End of Summer Travel -- Part 2

Okay, so I promised to conclude our trip to Colorado. Our trip actually ended not in Colorado but Seattle. We had a stop over in Seattle during Labor Day weekend to visit our Washington friends. It was a very nice way to end our trip. We spent two days camping outside Tacoma with the Wright family.

Our camp hosts, Cindy and Bill.

Friends hanging out in trees.

Everyone had a great time -- climbing trees, running through the playground, checking out marine life on the beach, picking blackberries, eating good food, and shopping! And, it didn't even rain! The kids went crazy and just had the best time romping around with their buddies Kier and Delaney.

Checking out the sea life on the beach.

One big starfish.

Two kids in the dog house.

Yummy black berries!

We also had a very short visit with the Sterk family -- too short really but nice to have a quick visit and catch up before our flight back to Alaska. We already miss our Colorado family and Washington friends and hope to see you all again soon!

A quick note about the fire I mentioned in Part 1. So, the day we return back to Alaska we heard about a fire near my childhood town, Gold Hill, outside of Boulder. Turns out that it is a huge deal and the fire burns buildings of our friends the Laughlins, the very same family that we had lunch with before leaving Colorado!

Gold Hill two days before the fire.

Riding the wooden horse that Jack built. I think the horse made it through the fire but it burned right up to this spot.

Kids playing on old playhouse (now gone).


The sauna and office before the fire.

The sauna and office during the fire.

The fire also burned our neighbor's day camp and ranch -- not all of it but enough of it.

Trojan Ranch (Colorado Mtn. Ranch) before the fire.

Trojan a few days later.

Photo of the fire surrounding our old house (the white one).

Fortunately, no people were hurt despite it being the worst fire on record in Colorado. Anyway, it was very emotional for our family. Our friends are still working through the chaos of a disaster and will for several months to come.