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

Thursday 4 July 2002, Independence Day, continued

The Cave of the Winds is only a few minutes away by car, so we again load up the caravan and head on out.

Mom & Emil have visited the caves on their last visit, Lila is tired, and Rose is nursing an altitude or dehydration headache, so only Isaac and I will actually go underground. But that doesn't dissuade the others from going with us. As you can see, Omi (Isaac's and Lila's great-grandmother) is determined to see us off.

Mom and Emil thought ahead and brought reading material. She has the tourist information, he has a pulp spy thriller.

Isaac and I queue up. It turns out that Independence day is the busiest day here at the caves. Even so, we're taken care of in a few minutes. While waiting we enjoy the panoramic views of the cliff walls facing us. My cell phone rings. Felicia and Adam (and cousin Ziggy Mo) have arrived at the Timber Lodge and will drive up to meet us when we emerge from the darkness.

While waiting for our group to be called to the tour entrance, Isaac plays in one of the arcade cars. (That blue thing is a hair band he found and adopted.)

He liked it so much he wanted to pose for pictures wearing it. Luckily that stage didn't last too long. (I was having a wierd time of it, seeing Isaac as some tiny blonde version of the Star Trek character Jeordi La Forge.)

The hair band soon came off, even though it was actually serving a purpose. Isaac wanted to let his freak flag fly.

Then he went back into the visitor center and the hair band was never seen again (by us).

Then our group number was called, and we went underground into 54-degree chilled air. Luckily we were dressed for it.

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