Vacation Day 4 - Taylor Park, Tin Cup, and Union Park

Eric and my Dad got up early to go trout fishing in the Beaver ponds that are off the road that leads up Cumberland Pass. 

Eric has on the green and brown clothes, and Dad has on the brown and red clothes.

We met them later in the morning and had a picnic lunch, did some hiking and then attempted to drive up Cumberland Pass.  This road/pass is not cleared of snow ever.  It is one that can be driven up and over IF all the snow has melted.  We were getting close to the top when snow started to appear on and over the road.  We drove through a little with my Dad in the lead in the Trailblazer, us following in our truck.  The next thing we all knew, we could go no further... the road was completely covered with feet of snow still, and we were not in a turnaround spot or even close to one.  Eric decided he would back our truck down the steep,narrow,winding mountain road to a turn around spot, and my Dad, with help from Lindsee, Mom and I turned his Trailblazer around right there on that steep,narrow, winding mountain road.  Whew!  The backing down and turning around were NOT so great, but the views from way up there were awesome!

Here is just a little snow on road.  I wish I had thought to take a picture of the covered road, Dad turning around and Eric backing down.  Next time...

When I looked in the back seat of our truck on the way down Cumberland Pass this is what I saw... Both girls had been asleep, but were now awake and hiding.  Sarah was under the green blanket, and Phoebe was covering her head and face with her giraffe.  I admit looking over the edge of the steep, narrow, winding mountain road is NOT one of my favorite things to do, but this was funny that it was obviously not one of their favorite things either.

Next we drove over into Union Park.  This is a wide-open area surrounded by the tall snow-capped mountains.  Views there were great too.  Someone had put up three crosses to remind us all of the crosses on the hill many years ago, and the life that was given for us.

Union Park was also a great place to find quartz rocks of all sizes.  I found many that I wanted to bring home for landscaping in our yard.  Eric was nice and carried many large rocks down the mountainside to our truck for me. 

That evening the guys went trout fishing again, and the girls stayed at the cabin and ate cheesy eggs, soup, and fruit.  What a great day in one of the my most favorite and one of the most beautiful places in Colorado.