Rocky Mountain High

Saturday was the big family outing. We planned to ride the Georgetown Loop Railroad, grill a picnic lunch, and then take the kids fishing. I was very excited for such a fun day with kids and family.

We got up bright and early, so we could head up the mountain for the train departure at 10:30. We arrived a little early because the GPS was still on Arkansas time. Oh well, we had a little while to spare and decided to continue up the mountain, and go through the Eisenhower Tunnel. I wish there was a safe place to stop and take a picture of the kids, but here is one from the Internet.

Once we arrived in Georgetown, and found the train station and we still had plenty of time for some pictures.

Overlooking Clear Creek, with the railroad bridge in the background.

Waiting for the train, this is as close together as they would get.

Our train ride on the Georgetown Loop Railway, started at Devil's Gate Station.

I Love this picture, now this is sibling love!

Here comes the train over the bridge.

The engine arrives and unhooks, Brian watched intently. Although this train is called a "loop" it only runs back and forth between Devils Gate and Silver Plume. Therefore when it arrives at it's destination the engine unhooks and goes to the back of the train which now becomes the front of the train.

Going under the bridge.

Logan, Kaitland and Brian checking out the scenery.

Emily wanted to sit with me and not the rest of the kids.

On the first leg we road in a covered car like the yellow one right behind the engine, here is our train as we look back going around a curve.

We saw this cute little chipmunk, and Brian threw it a pita chip, here it is eating it.

Looking back on Georgetown.

After the train ride, we found a fun park with a playground in Georgetown that had picnic tables, grills and even a port-a-potty (which Emily had to use). The kids had fun playing while Steve grilled hamburgers.

Kaitland and Emily

The kids played very well together, here are Logan and Brian spying on the girls.

After lunch we continued up the mountain and over to Leadville, CO. I had been to Leadville many years ago, but I didn't remember it. Downtown Leadville was a very cute town, but the view all around as you drive through city is spectacular! At 10,152 feet, Leadville is the highest incorporated city in the US, and still as you look around in every direction are beautiful majestic peaks. I love and miss the Rocky Mountains. I didn't take a picture, and it would be hard to duplicate what you see all around you, but here is one from the Internet that I like.

Just a few miles outside of Leadville, was a small lake that Steve knew about and that had been recently stocked, it would be a great place to take the kids and catch some fish. He was right! The lake was small, but easy to walk to, and the fishing was great. We thought we might get caught in an afternoon thundershower, and it did rain for a few minutes, but we didn't get too wet. And best of all there were no bugs until just before dusk when the mosquitoes came out. The fishing was great, all the kids got a chance to catch a couple of fish. Both the kids got to help reel in a fish, and Brian practiced casting, and was not too bad for a first timer.

Emily was not afraid to hold the fish and didn't say anything about it being slimy.

The mountains are gorgeous, did I mention that?