travel tales for family and friends. . .

wild horses. . .Theodore Roosevelt NP - North Dakota

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Evans Escapades–Estes Park–Our Summer Home

Home in the Rockies til October
Isn’t this a glorious, gorgeous place to live for five months. . .
we just keep walking outside saying . . .WOW!
It took some doing to get us settled in up here. . .let me tell you. 
Now we know our rig is big and heavy. . .and has very low ground clearance. . .
so that’s why we upgraded to the big truck “the BEAST”. . .
but, with all the loose gravel,
even the Beast could not back us up the hill to get us into this spot. . .
that required a fellow camp host’s 4X4. . .
thank you Terry and Becky. . .you guys are awesome! 
It's a tough life. . .but somebody's gotta do it. . .
Dave designed us a sitting platform. . .
overlooking the mountains and the meadow below. . .
life is good!
YMCA Horseback Riders riding across the meadow at East Portal Campground
The YMCA horseback riders come across the meadow almost daily. . .
The hummingbirds are just swarming around our feeder. . .we love it!Female Ruby Throated Hummingbird at our homemade feeder in Estes Park
The hummingbirds are literally everywhere. . .
and if you get between them and their feeder, they will buzz your head!
I am currently designing a feeding platform for the bluejays and the magpies. . .
and am looking forward to adding several new finds to my Birding Life List. . .
We can feed the birds, but not the wildlife. . .as that would draw the bears. . .hello!,
and we must take in the feeders at night. . .
Oh. . .if only I can just cram in one more peanut. . .just one more!
of course the squirrels and the chipmunks can climb anything. . .
so there will be no keeping them out of the feeders. . .
as if I would try!
Mule deer still have their raggy winter coats
the mule deer wander through our camp each evening. . .
Wild Turkeys crossing our camp this morning. . .
as do a flock of five wild turkeys. . .

It’s hard to believe we have only been here one week. . .
As you can tell we are loving every single minute. . .
and will have lots, and lots more to share. . .

Today, we are going over to Rocky Mountain National Park,
where we plan to do a couple of easy hikes. . .
and tomorrow. . .back to work. . .
it’s tough, but somebody’s gotta do it. . .

Hugs to you all,
Janice

Friday, May 11, 2012

Enjoying Estes Park~Next Week We Work

 

It has been a very quiet, enjoyable week in our temporary home

at Mary’s Lake Campground in Estes Park

Estes Park Memories

We arrived last Sunday. . .

Our temporary home at Mary's Lake Campground until East Portal is open. . .snowing

It snowed most of the day Monday. . .

Estes Park Downtown

but warmed right back up. . .

so Wednesday we trekked to downtown Estes Park

to check out all the tourist shops before the

summer crowds arrive around Memorial Day. . .

Estes Park Downtown

had a great burger with a great view. . .gotta be able to tell the folks in the

campground where the good eating places are. . .

 

Yesterday and today are training days with the Larimer County Staff. . .

learning all the ins and outs of being a Camp Host. . .

 

It’s sounding pretty great so far. . .

except for the Ranger’s scenarios of doom and gloom. . .LOL!

 

They were telling all these horror stories about what to do in out of control situations. . .but did admit that 98% of the folk are just here to have a great time. . .

and only need to be reminded about the basics. . .putting away food. . .

after all, we are in bear country. . .that sort of thing. . .

 

Here’s hoping for Happy Campers. . .

‘til next time!

 

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Day Tripping–Colorado State Capitol and the Denver Skyline

My goal is to personally photograph all 50 State Capitol Buildings, so with that in mind we set off for

Downtown Denver this morning. . .oops, we forgot about it being Cinco de Mayo. . .traffic was bad. . .crowds were thick, but we persevered and got this awesome shot of . . .

2012-05-05 2012-05-05 Colorado State Capitol and Denver Skyline (4) 043

Colorado State Capitol

2012-05-05 Colorado State Capitol and Denver Skyline (24)

In addition to wanting a photo of the Capitol. . .I also love city skylines. . .so I researched the

best place to get a good shot of the Denver skyline. . .City Park. . .so that’s where we went.

Standing on the back landing of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, we also got the

beautiful panorama of the Rocky Mountains with the Capitol Dome in the foreground. . .

2012-05-05 2012-05-05 Colorado State Capitol and Denver Skyline (4) 011

My favorite skyline shot. . .

2012-05-05 2012-05-05 Colorado State Capitol and Denver Skyline (4) 032

and a close up. . .there was a MS run at the park today. . .

and as a bonus. . .a few shots for my Birding Life List. . .

Snowy Egret - page 97 - Peterson Field Guide to Birds - Bad hair Day?

this Snowy Egret was having a bad hair day. . .

Double Crested Cormorant - page 93 - Peterson Field Guide to Birds

the Double Crested Cormorant were plentiful. . .on the shore

2012-05-05 Colorado State Capitol and Denver Skyline (3)

in the water. . .

2012-05-05 Colorado State Capitol and Denver Skyline (16)

and nesting.

Black Crowned Night Heron - page 99 - Peterson Field Guide to Birds

gave my Peterson Field Guide a workout researching this one. . .

it’s a Black Crowned Night Heron. . .

2012-05-05 Colorado State Capitol and Denver Skyline (8)

They were also in nesting mode. . .

2012-05-05 Colorado State Capitol and Denver Skyline (7)

and of course. . .Canada Geese. . .I know, I know. . .they are everywhere,

and they are loud and messy. . .but I think they are beautiful. . .

and I want to see how many places I  can get pics of them in. . .

 

It was a great day. . .tomorrow we head to Estes Park to start our newest project. . .

Updates soon from our summer home. . .

Friday, May 4, 2012

Day Tripping: Peak to Peak Scenic Byway–Estes Park to Golden CO

 

The things we saw along the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway in Colorado

Elk grazing on Peak To Peak BYWAY just out of Estes Park CO

Just out of Estes Park, we saw elk grazing in a meadow. . .

Long's Peak in the Center - Rocky Mountains - Peak to Peak Scenic -  Byway 14,259 feet

Long’s Peak – in the center, at 14,259 feet. . .

the highest summit in Rocky Mountain National Park

2012-05-03 Day Trip - Estes Park - Chapel on the Rock (3)

Chapel on the Rock – designated a Historic Site in 1999

2012-05-03 Day Trip - Estes Park - Peak to Peak Scenic Byway - snow in the mountains

still snow in the mountains

2012-05-03 Day Trip - Estes Park - Peak to Peak Scenic Byway - scenic views (1)

Scenic views. . .

2012-05-03 Day Trip - Estes Park - Peak to Peak Scenic Byway - Blackhawk CO - a gambling town (2)

Blackhawk is a gambling town. . .

2012-05-03 Day Trip - Estes Park - Peak to Peak Scenic Byway - RIVER

driving along the river between Blackhawk and Golden

was reminiscent of driving the canyon road

between Bozeman and West Yellowstone MT. . .

2012-05-03 Day Trip - Estes Park - Peak to Peak Scenic Byway - tunnel

Three tunnels. . .big rig friendly. . .not sure!

2012-05-03 Day Trip - Estes Park - Peak to Peak Scenic Byway - Denver Skyline

Denver Skyline

Golden CO Welcome

The End

Full Time RV Travel: Garden of the Gods & Pike’s Peak ~Colorado Springs

After our hike at Seven Falls. . .we were too pooped to do anything more than. . .

drive over to the Garden of the God's Visitor Center. . .

stand on their balcony, and take this gorgeous photo

View of Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods from the Overlook of the Visitor Center

of Pike’s Peak, with Garden of the Gods in the foreground. . .

#17 Exploring the rocks 2#16 Exploring the rocks

#28 Visiting the artist in the hills#25 I ain't scared

Twenty four years ago the boys enjoyed exploring every inch of Garden of the Gods. . .

#88 the Summit at Pikes Peak

and we took the cog railroad to the summit of Pike’s Peak. . .

where it was snowing. . .we all loved it!

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Full Time RV Travel: Seven Falls~Colorado Springs CO


Although you can’t really tell it by looking at the pics. . .
2012-04-27 Seven Falls
each one as beautiful as the last. . .
2012-04-27 Seven Falls
but the only true way to see each and every one of them distinctively
Just a portion of the 277 steps to the top of Seven Falls
is to climb the two staircases like this one, totaling 224 steps. . .
I heard one of the guys telling someone that when you get
short winded. . .don’t stop. ..cause then your legs will freeze up. . .
great huh. . .I climbed 10 steps. . .rested. . .10 steps. . .rested. . .
and so on, and so forth. . .of course I pretended to be reading
the signs about each waterfall. . .hey, whatever works!
2012-04-27 Seven Falls
I love, love, love this horsetail fall, with the pool at the bottom. . .
You know how you always read in those historical romances. . .
(I mean novels) about bathing under the waterfall. . .
can’t you just imagine that happening here?  So beautiful. . .
Trail map copy
So. . .as if climbing 224 stairs straight up wasn’t enough. . .
we decided to hike an additional mile and 400 more feet in elevation. . .
Hike to Inspiration Point -  Seven Falls
Hike to Inspiration Point -  Seven Falls
This was the trail. . .
Dave catching his breath - Hike to Inspiration Point -  Seven FallsJanice catching her breath - Hike to Inspiration Point -  Seven Falls
catching our breath. . .
Hike to Inspiration Point -  Seven Falls
love these granite outcroppings. . .
The view from Inspiration Point -  Seven Falls
our first view of Colorado Springs
Hike to Inspiration Point -  Seven Falls
from the summit.
The view from Inspiration Point -  Seven Falls
and with the zoom. . .so beautiful. . .and so worth it!
Yes I plan to make many more hikes like this during the
summer we spend in the Rocky Mountains. . .wish me luck!

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Full Time RV Travel Days ~ Colorado Springs to Denver

It seems when we are in the mountains,
everywhere we turn is another postcard opportunity,
and today was no exception. . .
Scenic View of the Mountains west of Denver. . .
the Rocky Mountains to the west of Denver are still snow covered. . .

but the most amazing thing is. . . a few days ago,
a  blogging friend, Marsha. . .who writes a great RV’ing blog
called Where’s Weaver flew from Ohio to Las Vegas
and got a shot of these same mountains from the air. . .
Mountains of Denver 2
isn’t that just beautiful?
Mountains of Denver
Thanks Marsha for giving me permission to borrow a copy of your shots. . .
Scenic View of the Mountains west of Denver. . .
and one last shot of how my pics really look
before they are cropped and doctored. . .LOL. . .

Could you ever take that view for granted?

It was a very short, easy travel day. . .
and although I am still traumatized by
it has been very, very quiet here in the park. . .
and this too shall pass. . .

More of our adventures later. . .til then. . .stay safe!


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