Flaming Gorge

This was the best trip!  We visited Flaming Gorge and loved every minute of it.  Well once we got there.  It was a bit of a long drive, and when we got there we realized the campsite we reserved was less than great, as it butted up against a busy highway and was super exposed!  But there was an entire loop that had great sites, and was not full yet, so we were able to swap, with only a little drama, and man was that great.  And have I mentioned yet that we bought a new camper?  While this was not it's maiden voyage, that was the quick trip to Ridgeway state park, it was it's first longer trip and it worked great.

Double decker hammocks...

There is a short trail across the highway from our campground that is great for hiking or biking.  At least some of us took the trail every night to watch the sun set.  It was so pretty, and really what a great view.  

Amanda was even able to join us, which was a fun treat.  She has been working this summer for a kids camp program, but they take the week of July 4th off, and so she joined us for a week of playing on the lake, and enjoying the summer sun.

And while on the lake we found cliff jumping!  It was so fun to watch the kids get braver and braver.  Or maybe a bit nerve wracking, but I really like watching my kids stretch their limits a bit.

Maren helped me bake a very successful risotto bake we all loved.  We are getting better at this dutch oven cooking thing.  I love that my kids are really into what we cook these days.  They want a say and want to help.

We did a really pretty hike one day along the edge of Flaming Gorge.  Again I loved the wildflowers.  This year has been something special in that area.

It is such pretty country.  From way up here the boats look tiny.

It was a great hike and even better that we all got to do it together.

A few of us also toured the Flaming Gorge dam one afternoon, which was interesting.  Until a huge thinderstorm hit, and they ended it early.  Also Dave and I got up early one morning and did a fun ride on a trail that had a hard climb, but a killer downhill.  It is nice that the kids are old enough we can leave them at the campsite alone for a few hours and not worry too much.

And then, the best thing happened.  Doug and his family joined us for the last couple days of camping.  It was great for the kids to have cousins to play with.  And they played hard.

They even made a video called super hero's, while we had some down time at the campgound.  It was fun to watch them figure out how to make it look like they were flying.  And since then, they have been working on a sequel.  We'll see if that ever really happens.

This was a wonderful place to spend a week with our family, and I think there is a good chance we will visit again.  It had a lot to offer.  And I might need to take in that few again.