The Blue River, June 2016

The idea was that we would take a 3 or 4 day trip to Steamboat Springs and camp either at Pearl Lake or Steamboat Lake.  It was the first time we would try out the new towing system with Shadow, our CRV.  It is always a little shaky for me watching Jim negotiate all the traffic on I-25.  Then the long ascent up I-70 to the Eisenhower Tunnel in 2nd gear alot of the time had me cowering in the passenger seat.  Coming down into Silverthorne was even more of a white knuckle experience with Maxine shaking as he put on the brakes each time.  We pulled into the nearest gas station, which, of course, was crowded and difficult to negotiate with both vehicles, but we managed.  On leaving, I heard a hissing sound coming from the tire which Jim inspected and determined that it was losing air.  We tried getting air in the tire at the gas station but, since we cannot back up with the "toad", we had to look elsewhere for air.  We found a place with what we thought was air, but it turned out to be vacuum cleaners at a car wash.  We were already in there when we realized we couldn't get out without backing up.  So, in a rain storm, which was beginning to turn more and more into a downpour, we de-coupled, Jim went back to the gas station for air in Maxine and then met me and off we went.  When the downpour turned into a real gully washer, we quickly decided to try to find a place along the road somewhere to spend the night.  We lucked out and found a great campground about 8 miles outside of town which was right along the Blue River.  The pictures say it all:

We brought Maxine in the following morning (which was blessedly clear and sunny) and they recommended that we buy two new tires, which we needed to pick up in Frisco.  We did so, bought some groceries and then Jim waited for Maxine while I drove back in the car to secure a place for us and for Gail and Harley who decided to join us here for a few days.  We were lucky to secure a great two-site camp spot on the river where we could fish and watch the rafters go by.  We drove up to Cataract Lake in the Eagles Nest Wilderness to hike, enjoy the day and maybe try out the new kayak.

Just off the main highway, there is a parking area and a small cemetery:  The Kansas Gulch-Grandview Cemetery.  It sits among the most beautiful Colorado scenery of sagebrush, wildflowers and conifers on the road up towards Green Mountain Reservoir.  A family from Kansas who settled here in the late 1800s is buried here.

A stunningly beautiful Colorado backdrop

Another hike in this area:  Surprise Lake

Our first glimpse of the huge waterfall at the end of
Cataract Lake

Gorgeous aspen forests surround the lake

Breathtakingly green

Our shady picnic table by the lake

There is a 3 mile hike around the lake.  Jim was trying out
the kayak and I had injured my hip, so we stayed put while
Gail and Harley took the hike.

Wild irises were everywhere-even in the campground.

Lunch in the sun

A very happy boy!

This family came along and offered us plenty of entertainment
as the kids jumped in and out of the freezing cold water.

No thumbs up for the kayak as the pump
needed another tool to get the nozzle to
close correctly.  Oh, well-at least we now
know Jim can carry it a short distance.

Our pals enjoying the day

We helped this family rescue that little dog on our way down
the mountain.

Back at the ranch:  The Lyons had to go back home and we decided to stay through Sunday, as we hadn't heard of Father's Day plans from either of the kids-it turned out that we found a text from Erin after we got home.  It was a delightfully relaxing time and it reminded us of the many Father's Day weekends we used to camp with Jim's parents and the kids when we were all much younger.

The most relaxed of us all

Lots of Broad-Tailed Hummingbirds at
our feeder

Columbines in bloom

Pretty tasty water (We kept him on a leash as the river was
quite fast with the spring run off).

We kept talking about trying to find a rafting company for Jim to go
down the river.  Fortunately, this guy came along and offered him a free ride.
A great Father's Day experience for Jim.

Fishing-evening

Fishing-morning

The last evening's beauty and a final campfire in the twilight.