August 4 - “Auto-wrestling in the Rockies”

Did I mention that we saw a double rainbow up here?  Beautiful.

 

57 degrees was the brisk morning temperature. It brought out the chipmunks, of course. Bunny rabbits, too. I didn’t see the fawn, though. Guess Mama was keeping little Bambi on a tight leash. I have decided that it’s not so much the actual hiking that appeals to me. I’m more into what critters we might see in the journey.

 

I forgot to mention the big athletic event we were privileged to witness. After dinner at the burger shack, the three boys piled into the last row of seats in the van. AnnaGrace took her spot as usual in her Princess Seat. Now, you may never have been in that situation before, but three boys - two of whom are teenagers and the other who holds his own amongst them - cramped into such a tiny space is not an ideal situation. Add in the fact that Mom was still inside the restaurant, and you have a recipe for disaster. Unless of course you came to see … Auto Wrestling in the Rockies!  The guys started tickling each other, then the action morphed into an all-out Wrestlemania event. Josh opened the hatchback and watched from there. Chris stood at one open door. I moved between the two to get the best viewing angle. Luke stuck with it as long as he could, but finally bailed for the safer climes of a front seat. Zak thought he had the upper hand (or neck) until Dad called for him to break the hold. As it turned out, the match would officially be called a draw. However, I think Zak’s greater height proved to be a liability in those tight spaces. It is certainly possible that from this reporter’s angle, taking into consideration all age handicaps, and in spite of what seemed to be an obvious victory for the aged Zak, and admittedly with the tiniest of nods toward a middle child bias on the part of the reporter, it is conceivable that Caleb should be awarded the victory - on fractions of a point. I do think the final tally would have been different had the match continued, but … Mom showed up. Need I say more?

 

The plan for the day was to get into the park early and head up the Trail Ridge Road. We finally saw some real mountain critters this time. Here’s a list:

Mule deer

Marmot

Elk

Pika

Chipmunk, of course.

 

AnnaGrace had the distinction of uttering the quote of the day. Regarding those critical and inevitable bodily functions:

“The bathrooms here are just holes in the toilet. They don’t even have flushers.”

 

Photo ops abounded as usual.  Caleb did one particularly impressive glamour fashion shoot. Then fell over the cliff. Barely held on. At least that’s the story the pictures told. And he’s sticking to it.

 

We have had our first casualty. After hiking to the highest point possible at one of the stations, on the way back down DadDad took a fall into a pothole on one of the “safe paved trailsn” Fortunately, though, thanks to a masterful in-fall roll, he landed on his bionic knee. Looks like the only lasting damage is the blood stains on his new shorts. And some pretty sore muscles throughout his body …

 

Trail Ridge Road provided us some awesome views of the landscape, as well as snow and a gorgeous tarn (mountain lake) or two.

 

We had some lunch at the Alpine Station, the highest point on the Trail Ridge Road. Chris and I shared some of their chicken chili. It wasn’t bad … just decidedly Northern.

 

At the Continental Divide lake, I touched it, as usual. Zak, however, stepped right in and promptly sank to his waist. Caleb and Luke managed to keep their shorts dry on their forays into the water. We got our photo ops in front of the sign marking  the spot where water flows either east or west.

 

After a nap, we went into town to the local Fun City amusement park. The boys did the reverse bungee jump (aka bungee trampoline thingee). They were pretty impressive. All three even managed some back flips. AnnaGrace did some panning for gold – or at least of pretty rocks. The boys and Josh and He who shall remain nameless all rode the go carts. Those things can really shake and rattle while they roll. Wouldn’t want a certain wife to hear about said shakes and rattles, you know? Caleb and Zak battled it out for first place, and Josh with his co-pilot Luke were close on their heels. That other guy? Well, let’s just say he never got lapped a single time. Let’s also say, however, that his personal streak of go cart racing remains perfect. 2 for 2. Last every time.

 

Dinner was at a local Mexican food place. The food was actually not all that bad. Pretty good, I’d say. Not Tex-Mex, but passable. Then we walked all through the tourist section of the town of Estes Park. AnnaGrace found her stuffed chipmunk. We all had some homemade ice cream. Well, locally made, anyway.

 

John 16:33 says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Father, thank you for brotherly “friendship” expressions.  It’ll give them some great memories. Amen