ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, COLORADO

OH MY GOD!  It is so beautiful here it takes my breath away (or maybe it’s the high altitude).  I feel like the heart of my adventure has just begun.  Estes Park is a charming little town with lots of tourists of course but very scenic having maintained much of its original charm.  I spotted my first elk in somebody’s back yard.  None of the houses had landscaping as we know it.  Between the weather and wild animals, they let nature do the landscaping – and it’s gorgeous!

Down Town Estes Park

Resort Headquarters

First Elk Sighting

View From Trailer

Hey bud, this is our spot now - shoo.  Where is my recipe for
for prairie dog stew?

                             

I dropped Molly off tonight for her first spa day tomorrow.  I am being picked up very early to tour Rocky Mountain National Park.  I was nervous to leave her but she did not give a backward glance, so many dogs, smells, treats and play time.  Hello. Who wants to go first, huh, huh, huh?  I can roll over and introduce myself very quickly – whose first?

July 19^th:   Grief - it’s my alarm - 4:00 AM - where’s the coffee – where’s the lights - Molly, want to go… not here, I remember.  How is this Yellow Wood Guiding dude going to find me in the dark?  Stand outside and blink my flashlight?  What do you know, it worked!  He arrived at exactly 5:00 am and we headed off into the dark with an infrared camera mounted on his dash.  It was just the two of us and his knowledge of the park and all things environmental was phenomenal.  His brain was like a computer and talked nonstop for six hours.  It was well worth the price to actually learn about what you see.  I wish I had brought a tape recorder.  He knew where to find everything – the best flowers, the best animals.  I saw elk, moose, ewes, rams, deer, muskrats, picas (an endangered tundra rabbit), weasels, magpies, ravens, spruce, fir, pine, aspens and willows, to name only a few.  Wild flowers were abundant given the time of year.  The pine beetle has devastated much of the forest providing more fodder to the forest fires.  Natives of the area don’t see this as a bad thing but merely nature’s cycle – fir trees giving way to the aspen and so on.  The snow pack was dangerously low and several major rivers could possibly dry up before summer’s end.  Saw the head waters of the Colorado River and five others.  The main reason for such an early start was to catch the elk and elusive moose feeding and to take in an unbelievable sunrise.  The temperature was 48 but rose quickly as the sunrise slowly painted the mountain peaks a soft pink.  I saw a preview of the road I would have to travel before leaving the park, with the trailer attached.  I will climb to 11,500 feet on winding roads, with no guard rails and shear drop offs.  I have been assured everyone does it and the speed limit is only 25 mph.  No worries.  Does this fall into the category of “If your friends jump off a bridge, are you going to do it too?” 

Head Waters of the Colorado River

  

When I try this I'm usually told to shut up.

Chiming Bells

Scarlet Paintbrush 

Visited a local BBQ place for dinner and had the best chili ever.  Now off to get Molly and see how her day turned out.  I’m real happy to see you Ms. Jean.  My day was good but I couldn’t eat much and I’m starved now!  It was fun romping around but I hate to say that I was just a bit freaked out.  What’s for dinner?  I smell chili on you.  Did you save me some?  My tail won’t stop wagging!  

July 20^th:   Molly and I set out for more exploration in RMNP on our own.  Thanks to yesterday’s guide I knew exactly where to go and what to do.  I was completely awestruck by the park and showed Molly all my now favorite spots.  

There was this graveled, one-way back road less traveled called Old Fall River Road that I just could not resist.  If I kept my wits about me, it would not be dangerous.  The road was narrow with hairpin turns and sharp drop offs.  At times there was not enough room to get out of the car as one of the pictures shows.  Absolutely magnificent scenery, at least what I saw of it – driving was first priority.  A tour guide in a huge hummer pulled up in front of me at one of the few pullovers.  He said he was lost and asked me which way to go.  His many passengers thought that was so funny, but not to be outdone, I told the passengers they better get out and come with me because their tour guide was going to eat my dust and quickly pulled out first.  At the top, one male passenger in the hummer, got out and kissed the ground.  I thought to myself, I AM WOMAN!  Sorry I did not get a picture of that! 

In case you didn't notice, that's the car door!  I could NOT
get out to take care of business!

Those lines in the picture are the road we travelled.
I wassssssssn't sssssssscared!

July 21^th:  Molly and I got up early and visited Bear Lake and Sprague Lake.  There was lots of construction on the road, a serious tourist discourager.  My guide of yesterday warned me to start early and his words of wisdom were right on.  I missed the dreaded construction and contended with only a few cars on the return.  Most people were just getting out of bed.

Bear Lake was a jewel-like lake and ice cold water cascaded down a spectacular waterfall framed with pine, spruce, fir and aspen trees.  Snow capped mountains and wild flowers were mirrored in the crystal clear water.  I felt at peace and overwhelmed at the same time.  Even Molly’s usual bouncy enthusiasm was subdued in the presences of such majesty.

I must have walked two miles at Bear Lake, a miracle for me.  I had not walked more than two blocks in years.  I felt no arthritis pain only the pure joy of being alive.  It was all so Zen.

I spent time on a log bench just meditating.  I could bend over and see my reflection so clearly.  Gradually I saw the reflection of my children, much younger, running, playing, laughing and tumbling over each other and was filled with love.  Looking into my own reflection, I saw a vibrant, strong, healthy woman.  I laughed out loud causing Molly to jump up taking my laughter as a cue to continue our adventure.  And so we did.

In every walk of nature one receives far more than he seeks” ~ John Muir

Bear Lake

Sprague Lake was smaller than Bear Lake but just as beautiful and serene.  I walked maybe a mile while Molly overdosed on odoriferous substances.

  

July 22^st:  Drove south of Estes Park to find Saint Malo Chapel better known as the Chapel on the Rock.  Built in 1916, it is now an historic landmark.  I found better photos than mine on the internet for this unique and inspirational little chapel.

 

Spent the morning being a tourist in the downtown shops and visited the town community dog park.  Molly got to accompany me into a restaurant for lunch where I shared a bite or two of my salmon.  Our day ended in the camper waiting out a much needed rain.

I was relaxed and enjoying my coffee when I realized I had stayed too long in RMNP.  I should have left yesterday for Montrose, CO and completely blew it off – me, the anal scheduler!  I was just so into the park I forgot to leave.  Oh well, the nice people in the office did not charge me for the extra night.  See what I mean about angels?  I will miss The Black Canyon of the Gunnison but I can hardly be upset.  Maybe I was not supposed to go there and I just loved my extra day at RMNP.  My only excuse was the mountains mesmerized me into some kind of altered state.  However, I am now ready to leave because the road and adventure are calling.

It is now afternoon and time to pull the trailer over the summit.

Proof that we made it above the tundra        

and still smiling!

Now heading south through Leadville to Montrose absorbing even more stunning scenery. No more interstates for a long time.  Yeah!                                                                              

In July?

Arrived in Montrose, CO and just relaxed for the night.  Neighbors asked me to dine at their camper.  Similar invitations over the next few months were extended many times contributing so much to an enjoyable, touching end to any given day.  I cooked and froze a big batch of hearty soup/chili before I left for my convenience, but it was put to an entirely different use.  I would take a bag to the host of my invited dinner.  The husband of my host in Montrose taught me things about my car and rig and continued the lessons until I was totally set up - so friendly and giving.  Did I mention they had wine?  Campfire buddies, food and a glass of wine - divine.  

Every camp site seems to have a dog and I have no shortage of friends to socialize with in these wonderful dog parks.