Reunion 2014 Report

We got back on Friday afternoon from Wife's family's 5th reunion.  They've really got things down pretty well.  This was a much reduced version because of a number of influences so we only had maybe 50% of the total it could have been.  Yet this turned out to be a blessing because we got to spend much more time with various family members than we usually do.  In particular we got to spend lots of time with some of our nieces that we really didn't know that well and that was fun and rewarding.

Wife and I were careful to remember what we learned from our recent European trip and did not push ourselves too hard.  The family has developed a system where each family takes responsibility for a meal.  That means there's only one meal you have to purchase, prepare and clean up after.  Everyone finds it far easier and fairer.  Plus everyone was upping their culinary game as well.

We did a lot of hanging around and talking.  Being in Colorado was great.  Many fewer bugs than the Midwest.  Cooler and drier too.  It was only a 5 hour drive from where we live.  This will be probably the one and only time that we have a reunion this close to us so Wife and I reveled in the lack of travel bounty.

Tribal Rites

First thing we did was get henna tattoos from one of our nieces

Maybe I'm Not A Romantic

One of our major excursions was spending a day on the Durango to Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway.  This gets talked up by people as one of the things you must do in this neck of the woods.  The romance of the old coal powered steam engine going through spectacular scenery.  I for one found it to be something I could have missed.  The experience of sitting in very bumpy 19th century style rail cars for 7 hours was rough on the body.  The spewing of coal fired smoke so that you had ashes and cinders on you while you looked at the lovely scenery through your own personal cloud of pollution grated at the green, granola eater in me.  And frankly I though scenery I saw driving and hiking was equal to anything we saw on the railroad.  Not something I need to do again.

The Train

Some of the better scenery from the traion

Domestic Tranquility

Another niece doing dishes

Sister-in-law, blogger, In The Sticks, practices her Medieval barbering skills.  Hubby wasn't feeling well so I think she was doing leeching next.

Her she models her motorcycle amour.  

This inspired me to develop motor cycle jousting for our next reunion.

Hiking

Many of the family members love the outdoors and hiking.

Right by our campground was a trail into the San Juan National Forest, the Bear Creek Canyon Trail.

It was spectacular.

Scenes On The Road

We drove to Telluride one day and stopped to take these pictures of some of Colorado's 14,000 foot peaks.