[Photos taken 07-10 August 2022, posted online 22 April 2023. I’m officially ridiculously far behind on my blogging!]
We flew from Spokane, Washington, to Denver, Colorado, picked up our rental car and made our way to Sarah and Augusto’s place. En route we were given a glimpse of the mad downpour that can happen in the area, with multiple cars simply driving to the side of the road and waiting the rain out rather than continue onwards almost blind.
Our Colorado days were calm in comparison to the first week of our US stay. We literally spent the first whole day lounging, although I did manage to get our travel insurance to OK Anna getting an x-ray of her ankle (not broken). The following day, most of us drove into the mountains to play in an elevated obstacle course, splash in some fresh river water, and check out flood remnants.
The following day we split up, with some of us shopping ’till we dropped, and others doing more relaxing things!
Sunday 07 August 2022
We made it! Then ate dinner and promptly collapsed into sofas!
Monday 08 August 2022
Anna and I began the day by visiting the local health center that had an x-ray machine. I had spent quite some time on the phone the night before calling our travel insurer contacts in Europe to get it all authorized. Filling out all the paperwork at the clinic was “interesting”, but at least we were pleasently surprised that she agreed to take Anna’s Icelandic electronic driver’s licence (on her phone) as proof of identity.
Happily, there was no fracture, so Anna was fitted with a boot so that she could walk and get her foot moving again.
Since the insurance thing took so long (the insurance office in Iceland was apparently on holiday), I asked the guy what would happen if there was a true emergency. Apparently then it’s ok to just call an ambulance. Good to know!
We swung by Best Buy on the way back (yay, they had a wheelchair we could borrow!) to pick out a new computer for Anna, as she was starting university a week later, and her Chromebook simply would no longer do. We narrowed it down to about what brand and type she wanted, and then ordered one online with better specs.
Extreme lounging going on in the living room. The kids got to know each other again, and it really helped that this time around Emma could participate in the conversation (“thank you YouTube”).
One of the staff members setting out harnesses. You started at a certain time, and could play for a set amount of time.
The obstacles were similar to others we’ve seen, with a few notable examples, like chairs and a bench to chill in. Basically, you were free to go any which way you wanted. You moved up and down a level in the center, then traveled out to the outer ring, and between obstactles there. Only a handful were one-way only.
Emma making her final descent after playing for close to two hours! She mostly hung out at the lower level, while long-limbed Bjarki stayed at the top level. Sadly, Anna was in no shape to climb, so she and Finnur had stayed behind at home base.
A view of the mountain in the backyard.
Next up, food!
We kept driving into the mountains, heading for Rocky Mountain National Park. We noticed a bunch of people had stopped and were looking at something, so we stopped too.
The reason for the commotion was a moose (elk?) that was bathing in a small lake/puddle.
Just perfect, and this time around there were water shoes for everybody.
Sarah enjoying a quiet moment.
Kids enjoying themselves.
We met a guy with a friendly dog, and Emma got a treat to give the dog for a handshake.
Much joy!
After about an hour of enjoying the water, we packed up and went to the next spot.
We stopped at a place called the Alluvial Fan where in 1982 a big flood (due to dam failure further up) took place, pushing a lot of earth and stone down the hillside and all the way into nearby Estes Park. This is the very amazing all-access path to it.
A grand end to a grand tour. Then we drove back down out of the mountains.
That evening Augusto’s mom invited us all to dinner. She lives very close by.
A game in progress.
Chatting in progress.
Post-dinner chatting.
Very cozy!
Wednesday 10 August 2022
It was time to go shopping, so I dragged Anna and Bjarki to an outlet mall close by, as both of them needed new threads.
Yay, wheelchairs available!
I left my driver’s licence with the lady at the management desk, and got a wheelchair for Anna in exchange. First order of business was to get the blood sugar levels up.
Bjarki got most of the shopping attention that day (sporty stores), which he absolutely hated. Anna on the other hand found that she quite enjoyed shopping now that she didn’t have to walk quite so much!
After close to five hours of shopping we had to return the wheelchair, and ventured homewards.
