Family Reunion

Wildfires

SFO -> LAX

LAX -> DEN

Independence Day

Cave of the Winds

Underground

Breakfast at No. One

Garden of the Gods

Royal Gorge

Bowl of Cherries

Masala Tea

Seven Falls

Native American dancers

Broadmoor Hotel

The Creek

Helen Hunt Jackson

Castaways

DEN -> LAX -> SFO

Timber Lodge

Eats in CO

NORAD

The Timber Lodge, halfway between the towns of Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs, is where we stayed during this family get-together week. It's a pleasant place, quiet, and conveniently located in the middle of all the sights. It can probably be best described as a collection of interesting cottages nestled in the trees. From close-up it looks like this,

but as you walk backwards, into the center of the courtyard, the cottages dissapear and the trees are all that's left. It's rather soothing. It has that summer camp away-from-home feeling.

Here's another view of the common picnic area. It's been very sunny this week, and so the pictures are rather stark.

There are other common areas. Isaac's favorite is the pool. We spent at least a half-hour here every day, sometimes twice a day. Remember, the big blue towels are for the pool, the white ones stay in the cabins. Okay?

Just outside of the pool is a tiny playground (at left) and a covered picnic area complete with many tables and several bar-b-que ranges. Nailed to the ceiling are cowboy boots, horseshoes, and other western gear.

This is the office, where many of the residents congregate every morning as the coffee urn is filled. It's a nice way to meet one's neighbors, even if most of the conversations consist of grunt-stir-stir-grunt.

Here's another picnic area, by the stream, near the cabins. There were lots of little spaces I found around the grounds, all very isolated, giving me a chance to sit down and relax for a while.

Another stream view, with another set of chairs. The water flow through the stream changed every day, and we could see the effects of the previous days rainfall.

Here's the path between the cabins, going in the direction of the office. It felt much more country than it's central location would belie.

Here's the stream again, with cabins 21 and 22 in the background. (This is where Omi and Mom & Emil stayed early in the week; they moved to a bigger cabin with a picnic table later in the week so we could all breakfast there.)

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