Rocky Mountain National Park, June 27, 2008

x

Yesterday, we moved from Lyons up to Estes Park. we are now camped in a commercial campground, just outside Rocky mountain National Park. With the gain in altitude, we are working our way to get used to it so we can hike on a trip of decent length.

Yesterday, we went around Bear Lake, where we saw trout, swimming up a brook to spawn. There was still the remnants of a snow drift by the lake, and we learned that the trails up to some of the higher elevations are still blocked with snow!. I guess that is the usual thing this time of year, here, but it is always a shock to think there is snow interfering with what you want to do, when it is almost July!

After the short walk around Bear Lake, we drove a little ways and took a short hike to Alberta Falls.

The pictures here are of a view of the river from above Alberta Falls. and of Bear Lake, with mountains in the background.

On Sunday we plan to move to a campsite in the park (first come, first served). Since we are so long (40 ft) there are not to many spots that will accompany us. So -- we will have to get there early. No hookups, so we will be boon docking, which is OK.

In Colorado, June 27, 2008

Since our last posting, we have moved west! We left Florida a couple of weeks ago, and started our journey to Colorado. On the way, we stopped at Louisville, KY to visit our daughter, Diana. Diana now, as most of you know, has left her husband and is living in Louisville. She recently purchased a very nice condo, which is about a 30-minute drive from her the school, where she teaches as a school librarian. Although school session for the year is over, we had a chance to visit the library and help with a book-inventory project. I must say I was quite impressed with the library. It is quite large, with a separate classroom, and a media room. Diana teaches four classes a day, as well as supervises the library, which involves purchasing books, and developing programs to promote reading.

From Louisville, we drove on to Lyons, CO, a small town about 10 miles north of Boulder. While crossing Missouri and Kansas, we could see that the creeks and rivers were very full from all the recent rains. Kansas was green from all the rain, and looked entirely different than it usually appears this time of year.

Now we are in Colorado; Iam enjoying it very much. The weather is good -- cool nights and warm days -- although the last several days have been perhaps a little too warm. We are catching up on chores, and plan to go up to Estes Park next week, where we will enjoy even cooler and pleasanter summer weather. Meanwhile we are preparing for a six-day family reunion which will be held in Estes Park in July.