Almost Home: Denver and Breckenridge

While we were sweltering in Williamsburg, our Moorea home swap friends were experiencing an unusually big spring snow storm and enjoying winter ski conditions at Arapahoe Basin. It made us smile to think of their two little girls delighting in seeing their first snow. The family was staying at our home for a few more nights after we flew back, so we spent our first night "almost home" at an airport hotel.

The next morning we decided to check out nearby Rocky Mountain Arsenal (RMA). Susan had seen a picture of newborn Bison there, but we also had hopes of seeing some good birds. The RMA has a fantastic Visitor Center and we saw several male bison out the back of the building.

Rabbit at Rocky Mountain Arsenal

Western Kingbird

Horned Lark

American Bison at RMA, unfortunately in a fenced enclosure

Bullock's Oriole

We took the RMA driving tour and didn't see and bison babies, but we did see several birds, including our first Bullock's Oriole, before heading over to our grandson's concert with the Colorado Honor Band Association. 

2014 CHBA Beginning level band

The family after the band concert

After the concert we enjoyed dinner at Ginny and Chuck's and got our first introduction to the family's newest hobby, backyard beekeeping. 

We enjoyed playing with their boys before heading back with Steve and Lauren to Breckenridge. They would be putting us up for the rest of our homeless time. We relaxed and unwound from traveling our first day in Breck then started looking for a hike to do on the second day.

Susan at a Lake Dillon overlook

The trail to Iowa Hill was very closeby, but would still be muddy so we'll try it another time. Instead we did the Dillon Peninsula hike near the Dillon Nature Preserve at Steve's suggestion. 

Us on our hike

Pasque Flower

It was mostly dry, even after the recent big snow. It was a great little warm up for the hiking season with several scenic overlooks. We had never seen so many Pasque flowers before, and there seemed to be more flowers per clump than we see in Rocky.

Pasque along the trail