As Autumn Arrives in Colorado

Sept. was a great time for our visit to Colorado.  High temps in the 70's with lows in the 30's was very comfortable.  Our driving tour from Denver to Steamboat Springs and Rocky Mt. National Park, down to Vail, Breckenridge and back to Denver provided lots of great scenery and activities.

One special find was exploring some of the old mining towns that were antiques themselves.  Then there was the ride in the ski gondola's enclosed car up to an ideal outdoor lunch at the summit.  The golden aspen leaves as well as the large variety of wildlife made each drive more enjoyable.

 

 

 

 

Town of Steamboat Springs as seen from the ski lift

 

 

 

Mountain bikes being lifted for the "steep" ride down

 

 

 

 

The slopes from downtown Steamboat Springs

 

 

 

 

Ski Jump-Lots of Olympians produced here

 

 

 

 

Heading out for a ride in the Arapaho National Forest

 

 

 

 

View of Grand Lake from our ATV ride

 

 

We were definitely in the Rocky Mountains

 

 

 

Bison Herd

 

 

 

 

Mountain sheep in the wild

 

 

 

 

 

A calf elk along the highway

 

Baled hay must be protected from the wildlife

 

 

 

 

This arrangement keeps the snow plow from tearing down your mailbox quite as often

Yes, there was snow above 12,000 ft.

 

 

 

 

Strawberry Park's natural Hot Springs

 

 

 

 

Mining town of Silver Plume

 

 

Georgetown Loop Railroad tressel

 

 

 

Argo Mine's Hammer Mill

Hawaiian Cruise

After several months of detailed planning, this trip played out just as it was scripted.  Rather than a 10 hr. flight from ATL, we chose San Diego as an overnight stop to take a break both going to and coming from Honolulu.  We also added one day before and after the cruise to tour in and around Honolulu.  Norwegian's "Pride of America" proved to be a very effective way to visit O'ahu, Maui, Hawaii (Hilo, Kona), Kaua'i  all in seven days.  Island-hopping was made easy with the ship moving us while we slept.  The ship's sightseeing detour to view the Na Pali Coast was a special treat.  We also decided to pick up (5) rental cars, use our GPS and explore at our own pace rather than take part in the much-too-structured organized tours that were offered.  We were never lost.....just exploring areas that others did not get to see!

 

 

 

 

Overnight stop in San Diego-A few residents own boats!

 

 

 

San Diego from atop the Coronado Bay Bridge

 

 

 

 

Our evening walk on Waikiki Beach

 

 

 

The remains of the USS Arizona at the Memorial

 

 

 

Drops of oil as they rise to the surface

 

 

 

 

Diamond Head and Downtown Honolulu from the Punchbowl National Cemetary

 

 

 

 

Unimproved portion of "Highway to Hana"

 

 

 

Rocky shoreline along the Hana Highway

 

 

 

 

Beautiful beach along Maui Highway

 

 

 

 

Lava at Volcano National Park

 

 

 

 

Spouting Horn Blowhole

 

 

 

 

Shipwreck Beach

Cruising along the Na Pali Coast, Kaua'i

(The mountains are real, not  a photographer's canvas background!) 

 

Along the North Shore of Oahu

Presentation of pig at Luau

Luau at Polynesian Cultural Center



Wiamea Canyon

(Scenes from Jurassic Park were filmed here)

 

 

 

 

 Wailua Falls

Baseball and Birthdays

No Braves baseball yet for us.  We're having too much fun watching Abi, Logan, and Connor play their own games.  Abi and Logan have moved up to the next level of play, while Connor is just getting started.  Connor likes the tracks that his cleats make on the infield!  Luke has his own fun as he cheers for Logan.
Luke, at 8 months old now, has begun to crawl.  Logan says, "Luke is now ready to learn to tackle".   Abi and Logan are finishing up Pre-K for the year, as Connor finishes his second year at Bible Play School.  Logan and Connor have recently had very appropriately themed birthday parties.  Logan's 5th was a sports theme and Connor's 3rd was a John Deere party.