Summer Vacation - Colorado & Utah

Estes Park & Trail Ridge Road

Steve and I went back to the YMCA for breakfast and to say our goodbyes to everyone. Afterwards we went to downtown Estes Park and stopped at the Stanley Hotel for a snack. It was pretty nice, but I was antsy to get going so we didn't stay long.

On our way into Rocky Mountain National Park we bought an annual park pass. We even convinced the Ranger to give us $10 off since I had ridden through yesterday, and had already paid $10. Cool, we are totally set to visit every park in the country now!

We stopped at the bottom of Fall River Road where there is a man-made scenic attraction called Alluvial Fan. It used to be a lake way up the valley, but in 1982 it broke through the terminal moraine and emptied out into what you see today. It's very cool.

We stopped for lunch near the top of Trail Ridge Road and ate on the tundra. There are signs all over the place telling you to not walk on the fragile tundra, but you may "rock hop" if you like. So that's what we did. We hopped to about 20 feet from the road and ate sandwiches. I must point out here that I love the alpine tundra. To me it is one of the most beautiful things in the world. It's so green, open, rolling, scenic, and majestic. I haven't been to the Alps or Pyrenees, but I imagine they look very similar to this.

After lollygagging around at the store and continental divide sign, we finally made our way down the other side towards Grand Lake. We found a great campsite just outside the park with brand new bathrooms. I think these bathrooms and showers were nicer than my own.

We went into Grand Lake for dinner and ate at an authentic BBQ place. You know, the kind of place where they have the peanuts in the silver pails and you get to throw the shells on the floor. It was good. Afterwards we walked over to the Lilly Putt Putt miniature golf course and played 18 holes. I went 3 under par with a 41. Steve was a bit over par (ok, a LOT over par), but we had fun. And last but not least we ate ice cream at, no, not Dairy Queen...Dairy King! Maybe there is a Dairy Jack in the next town?

I should mention here that while in Estes Park in the morning, we had bought a bundle of firewood. And that we did not use it tonight. So back in the trunk it will go!