Momma Volcano: Tobler Gal Getaway, Part I

(I'm finally getting around to blogging about my great sister-and-mother adventure that happened last month. Yes, I'm a slacker.)

On Wednesday, June 22, 2011, we embarked on our Great Adventure. We were super sorry that my sister Jenafer had a conflict with Girls' Camp (but we're glad she was able to go!), but very excited to leave regular life behind as we headed toward Durango, Mesa Verde, and relaxation! (With a few rounds of garbage rummy thrown in for good measure.)

Mema, Telima, and Keryn headed down from Northern Utah in Mema's little Toyota.

We arrived in Durango just twenty minutes before LaDale did, coming down from Colorado Springs. My sister-in-law Michelle and my brother-in-law John gave us a great welcome, and invited us to join the YM/YW down at the pond for an evening of swimming and hot dogs.

We were pretty tired after the drive, however, and so we declined with thanks and went into town to go to Denny's. The talking, laughter, and teasing were non-stop, as you might expect.

Bright and early the next morning, we drove out to Mesa Verde. Although the park entrance is only about 25 minutes from Durango, the actual stuff to see in the park is another 30-40 minutes away. We weren't sure how many crowds there might be, so we wanted to be there bright and early.

But not before stopping for a group picture, proving that we were there.

We got tickets for the ranger-guided Cliff Palace tour. It was AMAZING to be able to be up so close and personal with the ruins. We had a marvelously knowledgeable guide, as well.

Cliff Palace

Before the tour

We chose Cliff Palace because the other tour (Balcony House) looked a little too scary for Keryn. (So I sent my husband and two eldest children on it during the Ross Family Reunion. Heh heh heh.) There was one part, the ladder at the end, that I was a little worried about, but it turned out just fine.

Bolted ladders in a rock cleft aren't as scary as a steep cliff face with metal chains bolted to it. (Like, for example, at Balcony House.)

We were pretty tired after our tour, so Mema and Telima hung out in the (air-conditioned) museum while LaDale and Keryn walked down the steep-but-paved trail to Spruce Tree House.

LaDale, keeping off the walls

One of the nicest things about our trip was the slow pace we were able to keep. Tired and dusty by 1:00 in the afternoon, we decided to pack it up and come back tomorrow! This gave us a relaxing afternoon/evening at Michelle's house in Durango. Quite possibly, naps were taken. (Longing sigh.)

That night the cards came out. And so did Keryn's front left tooth. (I was eating soft licorice. Suddenly there was something not-so-soft in my mouth. One of my (many) crowns just popped off. Luckily, (a) the crown didn't break; (b) I was in absolutely no pain, although some bemusement; and (c) Michelle and John's best friend is a dentist, and he was willing to see me pretty much right away. After thirty minutes in the dentist chair, the tooth is now (again) permanently affixed. Sigh. We don't have pictures, because I didn't think about it. Probably for the best.)

We do have pictures of our card games, though!