This past week we enjoyed a trip to northwest Colorado. We took along our ATVs, a camper or two, and plenty of food. We stayed on a ranch just east of Walden, CO. in a large cabin.
The ranch lays in a large basin called North Park up in the mountains around 8500 feet elevation in Jackson County. The population of this county is 1350 people, the fourth least populated county in Colorado.
Our son BJ worked construction during the winter months on this ranch many years ago. The ranch is managed by an Oskaloosa native, Mark. BJ met his wife Cassia here when she worked for the ranch doing horse chores. Her parents, Mike and Melody, owned and operated a hardware store in Walden at the time.
The ranch adjoins a state forest with trails going to the top of the surrounding mountains. Below little Jackson is enjoying a ride with his dad, Kurt, and Uncle Mike.
We put around 100 miles on our Rangers riding the trails and enjoying the beauty of God's creation.
Often near the top or by a lake we would stop and eat lunch the girls prepared that morning.
We learned to fly fish while we were there. It was a trick trying to bounce the lure off the top of the water. We did catch one fish and grilled him for supper.
The little girls thought they needed to fish as well so they used sticks, twine, and a bobber, (no hooks), to fish in a puddle close by. :)
Dave and Sheryl are friends of ours. Dave and I serve on a board in Des Moines together. They have a home in the mountains on 35 acres near Steamboat Springs, about an hour away. We took an afternoon and went and visited them.
After our visit and seeing their house we went out to eat for a change at a Mexican outdoor restaurant next to a creek.
The following morning Mark, the ranch manager, and his son, Will, stopped by just after breakfast. They said they had to check the cattle on the Johnny Moore Mountain and asked if anyone wanted to help.
Kurt and BJ quickly agreed to help so they saddled up and loaded 4 horses and headed out. They rode most of the day.
Later that afternoon when they returned everyone enjoyed a horseback ride.
Grandpa enjoyed playing with the grandkids. We had no radio. The TV didn't work and we had very little cell phone service. It was very relaxing.
We had family devotions in the evenings.
Waldon, CO is not exempt from all the troubles the rest of the country experiences. It has a judge and a district attorney in the courthouse to punish the bad guys. They have folks that drink too much. It has broken marriages and single parent families. The residents there struggle to keep businesses open.
However it was a good visit. It was a time to unwind before a busy harvest season. God's creation and handiwork reminded me of His promises and the fact that He is still in charge in spite of all the world's troubles we heard about on the CNN channel at our motel on our way home.
Time off is also a time for family to appreciate each other. Thanks for the visit. See you next week.
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