Class 3 Whitewater Rafting

I said it was a once in a lifetime opportunity, meaning once in my life was going to be enough. But now that I've done it, I might just go back. You should be able to find Matteo, Aunt Vickie, Nana, and me in the photos below (well, the 2nd one anyway). Turns out it was a pretty big year for snow fall. The Arkansas river was running as high as 5800cfs (cubic feet/second) recently. They close some sections of the river (Class 5) above 3200cfs. That's not a record, but pretty darn high. The area along the Royal Gorge Railroad was closed. But our Class 3 section was open, so off we went. Our outfitter was Raft Masters of Canon City. There are a few more photos here. They took all the photos.

Gators and Gorges

Who knew Colorado had alligators?! Well it does, at the Colorado Gators Reptile Park. It's located about 15 miles north of Alamosa along Hiway 17. It all started with tilapia farming back in 1977. They brought in Florida alligators to be waste disposals. They still farm tilapia in 5 different locations, and the alligators still eat the waste (and supplements as well). It turned out to be well worth the stop. We ended the day with dinner on the Royal Gorge Route Railroad. All the photos are here.

Who knew there was a red-tail catfish?

Arkansas River at Canon City. We rafted just upstream of here.

Rocks and Railroading

Wait, what?! Rocks and railroading together! Yes, please. Papa and Matteo took a ride on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic RR's once-a-year Geology Train today. Below are just a few of the pics. For more of my text about the event, go here (includes a link to "all photos"). To go directly to all the photos (no text), go here.

Aunt Vickie and Nana dropped Matteo and me in Antonito, CO.

We walked through 1.6 billion year old rocks.

Off to Alamosa, CO

Matteo, Aunt Vickie, Nana, and Papa headed off today for Alamosa, CO which will be our San Luis Valley base for a couple days while we:

• Visit the town
• Ride the Cumbres and Toltec's Geology Train
• Check out the "beach" at the Great Sand Dunes
• See the Colorado Gators
• Ride the Royal Gorge Route Railroad
• Do some whitewater rafting

(Alamosa, CO was the base for the greater part of the Colorado Fall Color Speeder Excursion Jamie took in the Fall of 2017.)

Here are various photos over this weekend from various cell phones...

We told Tracy and Matt that Matteo was picking
out a shark tattoo in Alamosa...

Nonprofit coffee house in Alamosa. Great cinnamon rolls.
Worked by volunteers. Milagros Coffee House

The Rubi Slipper in Alamosa. Great burger menu.
You've got to try the Tower of Power.

The end of the line for the Geology Train was Chama, NM.

The ROAST - Craft Coffee & Libations. Had breakfast there twice!
Right next to (part of?) San Luis Valley Brewing Co. (Zach recommended).

Matteo got some honey from the mercantile at The Roast.

The Great Sand Dunes was flooded because of heavy snow melt. Unreal.
Vickie and Lynn went here while Matteo and Jamie did the Geology Train.

Aboard the Royal Gorge Route Railroad.

That's a bridge over the Royal Gorge.

The one kissing the goat looks the most normal!?

At Colorado Gators. That's Gus being held.

Pool with Aunt Vickie

OK, so Vickie's not in any of these pics. She and Lynn did Pilates and then a water aerobics class, so they were "missing" much of the time. Trust me, she was there. She just arrived last night and we're off tomorrow for a couple days of train riding and river rafting. But first, dinner at the club tonight!

Oh, forgot, Josh and John's ice cream last night before Vickie's arrival.

Littles at the Pool

Tracy: "The pool is the best. And so much better with friends! David is pretty much water safe, no more puddle jumpers! Jonathan still has a way to go with swimming but the water does make his pains go away for awhile. Lexi does lessons next week!!"

Chiari update

Tracy: This little man has been struggling. To the outside world he looks amazing but by end of day and behind closed doors the pain is back, headaches are back, and sleepless nights are back. We go in next week for another MRI - either way if it is stable or shows something - we have a hill to climb. So we pray for God's grace, and we pray for answers. Because Chiari often doesn’t have answers. #chiariawareness #chiarimalformation #inthisfamilynoonefightsalone #invisibleillness