We left Monday morning very early so that the baby could be asleep for a good portion of it. About half way, we stopped for a late breakfast and to let G roll around on a blanket in a park at Manitou Springs. It was a really nice break (other than the fact Brian and I decided to get breakfast burritos with jalapeno sausage-not sure what led us to think that was a good idea). G had a great time rolling around and watching the squirrels before getting back in her car seat.
After getting there, the boys took off to pick some of the wild rhubarb (which grows way bigger out there in the cool temperatures than it does in my garden) so we could have rhubarb pie. Shelby made excellent food the entire time we were out there, but her rhubarb pie was outstanding.
On Tuesday, we drove over the Continental Divide to Taylor Park which has several lakes and streams for fishing. The boys fished while Shelby and I took the kids hiking around to look at wildflowers and take pictures.
On Wednesday, we took the four-wheel drive vehicle up to Alpine Tunnel which is the old tunnel blown through the mountain 130 years ago by the immigrant railroad works. The road up follows where the old railroad tracks were. Scary!!! I wouldn't have wanted to be up there on a train. The road is VERY narrow with sheer drops as sides, but it is amazingly beautiful. There is part of road called the Palisades that is rocks notched together 130 years ago by Irish immigrants to build back up a ledge wide enough for the train. Not one of the rocks has fallen out in all of those years, and the road goes over the today. A really neat bit of history.
It was really a nice time in the cool temperatures!
Fishing in one of the lakes at Taylor Park.
Stream running through the Taylor Park area.
Fishing in a stream at Taylor park.
The Palisades from below.
Some of the gorgeous columbine flowers we saw.
