(Happy)
June 2007 Archives
We may be back in the lowlands, but the girls and I are still on a Rocky Mountain high after spending the day barefooting with Ron Scarpa.
We got home from Colorado at about 11 pm last night so I was dreading the thought of trying to get Sarah and Rachel up this morning for the barefoot clinic with Scarpa. I was out the door before 6 am to make the first ripples in the lake, and the girls were to drive the Boston Whaler over to Little Tippy by 8:30. Amazingly, they were up and walking out the door when I made my first "wake-up call" at 8:00. (Very encouraging!)
Both girls quickly got back on their feet (literally) even though they really had not barefooted at all since Scarpa's clinic last year. They both did short-line deep-water starts off the boom and ended the day with long-line deep-water starts on shoe skis not much bigger than their own feet! The water was a little choppy, but they were fighters!
Both Sarah and Rachel even said they might practice again before Scarpa comes back next year.
Great day, but I stopped by the office . . . the mountains are calling.
School's out for summer . . . and while everyone else was enjoying 90 degree weather in Indiana, we enjoyed an unexpected winter squall on our way to Steamboat Springs, CO.
The climate (and temperament) however, quickly changed.
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Everyone says that if you love Colorado in the winter, you will love it even more in the summer.
I first fell in love with Steamboat as a teen. For almost twenty years, our family spent a week every spring skiing in and out of Townhouse 28 in Storm Meadows. We made moguls of family memories together and my dad and I celebrated many birthdays together on the mountain. Steamboat and I even shared our 40th together a few years ago --- and even though it had been almost ten years since we had been there, it still felt like home.
So . . . for a homesick, homebody like me, I was elated when our friends invited us to be their guests on Storm Mountain.
The unexpected winter weather proved to be short, but dramatic.
Our hosts, Bill and Marsha, redefined "all-inclusive" by showing us overwhelmingly genuine hospitality and 10-star accomodations. We quickly felt at home and immensely enjoyed their company over gourmet dinners, hiking, horesback riding, fishing and while simply enjoying the view. I truly believe that they enjoyed pampering us as much as we enjoyed being pampered!
Marsha and Bill in the kitchen --- one of Bill's favorite spots.
Brandy (and Rachel)
We were also blessed to share this time with my parents.
(Mac always goes on vacation with us too.)
HIKING
HORSEBACK RIDING
MORE HIKING . . . more challenging
TRADITION: Stones from June Falls
Along the way . . .
FISHING
CATCHING!!!
Life is Good!
ONTO THE NEXT ADVENTURE:
White-water rafting down Clear Creek in Idaho Springs.
Rachel had a BLAST and is ready for bigger rapids. Sarah doesn't like the wetsuits, helmuts or cold water, but still had fun too.
From Clear Creek, we headed to Longmont to visit our friends Brandon & Kim and their girls Sydney & Reagan. We were greeted with HUGE hugs and kisses from the girls even though the last time we visited, Sydney was just a baby and Reagan wasn't even a twinkle yet.
Our reception was so warm (94 degrees) that we headed to Water World for the day.
The Lazy River
The Lazy River ala Reagan & Steve
The next day was 50ish and raining --- a good day for 4-wheeling.
Steve and I chickened out when we hit these rapids the first time, but Brandon and Steve went back and powered through it.
Sarah and Rachel were content to stay on the fire trails while we chased in the Hummer.
We also amused ourselves playing Nintendo Wii on Brandon's BIG screen . . . . and playing with Sydney and Reagan.
Our last look at the Rockies: the view from Brandon and Kim's house.
