Summer of 2017 - Colorado Springs

We arrived back in Colorado Springs in early April.  It was great seeing our kids and grandkids again.  Just a few days after arriving home Bruce left for a trip to Minnesota to see his family and then a stop in Forest City, IA. to have the motorhome slideout worked on.  One of the motors in the living room slideout shorted out while we were in Corpus Christi and had to be replaced.  We’re praying that this slideout will finally operate without anymore issues.  Bruce got a 1 year warranty on the slideout in case we do have any other issues.  This summer we’ve spent a lot of time with the grandkids.  We’ve attended band concerts, soccer games, and gymnastic tournaments.  It’s been lots of fun seeing our grandchildren doing their thing.  We took our granddaughters on a couple campouts.  We went to Pueblo Reservoir and then to Steamboat Springs.  They had a great time swimming, hiking, and smores.  We took our grandsons on a campout to the Air Force Academy.  They had a good time with grandpa and grandma.  Roberta and I took a trip to Lathrop State Park and love that place.  We took a trip to Navejo State Park in southwest Colorado near Pagosa Springs for 9 days.  We rented a pontoon boat for a day and boated the entire 35 miles of lake.  It was a great trip.  We also went on a 6 mile hike into the mountains to see a 300’ waterfall.  It was a moderate hike and we were so glad to see the car when we got back.  It was well worth the trip to see the waterfall.  After leaving Navejo State Park we stopped for a week at the Royal Gorge KOA.  It was the only park that had an opening during the 4^th of July weekend.  This park needs a bit of work.  Staff not very well organized. We’ll head back to the Air Force Academy from here.  Then it’s off to Yellowstone, Glacier National Park, and the west coast (Washington, Oregon, and northern California) before heading south for the winter.

Grandson Bryce tried to be Evil Knievel and didn't quite make it.
No broken bones though.

Grandson's Bryce and Carter built this cool T-Pee in their back yard.

Eric drove out from Utah to spend a weekend.  Good time for a family picture.

Got a little hail while at Pueblo Reservoir.

Quarter size hail, but no damage.

Sunset at Pueblo Reservoir.

Another shot of the sunset.  Very nice.

Met our good friends Clay and Lilo for dinner.  They went to
Alaska with us in 2015

Taking cover from hail storm.  Trent has the right idea.

Granddaughter Lily, standing, at her band concert.

Granddaughter Macie, on beam, during gymnastic tournament.
She did outstanding.

Macie during floor exercise.

Macie took 4th place in this event.

Lily and her dad, Jesse, enjoying a little race around the KOA park.

Macie and her mom, Jennifer, trying to catch up.

Bruce and our 3 sons getting ready for a bike ride on the Air Force Academy.

Ten mile bike ride through the Air Force Academy.  Tough ride.

Bruce got in a little fishing during the summer.
This is at Lathrop State Park, Colorado.  Beautiful place.

Taking a hike above Lathrop State Park.  

Great views overlooking Lathrop State Park.

Gorgeous mountain views.

Going fishing was nice, but seeing views like this was great.

We took a trip to the Great Sand Dunes here in Colorado.
It's been over 10 years since we were here last.

Lots of people visiting the Great Sand Dunes.

Even Trent enjoyed the cool water at the dunes.

We hiked up river a ways until we couldn't go any further

Granddaughters and friend came with us to Pueblo Reservoir.

Granddaughter Lily getting ready to do some serious swimming.

Macie taking out a blowup kayak.  

Two little leeches cling to grandpa.
"We're cold."

Two families of geese decided to come and check us out.
They got a free handout - crackers.

Grandma enjoying watching the girls having a blast.

Granddaughters decided to hang out on the picnic table covering.

Grandma Roberta was the first to jump off the cliff.
She was showing the granddaughters how it's done.

Here goes Macie.

Macie and her friend Shannon going off together.

Lily and Grandpa going off together.

Bruce taking a diver.  The water was so refreshing.

Lily taking a running leap.

Heading to Steamboat Springs with granddaughters and two of their friends.

Having lunch at the Steamboat Springs hotsprings.

Macie doing a little rock climbing above the hot springs.
They need to ring the bell at the top of the wall and then fall in.

Lily was a pro at rock climb.

Always time for a DQ stop.  Blizzards around.

Took a hike to some falls outside of Steamboat.

Worth the hike.

The four stooges.  They were real troopers on the hike.

A great day for a hike.

Great scenery.

Grandpa Bruce with Bryce and Carter on the Air Force Academy.

Ready for smores anyone?

Grandson Bryce enjoying ice cream.
Grandparents love to spoil their grandkids.

Carter is really chilling while eating his ice cream.

How many movies did we watch today?   

This squirrel decided to chew a hole in the back of our chair
and run off with some stuffing.   

On our way to Navejo State Park in Colorado.
Heading over Wolf Creek Pass.  

Love the engine brake in my motorhome.

Got to see some old ruins on a hike to Chimney Rock near Pagosa Springs, CO.

Selfie of us on Chimney Rock near Pagosa Springs.

One of many Kivas we saw.

Looking out over some ruins.

Chimney Rock.

Was not a difficult climb.  Lots of fun.

Our we having fun yet?

Colorful lizard.