Mesa Verde CO

Mesa Verde National Park ~ Ancestral Pueblo people made this their home more than 750 years, A.D. 550 to A.D. 1300.

Fourteen of the Barbers gathered to do some sightseeing, swimming, camping, eating, and sitting around the campfire. It was a Great Time!

The Cliff Palace--the largest Cliff Dwelling --

In the Motor Home -- Aubrey, Meg, Ella, Trinity, Tony & Jack

Belle, Dan, Devin & Diane after our 2.4 mile hike to the Petroglyphs off the Spruce Tree House Trail--we CLIMBED to the mesa top and returned along the canyon rim.

It was quite a hike--!

The Petroglyphs

Devin, the Tree Hugger

Dan at one of our rest spots during the hike

On the bridge by the Spruce House

Devin coming up from the Kiva---

Belle

Devin & Belle taking a rest on the hike

Devin taking a real rest---in an impossible to get to spot! He proved me wrong.

Aubrey was Brave & went down into the Kiva

Missi

Ella

Tony

Derek

Jenn

Trinity

Tony, Aubrey & Trinity at the Spruce Tree House

The Spruce House is Mesa Verde's best-preserved and third largest cliff dwelling. The dwelling contains 130 rooms and 8 kivas built into the natural alcove. It is thought to be the home to about 60-80 people between A.D. 1211 and A.D. 1278.

Derek & Jenn

Diane & Dan

Belle & Devin

Belle, Devin, Diane, Jenn, Derek

Aubrey, Trinity, & Tony

Closeup of the Sun Temple

Meg & Ella at one of the Kivas

The Square House

Dan, Ella, and Meg

Aubrey & Trinity at the Playground

Meeting the Horse the kids named Chocolate.

The Moon was almost Full.

A Pick-up load!

Ella

Meg

Aubrey

We saw this deer licking off a picnic table.

Our view from the campsite.

Campfire & Smores' Time---Thanks Jenn!

Dave & Jack

Belle & Ella

Derek & Missi

Trinity & Jenn

Belle, Devin, Aubrey & Dan

Missi & Meg

Sunset at Mesa Verde ~~ A Good Trip!

Ogallala Camping/Spring Shakedown Cruise 5/4/2010

We headed out on Friday to Big Mac--Dan and I-- on our 2010 Shakedown Cruise after the motorhome spent most of its winter snowbirding at the Body Shop & Diversified Truck & RV Repair in Denver being rehabilitated after its collision in August. After the electric panel started flashing like a neon sign... we decided to go to Plan B and just "camp" ...like in the good old days without electricity. What a Concept! (Later we found out the electric panel will be an easy fix back at the repair shop).

We found this secluded little area close to the campground---lots of trees and a firepit where we roasted weiners and had our own little picnic---more like the "good old days" of camping used to be--surrounded by Nature instead of 5th wheelers, tents, and coaches.

Found one of very many anthills that I liked the symmetry of .... a busy little world right under our feet--each grain of sand like a brick loaded and stacked with diligence.

One of my favorites of camping is the campfire....we gathered wood (just like in the good old days) and Dan broke the limbs over his knee, since we had taken the camp saw out of the motorhome and it was never replaced. We are so creative--felt like my pioneer ancestors :)

One of the best parts of our trip was a visit by a Willow Flycatcher, who returned again and again to the little tree next to our camper making a smorgasborg of the seeds and singing his melodious little tune. The motorhome seemed to work like a duck blind, as he was right next to the window and must have seen his own reflection, at times flying into the window.

Our Flycathcer was also joined by an Oriole, who also got up close and personal.

We spent most of Saturday inside the camper, as the mighty Nebraska Wind reminded us camping is not always about being outdoors.

Sunsets on the Nebraska prairie can be pretty impressive ... God shining his glorious beacon at this point....

and later showing off such amazing color ....

Once the wind went down, we were able to spend more time around the campfire ... just relaxing.

Check out the video of our little friend, the Willow Flycatcher, and the little tree above that he enjoyed so much.

Can't wait until our Trip to Mesa Verde with the Whole Family.