We picked up Jackson from his theater camp after his show Atlantis. It's Friday 1pm when we headed on the road. I chose Amarillo downtown Embassy Suites for our hotel. It's a beautiful hotel with big lobby and nice restaurant. This setup definitely saved us the hassle to look for dinner restaurant. They even have complimentary happy hour before 7pm.
From our room, we could see their baseball stadium across the road. There was a game on Friday night. If we stay here again, we might be able to add a baseball game in our plan. Jackson just watched the game between Rough riders and Sod poodles in Frisco. We had fun checking the stadium out after our breakfast.
Drive on Saturday was rough. Another nine hours of drive pushed to their limit. We stopped by Raton for lunch break. That McDonald was the busiest fast food place we've ever seen. In the afternoon, kids were no longer happy to watch iPad. Norah complained about stomach pain. Jackson complained about throat pain. We arrived with our hair all standing up amid those continuous complains and screams and crying. At least we were there!
Our cabin at three rivers was spacious and close to Grandparents' motor home. Kids stayed downstairs close to the bathroom and parents stayed at the loft. Next day we explored the surroundings and did a couple of short hikes. Will and I drove to CB to check out the adventure park when kids were napping. When we headed back, storms were forming behind us.
Monday we signed up to do the class II rafting down Taylor River. It was the first time both kids rafted. Jackson wanted a higher class rapids. Class II was perfect for our group in my opinion. In the afternoon, Grandpa, Jackson and Mommy headed to Roaring Judy fish hatchery to catch some fish. We used the artificial fly our shop recommended. Water was clear so we could see many fish swimming close to the shore. We didn't have any luck with the artificial lure and headed back before the daily afternoon storm hit.
Tuesday Will and I went to Frigid Air Pass for a day hike. Avalanche snow closed the Scofield pass, which is the only direction we got on how to get to the trail head. Will found another way (734) through Paradise Divide to get to the East Fork trailhead. Flower was in peak time the week we were there. (Aug 6) We walked in the thick blankets of flowers. Snow covered some trails at higher elevation. We were lost for a section of the hike and had to fight thick vegetation and slippery slope to go back on trail. Without the APP Will installed to guide our hike, we probably would have been lost for much longer. It was a gorgeous hike and I felt lucky we could be there.
Wednesday was a jeeping day. We first went to Mirror Lake to check the trails. It was more challenging than Will was comfortable with our jeep. We went back to the town Tincup and headed to Slaughter house Gulch. Kids had enough time in the car by this time and started fussing. Unfortunately rain started early this day and made it hard for them to run around.
Thursday we all went to hike at Judd Falls. We passed Gothic on the way to trail head. That town felt like utopia to me. It's so perfect set in a beautiful mountain valley. Rocky Mountain Biological Lab situates here. After the hike, we drove towards Scofield pass to see the snow. Kids were thrilled to touch the snow in August. We had our picnic lunch just below the pass.
Friday was our fishing day. Grandpa and I got the 5-day fishing license. I really wanted to catch some trout on this last day. We got live bait this time to increase our chance of catching one. I watched multiple fish swam close to my worm and got spooked. We waited and waited with two deer came checking on us. Almost lunch time, fish started to bite and Jackson caught the first fish in his life! Grandpa caught two later but I didn't get any. I will try my luck in Texas. And those fish was yummy. I cleaned it when Norah was napping and rest of the crew went jeeping. I was happy that I acquired new skill - cleaning trout and cooking it.
Saturday Will planned a hike to Beaver lake. Walking through a big aspen forest, we got to a lake made by beaver. I saw so many different types of mushrooms on this hike. We drove back on Ohio Creek Road to Gunnison and looped back to Three Rivers after a picnic stop at Gunnison's playground.
We decided to drive home in one day on Sunday. The stop at hotel was painful and home was such a yearning for us. And we did it! We had our snack lunch on our car. Jackson and Norah was entertaining each other in the afternoon. We did lots of games, I spy, 20 questions etc. Finally when Norah couldn't take it anymore, we got home! We started 8:20 MST and arrive home 11:15 CST. It was 14 hours on the road, drive time 12.5 hours. (Google predicted 13.5 hours for the drive) Our dinner stop at Cici's Amarillo took one hour and multiple gas/pit stops took another half hour. I am so very proud we were able to pull this off.
Both kids did ask us if we knew airplanes were much faster. Jackson commented that he felt like he was in a whole day of jail. Airplane will be in our consideration next time. :-)
From our room, we could see their baseball stadium across the road. There was a game on Friday night. If we stay here again, we might be able to add a baseball game in our plan. Jackson just watched the game between Rough riders and Sod poodles in Frisco. We had fun checking the stadium out after our breakfast.
Drive on Saturday was rough. Another nine hours of drive pushed to their limit. We stopped by Raton for lunch break. That McDonald was the busiest fast food place we've ever seen. In the afternoon, kids were no longer happy to watch iPad. Norah complained about stomach pain. Jackson complained about throat pain. We arrived with our hair all standing up amid those continuous complains and screams and crying. At least we were there!
Our cabin at three rivers was spacious and close to Grandparents' motor home. Kids stayed downstairs close to the bathroom and parents stayed at the loft. Next day we explored the surroundings and did a couple of short hikes. Will and I drove to CB to check out the adventure park when kids were napping. When we headed back, storms were forming behind us.
Monday we signed up to do the class II rafting down Taylor River. It was the first time both kids rafted. Jackson wanted a higher class rapids. Class II was perfect for our group in my opinion. In the afternoon, Grandpa, Jackson and Mommy headed to Roaring Judy fish hatchery to catch some fish. We used the artificial fly our shop recommended. Water was clear so we could see many fish swimming close to the shore. We didn't have any luck with the artificial lure and headed back before the daily afternoon storm hit.
 |
| Add caption |
Tuesday Will and I went to Frigid Air Pass for a day hike. Avalanche snow closed the Scofield pass, which is the only direction we got on how to get to the trail head. Will found another way (734) through Paradise Divide to get to the East Fork trailhead. Flower was in peak time the week we were there. (Aug 6) We walked in the thick blankets of flowers. Snow covered some trails at higher elevation. We were lost for a section of the hike and had to fight thick vegetation and slippery slope to go back on trail. Without the APP Will installed to guide our hike, we probably would have been lost for much longer. It was a gorgeous hike and I felt lucky we could be there.
 |
| Maroon bells |
Wednesday was a jeeping day. We first went to Mirror Lake to check the trails. It was more challenging than Will was comfortable with our jeep. We went back to the town Tincup and headed to Slaughter house Gulch. Kids had enough time in the car by this time and started fussing. Unfortunately rain started early this day and made it hard for them to run around.
 |
| edible mushroom? |
Thursday we all went to hike at Judd Falls. We passed Gothic on the way to trail head. That town felt like utopia to me. It's so perfect set in a beautiful mountain valley. Rocky Mountain Biological Lab situates here. After the hike, we drove towards Scofield pass to see the snow. Kids were thrilled to touch the snow in August. We had our picnic lunch just below the pass.
Friday was our fishing day. Grandpa and I got the 5-day fishing license. I really wanted to catch some trout on this last day. We got live bait this time to increase our chance of catching one. I watched multiple fish swam close to my worm and got spooked. We waited and waited with two deer came checking on us. Almost lunch time, fish started to bite and Jackson caught the first fish in his life! Grandpa caught two later but I didn't get any. I will try my luck in Texas. And those fish was yummy. I cleaned it when Norah was napping and rest of the crew went jeeping. I was happy that I acquired new skill - cleaning trout and cooking it.
 |
| Kungfu fishing |
 |
| First fish caught |
Saturday Will planned a hike to Beaver lake. Walking through a big aspen forest, we got to a lake made by beaver. I saw so many different types of mushrooms on this hike. We drove back on Ohio Creek Road to Gunnison and looped back to Three Rivers after a picnic stop at Gunnison's playground.
We decided to drive home in one day on Sunday. The stop at hotel was painful and home was such a yearning for us. And we did it! We had our snack lunch on our car. Jackson and Norah was entertaining each other in the afternoon. We did lots of games, I spy, 20 questions etc. Finally when Norah couldn't take it anymore, we got home! We started 8:20 MST and arrive home 11:15 CST. It was 14 hours on the road, drive time 12.5 hours. (Google predicted 13.5 hours for the drive) Our dinner stop at Cici's Amarillo took one hour and multiple gas/pit stops took another half hour. I am so very proud we were able to pull this off.
Both kids did ask us if we knew airplanes were much faster. Jackson commented that he felt like he was in a whole day of jail. Airplane will be in our consideration next time. :-)
No comments:
Post a Comment