Greetings from the phenomenal Continental Divide on the Fourth of July!

Fluids and carbohydrates work. We hiked to a 12,000 foot peak. Tired, elated and thankful for no altitude sickness, we enjoyed bluebonnets and Indian paintbrushes as pretty as Texas in spring.

The activity has been constant. All the fun has kept me from blogging. Let me give you a brief travelogue of the doings to date.

Day 1 was travel and the excitement of meetings, meldings and palaver over pizza on the patio viewing the vistas and watching the kids run and play. Day 2 was the mountain hike and climb between rain drops, wild thimbleberries, flourishing wild flowers, misty high meadows and the joy of meetings with old friends. Day 3 was horseback riding along the high trails across from Buffalo Mountain where the ancient peoples camped to scout the welcome arrival of the bison herds that caused celebration and comforted them with new robes through the long and snowy winter. Day 4 was first-ever-for-me fly fishing, where on an idyllic fork of the Platte River, I hooked a lunker of a brown trout for a 20 minute play and excitement before that monster fish rolled over, wished me goodbye and returned the fake orange fly to my tired and shaking hands. Day 5 is today and this morning was the 4th of July Parade down the fan-lined small-town Main Street with decorated bikes, homemade floats, flying candy and beads, costumed characters from our Nation’s beginnings, good food and friendly waves and jostles in a sea of smiling faces. And now is rest and quiet in a big house with tired relatives tailing to the times of hugs and sad partings when small groups break off, wave goodbyes, head back to their homes and the last locks the door and returns the key.

We give thanks for the very prized freedom to spend time together.

Grandpa Jim