For Christmas, my bf’s oldest (with help from her younger siblings) made me a scrapbook of our time together this last summer and I realized I hadn’t really done a post on our trip yet here on the blog.
Sometimes my hiking is part of a great plan, like this last summer when I joined a road trip with him and his children (did I mention there are 4?) on a trip to his home town of Colorado Springs, CO. He takes 2 weeks every summer to go out and explore the natural wonders of our country with them, camping and hiking along the way.
I joined them after they had been on the road for a week, meeting them at his family’s house for a few days and then caravanning back home stopping at some of their favorite places along with some new spots. It was also great meeting his family for the first time and seeing where he grew up.
It was ALL new to me. Not that I haven’t driven in this part of the country before, I have just always been on the way to other places and didn’t have time to stop.
Not only did we stop at some great national and city parks, we visited famous Colorado attractions like the Manitou Springs Incline and Glen Eyrie. He grew up on it’s property as his parents both worked for the Navigators, a wonderful Christian ministry organization. What a beautiful place to have for the background of your childhood!
Of course, not all was rosey. In fact, some of it just plain sucked. For everyone.
The pictures only tell a part of the story. This was their first time having someone else join along on their annual adventure.
He and I are still learning about each other and how everything is going to work together with not only our relationship but with the kids, as well. There was miscommunication, ambiguous roles and conflicting expectations. Maybe even a few tears. Not much unlike a lot of families, I guess.
He is not a planner and I am. He and the kids are used to doing things one way, and I am trying to fit into all of that as we meld our lives together. It’s definitely a work in progress and it may be one of the hardest things I will ever do.
They are 100% worth it
The pictures in the album will only tell a part of the story to those who thumb through our memories, all the smiles and adventures.
But we will know the growing pains.
Here are some of the trip reports I wrote up for the places we visited as we spent time together learning more about each other, I hope you enjoy the pictures and details!
Great Sand Dunes National Park
Prater Trail, Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde National Park Cliff Dwellings
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