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July 27, 2005
Another beautiful day here in the Rocky Mountains...a nice, quiet, relaxing sort of day. I remember only a little of the "down time" before GospelGrass. Mom, John and Tera worked on some landscaping projects in the back yard, and it's looking nicer than ever in that spot between the house and the hundred year old rock wall that's holding up the mountain. Sarah and Anna painted inside the house for Grandma, and Jesse built a deck in back while I took Caleb and Jeremy to some sporting goods stores so they could be sure to have everything they needed for the camping trip coming up. (Yes, Kate, that included REI!!!)
Then it was the 15th, and time to head down to GospelGrass at the old fairgrounds in Loveland. It was different this year, and we really missed the Wolkings, Paul Danley, and others, but it was fun to see some of our "old" friends and make some new ones. That evening half of our McNaylor family from Washington joined us, along with four Idahoan Bauers and two Zwonitzers, and we were so happy to have some of our nearest and dearest travel those many miles to spend some time together. So many people to visit with, so much music to listen to, and so little time!!! Tera and I were especially excited to have our cousin Delaney come Saturday night, but the down side was that it did get up to 102 degrees! I know it was hotter at home, but we don't come to Colorado to experience temperatures like that!!! Some of us even thought it was too hot for volleyball, but our GospelGrass favorites did a great job with their sets, and we loved hearing the new bands ~ lots of family bands this year - with lots of little children, which made us seem like an "old" family band!!! It's hard to believe this festival has grown from 5 groups in 2000, to 30 bands this year. It has been a blessing for us, definitely, and we have grown to love our GospelGrass family. I thought that the Band Scramble was especially delightful this year. Suzie wasn't even planning to have one, but a bunch of the young folk got together and made some mighty fine music. I'm thankful I wasn't one of the judges, it would have been too difficult!!!
Then Sunday afternoon, we Naylors, McGuires, Bauers and Zwonitzers formed a group of 6 vehicles and 19 "McNaylers" and headed for the cool mountains and our beloved Georgetown. More McGuires joined us early the next morning and most of us spent the day rock climbing ~ or watching as the case may be! Some of those crazy friends and brothers of mine even went swimming in Georgetown Lake...BRRRRR!!!!! Then of course, there was volleyball and Ultimate Frisbee in the park, so everyone was completely worn out and ready for their big hikes the next day. We naturally divided into 3 groups for the week... the "X" Group ("X" for "extreme") headed out at about 2:30 Tuesday morning for their adventure...hiking Grays and Torreys Peaks ~ two 14'ers (mountains over 14,000 feet)~ crossing a ridge and then a few 13'ers ~ spending the night above treeline at Murray Lake and then meeting someone on the top of Guenella Pass to pick them up the next day. Then it was the "R" Group's ("R" for "regular") turn to leave at 5:30 that morning. They hiked Grays Peak, met up with the X Group for a bit of lunch on the top of the world, and then hiked down and drove over to the campsite where we, the "L" Group ("L" could be for "lazy", but I like "leisurely" better!!!) had set up camp and then went and waded in the pretty little creek nearby. Sarah and John were a part of the "L" Group that day due to minor injuries to their feet.
We had a nice time around the campfire, with cards and singing and laughter and the nicest kind of chumminess. Then everyone went to their tents and I opted to sleep in the hammock. It was FREEZING that night!!! Literally ~ there was ice on the water, truly!!! But the night was beautiful, with a dark diamond-studded sky that welcomed a bright, almost full moon. If I could have chosen a cold, wakeful night to lay in a hammock and try to keep my broken-zippered sleeping bag from allowing too many drafts, it couldn't have been prettier!!!
The next morning we all went on a hike to find the illusive ghost town of Geneva City. There were several forks in the
road, and we may have taken the wrong one, but we had a nice time and Tera and I were amazed when our right fork turned
into what we mistakenly called the Iron Fen. Since then we have found that a fen is a low, swampy area, so I'm not sure
what you would call this, but we couldn't wait for everyone to catch up and experience this unusual scene.
The two of us passed the Jeep loaded with young people told them what was ahead, and then went to find the Moms. The Dads
had already left to go pick up the X Group from the top of the pass, so it was the R Group who actually found what was
left of the mining town known as Geneva City...since they had the Jeep and could go further faster than we hikers did.
Then it was back to camp!!!
All three groups reunited over dinner, and you should have seen the Adventurous Four after their overnight. It was as if Jeremy had just crawled off the desert...blistered lips, sore feet, weathered skin, completely beat...one of them even referred to the event as "brutal"!!!! But they had a great time, and came back with some enviable pictures...
Would you believe that everyone went to the park and played volleyball after we got back to Georgetown, and really enjoyed some ice cream!!!
Thursday, the McGuires left for home and the rest of us hung out in Georgetown. Kent and I visited my favorite store in the world, Idylls and Odysseys ~ you must stop in if you are ever in the area~ and all but Tera and I had a two on two volleyball tournament. We played some cards, too, and everyone went to bed "early". Friday found us in Eagle, Colorado meeting up with our dear friends, the Wallaces and Manleys. We had a delicious meal and then Steve got out his parachute for an afternoon of fun we won't be soon to forget!!! The guys and Elissa went bumping down the river to cool off, and then the Bauers headed home.
The 23rd brought the last of the goodbyes when Israel and Daniel left, as well as Mom's 55th birthday and a benefit concert in Idaho Springs that evening. We met some great people there, and look forward to seeing them again some time. Georgetown's concert was the next night and we were so encouraged to see several people from the evening before. One gal in particular came all the way from Denver both nights, and we enjoyed visiting with her afterwards, and the pineapples she brought us were wonderful!!! Monday took Tera and I to Cheyenne to meet up with our friend Alicia so that she could spend the rest of the week with us in the mountains, and the rest of the family had a lovely visit with a family we met at GospelGrass. We were so blessed to have the company of some very dear friends of ours from Nebraska till Wednesday morning, with some hiking and sightseeing, and need I mention volleyball. Then Wednesday night the Peterings, Adsits, Wachlers, and a couple of their friends came all the way up from Colorado Springs to play volleyball with us...and boy, are they good!!! Later we had watermelon and sang praise songs until it was time for them to go. Too much fun, I tell ya'! !!
Now I know this entry is dated the 27th, and that is when I started and intended to finish it...but obviously I didn't, and if you have gotten this far in reading my little epic, I should tell you that today is Tuesday, August 2, 2005. I am sitting at our desk in our music room typing away and enjoying the cool air....conditioning that is!!! We arrived home on Sunday night, and after dreading the return, I am happy to say it isn't as hot as I thought it would be. And the bugs aren't as loud at night, and our wonderful friends did an incredible job taking care of everything here...thanks so much for that!!! We finished off our trip with some shopping and a stop at the farmer's market in Dillon. Jeremy hiked a little more, and we were busy preparing to leave. Saturday we closed up the house and visited our friend in Kiowa, Frances, who we have known for as long as most of us can remember. She is the best bread maker anywhere, without a doubt and I wish everyone could at least sample her cottage cheese dill bread! Then we went to Strasburg and our last playing engagement for July. Once again we had a wonderful audience, and met some new friends. George and Julie, who we started out this trip with, took us home to their comfortable house in Deer Trail and had yummy pizza waiting for us. We spent a pleasant evening visiting and then came straight home the next day.
Once again we had an extraordinary month, full of fellowship, adventure, and love. Once again, our loving Father protected us and our place back here and brought us home safe, sound and stocked up on memories that we will treasure. We are so thankful for these opportunities, for the friends we have and meet, for all of your interest and encouragement... how rich we are in all that is truly important!!!
So, we have a couple weeks at home before we head to Missouri for the weekend. Then a couple more weeks till Tera and I head out for the month of September...this time overseas!!! But that is another story for another entry. I'm all typed out for now, and I know others are just waiting for a turn on this ol' computer. So I'll end it here...
Until next time ~ may God hold you in the palm of His hand!
Love,
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