Category: Colorado

See that little brown line running up the mountain? It’s called “The Incline.” Jenny, Adam, and I decided to get up at 5:30 a.m. on our last day of vacation to go climb it. You’re thinking that we’re a bunch of crazies, aren’t you? I was thinking the same thing when, for one very long minute, I had to encapsulate myself in an extremely foul smelling porta potty at the bottom of the mountain.

Why am I not in my warm, comfortable bed in my pleasant smelling hotel room? . . .

Because I love a good physical challenge {excluding natural childbirth, which I was perfectly content not to attempt}. Jenny and I were discussing how we actually love the feeling of waking up with sore muscles because it makes us feel like we’ve really done something hard. Yes, I realize we may be a little insane.

{Just FYI, what appears to be the top of the incline in the pic below is actually a false summit! Talk about crushing. There’s a good bit more to go that you can’t see.}

The Incline is about 3 miles from bottom to top, 2800 railroad ties, and 2000 vertical feet {the base is about 6000 ft, and you’re above 8000 feet at the top}.

It was definitely a challenge. Ok, it was seriously hard. We took a good many short stops for oxygen and water. Adam and I slowed Jenny down for sure. This was her third time to climb it, and she was much more acclimated to the altitude. Heck, she’d been running half-marathons in CO!

Honestly, though, I really enjoyed it. It was one of my favorite things that we did in Colorado {maybe because I’m crazy, as we established earlier}. It was exhilarating to be out on that mountain first thing in the morning, working up a good sweat. The climb view was breathtaking.

We made it to the TOP!

And {clearly} my hair was feelin’ the pain as much as my legs. Instead of going back down Incline route, we jogged down Barr trail. Have you ever tried jogging down a mountain? It’s a real, live wonder I didn’t break my neck.

It really was a great way to end a great vacation. A big thanks to Doc and J-J for keeping Mr. Boy!

One reason for coming to CO was to attend Jenny’s graduation ceremony from New Life School of Worship. On Friday, the day before graduation, we were able to meet a lot of her friends/classmates at a family picnic.

Saturday was graduation day. We had a sweet time of worship to kick off a really meaningful ceremony. Each year, one student is chosen by his/her classmates to give a student response at the graduation ceremony. Jenny was chosen this year. She did an excellent job with her speech. If you know my sister, this comes as no surprise.

So glad we got to be there for this graduation {especially considering the fact that we missed Jen’s college graduation because she was playing in a softball tournament and we missed my college graduation because I was getting married the next day}. It was good to finally celebrate a graduation.

So, we’re in Colorado. The weather is not too hot and not too cool. The scenery is unreal. We’re out and about, breathing fresh air in wide open spaces. It’s pretty fabulous.

I’ll admit, vacation is a tad less relaxing with a little one along. Honestly, though, he’s been such a trooper. We’ve dragged him everywhere and kept him up WAY past his normal bedtime every night, but he’s hanging in there and enjoying the ride! He did well on both flights out here. We entertained him with books, videos on the ipad, and lots of snacks. I may have had to change a dirty diaper on the airplane, and L may have had a MAJOR vomiting episode the minute we got into the rental car {too many snacks?}, but other than that, travel day was relatively smooth. No big deal that we carried our baby into the hotel in nothing but his diaper and then had to completely wash puke out of the car-seat liner in the sink. Oh, parenthood…

On Thursday, we hiked 4 miles up Pike’s Peak. It was pretty steep, and I’m not sure how Adam did it with almost 20 extra pounds on his back. Adam and Jen jogged the 4 miles back down, so I carried Mr. Boy down. He enjoyed a nice little nap, and my back was on fire by the end.

Afterward, we enjoyed lunch at this quaint little bistro in Manitou Springs.We also visited Garden of the Gods on Thursday, and we’ve had a pretty full day today. But pictures will have to wait because I’m exhausted. And now I rest.