Colorado trip

**WARNING...SUPER LONG POST**Hey guys! I'm back from Colorado & sooo exhausted but just couldn't wait to tell you all about it. My laptop for some reason is totally messed up from the trip so I can't upload pics yet. But as soon as it's fixed, I promise some great pictures! We went to CO for Derek's cousin Mikel & Laurel's wedding which Derek was the best man in.
Wow, I never expected to take such a long drive to go somewhere! Our GPS took us from TX thru New Mexico then to Colorado. We ended up driving the majority of the way there through NM and OMG, it was aweful! There was absolutely NOTHING there to look at. Just windmills & desert. I have no idea how anyone could live where we drove. No offense! It was a 14 hr drive & I couldn't sleep in the car so I had to stare out the window at absolutely nothing for the majority of the time.

We got there Thursday afternoon & I was told I was invited to go to the bride's bachelorette party. So after 2 hrs of sleep the night before i was already so tired that night, but pulled myself together & my sister in law, & D's other cousin Danielle and I drove off to Alamosa. It was about 45 min from where we were staying. We were staying in the middle of the mountains in cabins at the Conejos River Ranch w/no phone service or gas pumps or anything!!! So going to Alamosa was a trip. The bachelorette party was very entertaining. Lots of Laurel's friends came in town & she's so innocent, so it was funny to see some of the stuff they made her do.

Then Friday, we got up at the crack of dawn (after about 4 hrs of sleep) & every one of Mikel & Laurel's friends and family went white water rafting in the Rio Grande(I think) in Taos, NM! It was 40 degrees outside when we left & we had to wear shorts b/c we were getting wet. I was sooo nervous about doing something like that, but was lucky b/c I got to sit in the back with the guide. We went on a race trip in the river w/the 4 other boats that were with us. It was SO MUCH FUN! I recommend everyone trying it at least once! The water was as cold as ice too! We ended up being soaked about halfway through the trip. The best part was the 6 ft drop & we were all trying to paddle together but we were flying everywhere & it was pretty hilarious. I couldn't take my camera at all when we went there but there was a photographer. So, on the website, if I want to pay $65, then I can have a picture to show everyone. They made it to where you can't copy or print it either.(If anyone knows a trick around this, please share). After that great time, we headed back & stopped in NM to look at the Rio Grande Gorge. It was insane how far down it was! I can't wait to show pictures. We drove through Taos & got a different feel of NM. The mountains were pretty normal. But the town was different than I've ever seen! LOTS of indians everywhere!! And everything was built with adobe. Afterwards, we had rehearsal so the night was pretty chill.

Sat, we got up early & it was POURING down rain at the cabins. Everyone was scrambling around trying to set up for the wedding & it was freezing cold. Finally, it stopped just in time for the wedding to start. We were shuttled to a location at the ranch where the wedding ceremony was. Then we had to basically hike down a path in the valley. I wish I could explain with my words how simply amazing it was. The view was crazy! The ceremony was intimate & their friend resided over it for them. Derek looked handsome in his cowboy attire I must say!

After the wedding, we went back to the lodge for the outdoor reception (where it started raining again) It turned out to be ok b/c there were tents though. Everyone danced & had a good time. There were 2 bonfires set up & we toasted marshmallows & listened to some guitar playing. The most interesting wedding I've ever been to! But it was just their style. They are so into that stuff there! We met some really great people and Derek fell in love w/CO, so I imagine we will be going back.
Sunday, we got up & left pretty early for our 14 hr drive home! Our GPS actually took us the scenic route which we were very happy about. While enjoying the awesome mountains, Derek got pulled over for going 93 in a 65 & apparently that's a free ticket to jail offense. Luckily, he got out of going to jail, but got a $400 ticket & lost 10 of his 12 points. Ha Ha! He didn't care about the points. We don't have anything like that in TX either. Then we headed home going the speedlimit & arrived at midnight last night.
I think I hit all the key points of our trip but I just can't explain how cool it was! Hopefully my pics will do it a little justice!