Sunday, August 26, 2012

My favorite running trails

I have a very short list of  my favorite places to go running in all the world.  These are the places that as a runner, I dream about hitting the trail.  When I say that the list is short, well, it consists now of three places: Zion National Park where I went with my mom and dad in high school and stayed at River Mary's house, somewhere near Nakuru Kenya where I went with Karen prior to meeting up with Rashi (we went for a run and there were giraffes and chimpanzees in the middle of the road) and now Les Diablerets Switzerland.  Les Diablerets is a small ski town in the Swiss Alps.  I was fortunate to get the opportunity to attend a conference there for a week in June.  Every morning, I went for a run along the river that runs from the glaciers and through the sleepy little town.  There is a biking/running/cross country ski path that runs along the river.  And were the path ends, well, there is a road that passes by all the farms with the sheep and cattle to keep you company.  What a beautiful place.  I hope that I get back there again someday.










Elizabeth's first day of kindergarten

It is hard for me to believe that we have a kindergartner!  Some of my first memories are of kindergarten . . . Grandma Bea, my class senior citizen, playing at the park by the school, the see saws and swings (that are now probably prohibited at parks), riding my bike to school, waving goodbye to my momma.  Elizabeth loves her class and her teacher and is really excited about learning.  She is such a curious little girl.  Today she told me that when she grows up she wants to be a mommy scientist astronaut who also delivers newspapers.  What more could anyone ask for!!



Seattle meets Colorado

Michael, Courtney and the girls ventured out to CO last month.  We had a great time together.  Since we've been living in "temporary quarters" for the past few months, we decided to rent a condo in Breckinridge that would fit the entire crew.  We had a great time.  The first day we went to the Breck Fun Park.  As you can see from the pictures, there are pony rides, bouncy castles, bungee jumpers etc.  The kids had a really fun time.  The adults were worn out (and out of cash) in about 1.5 hours.  Don't get me wrong, it's fun, but more so for the kids than all parties.



Avery and Madeline on the gondola.


 Elizabeth and Regan on the Gondola
 

 Elizabeth and Regan practically spent the entire time in the jumpy castle.  






Panning for gold.  




The next day we decided to cruise downtown Breck in style, like only a crew with 5 kids under the age of 8 can.  We had a blast, going in all the shops, playing in the park and in the river and going out to lunch at the Breck Brewery for the $5 workman's special.








Michael and Court went to a wedding one afternoon/evening and Jan and I got the five kiddos.  We went back to our townhouse and as you can see, the kids (and us too) had a lot of fun.  At one point, I think that they managed to take out every toy that the kids have.  The thing that is so great about all of the kids is how well they all get along.  They play so nicely together and it is such a joy for me to have the chance to spend time with every one of them.  They all have such unique and beautiful personalities.  

One of the things that we love about Golden is all the great outdoors stuff that there is to do.  There are parks everywhere and always something going on downtown from parades, fireworks, art shows, farmers markets and a few really great restaurants   








When we moved to Golden, our first purchase was two black tubes for Clear Creek.  On any given weekend, there are hundreds if not thousands of people that tube down clear creek.  In previous summers, the flows have been too high for tubing, but this summer the flows are so low that everyone seems to flock to the creek.  I must say, it is nothing less than a blast.  We of course had to take Michael one afternoon during their visit!  He agreed that tubing is a Golden CO highlight.



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