Nederland

Wednesday was our last day in Colorado. We proposed a drive to Mt. Evans, or a hike, but the girls shot down both ideas. Apparently, we've worn them out! So we settled on a low key day in Nederland. We drove up via Boulder Canyon Rd, and stopped to play in Boulder Creek.









Once we got to Nederland, we found a cute park for a picnic lunch. Then it started thundering and raining. We met some interesting characters in the covered pavilion! As Dad C says, Nederland makes Boulder look conservative!

My favorite sign:



We drove around the town, then walked around when the rain stopped. We rode the Carousel of Happiness, and we enjoyed some ice cream in a hippie bookstore. We drove up to see the dead guy, but really couldn't see his Tuff Shed very well.

We drove home via Lefthand Canyon Rd, which was a lot different than Boulder Canyon but just as beautiful. We picked up Erica's Jeep from the bus stop (they flew to Iceland!), and stopped by Joe and Stephs apartment for a quick tour. Then we all went back to Erica's and Carter's for a delish BBQ dinner. We played with Emma, we watered the flowers, and I did lots of laundry.

It was a great last day in Colorado! Now we're on our way home!


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Tuesday fun day

We knew we'd be too tired for a lot of driving or hiking on Tuesday after our RMNP day. So we made our way to lots of local places!

First, we went to the butterfly pavilion with Erica and Carter.
















































Then we had a fantastic Vietnamese lunch before heading to Hammonds Candy for a tour.









Then we went to REI for some shopping and then wading in the Platte River.







Then we met up with Erica, Carter, Joe, Steph, and Meredith's family at a fun park. We played mini golf, go carts, batting cages, and arcade games. We topped off the night with Fro Yo together with the gift card we won from winning the Amazing Race!


















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Rocky Mountain National Park

We spent all of Monday at Rocky Mountain National Park. What a day, and what a hike!! We wound up hiking 8 miles in a very scenic loop. We packed our lunch and lots of water. The elevation started at 9500 ft and went up another 700 ft with lots of ups and downs.



Nymph Lake:


First waterfall on way to Dream Lake:


Emerald Lake, our picnic lunch destination:


On way back down from Emerald Lake to the loop trail:


Great hikers:


Awesome views everywhere:


Little unnamed lake:


Hiawaya Lake, surrounded by the hugest boulders!!



More hiking:


Alberta Falls:


Hiking along the river:


One of many river crossings:


Jess got her foot wet. Thankfully this was the last river crossing!


Hiking thru an aspen stand:


Meeting up with Erica's friend Ranger Barbara:


After the hike, we had dinner at the original Oskar Blues Brewery in Lyons. Then we crashed in our hotel room, reading and taking showers after our long day.


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Sunday...winding down

Sunday was a nice, low key day. We all went to church in the morning. The view of the mountains from the church windows was so nice! Then we all went back to Erica and Carter's to help clean up and to help eat all the leftovers. (They leave for Iceland soon!). The girls were put on tomato hornworm patrol in Ericas garden, and found three big ones! Then we all split up, some to a brewery, some to visit friends, some to the airport, some to nap.









We went to Celestial Seasonings for the tea tour! We got hopped up on tea in the tasting room, and we restrained ourselves in the tea shop and only got 17 boxes of tea. :)






We met up later at our hotel pool for a pool party, and we went out to dinner at a great burger joint. We wrapped up the night at E&Cs house, planting the flowers from the wedding centerpieces.



Today's adventure: Rocky Mountain National Park!!


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