Greetings from the AZ Dickson's: we just completed a great week in Winter Park CO, escaping the heat from AZ, and while I'm sure rumors will fly we DID have a good time albeit with many adventures.
Erica and Megan and Jeff flew up Sat., got there first.
Ash and Noelle and Addie and Matteo drove up Sat, and Lynn and I non-stopped it driving from the ranch Sunday.
We had some great dinners out, a couple in, and did all the fun things.
Ash and Matteo rented fancy downhill bikes, and all the equipment dressed up like spacemen, and took the chair up and came down the mountain. Ash only had one nice crash off a little bridge down a gully and came up rather beat up and bruised. Matteo did the best from what I gather.
The Orihuela's and Lynn and I rented bikes and did the Frazier River trail, down to Frazier, up to the ski area, and back down to W.P. Fun trip, no crashes this time!
One day off to Grand Lake, kids went swimming, a beautiful area for sure.
That night I was awakened around midnight by a crash at the dumpster: sure enough when I looked out, there was a big black bear wandering around the parking lot!! I have never seen a bear in Winter Park in all the 35 years going summer and winter. Jeff got up and saw it, and Lynn got a good view as well. Cool!
I got to fish a day or so on the upper Colorado and had a great time with many Brown trout.
One evening Lynn and I went for a little drive up Vasquez Creek and up in the meadow area found several big moose, including a big Bull, a few cows, and a calf. We went back to the condo, the Orihuela's wanted to check it out, so we went back up. We didn't see the bull but the others were there and it was a great learning experience! On the way back we came upon a nice big black bear on the road. We turned off the truck and just watched him/her for a long while. Never have I had it so Quiet in the truck!! We were about 15 feet away; Ash wasn't breathing and the kids were agape. Really neat.
Last day: Lynn and I left early, Ash and kids to leave that afternoon, and EJ and Megan with Noelle to assist were to leave Sat afternoon; But: EJ and Megan took that chair lift to Sunspot, explored a bit, took pics at that wooden platform with the great view, then were to ride down. Someone got scared so the decision was made to hike. Part way down, of course, EJ slipped carrying Megan and a fractured fibula was the result. Ash stayed the day, helped out, and now all home and safe.
A great adventuresome time. Now Lynn and I, in the quiet cabin, are enjoying a quiet rain, the horses (have three now up here...) are grazing in the green pasture, and best of all it's 66 degrees outside!
Tomorrow we fly home if the monsoons give us a break back to Tucson. It's back to work.
Plans: Wed or Thursday I'll fly back up to start the mowing process, and Jim Shepherd is going to come out for several days to hang out, fish a little, get out of the Kansas heat.
It's the good old summer time!
Love to all, UR/DAD
