Day 7: Mesa Verde and Bar "D" Wranglers

Reflecting on Day 7 of our trip leads to me thinking about a famous Beatles' song:  Eight Days a Week.  We want this trip to go on forever and what better way to do it than to create another Day during the week!  Regardless of how many days we use in a week, Day 7 produced some things that are very common on the Grand Western Tour:  great scenes, awesome food, unique experiences, and multiple bonding times with fellow Crew members.  We woke up to a clear, Colorado morning and ate a quick breakfast before loading up on our travel machine (for these purposes we will call the Clarence driving machine a bus).  Traveling half of an hour to Mesa Verde National Park, the Crew thought we were at our destination.  What they failed to realize was the park is huge!  Another 30 minutes were necessary to actually get to the museum and one of the cliff dwellings.

After a brief restroom stop, the Crew went through the Museum and exited to go down into the dwelling.  The Crew obviously took pictures (which I have learned is a constant with these group, wherever they go) and learned about how ancient Native Americans lived.  From their spiritual pits to holes in the ground to their "kitchens", the Crew explored the dwelling with delight.  The Crew received their exercise for the day as we marched up a path that very few students were not breathing heavily when they reached the summit.  A picnic lunch in a picnic area followed the exercise.

Our descent from the the dwelling had a break at a scenic view point.  You can guess it. . .The Crew took more pictures and so did I of 4 female crew members.  We hurried to Downtown Durango, where The Crew were given free time (in at least groups of 3).  Some members decided to do laundry at the local laundry mat.  I honestly can not help but giggle at some of The Crew members as some are learning to do laundry on their own as well as their feeling towards their clothes.  All of The Crew show their happiness as they begin their laundry (perhaps not Lilly Sessions seems overwhelmed).  Lilly then characterizes the true concern of most of The Crew when the washing is complete:  will their clothes shrink when they dry?  Only time will tell (and light temperatures, The Crew thought. . . ).

The afternoon was capped off by our journey to the Bar "D" Ranch, one of my favorite events on the whole trip.  Here The Crew went around the campus and. . . .wait for it. . . .wait for it. . . TOOK PICTURES!  I know that them taking pictures may come as a surprise but that is what they did.  We took pictures with flowers as the background, chaperones showing their maturity and riding the community train, in front of wagons, and of course of the food (luckily before we ate it).  The food was spectacular.  In a picture Katie Rascoe shows off her knowledge of holding her knife in the right hand and fork in her left.  I did not see or hear one negative thought about the food or the show.

Speaking of the show, The Crew was serenaded by the 4 "D" Wranglers.  We heard everything from a germ, to a chigger, to a flea, to a hair, to a wart, to a frog, to a knot, to a log, to a hole in the bottom of the Sea to Cielito Lindo.  The Crew was mesmerized at the show and were probably surprised (unknowingly) they would like a show not performed by people such a Justin Bieber or Jason Aldean.  On our exit, many of The Crew bought CDs or DVDs to commemorate their afternoon.  Sorry parents if I spoiled your child's surprise gift!

We came back to our hotel, explained the schedule for Saturday, and then had lights out.  I think it is important to think about what a week we have had!  Many fail to realize we have covered near 2500 miles, almost made it to the West Coast, seen sights that most people dream of, and made friends we had no clue about last week at this time.  Enough about the past, let's get ready for The Arches and Salt Lake City!  Signing off GWT!