I done r-u-n-n-o-f-t: Estes Park, Elk haven

***THIS IS A CATCH UP POST***

I know...I am sooooo lazy...

June 2013,

near Loveland, CO

The Rocky Mountain National Park is close to us here. As much as we would have loved to do more exploring, Anna is still not feeling well. We did manage to visit the quant town of Estes Park, with Alex in tow at least. We quickly found out that half the fun was just the drive there. Not more than a few miles from our campground, the road entered a deep valley or canyon or pass. The steep rock walls rose up from both sides of the road. Again we're plunged into a whole different world.

There was also a very pretty river running along side the road.

weeeeeee!

After our long climb into town, we see SNOW on the mountains!

However, the weather in town was mild and comfortable.

The numerous shops had lots of cute gifts which I wanted to get for my friends.

(Don't worry, Stephanie, I didn't buy it.)

G doing crane form, for the metal crane.

Interesting patio furniture at the restaurant.

And here's something I've never seen. A begging robin.

Have some dignity and go find a bug!

There was even a John Denver-ish musician playing in the park.

And, of course, I had to go by the Stanley Hotel, where the Shining was filmed.

Apparently it really is haunted. Look at the images that showed up in this photo.

"RED RUM, RED RUM!" I jest, but if one of those shrubs had moved,

I would have peed my pants.

More lovely rock walls, across the street from our campground.

We didn't notice them on the way out, but a nice surprise on returning.

On another night, we stayed in the campground and joined the evening festivities they provided, ice cream and karaoke. It was a very popular event and we learned that little kids and old people who sing badly, are somewhat endearing. But adults, say from 20 to 55 years or so, who sing badly, are a little pathetic. However, they all received polite applause. Anna, Alex and I had our solos, of course. Then we even convinced Gordon to join us for an epic rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody. Just wish we had a video of that...

The last night was date night. G and I went back to Estes Park for a hike and dinner. It was later in the day and we realized that we should let someone know we were on the mountain. So we took a quick photo of our route for Facebook. Many friends were waiting for a "returned safe" update.

The thing that's difficult to tell on this map is

that the 1.5 mile hike to Gem Lake was straight up.

A thousand feet, straight up.

We can't hike up there because there are eagle nests.

Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel.

"Hey, who took my picture?!"

View of Estes Park, from about 1/2 way up to Gem Lake.

Zoomed in.

Hummingbird! Good eye, Gordon.

Aspen.

Another hummer. Too bad the light isn't good enough

to see his colors.

Pretty tiny flowers.

Cool hole in the rock.

Give up, tree. The rock will win.

Self portrait.

Me and G.

Even dead, it's beautiful.

Humm. For some reason I have a craving for pancakes.

Ah, at last. Gem Lake. Elevation 8,830 ft.

Another Goldie, after someone's dropped sandwich.

"I heard that, but I'm not leaving my find."

"I don't care how close you get."

Even the lichens are colorful.

Water bugs.

Lightening strike?

Oh, ha ha. Thank goodness.

The sun was setting as we drove out of the trailhead parking lot. We were looking forward to dinner in town. Then as we passed a large field, I caught a glimpse of the biggest dear I'd ever seen. All I could sputter was, "big horns, really big horns!" Gordon turned the truck around and we pulled off the road to get out and watch. I had my camera and G the binoculars. What we saw was elk. Big beautiful elk. Two of them were about 50 yards from us. Then we saw 2-3 more even farther away. We must have leaned on that fence for 45 minutes, watching the big animals graze.