Tuesday, June 28, 2016

A day in Silverton, CO. Fetch's Mining!!!

Tuesday we took the old coal engine train to Silverton, Co, about 55 miles, 3 1/2 hours by train.  It was gorgeous.


We were supposed to wear hats and sunglasses due to the coal embers. 


Oh, and I loved the Ska Mandarin beer.

Can't believe this beauty.


The train is called 'Narrow Gauge Railroad' for a reason.




Luke liked to lean out.






Coming into Silverton.




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Silverton is an old mining town that averages about 450 residents in the winter.  The mines shut down about 15 years ago, mostly a tourist town now.  



And it's pretty amazing.  My cousin Scott is a Geologist and has lived here for over 30 years.  He worked in the mines, is brilliant about rocks, is the town commissioner/mayor of Silverton and started building the Silverton Mining Museum 14 years ago.  The building alone is amazing itself, my cousin donated at least half of the pieces in it and  knows everything about every rock imaginable.  He was an amazing tour guide, his store was so fun to shop in and we had the best day listening to his knowledge and enjoying a beer with him afterwards.  Silverton is a must do for anyone.  

Luke and the old ball and chain from the old Silverton Jail.

His best bad boy look.

Scott telling the boys more stories on the way to lunch, they couldn't get enough.


Our Train.

Rock Stories.

There were 3 stories of an actual working mine and every bit was amazing.

Me and Scott, I think the last time that I saw him I was 10, years don't matter.  He's pretty brilliant and fabulous.
Fetch's Mining Store.  Love it and we will be back!!!!

Sunday, June 26, 2016

4 Days in Durango

We spent the first half of our trip in Durango at a really cute house on the Animas river.  It was very high and fast from the spring snow melt.  The sound was amazing.

We roasted extra large marshmallows by the river in the evening.


Auggie made lots of friends.


Mason's breakfast egg pizza with hot sauce. 

We went river rafting on Monday and I was very thankful for the wet suits.  It was freezing water and the rapids got a bit crazy but we had 4 guides with just our family so I felt much better about the class 3+, 4 rapids.



I never knew you could surf a river.

This guy was pooped every night, especially after a day at doggie day care.

Ska brewing.



Thursday, June 23, 2016

Good old family road trip, part 1.

We left a beautiful, hot desert for a weeklong family road trip on our way to Minnesota.


Our first stop was Sedona, AZ at the pretty fabulous Best Western.  The views were perfect and the fire pit late night with a bottle of wine and my husband, priceless.  

Our new trailer loaded up and ready to go.

Sedona was amazing.

Mason and fired nogales.


Mine.

These two got up early on Sunday  so we took Auggie on a walk and enjoyed the outdoors.

The drive from Sedona to Durango was beautiful the first few hours.  After that a few hours of desert.

They didn't appreciate my selfie stick quite as much a I do!!








4 Corners.  $25 and a wait in line for a few pictures....we never have to go again.  

The twins have never been in different states at the same time....here there are, Luke in AZ and Mason in UT.
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This handsome guy.