We left our house at 7:30 AM this morning to head to Colorado National Monument - about 4 hours away. We wanted to get there early to get a camp spot.
We stopped just outside of Avon to use the bathroom. There was a museum but it was closed for the season so we only got to check out the train and the old general store/post office.
Then it was time to run down to the river to play with...
the cattails. I don't care for the flying things but Dad and the kids do.
Back in the car to keep working our way to
Colorado National Monument which is just outside of Fruita. We made it just a little after 1 PM. Dad and Bob went over to the campground while the kids and I stopped at Taco Bell - they were starving. The men showed back up with bad news - the campground was full but the Monument might have some spots so Bob headed over while we finished lunch.
Luckily, we were able to get a spot and we set up camp.
Then Dad hung up a hammock but one hammock for 3 kids won't work so...
he hung up a second one.
We made it to the Visitor Center and picked up our
Junior Ranger books, found out about the Ranger program tonight. We got to bike ride to the Visitor Center which was a lot of fun. After dinner (hot dogs and veggies) we headed out for the Ranger program about the geology of the park. Our kids were the only ones there so they got to participate a lot.
We made it back to camp, rode around the campsites, played with the neighbor kids and waited for the stars to come out. I remember being able to see the Milky Way in the night sky as a kid and I don't remember seeing it lately so I really wanted to see it. The kids had a great time watching the stars come out. Finally about 9:30 PM it was time for bed. They all fall asleep instantly.
