Day 5: Cortez, CO to Colorado Springs, CO

Our purpose for staying in Cortez was it's close proximity to Mesa Verda National Park.  This park highlights Pueblo Indian cave dwellings.  Jonathan was most excited for this stop.  One of the 5th grade textbooks used at Lewis and Clark has pictures from this park on its cover.  Instead of hurrying out the door of the hotel, we let the kids sleep in (except for Jonathan, who is physically incapable of sleeping in).  We left the hotel around 10.
Inside the park, there are several highlighted cave dwelling communities.  The Spruce House is 'free' with admission into the park.  The others require a separate ticket purchase. We had to drive 23 miles past the main gate to get to the Spruce House.  It was pretty cool.  It was also pretty crowded.  We looked, took pictures, oooed and aaaaahd, then headed on our way to Colorado Springs.  We stopped for our picnic lunch in Durango, which seems like a nice little town.  We saw white water rafters on the river along the park we ate it.  The boys seemed interested in that activity.

 Scenic overlook #425

 Photo bomb by Jonathan

 Megan's first skinned knee of summer.  The bandage was actually warranted.  She and Jonathan bumped into each other and she fell.  There were many, many tears.

 The Spruce tree cave dwelling

 A mountain somewhere in Colorado

 We stopped at a waterfall area.  This bird was cool.

 Don has an altitude app on his phone.  We climbed pretty high on this mountain.

 Don gets really excited with signs like this.  I don't.  I do not like mountain driving.  Nope.  I don't.

It was close to 10 pm when we arrived at Colorado Springs.  We were all excited for our 'buffer day' of no travel the next day!!!