Write My Life

With a map in hand our family headed off the paved Garden of the Gods trail. We walked to several well-marked sites with great success, but eventually it became clear that we were no longer on the map. We wanted to be walking toward the car but we were walking away from it.

When we saw the main road and a picnic area with a map, we figured out our position. Our trail was not on the picnic area map and we were far from the car with two tired children. Fortunately, Mike’s parents saw us from their car and stopped. The drove Mike to our car and Mike picked up Jackie, Jennifer and I.

We checked the map and found our trail was not marked on it. Blame it on a poor map.

It took over 17 years but the Powers family all gathered together in 2006. They gathered in Colorado Springs from 7 states – Colorado, California, Illinois, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Louisiana and Indiana. The Powers family includes all the sons, daughters and grandchildren of Jeanette and John Powers. Mike’s mom is one of their daughters.
The family met in Colorado Springs at the Black Forest Bed and Breakfast. We stayed in two cabins and shared our evening meals together in the larger cabin. Aunt Ginger provided meals. Aunt Maureen put together a special dinner with grilled fish. In addition to eating, we played games, talked, and watched a nightly slideshow of my photographs from the day’s events.

Hot and dry.

That’s the typical July weather report for Colorado. In fact, as we arrived in Colorado, they were experiencing a drought. During our visit some relief came. It rained Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The temperatures were also much cooler than usual. Fortunately the rain only altered our plans a little. The Colorado natives kept telling us the rain and temperature was unusual but they were also glad for it.

July 6-8, 2006

Chris saddled her horse and let each of the girls sit on top. Chris led Jackie around their property then her daughter led Jennifer. It was Jackie’s second time on a horse and Jennifer’s first time. They were not disappointed!

July 6, 2006

Questions:

• What are your horse’s names?
• What do you feed your horses?
• How often do you ride your horses?

Jackie’s current fascination with horses led her to ask my friend Chris many questions about her horses. Usually shy with strangers, Jackie’s current horse interest enabled her to put that aside. She asked good questions and learned some new things.

July 6, 2006

At Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument we learned about the Redwood trees in Colorado and we saw the petrified Redwood trees. We hiked on the Petrified Forest Loop trail and saw the petrified Redwoods that had been buried almost 35 million years ago by volcanic eruptions.

“The fossils, rocks, hills, and valleys that make up Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument reveal to us an ancient story of ancient redwood forests, volcanic eruptions, and a climate much different than today. In addition to a rich ancient history, the Florissant valley also contains the stories of the prehistoric hunting and gathering Paleo-Indian, the Ute people, the travels of a pioneer nation taking advantage of the Homestead Act of 1862, and of early scientists making their way through discovery into a different time. This land once secluded by its mountain terrain is now easily accessible to be enjoyed by all.”

July 6, 2006

“It must be around the corner,” I said as the drove. But it wasn’t.

The road to Florissant Fossil X National Monument took much longer than anticipated. It was a relief when we finally arrived – an hour later than planned. We observed fossils of ancient insects and plants in the visitor center.

Rocky Mountain National Park may have been a park of outstanding beauty but for me it was also a photographer’s delight. I took over 200 photographs in 2 days at Rocky Mountain National Park. This was due to 4 important things:

1. Great Scenery. I could not pass the gorgeous lakes, waterfalls and wildflowers without taking photographs.
2. Patient Companions. Those who hiked with me were willing to wait while I stopped to take photographs
3. An Understanding Co-Photographer. As a photographer, Uncle Jack understood the importance of taking photographs. He even provided advice on locations and timing for taking the best photographs.
4. Knowledgeable Tour Guide. As tour guide, Uncle Jack chose hikes with outstanding scenery and photographic opportunities.

July 5, 2006

Tundra : a level or rolling treeless plain that is characteristic of arctic and subarctic regions, consists of black mucky soil with a permanently frozen subsoil, and has a dominant vegetation of mosses, lichens, herbs, and dwarf shrubs; also : a similar region confined to mountainous areas above timberline

I wanted to see the Rocky Mountain tundra so Uncle Jack drove us along the Trail Ridge Road. Short grasses and small wildflowers covered the ground of the tundra. On the tundra we saw marmots and a Clark’s Nutcracker. Clouds covered the mountains but occasionally the clouds passed allowing us to see the green valley below. It was a very different scene from the rest of the park, but beautiful as well.

3 things speak to my love of nature:

• A winding stream flowing over rocks
• A large area of wildflowers in bloom
• A beautiful clear sky and sunshine

All three of these things were present on a small stretch of the hike to Emerald Lake. It was fabulous.

July 5, 2006