cheeseburgers at a little winery. Back at the Timber Lodge, we stopped at Amanda’s Fonda, a Mexican restaurant right nextdoor, for nachos and salsa with a pitcher of margaritas. A festive outdoor setting along the creek set the tone for a fun night. 

Wednesday we headed back to Cannon City to take the train through the Royal Gorge. First we stopped back at the bridge to see if we could catch the tram, but it was still too windy, so we missed that opportunity. The train ride was, “pretty chill” as the kids would say. We had an up close view of the gorge. 

That afternoon when we returned, we hiked the Manitou Incline, which we had heard a lot about. It’s an old railway bed, about a mile long, with 2000 steps gaining 2000 feet in elevation. After the first 25 steps, we were panting a bit, but after 50, it was full blown huffing and puffing. I was literally crawling at times as the steps were 20 + inches tall. Humbling to say the least! The view at the top was great, looking down, that first step a mile down was just a speck. Tyler and I met up with Ron and Hannah about halfway back down the trail, which was about 4 miles long. We opted for the trail down because we just couldn’t face those steep steps going down. Although we did see several people jogging up and down that beast! Even though it was ugly at times, we made it. What an accomplishment! On the return trip, Hannah and I had been eyeing this Goodwill store, we made a quick dash in to see what CO buys we could find. Lucked out with several good deals, and Hannah even saw her first read live Drag Queen, a Tranny, as they are referred to today. Adventures at Goodwill! We treated ourselves to a fine meal for our last night. We ate in Old Colorado City at Paravinci, an Italian restaurant,  and splurged on some fine food. Our tired bodies and sore knees told us we earned it.  

 Thursday we departed Colorado Springs and headed north to Estes Park. We drove through Denver and went right past the Bronco Stadium. We arrived in Estes Park and found a great hamburger joint on the main drag, which was like a Keystone of the Rockies. Lots of gift shops, candy and old fashioned taffy stores, one in particular had the most divine caramel apples on display, which I vowed we’d need to revisit, but somehow it didn’t make the list. Bummer. We checked into the YMCA of the Rockies that afternoon. This is a fabulous resort with over 200 cabins for families, large reunion cabins, and several hotel style buildings with rooms to rent. They cater to large groups, business conventions, and families. They have mini golf, a swimming pool, basketball court, a small roller skating rink, horseback riding, and fun game room with shuffle board and pool tables. There are tons of lodges with huge swings, stone fireplaces, and inviting porches just waiting for people to sit and enjoy the scenery. Snow capped mountains, including Long’s Peak, surround the grounds. We checked out several games, like Yahtzee, and I was thrilled to find Racko, a card game we played as kids.  We drove into the Rocky Mountain National Park, just a few miles down the road, and went to the park ranger station to inqure about hikes. We found an easy one mile walk around Sprague Lake.

We made homemade pizza that night at the cabin and played a few games. We all agreed that we hit the jackpot with this place. Thank you Karen Asfeldt for the recommendation.

Friday, we took a three mile hike further up into the mountains. Then, we drove up to Bear Lake, just to check it out as this trail was still snow packed and opted out of snow hiking. Later in the day, we rented mountain bikes at the Y, and Tyler and I attempted the bike trail. How hard could an advanced mountain biking trail be? Good gravy! It was the horse trail complete with rocks, loose gravel, and steep descents. We walked the bikes for a ways, and then opted for the paved roads. It sprinkled a bit, so we took a little break, and then I rode again around the resort grounds. I was content in the resort library chilling, when a guy said snow was on the way. Ok then. I high tailed it back to the rental shop. After supper, we found the basketball court and rollerskating rink for some evening fun.

Saturday we took in an arts fair in Estes Park and did our tourist shopping for shirts and gifts. We made time for Mass at Our Lady of the Mountains, and felt we deserved extra credit as we recited the slowest rosary ever!  We walked their beautiful outdoor Stations of the Cross path. In the afternoon, we hiked to Gem Lake which ended up to be a bit of a workout. We should have known when the park ranger said there were steps involved. 

We ate at Poppy’s, a recommendation from Kim Francis. Delicious food and fun to be in a place that Kim and her family also enjoy!

Sunday we took another rafting trip on the Cache La Pouche river. We had to take an eighty minute bus ride to Fort Collins, but it was so worth it. The rapids were just as exciting as our first trip, but the water a touch colder and no wet suits. I donned a blue rain poncho which Hannah and Tyler loved. Our guide, Anna, did a great job with a raft full. There were about five other rafts full of thrill seekers, and once again, nobody has any mishaps. I’m always so nervous after listening to the safety talk and worried that I’m going to be the one trying to swim for the raft. Being a little out of your comfort zone is good for the soul though. We all paddled hard and had a successful run through some crazy water. To celebrate a trip full of adventure and great family time, our last meal was at Smokin’ Daves, a great rib place. Wonderful music and outstanding food.  It was a perfect way to end our stay.

Monday morning we ate breakfast in the dining hall and started the long journey home. It was a full day of driving, but we’re so glad we used every bit of time we had to enjoy CO. We watched the last of the Rockies disappear out of view as we moved farther east. As we crossed into SD, there were storm clouds building, and by the time we arrived in Brown County to drop Tyler off, the rain came down in a deluge. Quick goodbyes were made and we made a beeline for Webster to hopefully drive out of the rain so we could unload the vehicle and take the luggage rack off. Mission accomplished. One more trip for the books. So blessed to have this time with the fam.