PROFESSOR. SCHOLAR. AUTHOR.
Out West 2014, Part 1

Out West 2014, Part 1

As reported in my last post, I returned to Charleston from my three-week Europe-to-Rochester adventure at 2am on the Fourth of July.

I left Charleston on a flight to Colorado that same afternoon, this time on a month-long family vacation that will swing us through Colorado and New Mexico, staying in five different towns, and seeing family and friends on all but three of the days. It is an exhausting schedule, but it’s also an exhilarating one: being out West is always wonderful, and it’s great to catch up with those you love.

Oh, and it just so happens that my wife and I are having our 20th high school reunion. So that’s happening, too.

Indeed, as I write this it is the eve of the reunion festivities. We’ve been traveling for 20 days now (me far longer if you roll together the Europe leg), which has taken us from Denver to Ouray in Colorado, then on to Albuquerque, New Mexico. All is well, and it’s past time to post something about it.

Rather than bore you with the details of a family vacation, though, I’ll just share a few pictures of the adventure so far. No doubt there will be more: after the reunion we head down to White Sands and Carlsbad Caverns before returning to Denver and flying back to Charleston.

So enjoy…

Zipline
With Child 1.0 on the zipline at Heritage Square in Denver. There’s a weight difference.
Cabin
The cabin we stayed in near Ouray. I got a lot of writing done here!
Box Cañon Bridge
Looking down at Box Cañon from far above.
Box Cañon Stairs
Stairs into the Box Cañon Falls.
Box Cañon Falls
The famous Box Cañon Falls in Ouray.
Colorado sky
The blue Colorado sky.
Black Canyon
The “Painted Wall” at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
Yankee Boy Columbines
Columbines growing in Yankee Boy Basin, 11,000 feet above sea level.
New Mexico Mesa
Just a random New Mexico mesa out the side window of the car. What beauty!