Day 6

Grant and I got up early and attempted to fish the lake.  We were skunked.  Watching others fish gave us ideas on some different approaches for next time.  We came back to the trailer to find a breakfast of French toast and coffee.  We ate until our bellies were full and then packed hiking supplies.
The hike was North of town.  It was a several mile round trip hike to the base of "Engineer Mountain".  One of the highest peaks North of Durango.  The trailhead was just off the highway, and judging by the parking lot, it was popular. The hike started out in an alpine meadow and followed multiple steep ascending switchbacks into the mountains.  The scenery was beautiful.  The alpine wildflowers were in bloom and the weather was perfect.  The children did remarkable well. I only had to carry the littles for a short while off and on.  The hike terminated at a beautiful alpine lake where we stopped to eat lunch.  The peacefulness of this time only marred by a random text from my company asking me to work more.  I declined.  The kids, rejuvenated by peanut butter and jelly marched down to complete the hike. They were pleased by the remnants of the snow pack and snowball fights abounded.
We left the trailhead and headed to Purgatory resort to allow the kids to ride the alpine slide.  The resort turns one of the slope into an mountainside slide in the summer months.  We rode it last year and the kids begged to do it again.  July 3rd was of course busy and we had to wait approx 45 minuted to ride.  It was fairly hot for the mountains at 90 degrees.  The slide was fun.  The children ended up discussing who won what race and all of the usual pre teen braggadocio.
We left the resort and headed into Durango.  We were almost out of clean clothes and laundry needed done.  I dropped Amy and the kids off at a park in town, while I went to a laundromat to do laundry.  I left during the various wash and dry cycles to procure various provisions like milk and eggs.  Amy and the bunch ate at a local brew but but ordered me a bangers and mash calzone to-go.  It was delicious.
The Corps of Discovery and its respective crew of 6 cousins were camped nearby at Mesa Verde NP.  They happened to be in town for resupply as well.  The decision was made to link up at a local park. I met them all there.  11 children running and playing was fun to watch.  I enjoyed watching the kids trade stories and tall tales of their journeys and life since the last time they met up.  They all played until dusk and we then headed back to our respective campsites.
Tomorrow is the Fourth of July.  More hiking, and a parade and festival in the PM.  The kids have proven hard to get to bed as they are still excited.