okay...time to catch up...days 6,7,8,9,& 10

(Avove, hot springs in Durango) Day 6- My last post ended in Creede and that was sooo long ago. Day 6 we left Creede and headed to Durango and stayed at Haviland Lake State Park at around 8000 ft. Beautiful place, but only elec. hookup. We fashioned a fancy funnel out of a water bottle in order to have fresh water in the Kiwi because the water that was available was not a hook-up sight. Fletcher had a ball running gallons of water up and down the hill. We were quite the camping assembly line. After getting set up, we headed out to dinner at the Bar-D Chuckwagon. We had a great time there (see video of the after dinner show). The chuckwagon dinner is set up family style so we had a chance to get to know the Heck family from Louisiana and Colorado.

The next day (day 7) we spent some fun at the Durango Mt. Resort where Fletcher rock climbed and entertained the masses with a grand finale flip on the bungee tramp. We all did the Alpine Slide (a huge slide that you get to by riding the ski lift; you ride a sled down a winding water slide that has no water...super fun)and played putt-putt (if you go, skip the putt-putt:). We spent the afternoon looking around Durango and neighboring Bayfield. Fletcher especially enjoyed the goats at a small ranch that we visited on our way back to camp. While in town we bought fresh buffalo in order to have our first buffalo burgers cooked over an open flame. After we all went on a short hike, Jason went to work cutting wood with his camp axe (long process). We finally got the fire hot enough to cook our burgers and they were pretty good! Finished dinner around...well, late...and enjoyed looking at the stars- there were soooo many to see.

Day 8- We decided to make our next stop Grand Junction, CO. The drive there was pretty awesome as we had to travel through a mountain pass carrying the Kiwi behind us. Some of the pictures here are from that drive and I tried to capture the side of the road that had no railing!!! Stayed at James M. Cobb State Park on the CO River. Spent a while doing laundry, playing on the playground, and collecting rocks from a pond. Decided that this was just a stop-and-go place and would pack up the next morning and head out.

Day 9- Headed out of Grand Junction on our way through Fruita, CO to visit the Dinosaur Museum and the Colorado National Monument (see pics). Had a lot of fun at both and wished that we had more time to drive through the entire monument pass. The park rangers helped us decide to visit Vernal, UT in order to see the dinosaur museum there and visit the Dinosaur National Monument. Travelled on the Dinosaur scenic byway which involved another mountain pass...this time with rails ;) Finally made it to Vernal and stayed at the KOA. Dinner...sleep...

Day 10- I am finally caught up. We visited the awesome dinosaur museum (a must-see if in Utah) here in Vernal and the Dinosaur National Monument as well. The bone quarry at the monument is closed, but we still decided it was worth the trip. At the monument, we did get to see some awesom petroglyphs and a pioneer cabin as well as do a little hiking (BTW, it is just as hot in Utah as it is in AL; I don't care if Jason says it is a dry heat :). I have to admit, I only ventured on the hikes where there was shade. Next time we decided that we would have our outside adventures in the a.m. and the inside adventures in the afternoon/p.m. In between these two adventures, we finally got Fletcher that haircut that he requested. Went to the beauty school in Vernal and paid $5. He got a very nice haircut and is very happy with the result. WE ended our day with a very late lunch, a swim in the pool with way too many people, playing on the playground, baths, snacks, blog writing, and finally sleep...

Starting day 11 and on our way to Twin Falls, ID (hopefully)...

Here is Fletcher with his new haircut!!