Steam Train, toot tooootttt.....

We had fun this past weekend riding a steam train (One of only 90 ever built) in a friend's backyard.  How many people do you know who would have a backyard big enough in Colorado for a steam train?  We now know one couple.  This was a great experience for the kids to see how they get the train ready to run.  They built a fire inside first

then once it was warm enough they threw in the coal to create the steam.

 

Oh, the places you'll go...

 

 

 

 Of course, no train would be complete without a bridge to go over a tunnel to go through!

Little people make it all the way to the top!

 

 

The little people made it all the way to the top of Horsetooth Rock this morning!  I decided this week we were going to try and tackle this one while they were still in 'shape' from our camping trip. One did splendidly, the other did great in the middle but was a bit whiny

 

on either side of that.  It was overcast which was nice since it was a bit humid for here.  

 

 

 

Gayfeather

 

Goldeneye

 

 Prickly Poppy

 

Nothing beats a homemade rhubarb (fresh from the garden) pie for dessert after all that hard work!

 

Hike: Horsetooth Rock

Trails Used:  Foot Trail to Audra Culver to Bike Trail

Distance: 5.33 miles

Difficulty: Difficult (uphill)
Overall average: 1.6 mph
Overall Time: 3 hrs, 16 min
Total Ascent: 1657 ft.

 

Windsor Lake is no longer Windsor's best kept secret!

 

Went to the beach w/ the kids today.  What a gorgeous day, 85 degrees and lightly breezy.  We got there around 10:15 and it was already hopping.  I remember the days that I would get there at 10 and be by myself until noon.  Those days are no longer, at least on Fridays, it seems.  Even though it was busy the kids had a great time and there was plenty of room for everyone.  It's great that we have a lake so close that is free to swim in and a good place for the younger crowd.  They even have paddle boats to rent for $5/30 min.  A snack bar, toilets, and showers make it even better for a visit.  The water doesn't get very deep until you are pretty far out so you don't have to worry about the toddler/preschooler as much. We drove over in the Jeep w/ the top down.  It doesn't get much better than this!  (Okay so a margarita would have made it a tiny bit better!) :)

Ramsay Shockey Open Space @ Pinewood Reservoir

I've never done this hike before so I was excited to get going in the morning.  After a pretty drive you come into a valley that is bare on one side with rolling hills and tree/rock filled on the other side.  In the middle is the reservoir.  It was half frozen and made for a great picture.  Our hike started over a bridge/dam that led into the tree filled area.

Upon leaving the dam area you quickly approach the Shoshone Trail head.  It was pretty muddy on the trail for me but the two little one's loved walking directly in the mud, of course.  The hike goes through a nice pine forest filled with large climbing rocks for the kids.

Half of our group made it to the lunch area first and waved the rest of us in.  

The hike ended with us walking along the lake.  There were many fishermen out.  We even got to see a rainbow trout that one of them caught.  Instead of staying on the Shoshone/Besant trail we took the Fisherman's Cove trail that was more traveled. It was, but it was also very icy and slippery.  We were worried about the kids sliding into the lake.  Everyone did make it through all right.

The picture looks much worse than the hike was.  The kids had no problem doing this hike and didn't seem to tire at all.

Hike: Ramsay Shockey Open Space
Trails Used: Shoshone to Fisherman's Cove
Distance: 2.75 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Moving average: 1.3 mph
Moving Time: 2 hrs, 03 min
Total Ascent: 476 ft.