Durango, Colorado

Durango, Colorado is not the paradise that we find at Lake Powell, but gosh it's close.

 (Dad rode his bike the whole way from Phoenix to Durango. No, he didn't. But he could. Seriously.)

 Must give credit where it's due-Trent took these scenic pictures on his bike ride with my Dad. They rode all over the mountain between Durango and Silverton, the old mining town.

This old, tucked away spot in the West is popular with Hollywood. Some notable people have passed through-  
Clark Gable in Across the Wide Missouri (1951) 

James Stewart in Night Passage (1957) 

John Wayne, James Stewart, Henry Fonda in How the West Was Won (1962)
Paul Newman, Robert Redford in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) 

Gene Hackman and Robert Redford in Downhill Racer (1969) 

John Wayne in the first True Grit (1969) 

James Gardner in Support your Local Gunfighter (1971)
Billy Crystal in City Slickers (1991)
Sylvester Stallone in Cliffhanger (1993)
Morgan Freeman, Chris Rock, Renee Zellweger in Nurse Betty (2000) 

Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson in The Prestige (2006).

We hit a couple of our old spots we used to visit about 14 years ago. I was probably about Maddy's age when we stopped going to Durango every year. So dang cool to take the kids to where I remember being shown around as a kid.
Fish hatchery in the 80s

Back when Tamarron was more kid friendly, they had a ping pong table on the top level of the pool area. Now it's a gym.

Scott is probably upset that there is a live Steam Engine heading directly toward him and his Mom is blocking the view. How cruel.

Been waving to the same train for years...

The whole extended family came to Durango for the 4th of July. I remember walking in the parade and throwing candy out.

 Looks like we brought some Arizona flags to Colorado's parade.

The old tennis courts and playground at Tamarron. Playground has now been taken out and they are tearing up the tennis courts to build new ones. Again.

Purgatory used to have this mini golf course. Now it's more rustic and all along the base of the mountain and going up the mountain. You see it as you go up the ski lift.

Mesa Verde when I was young. We didn't make it to Mesa Verde this last trip. Trent has been, but someday we'll take the kids to see where the Indian's used to live. You can just see part of their dwellings behind us. It is literally inside the cave of that mountain.

Grinding corn at Mesa Verde




We stopped by the fish hatchery. Not as many fish as we remember, but ask Brenden, Kyleigh, Abby, Jace or Maya if they minded.

(My Dad, brother and sister at the same fish hatchery almost 20 years earlier).

All the kids had to do was walk over to the nearest older person and scoop a handful of fish food.
(Thanks Maddy for sharing).

 They loved watching the fish jump over each other to get the food in the water.

We're focusing on fish, but this kid has moved onto birds. 

During any down time, just head on over to Poppy and he'll help color your fingers orange. Cheesy snacks are good.

This photo is out of order, but on our way to Durango, we stopped by Burger King and Subway to grab some grub (because we had already had McDonalds for breakfast), and when Mom pulled into the parking lot of subway, we saw that the sign under McDonalds probably spelled a telling story about this particular joint...

The future "Big Kids" table gang.

These two are pretty friendly. And like to play games...

Uncle John is always good for a game or two.

And Kyleigh Mae placed a few kisses on baby Maya's head any chance she could.

(These two will probably make the cut for the "Big Kids" table). 

 I had to risk waking her up to snap this shot of the particular choice of bed buddy. It's usually Piglet, but after playing with sweet, snuggly Maya all day, Piglet got swiftly replaced by a brown baby she found in the toy bucket. Pretty cute. (And she shared her stickers with the baby as well).

Another ride. Trent told me that these were some of his favorite rides. You couldn't beat the beauty of the things you would pass on your left and right while riding up in the Rocky Mountain range. A little harder to breathe, but he had prepared himself well. Went swimming, running and riding in Ohio before meeting us out west...and he said he was glad because he could hang with my Dad. I knew I wouldn't be able to so I didn't even try...but man I sure wished I could have.

 bike ride start

When in Durango, a trip over to the ski resort, Purgatory, is a must. Maddy and Ashleigh were the first to try out the zipline. This was alot of fun. Scary to me still, but knowing that my two little sisters just did it so easily, made me believe that I wasn't going to fall to my death.

 John, Jared and Scott were next.

 Trent and I

 Someone had my camera while I was up there and took this cute candid of Court. I have pretty sisters.

Jace got his own version of 'flying through air' zipline.

Brenden and Kyleigh were old enough to go on the Alpine Slides, so we took them up. I wasn't sure if they would be scared going up the ski lift. Both of them did fantastic. Not a shred of fear and I had to tell Kyleigh to stop bouncing in her seat. It was like a ride up to the ride for her.

Do not mistake this for a face of fear. He was in some kind of fantasy land and arms were crossing and facials were all over the board. Maybe he was trying to spot the small animal that kept ducking underneath the alpine slide when someone came by.

Steph and John went first. 

My sisters are fetching.

This guy got this particular slide twice. Some of them have names written on the bottom. This one read "Boom goes the Dynamite".

 Scott smoked the little kid on the opposite slide.

Brenden kept pulling up his shirt to show his tag and saying, "I'm official official." 

The alpine sledders minus Ash and Mad. 

A couple of Alpine Sledders from a few years back.

...And a few years after that. My cousins and I...we keep coming back to this old mountain.

Stuff and Johnson  (names have been changed to protect the innocent. I've implemented names given by my brother).

Courthouse and Jerry

Strent, me, B and Kyleigh Mae Hay

Kyleigh sold me out for the Hawaiian. And that was fine by me. I knew she wasn't going to slow them up either. Jared told me she kept telling him to go faster and faster!

B also got to go down with a cool guy. And he looks completely content to go flying down the mountain at the mercy of Uncle John.

Mom got in a ride down. And she did fantastic.

My Mom has swag.

And my other little sister. Lookin as pretty as the picture behind her.

Abby couldn't go on the slide, but she got in a little practice for the next time.

Ash doing some fine Aunty work.

The newest addition to the fam. And we are so happy for it. Hope the little islander was comfortable in the high elevation of the Rockies.

Maddy got thrown.

But went for another round.

B and K were probably wondering why people kept climbing onto the bull. Didn't they learn?
Guess we'll have to wait until B and K are older before teaching them it's fun to be jerked off a mechanical bull.

Scotty made his 8 seconds i think.

Makin' a move.

...And after racing down the mountain. His face reflects how we all felt after having several hours of racing down the Alpine Slides. So much fun!

Whenever possible, races were had. I don't remember who won. Maddy?

Scott said he was busy recording videos and photos with his phone and that's why Kyleigh and I beat him.

John and Jared raced.

We had a plethora of chances to slide down the mountain. And we literally used up our allotment of time up to the very minute.

Ash got hooked up to a bunch of large rubber bands. And one snapped on her first jump. That's what the guy in the picture is taking off. That's comforting.

Didn't phase the 2 little girls. Maddy and Ash flipped mid-air like it was no big deal.
Let me tell you, it is a big deal.
Maddy

Ash

John went up. And did double flips. See video.

Trent was no stranger to the flip scene.

John and Trent on trampoline:

And then there was me. For some reason, after becoming a Mother, I have lost most sense of daring risk taking. I am such a wimp. Took me forever to finally get the guts to throw myself backwards at the height of this giant rubber-band trampoline.

And it was alot of fun.

We lunched at Purgatory. It was not our best meal. But Brenden was pretty pleased when Uncle John shared his chocolate shake.

 Top of the ski lift at Purgatory. Nice place to spend a day.

We had dinner at this incredible farm place off the road inbetween Durango and Tamarron.
Steph, not sure what to order? 

I recommend the Steak Salad with the added smoked peaches

Excellent view when dining.

Steph and I worked together to get this shot. I had the camera poised and ready and she called his attention and it worked to perfection. We got him. My little brother. Who keeps putting up with his older sisters gettin' at him ...(as well as our children who are now the ones who like to razz him).

 Abby carried this bottle all over the place and was lovin' every drop.

 Couple of pretty babes.

A lake (can't remember the name) on the way to Silverton

Best friends.

  A bona fide steam engine that was just about to pull out.

Nice Conductor let Brenden do the hand signal to tell the Engineer to go. Brenden soaked that one up.

Pretty close to paradise. Beautiful day spent running around the mountains and eating some excellent BBQ ribs and funnel cake.

The grandparents watched the grandkids while all the couples went out for a night on the town. A stop at Rocky Mountain Chocolate factory is another must.

The girls (Steph, Court and I) stepped into this old bookshop and I couldn't help capturing the irony of the sign when you look at the books in the picture just below.

is it possible to mess that up? take a wrong step and you'll have the whole store falling down on top of you.

Took the kids to see the bees making honeycombs at Honeyville.

Sang Happy Birthday to John and cut some cake.

Uncle Scooter was always up for a couple of games with the crazy kids.

Kids and their Dads got to play on the green.

Steph, Court, Maddy, Brenden and I went horseback riding. We get out knack for horseback from our Mother who loves it so much.

 

B got a lift from a real Cowboy (Steph, Court-what was his name again?)

Brenden, Steph, me, Court, Maddy (who would have looked so much better had she donned her cowboy hat recently purchased in town). ;)

We're about to pull out and Steph's horse takes off toward the water barrel, so Cowboy told us all to come get a drink but not to let them eat along the trail cause they'll get food when they get back. That was easier for some of us than others.

Court's horse must have had a little too much to drink. How embarrassing.

An hour traversing the mountain with views like this. Cowboy was telling us how he has to go pick up a drop camp over one of these mountains the following day.

Steph's horse, whenever possible, would take another trail. Cowboy kept getting after her for not keeping control of her horse. Kept us laughing though.

B's Dad was sad he missed this ride. We were too, but not by much. They were busy golfing. I hear John and Trent tied.

Check out how much Cowboy had to lean back in his saddle to go down this hill.

 Fun times. More great memories to add to the rest.

My Mom and Dad have been visiting this exact spot for just over 30 years now.

Probably started when they looked more like this:

My Mom is the pretty one 2nd from the left. 

 They've changed a little over 30 years. Thankfully, none the worse. ;)