Capulin Volcano and Colorado

Happy 4th of July!  Today we drive the rest of the way to Colorado!  We started our day at 8:00 with breakfast at the hotel and then we were on our way to Colorado, with a pit stop at Capulin Volcano National Monument.

Both cars were running low on gas so that was the first order of business.  We thought we would run across a gas station on the way out of Amarillo, but within minutes of the leaving the hotel the city was behind us and we were already in the middle of nowhere.  At this point, Rodney started to get nervous.  I searched for the next gas station along our route and I was not finding any.  Rodney gets more nervous.  He started talking about turning back or altering our route to get to the nearest gas station.  I finally found one along the route, but it was going to be cutting it close.  Rodney insists I call them to make sure they have gas.  I joke about pushing the limits and seeing how far we can go.  Rodney was not amused.  I'm happy to report that we made it to the Hitchin' Post with gas to spare.  Rodney told the person working inside that they had saved us and he said that they save a lot of people!

With the anxiety level brought back down, we were ready for some fun.  A few hours later, we could see Capulin Volcano in the distance.  We visited here 3 years ago and it was really fun.  

Capulin Volcano

Family pic at the park sign

We checked in at the Visitor Center and we were put on a wait list to drive to the top.  There are only 20 parking spaces up there so they send people up as spaces become available.  We were hoping to get Caleb's 4th grader National Parks Pass here, but the ranger said that they ran out yesterday and the guy who gets them is off for the holiday.  He'll have to wait until we get to Rocky Mountain NP.  We applied sunscreen and bug spray (the bugs were already eating us alive) while we waited and soon it was our turn.  The road winds around the volcano all the way to the rim.  It reminds me of Mistletoe Mountain in the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Christmas episode.  

We reached the top and started the 1 mile hike around the rim.  It is pretty steep and the elevation doesn't make it any easier. 

As we started up the trail, Ryan began to go off-trail to look over the sides of cliffs and things.  I told the kids, "Do not follow Uncle Ryan!  He is not considered a responsible adult in these situations."  A little while later, we spotted Ryan and Caleb up ahead and getting close to the edge.  I yelled to Caleb, "Don't follow Uncle Ryan!" and Ryan yelled back, "I was following him!"  Ha!

Starting up the trail

It was a beautiful, clear day and the views at the top were amazing.

We took plenty of rest and water breaks.

There was plenty of wildlife to see too.  This lizard was pretty cool and he politely posed for everyone to get a picture of him with each camera.

If you look close, you can see a bee inside this flower.

And then there were the ladybugs.  Oh, the ladybugs!  We remembered them fondly from our last visit.  Many of the bushes were just covered with them.  Unfortunately, they became more numerous and aggressive the higher we hiked.  By the time we reached the highest point, we were practically running through swarms of ladybugs with our arms flailing.  

Big family pic at the top of the volcano

I took this pic at the end of the trail looking up and across the crater.  The elevation change along the rim was impressive.

Mom and Dad were happy to finish the hike!

We all decided we'd had enough hiking and bugs for one day, so we skipped the hike down into the crater and headed down the mountain.

After a quick lunch at Subway, we got back on the road and Google Maps directs to take a detour off the interstate.  We exit and turn right (there is a Detour sign at this intersection pointing left).  Then we make a left turn past a sign that said Road Closed - Local traffic only.  We're still blindly following Google past all these warning signs.  After a mile or two down a winding, residential road we see this sign blocking the turn that Google is telling us to take.  The handwritten sign says "Google is wrong. Dead end.  Muddy road."  We backtracked and got back on the interstate where there no delays or issues.  Thanks, Google.

We made it to Colorful Colorado!!

Our plan for the night was to grill brats (because you have to grill on the 4th of July, right?) and then watch the town fireworks near our cabin.  As we drive into town, I noticed a sign that said the fireworks were cancelled.  We were all confused as to why they would cancel them, but I was glad for our surprise fireworks show the night before.

Soon we realized why they were cancelled when the sky opened up and it was a downpour.  Unfortunately, Rodney had put the brats on the grill just before trying to beat the storm.  Rodney braved the rain and risk of lightning to grill our dinner.  Thanks, Rodney!

We enjoyed our dinner and a red, white, and blue dessert inside the cabin.

After dinner, we took a walk around the neighborhood.  Our cabin is beautiful and has a view of Pikes Peak.

We finished off the evening with some games and computer repair (I got the blue screen of death today!  Luckily, Ryan and I got it working so the blog can continue!).  We even got to see some random fireworks here and there from the cabin.