August 30 – September 3 – Estes Park, Colorado (near Rocky Mountain National Park)

September 09, 2024  •  Leave a Comment

Jellystone Estes Park

When you see the first tunnel about nine miles from where you’re leaving from, you KNOW It’s going to be…………well…………. a white-knuckle drive and…….it was!Wowzer………. these Colorado mountains are no joke!!!!!!!

IMG_2421IMG_2421 IMG_2418IMG_2418 IMG_2419IMG_2419 IMG_2420IMG_2420 IMG_2422IMG_2422 IMG_2423IMG_2423

 

 

 

We were VERY happy to arrive at our campsite. The camp hosts were super and even helped in getting The Sandman backed into our site. Although we were pretty close to the main highway, no problem – it was level and we didn’t have to maneuver up the narrow lane uphill to the rest of the campground – Yayyy!!! It was a bit gnarly for a large rig like ours.

 

IMG_2454IMG_2454 PXL_20240831_001354180PXL_20240831_001354180

 

Several years back, Mike was on a road trip with our besties Jon and Becky Harry (Donna didn’t get to go because WORK wouldn’t let her have vacation at that particular time). They have talked to this day about THE BEST pie shop ever! So yes…..off we went to have some pie. Mike had Cherry and Donna had Peach…………..and boy oh boy – our plates were empty in no time – LOL!!! Waiting in line was not a problem – our mouths were watering the whole time!!

 

PXL_20240830_212654571.MPPXL_20240830_212654571.MP PXL_20240830_232423423.MPPXL_20240830_232423423.MP PXL_20240830_233252117PXL_20240830_233252117

 

Rocky Mountain National Park is REALLY something! When Donna was young and their family was moving from West to East and vice versa, her dad brought them to the area several times. Her memories of driving through the park are vivid. Trail Ridge Road is designated as a national All-American Road. It covers 48 miles between Estes Park (east side) and Grand Lake (west side). Eleven miles of the highway travel above the tree line at an elevation near 11,500’!! The evergreen forests come to a halt. As it winds across the tundra’s vastness to its high point of 12,183’, it offers thrilling views and wildlife sightings.

 

IMG_2426IMG_2426

RockyMt-1663 MKRockyMt-1663 MK RockyMt-0554 MKRockyMt-0554 MK

IMG_2443IMG_2443

 

Guardrails? Where are they? Nowhere on this very narrow road with hardly any room to pass…………….Yikes! Don’t dare take your hands off that steering wheel……………Wow!!

 

ELK-0114 MKELK-0114 MK ELK-0168 MKELK-0168 MK RockyMt-1048 MKRockyMt-1048 MK RockyMt-1173 copyRockyMt-1173 copy

 

Estes Park – what a cute town – wandering in and out of shops was a quintessential mountain town experience. And when there is a river involved? Even better……and……what made it even more special for us was seeing a Momma Elk with her babies in the river!! And…. seeing another one walking down main street, munching from the flowerpots along the sidewalk – LOL!!

 

PXL_20240831_201334078PXL_20240831_201334078 PXL_20240831_203829580PXL_20240831_203829580

IMG_2459IMG_2459

Mike’s favorite Author – Stephen King! Remember the movie “The Shining?” Part of it was filmed at the famous landmark Stanley Hotel in Estes Park. As soon as we walked in, we both commented that it reminded us of the famous Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego. It was oozing with old world charm and modern amenities. We moseyed through the gift shop (big mistake) and came out with a bag full – “Redrum” ………A poster in the lobby advertised a special Bourbon downstairs in their tasting room. Oh boy – here we go!!

 

PXL_20240901_181123900PXL_20240901_181123900 PXL_20240901_183448066PXL_20240901_183448066

 

Wow!! The tasting room was the most gorgeous thing we’ve ever seen!!!!

 

PXL_20240901_184434020PXL_20240901_184434020

 

Elk “rut” season was in full swing. As we traversed through the roads, our necks getting sore from looking side to side, and up and down. The meadow we suddenly came upon was what we’ve been waiting for – a HUGE herd of Elk and several males with very large racks!! We quickly found a place to park and spent hours watching the show. Big Daddy was on the hunt for “his” female but none of the females wanted anything to do with him – LOL!!! Big Daddy and another had a “friendly” exchange with their antlers while dancing around the females.

 

ELK-1204 copyELK-1204 copy ELK-1726 MKELK-1726 MK ELK-1692 MKELK-1692 MK ELK-1828 MKELK-1828 MK RockyMt-1470 MKRockyMt-1470 MK RockyMt-1704 MKRockyMt-1704 MK RockyMt-2126 MKRockyMt-2126 MK

 

Although the altitude was still an issue for us (thin air makes it harder to breath), we managed to do a hike around Bear Lake. What a beautiful place! On the way, we saw a Momma Moose with her baby crossing the road. Not great pictures as they went pretty quick across the road into the woods.

 

ELK-0311 MKELK-0311 MK ELK-0422 MKELK-0422 MK ELK-0411 copyELK-0411 copy IMG_2462IMG_2462 IMG_2461IMG_2461 IMG_2467IMG_2467 PXL_20240831_150816074.MPPXL_20240831_150816074.MP PXL_20240831_150820134PXL_20240831_150820134 PXL_20240831_174523105PXL_20240831_174523105 PXL_20240831_174741754PXL_20240831_174741754 PXL_20240902_230537564PXL_20240902_230537564 RockyMt-1020 MKRockyMt-1020 MK RockyMt-0950 MKRockyMt-0950 MK

 

It was a busy time both in the town and in the park as we were there over Labor Day weekend. But all in all, we had a fantastic time!!! Another bucket list item – checked off…

PXL_20240831_150604702PXL_20240831_150604702 PXL_20240831_173739120.MPPXL_20240831_173739120.MP PXL_20240902_205332998PXL_20240902_205332998 PXL_20240902_215542664PXL_20240902_215542664 PXL_20240902_225337009PXL_20240902_225337009

 


Comments

No comments posted.
Loading...