For me this was not an ordinary photo trip, as if I would consider any photo trip ordinary. But, this one was to be very special. This one was for my third grandson, Ian.

This would not be our first photo outing together. Indeed, Ian and I had been to the Wichita Mountains of Oklahoma the year before, for his first photo trip. However, this one was to be something really special, or so I hoped.

At the time of this trip, Ian was five and a half years old. Since the age of one month, I have taken care of him while his parents worked, and so has seemed more like a son to me. When he was about 15 months old, he went with me to North Carolina to visit my daughter. Even at his age, he was impressed by the Smoky Mountains we crossed.

On that trip, I told him that out West there were "mountains that touch the sky." Well, although only 15 months old, he never forgot that, and would often ask when I was going to take him to see the "mountains that touch the sky."

As the years passed, and being a typical boy, he also liked playing in the sand whenever he got the chance. So I also told him about the Great Sand Dunes that were taller than trees, and that they were near the "mountains that touch the sky." Naturally, he was even more eager to have me take him there after that.

Also, over these years, Ian became fascinated with my photo equipment and hearing me talk about how I loved the desert. On our Wichita Mountain trip, I had let him use my Nikon N65 camera, and he loved using it, and, surprisingly enough, listened to me as I showed him how to use it properly.

Therefore, early in 2006, my wife and I decided we'd take him to Colorado, so he could play in the Great Sand Dunes, visit the desert, and see the "mountains that touch the sky."

I began my planning and told Ian that after school was out in June, Grandma and I would take him to Colorado. He was immediately excited, and over and over again in the following weeks would ask me, "When will school be out? How many days before we go." When I'd mess with my photo equipment, he'd ask about his camera. He'd used the N65 and figured it was his now. Or he'd pick up a small tripod and ask if he could use it on the trip, or, more often than not, just ask if he could have it.

As the weeks passed, he'd ask, "Can we pack now?" but was always disappointed when I'd tell him it was still a long time off yet. However, he had a small backpack and began packing it for the trip: a bit of rope (We might need this PaPa, he'd say."), a whistle I gave him for signalling if lost or in trouble, a compass I bought him for the trip, and other odds and ends he thought would be needed. Never did his excitement ebb.

Once we knew the dates we'd have for the trip, I did the final planning, and made what reservations we'd need. That plan being: On the way to Colorado we'd stop at Castle Rock in Kansas, where I told Ian he'd be able to climb some small mountains. We'd then drive to Colorado Springs, where we'd visit Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak, "a mountain that touches the sky," I told him. Then we'd go down to Trinidad to spend the night, and next morning drive along scenic highway 12 as we make our way to the Great Sand Dunes. Just outside of the Sand Dunes we'd camp at San Luis State Park for four nights. While there we'd visit the Sand Dunes, the desert, and the wildlife refuges in the area. After our four nights of camping, we'd head to the Royal Gorge and then take a back road through the mountains back toward Colorado Springs, spend another day in that area, and then head home. Eight days in all.

So, that's where we stand at the moment. I'm writing this on June 6, and we don't leave until the 14th. Below is the journal of the final days of preparation and of how the trip went.

June 6, 2006: I began this journal and packed my clothing bag. One chore out of the way. My wife says she'll wait until the weekend, as she laughs at me. But, I've still got lots to do, so it's nice to have that much over with. I still have camping gear to check and clean that hasn't been used in years (things I don't normally take on trips when going alone), photo equipment to be cleaned and made ready, an oil change for the car, food for the trip to buy - and getting things done early helps keep me from forgetting anything.

June 7, 2006: Seven more days before we leave, and things are coming together. Did the oil change for the car early this afternoon, and bought new batteries for the flashlights and alarm clock. Sleeping bags and clothing are all now washed and ready. Mid afternoon, I set up our large tent, which hasn't been used for several years, to be sure it was still in good condition and that we still have all it's parts, and to let it air out. It checked out okay. The camp stove and lantern are still in good working condition also.

June 8, 2006: Got some more shopping done: Coleman fuel, some canned food, plastic eating utensils, matches, pseudoephed tablets, my worst vice (cigarettes), but otherwise mostly taking a break today.

June 9, 2006: Slow moving today also. A little more laundry. The washing of dishes, pots and pans, etc. used for camping. Plans, maps, guide books, pen & pad, and other paper work gotten together.

June 10, 2006: With just a few days left before we leave, I've been reflecting on some of my previous trips or times in Colorado. My wife is Japanese and we had just gotten married a few months before I was assigned to duty with the Army at Fort Carson, Colorado. She had stayed with my mother while I got settled at Fort Carson and found as a place to live in Florence. The day she arrived at Colorado Springs, I took her to the top of Pikes Peak, and on the way down a ranger stops to check our breaks, and so we are caught with her lying down on the seat and my hand playing with her breast.

Florence, being on the Arkansas River and not far from the Royal Gorge, we saw much of the surrounding area during the eight months or so that we lived there.

When my wife's mother visited us from Japan she was in her 70's. She wanted to see some of America, so we took her to Colorado. As with my wife, the first place we took her to was atop Pikes Peak. Afterwards, we stopped at the imitation cliff dwelling and saw Indians performing. Her mother, complained about being tired so we took her back to the motel. As soon as we got back she began imitating the Indian dancers we had seen. Her tiredness apparently having disappeared. Things like this got to be a habit with her, but we enjoyed the trip anyway.

So now, I'm looking forward to see what the experience will be taking my grandson to Colorado.

As for getting ready for the trip, we'll go through our check list as we pack or put things together to make sure we have everything together and what we still need to buy or find.

June11, 2006: Ian hasn't been over since getting out of school because of his mother being off work, but today he wanted to come over and help get things ready. He asked to come over for a couple of hours, but he ended up spending the night. He had to see every little thing we had ready, and insisted on trying out the sleeping bag he would use.

June12, 2006: Ian was here all morning. We did some shopping for a few things, including a pocket knife for him. I've told him he's too young for a pocket knife, but we bought one, with the understanding that I would keep it for him and begin teaching him how to be responsible with it during our trip. After I took him home, I did some more shopping for food and drink.

June13, 2006: Food shopping completed for now. Things like meat and milk will be bought in Colorado. Bills were paid, and before the day is over I'll go through my camera equipment once again, making sure all lenses are clean, all filters wanted are packed, all batteries needed are charged and packed, and wanted film taken out of the freezer and packed.

June14, 2006: The trip begins. It was quite difficult getting my wife's Nissan Altima loaded. The trunk was packed to the hilt, and we just barely had room in the back seat for Ian. However, we finally got everything packed in, filled up the gas tank, and went to pick up Ian. It was exactly 12 noon when we began our journey. None of us had eaten breakfast and all were hungry, so we stopped to eat once we got out of town and on the Kansas Turnpike (I-70) heading toward Topeka. Ian was then ready to get to our first planned stop, Castle Rock, south of Quinter, Kansas. "Wow!" was all he could say when we rounded the curve and he saw Castle Rock. We stopped the car and he raced to the formation, crying "I'm going to climb that!" Of course he couldn't climb it very high, but when we drove on around the formation and he saw the additional and larger formations at Castle Rock, which he could climb more easily, he was in hog heaven. He made me promise to bring him back here one day, and thanked me for bringing him on this trip.

We left Castle Rock near sunset and drove on into Colorado, where we napped a few hours at the last rest stop on I-70 before reaching Limon.

Continued on Page Two

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