Hats!

You often here the phrase that someone "wears many hats." Well, I can say that about Bruce... figuratively and literally.  Bruce is Grandpa, "Grumpys," hubby, "Sweetie," hard worker, hiker, helper, garbage man, delivery man, custodian, "author," and all around great guy. And here are a few of his real hats, usually worn while hiking...

 This is his favorite...I call it his hillbilly hat.

 This is a hat that I made for him a few years ago...very warm for Colorado climate. Also wears this one to work on cold mornings.

 This hat makes him look like a homeless guy.

This is my favorite...it says "Awesome Grandad," which he is!

If you're going to visit Colorado Springs, don't forget your hiking shoes!

Garden of the Gods is certainly one of our favorite spots here in the Springs - to hike at or even just to drive through. There are so many great trails that we never get tired of coming here. It is certainly a favorite picture-taking venue also. This beautiful area is visited often by us locals, but also from people from all over the country, and yes even the world. Today we went over to Garden of the Gods to go for a hike since the weather was perfect for hiking. Being a Saturday and having beautiful weather make for Garden of the Gods to be a busy place. When we visit, we like to check out the parking lots to see where the other vehicles are from. Today we hit a jackpot... besides cars from our beautiful state, this is what we found...

And this is why...

We love Garden of the Gods, and we love Colorado!

Proper hiking equipment...i.e. Bruce, get some new shoes!

By now you know that Bruce and I love to hike... every chance we get... and we live in the perfect place to do so. I guess Bruce thinks he is immune to using proper equipment, so in the past he has hiked with tennies or other shoes with absolutely no tread. So off we go with his "treadless" sneakers and his Moses staff, which he informs me is better than my super trekking poles, because "trekking poles are for wimps." Well, this was all fine and dandy until we came across an obstacle on a recent hike that we were not planning on... snow and ice... lots of snow and ice! 

 On icy slushy trail with hiking shoes and trekking poles

 On snowy trail with treadless tennies and Moses staff

 Safe in snow

Not safe in snow

We slowly and carefully made it to the top of St. Mary's Falls (which I would suggest visiting during the late spring or summer if you actually want to see water running in the falls), but on the way back downhill, things became a little more treacherous, and Bruce ended up falling on his butt/back 3 times, as compared to my 0. This was most likely due to my guess what? Good hiking shoes and trekking poles... what a concept. Anyway, this happened last Thursday, and early this week, we were out getting Bruce some decent hiking shoes... finally. We originally took in some old leather shoes, that he said were really comfy, to see if we could get them re-soled. The shoe repair guy told him that they were beyond repair, and that he needed to buy a new pair. Thank you Mr. Shoe Repair Guy! So off we went to Famous Footwear (my favorite place to buy really good shes), and now Bruce and I have almost matching hiking shoes. By the way, these are called Birkie Trail hiking shoes by Columbia, but don't try to find them anyplace except Famous, because I think this is a special style that they do only for Famous Footwear.  

He tried out the shoes for the first time yesterday on our hike to Spruce Mountain. I still haven't talked him into the trekking poles, but he did add a new piece of equipment... his famous hat. So stylish! 

At trailhead

 

 Matching hiking shoes

 

 Bruce on the trail

 The "Moses Staff"

 Love my trekking poles