Adventure Day 1 over, we returned to our goose-filled space, settled down with our
evening "pop" and reminisced over the new sights and sounds we'd experienced.
Before long, dinner finished, we settled back to
watch the news and weather on the television,
but more exciting - the glorious sunset defining
the silhouette of the peaks framed by the
picture window at the front of our "home."
evening "pop" and reminisced over the new sights and sounds we'd experienced.
Before long, dinner finished, we settled back to
watch the news and weather on the television,
but more exciting - the glorious sunset defining
the silhouette of the peaks framed by the
picture window at the front of our "home."
Look up, look down; breath-taking rocks all
around, punctuated by roaring streams and
outcroppings of straggly, yet beautiful wild-
flowers. As I picked my way down to the
edge of the cascade, Cor sat in the car,
poised with binoculars, all the better to find some rock climbers
high on the cliffs. Empty cars filled every pull-out, so he was
sure he'd find at least one rapeller, but no luck today.
An aside: I Googled "rapeller" to check the spelling. One of the
synonyms listed is "jackass."
around, punctuated by roaring streams and
outcroppings of straggly, yet beautiful wild-
flowers. As I picked my way down to the
edge of the cascade, Cor sat in the car,
poised with binoculars, all the better to find some rock climbers
high on the cliffs. Empty cars filled every pull-out, so he was
sure he'd find at least one rapeller, but no luck today.
An aside: I Googled "rapeller" to check the spelling. One of the
synonyms listed is "jackass."
We came home via Colorado Rt. 7 and 72, along the eastern base of the Rockies, ending up
in Boulder. This is also called the Peak to Peak Scenic Bywav, and to our way of thinking,
should not be missed.
At the outset, within the Estes Park city limits, we were startled. "Is that a MOOSE? I've
been looking for a moose all my life!" I was so excited, until Cor said, "I think it's an elk." He
was right, and I'm still looking for my moose - not a stuffed one like the one over Cor's head in
Paxton, Nebraska.
Rather than turn towards Longmont, we were enjoying the Byway so much we decided to
follow it a bit further, on Colorado 72, through Ward and Nederland, where we met up with
CO 119 and took it east towards Boulder. This section is known as Boulder Canyon Drive -
and it was the most exciting part of the whole day, not because it was spectacular like the
National Park, but because you come upon it so unexpectedly and you are completely
embraced by it.
in Boulder. This is also called the Peak to Peak Scenic Bywav, and to our way of thinking,
should not be missed.
At the outset, within the Estes Park city limits, we were startled. "Is that a MOOSE? I've
been looking for a moose all my life!" I was so excited, until Cor said, "I think it's an elk." He
was right, and I'm still looking for my moose - not a stuffed one like the one over Cor's head in
Paxton, Nebraska.
Rather than turn towards Longmont, we were enjoying the Byway so much we decided to
follow it a bit further, on Colorado 72, through Ward and Nederland, where we met up with
CO 119 and took it east towards Boulder. This section is known as Boulder Canyon Drive -
and it was the most exciting part of the whole day, not because it was spectacular like the
National Park, but because you come upon it so unexpectedly and you are completely
embraced by it.
How to limit the number of photos is a challenge - we took several hundred, but this
made us realize how thankful we are not to have the old 35mm slides or negatives to pay
for. I just pass these over to the computer and zap, zap, delete, delete and I'm done.
At first, here are some representative "road scenes" - Just try to magnify the depth and
steepness of the incline in your mind. The variety of rocks - colors, shapes, and size -
were what amazed us at first. Then, the grandiosity of the whole left us limp and tiny.
made us realize how thankful we are not to have the old 35mm slides or negatives to pay
for. I just pass these over to the computer and zap, zap, delete, delete and I'm done.
At first, here are some representative "road scenes" - Just try to magnify the depth and
steepness of the incline in your mind. The variety of rocks - colors, shapes, and size -
were what amazed us at first. Then, the grandiosity of the whole left us limp and tiny.
Our first outing in Colorado was to the top of the highest paved point in Rocky Mountain National
Park - Estes Park. The first surprise was "Estes Park" is the name of a town, not just the park.
The town is a tourist's haven - food, drink, gifts, ad infinitum. Very gaily colored and active.
We appreciated having our Senior access passes - presented them (with driver's license) and
started up the road.
First stop: Visitor Center: The tableau explains how the design was influenced by
Frank Lloyd Wright and espouses his devotion
to natural forms, materials, and colors.
Right: a memorial to a young National Park
Ranger killed in a fall from the rocks in the park.
Park - Estes Park. The first surprise was "Estes Park" is the name of a town, not just the park.
The town is a tourist's haven - food, drink, gifts, ad infinitum. Very gaily colored and active.
We appreciated having our Senior access passes - presented them (with driver's license) and
started up the road.
First stop: Visitor Center: The tableau explains how the design was influenced by
Frank Lloyd Wright and espouses his devotion
to natural forms, materials, and colors.
Right: a memorial to a young National Park
Ranger killed in a fall from the rocks in the park.
| GYPSY FEET |
| The Chronicles of Moby Who? |
© 2008 Gail Hunter
| Go To Pete's |
| August Page 4 |
| Note: Click all photos to enlarge. Click the back arrow to return to page. Looking for a specific topic - try the Topic Index |
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| Now to try to recap the last two weeks - I really should put it down right away, but - things happen. |
Halfway up the road, we stopped at an overlook
and chatted with a ranger. He explained the three
types of trees in the park. Regular shape, then
closer to the tree line, you find trees with branches
favoring one side over the other, depending on
how they are situated with respect to the prevailing
winds - see left, top photo. Higher up, (redundant)
the trees resemble bonsai, hugging the ground for
dear life.
and chatted with a ranger. He explained the three
types of trees in the park. Regular shape, then
closer to the tree line, you find trees with branches
favoring one side over the other, depending on
how they are situated with respect to the prevailing
winds - see left, top photo. Higher up, (redundant)
the trees resemble bonsai, hugging the ground for
dear life.
I commented on the fact that the tree line in NH and VT is much lower
than the 8 or 9 thousand feet here. He pointed out the obvious -
Colorado's latitude is well south of home. We come from the NORTH.
than the 8 or 9 thousand feet here. He pointed out the obvious -
Colorado's latitude is well south of home. We come from the NORTH.
Cor tried to get action photos of all the bikes coming up the mountain. By
the time he heard them coming, they were gone! But he did get these few
(of MANY.) We bemoaned the fact that it's a little late for us to get bikes -
Boy! That looks like fun!. Maybe trikes? or Harley with sidecar???
the time he heard them coming, they were gone! But he did get these few
(of MANY.) We bemoaned the fact that it's a little late for us to get bikes -
Boy! That looks like fun!. Maybe trikes? or Harley with sidecar???
We ate a monster chili dog in the restaurant at the top of the trail,
sitting at the picture window overlooking the lush mossy valley below.
It looked like velvet - but I imagine in winter it's just one big slice of ice.
sitting at the picture window overlooking the lush mossy valley below.
It looked like velvet - but I imagine in winter it's just one big slice of ice.
On a personal note, I had to take this picture of twin peaks and
trees: two sets of twins, just like Cor - boys Bill & Brad, and girls
Caroline & Colby (alphabetical order.) And he took one of me
driving precipitous canyon roads - not crazy about falling 2000 feet.
trees: two sets of twins, just like Cor - boys Bill & Brad, and girls
Caroline & Colby (alphabetical order.) And he took one of me
driving precipitous canyon roads - not crazy about falling 2000 feet.
Our next day's outing was to the Celestial Seasonings Company in Boulder - A pure
delight. Their history, as it is told in film, talk, and printed word doesn't quite jibe with my
memories, but Hey! They should know. I remembered it from the late 60s with flower
children picking wild herbs and spices from the Rockies and brewing these good-for-you
potions. I used to buy them, so I am not being derogatory, just a bit more sentimental.
Anyhow, if you get a chance - take the tour, it's free, delightful, and mind-boggling. So
many bales of tea, exquisite art work, and delicious aromas, especially when you enter the
heady "Peppermint Room." There's free tea tasting, and a huge sales/gift shop to delight
even the dogged French Roast Coffee fan. (They have herbal coffees too! So, there!)
delight. Their history, as it is told in film, talk, and printed word doesn't quite jibe with my
memories, but Hey! They should know. I remembered it from the late 60s with flower
children picking wild herbs and spices from the Rockies and brewing these good-for-you
potions. I used to buy them, so I am not being derogatory, just a bit more sentimental.
Anyhow, if you get a chance - take the tour, it's free, delightful, and mind-boggling. So
many bales of tea, exquisite art work, and delicious aromas, especially when you enter the
heady "Peppermint Room." There's free tea tasting, and a huge sales/gift shop to delight
even the dogged French Roast Coffee fan. (They have herbal coffees too! So, there!)
"Photo Courtesy of Celestial Seasonings."
| And finally, a dusky full moon - now on to September and a trip to Golden, Colorado Go to September Page 1 |
We returned to St. Vrain Park with a basket full of teas, and settled back to watch
another glorious sky. This time, it was not the sunset, but glowering clouds, rent
by daggers of brilliant light, every one more stunning than the last, so here, I show
them all. I couldn't bear to leave any one out.
another glorious sky. This time, it was not the sunset, but glowering clouds, rent
by daggers of brilliant light, every one more stunning than the last, so here, I show
them all. I couldn't bear to leave any one out.
| Next: Golden CO, Coor's; CO School of Mines Museum, GNO, The Breakwater Grill |