Lander. Our home away from home.

Friday after work Eddie came home and said we were going camping that weekend. We had talked about it over the week and decided to wait a few weeks and stay in town. But the weather was beautiful and we were both ready to get away and spend a few needed days on holiday. So we packed the truck up and left Saturday morning for Lander and the gorgeous Wind River Mountains.
Because the trip was so last minute we did not get to the Popo Agie camp site till almost 2pm. But thankfully there was a campsite left. We set up camp and then headed up the switchbacks into the mountain range. We found a mountain lake and some trailheads, parked and took off down the trail with William in the baby backpack. The hike was step and the terrain rocky. we hiked in about 2 1/2 miles and decided after we hike down this very long, steep hill that we should probably turn around because it was going to get dusk soon and the trail did not seem to be going anywhere. I also realised that my cheap cotton socks had given me blisters on both heels. So the hike back was a bit uncomfortable.
When we got back to the truck and the lake, William had to go swimming. The mountain lake was freezing, so we let him splash around for a bit, but as soon as his smiling lips were turning blue we took him out and headed back down the mountain to our campsite.







Eddie made dinner while I watched William climb up rocks and play in the dirt. In the mist of playing William ran off the asphalt path, tripped and skidded on the gravel. He now is sporting a good battle wound on his forehead and chin. But thankfully there was little blood and no deep scratched with rocks and dirt in them. William was tough and recovered very quickly and was back to playing in no time.





Sunday morning we went to the PCA church in Lander and it was such a blessing. It was so good to hear good scriptural preaching declared and be able to worship with singing psalms and hymns. It refreshed my soul.

Link to the Lander PCA church website - http://www.cpclanderwy.org

After church we went to the best restaurant in town. Gannett Grill. (http://www.landerbar.com)
They have homemade pizzas, locally raised beef hamburgers, sandwiches and salads. All of it is so fresh and delicious. They also have homemade microbrews from the Lander Brewing Company. William had fish'n chips with tangerine oranges. He enjoyed dipping all his food in the tartar sauce.





Before we went home we wanted to take one more hike. We drove back to Sinks Canyon and up to the Popo Agie Falls trail head. It was a short 1.5 mile hike to the falls but we started in the heat of the day (and it was a HOT day), the trail was a steady uphill climb, and there was absolutely no shade. It felt like forever. But the hard hike was worth it because the falls were gorgeous and we all waded in a swim hole with a natural rock slide.






Overall, a great weekend and how better to end a good trip than with some McDonald's icecream for the ride home.