Rocky Mountain Pictures

 The Rockies were cool.  So very cool, almost cold it was awesome. The highs were in the mid 50s and it rained every day, multiple times. It was all welcome after the heat we had been in.  Blankets were added to beds again after not using then since the first couple nights. We stayed at Hermit Park and upon pulling in from a long and rainy drive through Colorado. Which for some reason didn’t have any fast food places to grab a quick lunch or gas apparently.  We had a bit of a shock as we’re pulling into a small town in desperate need of gas to find the first station with its pumps bagged up and out of gas.  So we headed to the next small station and pull in and I just start filling gas when the attendant came out with bags in her hand and said they were out of gas.  My pump was going and I said I’m getting gas.  She turned and yelled at me to stop pumping, I’m screwing up her tanks! Ah ok, I slowly stopped pumping gas to squeeze another gallon or so out of it.  Glad I did we ended up coming into the next station on empty and that station was a mess of people all jocking for position at the pumps. We finally got to the pumps but kept getting boxed in so couldn’t get out with the camper it was a lot of fun. Guess there’s a gas shortage or more of a truck driver shortage causing a gas shortage.  I’m glad it worked out for us that could have been a crazy day if we had ran out of gas in the middle of nowhere Colorado. Once at Hermit Park we had to dive up these crazy steep switchbacks with the camper.  It was crazy and a what and where are we going type of situation. Ask Becky my biggest fear is always getting the truck/camper combo into somewhere it shouldn’t be.  There were mirrors on one of the switchbacks it was redonks. But we made it and the campground was wonderful. But we had to drive out and in the switchbacks every day to do anything so probably not the best base camp for running around but it was the only thing with spots available when we got around to booking so we took what we could get and it really was a good campground just tough to get to which any other time might be a plus.

Becky’s parents met us in Estes this stop. They stayed at the YMCA of the Rockies, it’s some sort of pretty big resort out of a old YMCA camp or something like that. It was a huge and slightly confusing operation. They had a lot of stuff to do so we spent a lot of time there playing frolf, swimming, hay riding, and just playing in the park.

A good part of this stop we rehashed things we did our first time to the area, minus the hike.  We shopped in Estes, played mini-golf, visited old family friends, and did the trail ridge road ending with a picnic at Irene Lake.  It was a fun stop and interesting to see how things have changed.  The kids of course don’t remember much of anything from the last time we were here 3 years ago.  Or as we found out recently much of any of our trips. I can see how the early trips might be tough and things could blur together but as they tell it they don’t remember a thing. 2 or 3 years back I figured they’d have some clue. Anyway good thing we kept this blog it might come in handy for them in the future. The results of our comparison is, the mini golf we loved has gone way downhill, Irene Lake is really as gorgeous as we remember it, and yes we could live here it’s so beautiful.

The highlight of this stop was the whitewater rafting outing we had booked. We love whitewater rafting and this was our third time.  It was fun for the boys to share it with their Grampa and Grandma who had never been rafting before.  Since it was a water activity I didn’t have my phone so no pictures. I think Becky bought the picture package so she might have some to share. Here’s some of the pictures I did take.

Having fun at the YMCA

Playing some Parcheesi while it rains

Marc making himself sick at the Playground

Went to downtown Estes and got some ice cream. We are drawn to things with “Munch” in the name even if it is spelled wrong.

Walking around and shopping

Kids with Grandpa and Grandma 

Got rained out mini golfing. We finished but sprinted through the last holes and gave up keeping score. This was the mini golf place that reminded us of the old one in Aberdeen by the old Dairy queen. It’s only been three years but has gone downhill. So no longer the best mini golf course in the world but we still had a lot of fun.

If you look close you’ll see a marmot by a rock

View off trail ridge road

Brothers by the visitors center.  A little chilly up there. Short sleeves were a bad choice

So we proceeded to spend WAY to much money outfitting everyone for the cold

Walking up the trail to get above 12000 feet

Almost at the top of they trail by the visitor center

Becky and her parents.

Tundra

At the top

 

 Irene Lake 

Hiked around the lake

Lunch, we have tons of backpacking meals I had made for our Grand Canyon hike so we used those for lunch.

It was a bit of a cluster getting everything made for seven and Dar was super excited to be eating his meal. We all got fed and had a good laugh. Unfortunately it was mostly at my expense… I’m not sure how requesting we boil water on the ground instead of on the table right above our crotches makes one the subject of ridicule but I assure you it does.  

Look closely Moose in the middle. This was at Lake Irene still we took a break from lunch when someone said a moose was spotted.  Was quite a ways out already when we got there.

On our way back on trail ridge road by the visitor center there were some big horn sheep.

It was snowing out pretty good

YMCA hayride, the little guy by Marcus had been on it three times already in his short life thus far.  He was full of information and told us all about it.

Becky loves horses

Sam making friends 

Raining again which it did often while we were in the Rockies. Hiding out under a tree

Marshmallow mess

Becky showing off her mad Gaga ball skills. I guess recess duty pays off.

Some four square where Dar was dominating 

Our campsite at hermit parks bobcat campground.  We were running around a lot at this stop so didn’t get a lot of time here but to sleep.  It was a nice campground better suited for some serious camping rather than just a place to flop.