Last weekend we made a trip to visit the IHC services in Delta, CO, on Sunday, but on the way and back, we turned it into a family camping trip. Because our van doesn't have the power to get our travel trailer over mountain passes very well, Jonathan decided to pull the trailer with his truck while Crystal and I drove a little car she and Sam had purchased from a friend to learn to drive in. After close to four and a half or more hours of driving on Friday, we were on the lookout for a camp spot near Blue Mesa Reservoir. Afraid we might end up camping in a treeless campground with dozens of other campers.
we scouted about, first checking out Dry Gulch Campground, which turned out to be just what its name declares.
The next campground back a little road was called Red Creek Campground, and there we found this cozy little nook all by itself. Only one other camp spot was back at the end of the lane.
As soon as I drove into that little road, a robin flew across our way, and then a mourning dove alighted on a branch. I knew something was different from the waterless Dry Gulch camp. There were birds and flowers galore back in there! Robins, dove, goldfinches, and all kinds of little brown birds that remind me of me. God knew we needed that little sanctuary spot to recoup a bit and enjoy His creation! We camped right next to a beaver dam! I was afraid of mosquitos, but it was not bad at all. What a blessing to choose a spot where water was as compared to a "dry gulch."
May we always choose to camp where the water is.
The next morning, it was comfortably warm while we cooked breakfast over the campfire. Then the older children wanted to hike up to the top of these bluffs on the other side of our camping spot. Jonathan gave careful instructions about safety, and sent them off with one of our two walkie talkies. 
In the very center of this picture, three of the children made it to the middle of the top of the bluffs, by the lone tree.
Here, you can barely see them, but the same three are now on the very top of the rocks. Should have known they would not stop till they got to the very top!
Meanwhile, in the heavenly sunshine and quiet mountain warmth, Danny, Hannah, Jonathan and I started picking berries at some large bushes we found.
We still don't know for sure what kind of berries they are, but they are edible! We know because I just ate two berry muffins chock full of these dark blue/purple berries. The closest I could find doing a search on the internet was Juneberries.
Danny and Hannah are good at finding every manner of bug, butterfly and beetle.
Even Jonathan helped pick, or else pulled tall branches down low so we could pick.
We said a reluctant goodbye to that beautiful spot, and went on our way.
Only to have our first of several breakdowns! The new, very old car, sprang a leak in the overflow tank of the radiator as we traveled up this long hill. Steam gushed out the hood. Jonathan was cruising along far ahead, and there was no cell phone signal.
I frantically texted. A kind man pulled over and found out the problem and wished us luck as Jonathan finally arrived back.
Then who should pull over next by the side of the road but our own Pastor Mosley!
His family had traveled over to visit the IHC service Friday night, and were on their way home. He graciously gave us a gallon of antifreeze, which we poured in, along with some water as well.
I will not even attempt to tell about all the other breakdowns the next few days, of which there were several.
However, we made it a little later to Black Canyon of the Gunnison, in photo below.
You can see the river about 2,700 feet below to the left of us. They say this canyon is just about as awe-inspiring as the Grand Canyon in Arizona. We climbed out at several of the hiking spots, enjoying new scenes each time before rain and an overheating car forced us to find another camp spot for the night.
If you want to see more scenes of this amazing canyon, you'll just have to go see for yourselves.
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