Mesa Verde

Henry started to feel better last night and we all slept well. We were able to leave Lisa's by 8 this morning. We had a beautiful drive through the mountains. We tried a short side-trip to Telluride with the intention of purchasing bananas, but the power was out in the whole town. We continued on to Mesa Verde and got to the park just before 11:00. We stopped at the fire lookout, then went on to the visitor center where we picked up Jr. Ranger booklets. After a short picnic lunch we visited the museum where we watched a 25 minute movie about the park. We decided the rain was going to hold off, so we continued on the half-mile 'hike' down to the Spruce Tree House cliff dwelling. We were wrong about the rain. At first it was just a sprinkle, when it seemed to get heavier we waited it out a bit in a nice, dry overhang. Deciding it wasn't going to get any worse, we continued on. We were wrong again and got pretty well soaked. The kids didn't like it any more than we did, but they were incredible about not whining, and continuing on, since we had no choice. Just before turning the corner to the dwelling (where we were sheltered) we hustled past a rushing little waterfall that splashed down right next to us and ran under a little bridge-step. If it weren't for the heaviness of the rain, we would have never known that little fall could exist!
At the dwelling the kids were adventurous enough to suggest going down the ladder into the kiva. They also spoke to a ranger and asked what birds we had spotted while attempting to wait out the rain (turkey vultures).
After that excitement we visited the bookshop where we got a couple postcards and a traditional-style black and white mug. I opted for the more expensive one made by the local Utes, not the less-expensive made-in-China reproduction. We had purchased a photo/informational book about the park earlier. While Pete stood in line to pay, I took the kids over to be sworn in as official jr. Rangers. They got little plastic pins for their backpacks.
Finally we got back in the car and drove the Mesa Top loop, making a few stops-like the one pictured below where we saw the beautiful square-tower house.
After a twisty drive back, we checked into our Cortez hotel, had a Mexican dinner at Tequila's, Pete took the kids for a short swim and now they are finally cashed out. I'm about to fall asleep myself...