This seems like a good time to introduce him to the various characteristics of living in the mountains at 9300 feet of altitude. He lives in a distant suburb of the twin cities in Minnesota so rural Colorado is quite the change from his normal environment.
He and his mother traveled out to the mountains via Amtrak for a two week visit.
 |
| The train was 5 hours late, but we found an arts and crafts fair to explore while we waited |
 |
| One vendor was selling really clever birdhouses and feeders |
 |
| The train arrived about twilight |
 |
| We started exploring old shuttered mine tunnels |
 |
| Has to 'Hulk it up' in front of neat rock formations |
 |
| Bennett is often exploring ways to sweep his hair with a different look each day |
 |
| The Pioneer Museum in Gunnison has colorful narrow gauge trins to explore |
 |
| Ready to swing aboard |
 |
| Up in the cupola of the caboose |
 |
| Betsy exploring the travel trunks at the museum and how folks used to transport their clothing |
 |
| Julie staying warm and dry |
 |
| We made many trips to the local library for books and age appropriate movies |
 |
| I woke Bennett one morning with the words "Wanna see a bear in the front yard?" |
 |
| We checked out the ski town of Crested Butte, but he preferred the nickname "Crusty Butt" |
 |
| Colorful flowers everywhere |
 |
| Colorful walls too! |
 |
| Rode the ATVs around the mountain |
 |
| Betsy liked these views |
 |
| Up high overlooking the Blue Mesa |
 |
| Started getting ready for winter by splitting firewood |
 |
| Found time to play |
 |
| The Ridgeway Railroad Museum has moved so we checked out the new location |
 |
| Everything is protected by a roof |
 |
| Relaxing a bit |
 |
| Bennett found this deer relaxing under one of the museum cars |
 |
| Reproduction of Motor #1 |
 |
| Enjoying dinner at Garlic Mikes! What a meal we had... |
 |
| He caught, landed and cleaned his first Rainbow Trout |
 |
| Captain America |
 |
| We participated in the July 4th parade |
 |
| Flags on the tips of out folded operating wipers made quite the attention getter |
 |
| Betsy in Lake City, Colorado City Park |
 |
| We were there too... |
 |
| There is a great boat tour on the Morrow Point reservoir. |
 |
| You get there by walking down 232 steps and then hiking 3/4 mile on the old narrow gauge RR right of way |
 |
| They provide places to rest along the way |
 |
| Signage gives the history of the area |
 |
| This is the tour boat |
 |
| Children must wear life preservers - optional for adults |
 |
| My favorite part of the tour is when they align to boat over the sunken RR right of way and match the view of the RR logo of Curracanti Point |
 |
| A wet spring means all the waterfalls are running |
 |
| Bennett was quite the helper at our recycling center |
 |
| Our neighbor Bud came down to offer him a ride in his Razor off road vehicle. It was a hit! |
 |
| We got to explain what happens to water depending on which side of the Continental Divide it falls on... |
