You never want to ask a simple question like "How many vehicles does it take to get 16 people to Mesa Verde?".  If you did you would get 3 different answers.   The Mesa Verde trek would take the place of the hike.  Karen will never live the hike down.  We must remember that if we did not do the hike , then we would not have all the stories that went with it.   These next pictures are heavily embelished.

At the entrance to Mesa Verde Uncle Bill took a moment to reflect on his Vietnam experience and lecture us on the many mistakes we made from the last reunion.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

"What we have here is,,,,faaaailuuure to communicate!"
He took this famous line from Cool Hand Luke.  Bill looks like a drill sergeant  trying to lecture his men.  He looks pretty convincing up on his rock waving his arms and contorting his face as he yelled.  There is just one problem with the picture.....where are the people.  As he talked the rest of us were speeding up the road to Mesa Verde.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

With the aid of his henchman  ( Uncle Bob),  Bill  armed and prepared the group for the descent of the Palace Dwellings.   Mom argued with Bob but even she was put in line.  Aunt Tomi argued with Bill stating that this had to be a violation of the Geneva convention,,only to be stared down by Bill's menacing glare.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Once armed and in line we marched down the canyon to the Palace Dwellings.  You can see Kevin giving Uncle Bill the salute!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

For some the brutal march was too much!  Under the dark grip of Uncle Bill's rule ,, Melanie could not keep up the pace that Bill had set for her..  Poor thing!  Wait'll she gets introduced to a little hike called "Picket Wire"!
 
 

There was a little boy playing quietly with the dirt.  Melanie thought that it looked fun, so she picked up some dirt and flung it all around.  So far she doesn't know the meaning of play quietly.
 
 

You just can't beat having a picnic at a reunion.  Eating at a good restaurant is nice,but there's nothing like having a picnic for good eats and togetherness.  Just look at Uncle Bob in the center picture above...in a restaurant you would have to sit right next to him. At a picnic you can give yourself space away from him.
 
 
 

"Okay now....Joel's  was one block east of the Holiday Inn right?"
 
 

  I have to end the Mesa Verde part with two more pics of Lt Bill and Sgt Bob.  Looks like Bill is saying , "John!! Is that chewing gum in your mouth?  If it is,,,Did you bring enough for everybody?".   Margo looks like she is begging Bob to  Please help her up these steps.  Only to be met with the stone stare of Bob.  (Seen a couple pics above at the picnic.)
 

Takes a big butt to be in four states at one time.