Vail and good friends

Madi here-reviewing comments on the blog and posting as we drive
through spectacular Glenwood Canyon. Though I hear we are going to
think it's just a teeny tiny hole in the ground once we get to the
Grand Canyon. Good thing we are driving through this first. I can't
believe I am connected to the internet down here. He he.

We just spent two days in Edwards, near Vail, with Sean, one of biking
buddies who used to live in Maryland. Oddly enough, his wife and son
are in Maryland right now. Hi Kelly, wish you were here!!

We got to drive up this awesome dirt road, yes, dirt road called Red
Sandstone Road (guess what color our gray van is now?-no prize will be
given for this answer) for 10 miles. We were rewarded at the top with
a ranch with horses, a hot lunch and a lake with canoes and kayaks.
Not to mention the obvious, spectacular views of the mountains around
Vail. Real back country though, no commercial nuthin'! Casey and
Alec did the 2-person kayak thing and loved it, they stayed out longer
than we did. Mike, Ben and I canoed all went around the whole lake.
Then while Alec and Casey were still on the lake, Ben played with an 8
week old Chihuahua (sp?) named Butters. He was in heaven.

Then we drove back down and went into Vail, got ice cream and coffee,
did a little window shopping, an attempt at geocaching down in town
which was unproductive and then, dramatic gasp, rode the gondola up
the mountain. I think it was the Eagle Bahn. From the top we could
see another gorgeous view including Holy Cross and a few other very
tall mountains. And we found our first nano-magnetic geocache. Mike
actually found it - underneath a rain gutter. It was very small. And
my pen exploded on it, mental note to self, many things explode at
altitudes of 12,000 feet-pens, lotions, shampoo, and Pringles! I bet
pancake batter would explode too if I made it and sealed. He he.

Back to the geocache. It had a very small strip of paper rolled up in
it which you take out and sign and date and then put back. Then we
rode the gondola back down and went back to Sean's for dinner. Oh,
after sitting in traffic for 45 minutes on 70. There was a car
accident. Traffic in Colorado, who'da thunk? But then we had
delicious grilled marinated flank steak, grilled corn on the cob,
fresh bread and beer. The kids also had broccoli and big chocolate
cookies (we're all kids aren't we?) and since we had dinner so late we
had dessert first. ;-)

Video is self explanatory. The pic of the kids in the gondola is
taken above the village of Lionshead in Vail. Pic of the mtns is just
general pic of the scenery out here. Contented sigh.

So, onto Ouray and Telluride.

Madi and the fam.

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