USA Pro Cycling Challenge - Colorado 2010

This summer we bent our rules on Claire and TV during the month of July and let Claire watch some of the Tour de France. We never anticipated that we would create a bike junkie. Claire loved watching the bike race and we would find her holding the remote and asking for bikes. On some of the teething nights, bikes would be the only thing that would calm her down and get her to sleep.

The whole family was excited this August as the USA Pro Cycling Challenge was here in Colorado - with many of our favorite riders from the Tour de France. We took a day off from work and school and watched the Prologue from the beautiful Garden of the Gods. We arrived early in the day in order to secure our amazing spot on the road (we were in a tight corner and when we stood on that side of the road, the bikes came amazing close to you) and to check out the team warm up area. Claire was on top of the world throughout the day as she watched a motorcycle come roaring by, followed by a bike, followed by a car with bikes on top - over and over again throughout the afternoon- all of this with a helicopter flying overhead.

Dave and Claire in front of the HTC Highroad team bus, sadly this team is ending this year.

The warm up board and bikes of team BMC

The broom wagon, which is suppose to sweep up riders that are not going to make the time cut for the day- luckily no one was "swept up" on day one.

Cadel Evans (Team BMC)

Camping at Rocky Mountain National Park- Take 1

We took a long weekend and headed up to Rocky Mountain National Park to join Dave's family for a fun and exciting weekend of camping! The first day was spent setting up camping and enjoying a yummy taco dinner prepared by Dave's mom. Claire fell asleep quickly in her sleeping bag, but unfortunately awoke a short time later and required a drive under the stars to calm down and fall back asleep. Luckily for us the drive worked wonders and eased Claire back to sleep in no time and she remained asleep for the rest of the night.

Claire woke up ready to go out and explore the park (and with very pretty hair).

We gathered the troops and headed to the shuttle ready to hike up to Emerald Lake. Claire had been so busy around camp that morning that she required a nap and fell asleep on the shuttle and remained asleep until after we had passed the first lake- Nymph Lake (she did get to see it on the way down)

Nymph Lake with all of the beautiful yellow flowers and lily pads

At the second lake- Dream Lake we took advantage of the beautiful views to eat lunch and enjoy watching the fish swim through the crystal clear water. Claire especially loved this part of the hike and had a blast calling out "ISH" every time she spotted a fish. If not held onto tightly we were sure that Claire would have been in there swimming with them.

Uncle John, Dave, Claire & Grandpa Byron at Dream Lake

Because of the heavy rainfall and large snowpack the park was filled with beautiful waterfalls, including many that we passed as we hiked.

The last lake of the day was Emerald Lake, with it's clear waters we could not resist putting our feet & in Claire's case most of her body in. Claire even met a friend whose name was Aspen Claire.

Claire and Aspen enjoying the lake together

Uncle John and Miss Stacie at Emerald Lake

Looking tired on the way down, this was shortly before she feel asleep.

After a long day of hiking we all retired back to camp where thanks to the wonders of RV living we were all able to take showers before enjoying a lovely shrimp curry that Dave prepared on the camp stove and S'mores by the campfire.

Claire enjoying her camp chair

Dinner with Grandma Gibbons

We also felt the need to take Ladder Golf to a new level and play by headlamp (Stacy and Melissa won as they always do).

On the last day we enjoyed a yummy breakfast of blueberry pancakes before heading out with the Grandparents for a walk around Sprague Lake.

Claire and Grandpa Byron taking in the morning view

Walking around Sprague Lake on our last day with Grandma & Grandpa Gibbons

Checking out a stream with Grandma Gibbons & Mommy

Sprague Lake Family Photo entitled "In the Wind"

Checking out the view from the top - included in the view was a herd of elk

Walking along the tundra trail at the top of Trail Ridge Road on the way home.