Stacer Days: Our Trip to Colorado, Part 1

The night before we left, Alan and I packed the car. He was determined to make it work, and he did. I was impressed and relieved.

So after putting the boys down a little earlier than usual and setting my alarm for a ridiculous hour, I got some rest... sort of - since it was our first big trip I was somewhat anxious about what we would need, food, the boys' comfort and ability to sit that long, etc... so my sleep was a little uneasy.

DAY ONE, Saturday July 7, 2012
We left our house 4:40am, after waking the boys with just enough time to change their clothes and help them stumble to the car. They did not go back to sleep, but instead relished in the new found amazement of the outside world when it is dark. They generally go to sleep at about 7:30pm, so they rarely see nighttime and stars, and lights all over the highway. So in lieu of sleeping, they blabbered in the backseat and pointed out everything they could identify while oodling over the rest. Adam kept saying “Mama, look at the pretty lights, ooo pretty.” And Aaron, after about an hour on the road yelled, “What in the world is that? That big blue thing over there?” It was the clouds beginning to change color as the sun was starting to rise. It might be the first time he has seen a sunrise. The sun popped up in its red, glowing form and his eyes were glued on it until the whole circle was visible. He was pretty excited and wanted to know a thing or two about how that was happening.

The boys were amazingly good in the car the first day, full of giggles and silliness... especially considering they got up at 4:30a and never took a nap.

We arrived in Raton, New Mexico at 4:15p (CST), checked into our hotel and let the boys extinguish their pent up energy for a bit.

He was quite proud of himself, and I of my camera for catching this shot.

My boys.

So, Adam needed a diaper change and Aaron was protesting taking his picture with him.

I managed to get them all to mildly cooperate, then I took care of the toxic baby.

You'll notice, Aaron is just starting to get grumpy.

Then, regardless of the early hour, we decided we would get a pizza for dinner and put the boys down for the evening.

My parents arrived in Raton a bit later that evening. They left from San Antonio and drove their motor home up. They stayed in an RV park near the cabin we rented in Lake City. So, after the boys fell asleep, Alan and I met them in the parking lot and hung out for a while, considering it was still only 6:00pm or so, local time.

DAY TWO, Sunday July 8, 2012
Our night in the hotel went as well as it could, considering all of our internal clocks were off and eating schedules and all of that... so we got an early start on the second day's journey that would deliver us to Lake City, Colorado mid-afternoon.

Adam enjoying his breakfast en route.

A few from-the-car-shots of the scenic drive...

Again, the boys did great. They were silly-excited about the mountains and seeing a river next to the road and watching the rafting boats.

Goobs and a loaded down car.

Leaving Salida, looking up toward Monarch Pass. The clouds lingered just long enough for us to explain what was happening to a concerned Aaron.

We got out for a brief stretch and a photo with the Continental Divide post. It was somewhat chilly and Aaron thought he might perish. Adam was unfazed, as usual.

It was about 12:30pm when we came to "The Gate," the name for the the dip in the rock where the road passes through. On the other side is the windy stretch leading into Lake City.