August 5, 2007
For four days at the end of July we soaked in the majesty of the Rocky Mountains National Park and the rustic town of Estes Park, Colorado. From our campground we were up close and personal with the rising terrain that seemed to have no end in sight. As we awoke each morning we were treated to fluffy clouds that dipped down into the valleys and touched the peaks. Our campground, Elk Meadows Lodge and RV Park was two miles from Estes Park.
www.elkmeadowrv.com. The campground and surrounding area was simply polluted with Hummingbirds. Campers caught the fever and placed feeders on their units to watch the little guys hover in, land and sip and spin away to have the adventure repeated.
On two days we drove into the national park. One excursion was on a one way cliff hanging dirt road and led to the observation building. Snow in winter turns to ice and accumulates over twenty feet. Every few yards the road had wooden poles or branches stuck in the ground to alert the snow removal folks of the road. We were happy to be doing in it in July. Once on top Charles felt he must be at the tip- top so he climbed steps to put himself 12,0004 feet above sea level.
Estes Park, CO is an interesting town. Estes Lake, in the center of town, is big enough to attract boaters and we succumbed and floated our kayak. Walking-biking on concrete paths wound around the lake and in and around the town. Unfortunately time ran out and we did not get to bike. However, we did find their large dog park and made 4 trips to let our girls experience the freedom of running. On Saturday afternoon a standard Poodle birthday party was in progress. Mother Poodle was there with 4 four of her nine one year off-spring and their caregivers.
We did normal things like grocery shop and eat a healthy sandwich at Subway! Our first mail, sent by a friend at home, was picked up in Estes Park.
Oh, should we mention that while we were there we enjoyed wonderfully cool nights and very tolerable days.
But our comfortable climate ended as we proceeded west toward Salt Lake City, UT. Just before arriving in Estes Park, CO our generator decided it had enough work and quit. We found service and a night at Denver Cummins Diesel. We were hopeful that we would be all well. But after Denver and our visit to Estes Park we discovered that our stop in Salt Lake City would also include another trip to Cummins Diesel. With a new thermostat we are hopeful we are finally all well.
Besides nursing the generator in Salt Lake City we had time to visit Temple Square and the Mormon Tabernacle. While this is not our belief we have a great respect for history and those who carved new paths. The entire grounds of Temple Square houses the Temple, Tabernacle, office buildings and their very large genealogy reference building. It was just amazing. And, fun for me was the several brides and grooms having their pictures taken on the grounds.
On a drizzly morning we rode out to view The Great Salt Lake. This lake produces 400,000 tons of table salt per year. At that site was a marker commemorating the 2002 Olympic Games held in Salt Lake City.
We have now arrived in Oregon, August 4, and put one more time zone between us and our home. For our Canadian friends we deal with a 4 hour gap when we wish to carry on an Internet text message using Skype. We function now on Pacific Daylight Savings Time as we move toward Redmond on August 10 for Family Motor Coach Association Convention. This will be our first venture into doing the youth program. We do not expect to see much of the convention this year. A friend from our park in FL, who is a national director for FMCA, has talked us into doing the youth program this year. Apparently as former teachers we may have some experience along these lines! Retirement?
As we rode today through Idaho and into Oregon it was apparent that the wild fires had slashed across the already barren ground. There is just enough scruffy grass to play with a wind swept fire. Suddenly the news of wild fires became real. All fires were out. Only their imprint lingered. If grass or crops grow in this part of the country they are generously irrigated.
So....we are off to polish up on our teacher skills and enjoy youth from across the country attending FMCA…Family Motor Coach Association…convening in Redmond, OR next week.
Thanks for coming with us.
For four days at the end of July we soaked in the majesty of the Rocky Mountains National Park and the rustic town of Estes Park, Colorado. From our campground we were up close and personal with the rising terrain that seemed to have no end in sight. As we awoke each morning we were treated to fluffy clouds that dipped down into the valleys and touched the peaks. Our campground, Elk Meadows Lodge and RV Park was two miles from Estes Park.
www.elkmeadowrv.com. The campground and surrounding area was simply polluted with Hummingbirds. Campers caught the fever and placed feeders on their units to watch the little guys hover in, land and sip and spin away to have the adventure repeated.
On two days we drove into the national park. One excursion was on a one way cliff hanging dirt road and led to the observation building. Snow in winter turns to ice and accumulates over twenty feet. Every few yards the road had wooden poles or branches stuck in the ground to alert the snow removal folks of the road. We were happy to be doing in it in July. Once on top Charles felt he must be at the tip- top so he climbed steps to put himself 12,0004 feet above sea level.
Estes Park, CO is an interesting town. Estes Lake, in the center of town, is big enough to attract boaters and we succumbed and floated our kayak. Walking-biking on concrete paths wound around the lake and in and around the town. Unfortunately time ran out and we did not get to bike. However, we did find their large dog park and made 4 trips to let our girls experience the freedom of running. On Saturday afternoon a standard Poodle birthday party was in progress. Mother Poodle was there with 4 four of her nine one year off-spring and their caregivers.
We did normal things like grocery shop and eat a healthy sandwich at Subway! Our first mail, sent by a friend at home, was picked up in Estes Park.
Oh, should we mention that while we were there we enjoyed wonderfully cool nights and very tolerable days.
But our comfortable climate ended as we proceeded west toward Salt Lake City, UT. Just before arriving in Estes Park, CO our generator decided it had enough work and quit. We found service and a night at Denver Cummins Diesel. We were hopeful that we would be all well. But after Denver and our visit to Estes Park we discovered that our stop in Salt Lake City would also include another trip to Cummins Diesel. With a new thermostat we are hopeful we are finally all well.
Besides nursing the generator in Salt Lake City we had time to visit Temple Square and the Mormon Tabernacle. While this is not our belief we have a great respect for history and those who carved new paths. The entire grounds of Temple Square houses the Temple, Tabernacle, office buildings and their very large genealogy reference building. It was just amazing. And, fun for me was the several brides and grooms having their pictures taken on the grounds.
On a drizzly morning we rode out to view The Great Salt Lake. This lake produces 400,000 tons of table salt per year. At that site was a marker commemorating the 2002 Olympic Games held in Salt Lake City.
We have now arrived in Oregon, August 4, and put one more time zone between us and our home. For our Canadian friends we deal with a 4 hour gap when we wish to carry on an Internet text message using Skype. We function now on Pacific Daylight Savings Time as we move toward Redmond on August 10 for Family Motor Coach Association Convention. This will be our first venture into doing the youth program. We do not expect to see much of the convention this year. A friend from our park in FL, who is a national director for FMCA, has talked us into doing the youth program this year. Apparently as former teachers we may have some experience along these lines! Retirement?
As we rode today through Idaho and into Oregon it was apparent that the wild fires had slashed across the already barren ground. There is just enough scruffy grass to play with a wind swept fire. Suddenly the news of wild fires became real. All fires were out. Only their imprint lingered. If grass or crops grow in this part of the country they are generously irrigated.
So....we are off to polish up on our teacher skills and enjoy youth from across the country attending FMCA…Family Motor Coach Association…convening in Redmond, OR next week.
Thanks for coming with us.
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