Wednesday, July 10, 2019

An eight year old in the mountains

Bennett is our youngest grandchild and recently turned eight years old.

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...

2 comments:

  1. Looks like he had quite the trip to Colorado. Great pictures!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great photos. We had such a great time. Thank you so much for hosting us. We can't wait to come back!

    ReplyDelete