Bar D Chuck Wagon

 The Bar D Chuck Wagon in Durango is fun place for eating and entertainment.

About 100 miles from Fun Valley, we drove to Durango with our friends from Trophy Club, Kandy and Val Franklin.  Good eats!  Good friends!  Good show!

Kandy and Val

The Wranglers are a musical comedy group who entertain nightly during a dinner / theater style show.  If you are ever in Durango, this is one place you don't want to miss.  It's one of the funniest western musical shows around.  There is outdoor seating for diner and show. Diner is bar-b-que with a choice of chicken or beef.  We've been here before and the menu is always the same, but good!   If it rains, there is a big canopy which covers everyone, but the show goes on.  We had a beautiful evening, warm and clear.

Fun Valley 4th of July Parade

The Wranglers

 Just one more thing!  July 4th was the usual fun time at Fun Valley. See the picture of the horses in the annual parade. For more on the parade, see previous year's posts.

Kayaking in Fun Valley

Kayaking in Colorado has been great, as usual.  But, we couldn't go down the river until July.

There was a lot of snow this winter, so the Rio Grande River was flowing fast and high.  We didn't venture into the river until late July and early August.

Joni hauling Kacy's kayak

Joni took a trip down the river with good friends, Kandy and her daughter Kacy.  What an exciting trip that was.

Kacy ran over a rock and put a hole in her kayak.  She slowly deflated and had to pull over to the side of the river.  We were only half way down the 10 mile float and had no one to pick us up and no car nearby.  After thinking of several options, we decided to put Kacy's kayak on Joni's kayak.  Then Kandy and Kacy rode double for the rest of the float.  We had a blast.

Joni and Whitt

Luckily, we made it down to the our take out point and our car.  That little kayak held up 2 people pretty good.


A few days later, a friend of ours named Whitt wanted to go down the river.  It was his first time so we went on a slow, easy float.  And had a great time.  Kayaking is great fun and great exercise.  Just be careful!

More of Aiden

Aiden and Jim at the Beach

I guess you are all going to have to put up with lots and lots of pictures of Aiden.

In the backyard pool

I just can't help it.  He makes my heart melt!

Barbara, Aiden and Uncle Chris

Jim, Barbara and Aiden have just moved to Florida from NYC. We will be able to see all of them more often as we spend our winters in Florida.

Aiden will probably turn into a little fish, with the ocean near by and a pool in his backyard.

Before moving to Florida, Aiden's uncles, (Joni's sons), went to see their new little nephew.  They are excited to be uncles for the first time.

Rest assured, there will be more pictures of Aiden to come.


Has anyone noticed the Texas shirt on Aiden?  He will no doubt be a Longhorn (Chris's school) or a Gator (Ken's school).  Since he's now a Floridian, he will more likely be a Gator.

Isn't he cute?????

Aiden and Uncle Ken

Three Generations

Hiking the Continental Divide in the Snow

Road closed due to snow

 While it was sweltering hot in Texas and the mid section of the country, we went on the Lobo Ovelook Hike on the Continental Divide.  At least we tried to!

Friends we met in Florida came out to Colorado for a few days and we decided to hike.

Too much snow to hike

There was a lot of snow this winter and it hadn't melted yet.  The road up to the trail was actually closed, but we tried to go up anyway.  Well, it was closed for a reason.  There was too much snow to get through.  We parked and walked up.  Elevation was about 12000 feet.  The air was cool and crisp and thin!

As you can see, we didn't get very far. But we had a good time.

What a view

 But, we got far enough to see  a most spectacular view.

Dana, Delton, Joni and Karen

 John and Karen Shampfli, Dana and Karen Lemmerman and us!  Hiking in shorts and sweatshirts!  The campground was about 20 degrees warmer at 8000 feet elevation.

John and Karen

The girls

Oh, I almost forgot!  Breezy the dog was also with us.  He really enjoyed the cooler temps!

John, Dana and Delton also played in the Annual Mac Henson Golf Tournament together. They enjoyed the golf and the company, but didn't win.  Oh well, maybe next year.