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| Day 1 - Santa Clara, CA Day 2 - Lee Vining, CA Day 3 - Baker, CA Day 4 - Las Vegas, NV Day 5 - Las Vegas, NV Day 6 - Grand Canyon, AZ Day 7 - Durango, CO Day 8 - Glenwood, CO Day 9 - Highlands, CO Day 10 - Highlands, CO Day 11 - Estes Park, CO Day 12 - Craig, CO Day 13 - Jackson, WY Day 14 - Cody, WY Day 15 - Mammoth, WY Day 16 - Choteau, MT Day 17 - Kelispell, MT Day 18 - Sandpoint, ID Day 19 - Omak, WA Day 20 - Anacortes, WA Day 21 - Anacortes, WA Day 22 - Poulsbo, WA Day 23 - Poulsbo, WA Day 24 - Poulsbo, WA Day 25 - Astoria, OR Day 26 - Lincoln City, OR Day 27 - Bandon, OR Day 28 - Eureka, CA Day 29 - Anchor Bay, CA Day 30 - Martinez, CA FINAL THOUGHTS |
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Today was one of those days of mixed emotions. We
had to leave family members, which we did not want to do, but at the
same time we wanted to get going so we could continue our trip. The
classic conflict between the excitement of the quest vs. the pull
of the familiar. Since we did not plan to travel far today, Peg mentioned
that she was taking our granddaughter Jordan, to tumbling classes
(at age 22 months?) and we were invited to watch and take some pictures
before we left. Since we were in no hurry to leave anyway, we decided
to go watch (photos 1, 2, 3 & 4).
Highlands Ranch is something to behold. There are obviously more children under five here, than adults over fifty. Whenever you go to any one of the various Rec. Centers, shopping centers, restaurants, theaters, etc., you see row after row of SUV’s or Minivans (photo 5). When you think of it, it makes perfect sense due to the Colorado weather and the fact that so many of these young people have to haul around several kids and all of the paraphernalia that go with them. As an educator, I can only smile since I know there is job security for teachers in them there minivans. We jump up on Hwy 470 to Hwy 70 west. This puts us back in the neighborhood of trucks and traffic. I am amazed at what some trucks will do. Three lanes and you have big, empty, dirt haulers passing slower dirt haulers, who are passing freight haulers. I just try to keep my head low and pay attention to who’s coming up behind me. We finally get to the Colorado Hwy 119 exit and head north to Estes Park. First though, we have to pass by the gambling community of Blackhawk.
The traffic on this road is quite heavy as cars and buses head to Blackhawk to lose some money. We too, pull into Blackhawk, but only take some pictures and leave since parking seems to be at a premium (photos 6,7, & 8). Blackhawk was once a mining town but now the gold is being panned from tourist. After Blackhawk, we are almost by ourselves as 119 winds along the rivers edge towards the small mountain community of Nederland (photo 9), and then Estes Park Hwy 119 takes us to Hwy 72, then 7 to Estes Park. All told, it is about a two and a half hour drive. We stop for something to drink and pull in to Estes Park about 1:00 p.m., just in time for lunch. We stop at a local coffee shop with a nice view of the mountains (photo 10). After lunch, we decide that neither Linda nor I have been sleeping well, getting up early and going to bed late. We decide to call it a day and check into a Best Western motel, with views of tomorrows ride, the Rocky Mountains (photos 11, & 12).
Later that afternoon, we went downtown to have some dinner at Ed’s Cantina and Grill, a place that seemed to specialize in burgers and Mexican food, a unique combination but Ed’s wasn’t special in any other way. We wanted to get our grandson a gift since we know he likes Colorado, so we did the tourist thing and walked the shops. Estes Park sits right at the entrance to the Rocky Mountain National Park. It is in a most striking and interesting setting. But because of that, what was once the jumping off point for those who wanted to visit the park has become a clean, well-lighted place for tourist. There are flower beds and flower pots on all the streets that are home to shop after shop selling shirts, fudge, shirts, pizza, ice-cream, gifts, shirts, book stores, art galleries. …well you get the picture. I assume there are still places in town where you can buy tires, groceries, locksmith’s services, and plumbing supplies. They just aren’t on the main street. To be fair to the city planners, tourist, cars and motorcycles are all there in large numbers so they must be meeting a need. I’m sure the town-fathers aren’t complaining. Tomorrow, Hwy 36 through the Rocky Mountain National Park will take us to 12, 180 feet. I better get to bed. |
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