Days 7 & 8
Mesa Verde, Colorado is where we have spent the last two days. Driving into Colorado was amazing! I heard a boisterous "AWESOME" from Jonathan and "Holy guacamole" from Benjamin when those two first saw the Rocky Mtns. (naturally I had to explain that guacamole is not holy ;). We got to see the cliff dwellings of early Native Americans. We hiked down the mountain, which for this mama who is afraid of heights, it was scary and hard not to show my fear in front of the kiddos! I was so proud of all of them for the way they hiked without complaining and did not give up. It was a family bonding experience for sure :).
It is almost unbelievable to think that these cliff dwellings carved into the sides of the mountains have been preserved so well through time, hundreds and hundreds of years! Learning about the Hopi people, who are a part of the Pueblo tribe has been extremely interesting to me.
Baby Girl and her Daddy hiking--her favorite words "Baby do it. Baby walk." She will go as fast as those little legs will take her :).
The next morning, we finished up our Junior Ranger badges and then headed into Arizona. There was so much dry, desolate desert for miles and miles. On our way, we stopped in "Four Corners" and took some fun pictures of the five Gouch kids in four states at one time :). Finally, when we were almost in Flagstaff, Arizona, the landscape began to completely change to green, at last :). Flagstaff is a beautiful town that was so much more appreciated after we had driven through the desert! We did laundry, which made me happy (although I hate it at home, I love it on vacation...go figure). I got to talk to a lovely woman in the laundromat who was a Hopi. She shared with me about her life, living in the same house where she had grown up. It was fascinating, to say the least. We ate local food that night, yummy Greek, and the next morning enjoyed yummy local huevos rancheros, yum-oh (especially after pb & js and McDonald's in the desert)! The next morning, we went to the Lowell Observatory (where Pluto was discovered) which was educational and interesting. We had a tour guide who was a retired science teacher. She was so passionate about astronomy and outer space; I wish I could have been one of her students when I was growing up!
I am sorry this is so brief, but it is late. So, tonight I will give my "what worked and what did not" for all who are interested. If you are not, then please do not feel obligated to read :).
What worked:
Drinking lots and lots of water...made a huge difference in hiking, especially for our family. We are not big hikers and have not ever done so at such a high elevation. We drank constantly while hiking.
A little white sweater I purchased at GAP before we left. Okay, I know that sounds lame, but seriously I have used it every day, both in the car and out and about...not too hot or bulky, just a lightweight cotton sweater.
Getting recommendations for restaurants from the locals...sometimes a risk, but in Flagstaff, it paid off :).
Participating in FREE Junior Park Ranger programs...cannot say enough how great these programs are for the children.
Homewood Suites hotel in New Mexico...dinner and breakfast included with hotel stay. Economical!
What did not work:
The National Park hotel at Mesa Verde. Very crowded, same price as previous night's Homewood Suites with no dinner or breakfast included. It made us itchy (well, me, anyhow at 3:30 in the morning yuck) and had CRAZY static electricity in the beds...so much so that Benjamin and Rebekah cried because they thought they were going to get electrocuted! Please do not think I am complaining, it is all rather humorous now :). I am thankful we had a room and running water!
Two double beds, two air mattresses, and one pak-n-play...definitely tight quarters :). Please note the hotel a/c (a rotating fan ;).Again, I am not complaining, I am smiling that we made some memories!
Day 2 at Mesa Verde NOT drinking a lot of water and not getting enough protein...big mistake, hike that day was much more difficult for us.
I guess this turned out to be a little longer than expected!
Carried by His Grace,
It is almost unbelievable to think that these cliff dwellings carved into the sides of the mountains have been preserved so well through time, hundreds and hundreds of years! Learning about the Hopi people, who are a part of the Pueblo tribe has been extremely interesting to me.
Baby Girl and her Daddy hiking--her favorite words "Baby do it. Baby walk." She will go as fast as those little legs will take her :).
The next morning, we finished up our Junior Ranger badges and then headed into Arizona. There was so much dry, desolate desert for miles and miles. On our way, we stopped in "Four Corners" and took some fun pictures of the five Gouch kids in four states at one time :). Finally, when we were almost in Flagstaff, Arizona, the landscape began to completely change to green, at last :). Flagstaff is a beautiful town that was so much more appreciated after we had driven through the desert! We did laundry, which made me happy (although I hate it at home, I love it on vacation...go figure). I got to talk to a lovely woman in the laundromat who was a Hopi. She shared with me about her life, living in the same house where she had grown up. It was fascinating, to say the least. We ate local food that night, yummy Greek, and the next morning enjoyed yummy local huevos rancheros, yum-oh (especially after pb & js and McDonald's in the desert)! The next morning, we went to the Lowell Observatory (where Pluto was discovered) which was educational and interesting. We had a tour guide who was a retired science teacher. She was so passionate about astronomy and outer space; I wish I could have been one of her students when I was growing up!
I am sorry this is so brief, but it is late. So, tonight I will give my "what worked and what did not" for all who are interested. If you are not, then please do not feel obligated to read :).
What worked:
Drinking lots and lots of water...made a huge difference in hiking, especially for our family. We are not big hikers and have not ever done so at such a high elevation. We drank constantly while hiking.
A little white sweater I purchased at GAP before we left. Okay, I know that sounds lame, but seriously I have used it every day, both in the car and out and about...not too hot or bulky, just a lightweight cotton sweater.
Getting recommendations for restaurants from the locals...sometimes a risk, but in Flagstaff, it paid off :).
Participating in FREE Junior Park Ranger programs...cannot say enough how great these programs are for the children.
Homewood Suites hotel in New Mexico...dinner and breakfast included with hotel stay. Economical!
What did not work:
The National Park hotel at Mesa Verde. Very crowded, same price as previous night's Homewood Suites with no dinner or breakfast included. It made us itchy (well, me, anyhow at 3:30 in the morning yuck) and had CRAZY static electricity in the beds...so much so that Benjamin and Rebekah cried because they thought they were going to get electrocuted! Please do not think I am complaining, it is all rather humorous now :). I am thankful we had a room and running water!
Two double beds, two air mattresses, and one pak-n-play...definitely tight quarters :). Please note the hotel a/c (a rotating fan ;).Again, I am not complaining, I am smiling that we made some memories!Day 2 at Mesa Verde NOT drinking a lot of water and not getting enough protein...big mistake, hike that day was much more difficult for us.
I guess this turned out to be a little longer than expected!
Carried by His Grace,
Comments
Hoping your next days are filled with fun new delights!
Blessings
Leslie