Phannie

Phannie
Photo taken near Monument Valley, Utah

Thursday, July 23, 2020

Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park

At Elk Meadow RV Park, Estes Park, Colorado...

At 7,500 feet in elevation, this gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park is a contender for a place we could stay all summer.  The crisp mountain breezes, the low humidity and the surrounding beauty is not found in many places. Oh, there are remote locations if you are diligent in seeking them, but we like to stay in places where we're fairly close to a sizable town with cell service and Internet readily available. This is our perfect spot at Elk Meadow:

(Credit for this photo goes to our caravan friend, Carolyn; good job!)


No matter which way you look, the mountains frame a lovely photo. For example, here's a look to the south:

 
Turn your eyes leftward a bit, and here's a view to the southeast:


Here's looking northward toward the historic Stanley Hotel (This is my favorite):


A view of Rocky Mountain National Park from our RV Park:


A veiw looking westward toward town at sunset:


I'm such a sucker for sunsets--here's one looking northwest toward RMNP:


Naturally, we had to make a foray into the park, and the majesty and beauty just got better and better as we drove up to the Alpine Visitor Center. Here are some pics during that journey:





The temperature was quite warm in the park, even at altitude. It was in the sixties when I took this photo of Larry and Carolyn:





We were even lucky enough to see some animals in the park. Here are some elk cows (yes, they're called cows, not does) looking disinterested:


We found a rather plump marmot posing very close to us, undoubtedly expecting a handout; I could identify with him:


Many of the animals are very accustomed to humans. Here are a couple of elks in downtown Estes Park, munching in one of the flower beds:


We've had a great time at Estes Park, and we had the good fortune to encounter by chance and to have dinner with Glenn and Joylea, some wonderful east Texas friends of ours. Of course, we got too involved in the conversation to take a photo. I've got to think of some kind of reminder--I know...no dessert until I get a photo!  That should do it. Thanks, anyway, Glenn and Joy, for meeting up with us.  It was good to see you again!

From here, we're headed to Golden, Colorado for a few days. Yes, this means a little backtracking, but our friends have some things they want to see in the Denver area, so we adjusted the schedule a bit. We are nothing if not flexible!


Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful life; 
please forgive me if I fail to appreciate it each day as I should.

We don't stop playing because we get old; we get old because we stop playing. 
 ---George Bernard Shaw

"I get up every morning, and I just don't let the old man in." ---Clint Eastwood


6 comments:

  1. We really enjoyed our time there last year. I do wish you would come up with the perfect reminder to take those special pictures, then share it!! I have that same affliction. Lol!

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    1. Well, I try hard, but sometimes best intentions go awry! Good to hear from you, Cheri!

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  2. Isnt the Stanley where they filed The Shining? I'd love to see that place. Fantastic pictures. Nature just can't help showing off can she.

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    1. Yes! If you take the tour, you can see the room in which Stephen King stayed while he wrote it, plus the basement, which they say is the most haunted part of the hotel--according to some, the most haunted place in the U. S. There is much to see, though, if you don't take the tour. If you'd like to see more of the hotel from one of our previous visits, you can check out this post: https://mills-travels.blogspot.com/2014/09/au-revior-estes-park.html

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  3. Mike, you know that Alan and I favor public campgrounds over private, but even I have to admit that Elk Meadow's setting is magnificent - and quite enticing. Gorgeous photos, especially that first sunset. Of course, I would expect you to prefer sunset pics over sunrise photos. In fact, I'll bet you've never even seen a sunrise since you retired, have you? Travel safely, my friend!

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    1. Well, ahem...I once tried to pass off a sunset photo as one of a sunrise, but no one who knows me believed it. I guess I saw enough sunrises back when I was working to put an 'x' in that square. But thank you for the compliments. You guys would love it here, but you probably already know that. Cheers, my friend!

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