The Continental Divide and Horseback riding

On Monday we visited the Continental Divide in the morning. I can't explain why, with a degree in Geography, I didn't realize that an increase of 3000 feet in elevation would have a decrease of 18 degrees F. It was in the upper 40's but we were in short sleeves! We found enough extra layers stashed in the van.

Dewey, Teresa, Wendy, and David stayed to explore while the girls, Mom and I drove back down to Pagosa Springs and horseback riding. This was Gabby and Teresa's first time, and it was wonderful. Gabby's horse was named Little Momma, Teresa's was Ceasar, Rachel road Shadow, I road Duke, and Mom road Two Spot.

Chimney Rock

Tuesday we visited Chimney Rock. There we took a tour up to the top of the formation (well, a few of us made it all the way up). While we waited for the tour leader, the girls excavated fossils and bones from a sand box, and Rachel played with the flocks of hummingbirds that buzzed around the feeders outside the gift shop.

Durango

In Durango we visited the train museum, strolled around time and ate lunch at a wonderful old-fashioned restaurant.

After lunch we drove up to the town of Silverton, deeper into the mountains, and took a tour of an old mine (sorry, my battery ran down and I didn't get any pictures after Durango.)

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San Juan River

Thursday we found a spot on the San Juan River right by Pagosa Springs where the kids played in the water and threw rocks. Gabby found a large bone which she insisted on bringing home to show their science teacher.

Pagosa Springs

Thursday afternoon Teresa and I went to the hot springs in down town Pagosa Springs while Dewey took the kids mini golfing. The springs are a lovely spa, with pools ranging in temperature from a cool 98 degrees up to 113 degrees. The smell can be intense but the water feels lovely.

Mesa Verde

Friday morning we headed out to Mesa Verde with Dewey Howard and Teresa. We ate lunch at a campsite then took the 'quick' tour of Spruce House cliff dwelling by the the museum:

Petrified Forest

We reached the Petrified Forest and painted desert late in the afternoon July 14 (Friday).

Speligman, AZ on Historic Route 66

Speligman has an old-time main street dedicated to Route 66 nostalgia, and not much else. We stopped there on the way out for gas and lunch, and loved it so much we pulled in for breakfast on the way back.