More from Colorful Colorado

At the Broadmoor

Karen and the girls

Garden of the Gods

Charlie-colored mud

Colorado State Capitol in Denver

The rotunda

The Dome

Jan and Phil

Fun with Colton

Kris, Ray and Fern Clark

Collegiate Peaks at Buena Vista

Uncle Ken and Ruth Johnson

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Black Canyon

Black Canyon selfie

View from the hotel in Ouray

We've spent the last week in Colorado catching up with some old friends and family.
After visiting with Tricia and Melinda we met up with Mike's sister Karen and her girls- Stephanie, Katie and Amy. They were staying at the Broadmoor and we went to meet them for a drink there. We pulled up in our jalopy looking like the Beverly Hillbillys. Our luggage strapped to the roof, bikes on the back, and Charlie hanging out the window. They wanted to valet the car but we were a bit mortified by our grungy car covered with dog hair and drool, so we tried to decline, but they insisted. Our plan had been to leave Charlie in the car while we had our drinks but apparently the Broadmoor is very pet friendly and the bell person was insistent that Charlie come in with us. He was greeted by every single employee we passed with a pat or a hug and a treat or two.  It's really an impressive and beautiful place- super posh. I'm trying to convince Mike to let me stay there on the way back from the Grand Canyon. It was a bit of a let down to go back to the La Quinta after walking around the Broadmoor.
After the snow the day before, we woke up to clear sunny skies on Easter morning. We went to Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. Such a beautiful place and it was so busy with people enjoying the sunshine and outdoors. The snow was starting to melt and the trail we were on was pretty muddy. Bright orange mud. Add that to the dog hair and drool in the car.
We drove to Denver on Easter afternoon where we met Karen and her boyfriend Joe and the girls to celebrate Karen and Katie's birthdays. Bowling and a nice dinner.
The next morning we checked out the state capitol building in Denver. Really pretty building with a gold leaf dome. The layout is a bit different then other capitol buildings we've been in with the rotunda being directly above a staircase so to get my dome shot I had to lay on the stairs. I was scolded by a tour guide for doing that. Sorry lady- it's what I do.
After Denver we went to Boulder to stay with Mike's stepsister Jan and her husband Phil. That's where we're leaving Charlie for the Utah canyon lands and Grand Canyon portion of the trip. It was great to catch up with them and Mike's other stepsister Jill and her husband Tom. We also had a chance to stock up on a few things we need for backpacking at the REI and Trader Joes.
And--bonus!-- got to see our nephew, Colton. He came over for dinner. Jan and I wisely went to bed early but Phil and Mike tried to keep up with the 20-something until late into the night playing Liars Poker and drinking beer. Mike was pretty hurting the next day- must be the altitude?
We said goodbye to Charlie- so sad- and headed west on our way to Utah. We stopped to see good old friends from Mackinac, Kris and Ray Clark and their daughter Fern, who have a lovely home in Alma.
The next day we headed over to Gunnison to see my old stomping grounds and visit with my Uncle Ken and his wife Ruth. Last time I was there was 32 years ago. The town hasn't changed a whole lot. Still a sweet little western town. The college is quite different- first of all it's not a college anymore. It's now Western State Colorado University (was Western State College of Colorado.) A few new buildings and everything has been renovated. We went for a walk around campus and all the students were so friendly and fresh-faced. We met a freshman girl who lived in the same dorm as I did. Ute Hall- they called it the Uterus back in the day because it was an all girl dorm. She said they still call it that but now it's co-ed except for the communal showers.  Boys on one end, girls on the other. Oh, and no curfew. She took us on a tour. Looked pretty much the same.
It was great catching up with Uncle Ken and Ruth. It had been a very long time and we were sad we couldn't stay longer. We're determined to make it back there soon. Maybe Mike will head back this summer to climb a few 14,000 foot peaks?
On our way out we stopped at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. We hiked around for hours. Lots of little trails with overlooks. Every view more stunning than the one before. We need to get in shape for the Grand Canyon. We weren't able to hike as much as we thought because of Charlie's arthritis.
We're heading to Moab today. We decided to take the scenic route and were able to spend last night in the town of Ouray, which is the prettiest little place. They call it the Switzerland of the Rockies and it's known for rafting and ice climbing. Dramatic mountains surrounding a picturesque little downtown with historic buildings and wide streets. It was a very pleasant way to spend our last night in Colorado- for now.