2018.10.02-07 - St. Vrain, Longmont, CO

Tuesday, 10.02-07.2018 - St. Vrain State Park - In checking out RV park availabilities and the weather for the area around Estes Park, we determined that both were looking questionable between now and Friday. We decided to book an extra three days at St. Vrain S.P. for the rest of the week instead of trying to find another spot north of Longmont. SVSP had a spot available right next to the spot we had reserved for the weekend, so we jumped on that.  We headed south to Longmont, picked up a rental car and were settled in at SVSP by 4:30 with plenty of time to hook up for dinner with Ginny, Gary, Terry & Scott at his condo. Thanks, Terry, for the de-lish beef stew! Being that G,G&T were flying back to Sacramento tomorrow and Scott had to work, we called it an early night and said our good-byes.

Settled in at St. Vrain State Park, Longmont, CO

Wednesday, 10.03.2018 - We decided to head up to Estes Park via Hwy 66 thru Lyons and the Big Thompson River Canyon. The Big Thompson River is infamous for a massive flash flood that occurred in the summer of 1976 that killed 144 people. It was the most devastating flash flood that ever occurred in Colorado. A second flash flood also took place in 2013 that killed another 10. 

Estes Park was pretty busy as usual as far as cars and people go, but we only saw about 2-3 elk walking around town. Coming into town, we stopped and took a few photos of the Stanley Hotel across the lake (the location where the movie, "The Shining" was filmed, based on Stephen King's book), then found a parking space downtown so we could have lunch. We ate upstairs at the Wild Rose where we just so happened to have dinner a few years back. Fall colors were in full swing and we enjoyed the view from above the street. 

The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, CO

Upstairs at the Wild Rose, Estes Park, CO

After lunch, we headed towards Rocky Mountain National Park via the Fall River Entrance Station, stopping at the Sheep Lakes turn-out where elk are often seen in West Horseshoe Park. They were there, but pretty far in the distance. We then took the turn towards the Endovalley Campground where the Old Fall River Road (a one-way gravel road, now closed) heads up towards the Alpine Visitor Center. Lots and lots of brilliant fall colors as well as car fulls of folks taking photos. When the sun broke thru the clouds, you couldn't beat the effect.  

Headed up towards Endovalley Campground

Fall Colors in Full Swing

Endovalley 

After leaving the Endovalley area, we headed up the grade past the beaver ponds towards the Alpine Visitor Center at 11,796 ft elevation. It was dark and cloudy and blowing little "ice balls" when we got to the top. We hit the Visitor Center and bought a few things for the kiddos. By the time we were ready to leave, it was 4pm, so we headed back down the mountain the way we came up. The weather gradually improved as we dropped in elevation, but it was pretty dang cold. We stopped in at the Moraine Park Campground just to check it out (it didn't appear very motorhome-friendly), then took Mary's Lake Road and Fish Creek Road to bypass Estes Park.  Elk seemed to be more active that afternoon including a couple of bull-elks that made sure to stop in middle of the road while bugling at each other and herding "their ladies" along. 

A Selfie at Rainbow Curve in Rocky Mountain N.P.

"There's a storm across the valley, clouds are rollin' in. The afternoon is heavy on your shoulders."

Great lyrics from a John Denver song in his "Rocky Mountain High" album

Folks walking to meet the dark sky - Iceberg Pass

Bid Daddy Bull Elk - St. Marys Lake Road

"Ladies! Please keep moving."

Mountain at sunset - Fish Creek Road, Estes Park, CO  

We got back to St. Vrain SP about 7pm, had dinner in the motorhome and called it a day. 

Thursday, 10.05.2018 - We decided today that we'd head for the south entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park via I-70. The weather continues to be rainy in the mountains and unsettled on the front range. We headed down I-25 into downtown Denver, then swung west up the grade on I-70, taking the turn-off on Hwy 40 towards Winter Park. We climbed another steep grade, passing over Berthoud Pass (elev 11,315 ft), then dropped down into the ski-resort town of Winter Park. We stopped for gas and had lunch during a pretty impressive thunder and lightning storm. 

Rain and Lightning at Winter Park, CO

Nice and warm in here, however (wine and pizza for lunch)

From Winter Park, we continued north thru the town of Granby, then on to Lake Granby (not too impressive in my book). The weather was improving by then and the ranger at the Grand Lake Entrance Station reported that there was snow, but not accumulating, at the passes. We stopped for a few photos of the Never Summer Wilderness area, then started climbing the grade towards Milner Pass (elev. 10,758 ft) continuing on towards the Alpine Visitor Center where we had turned around the day before. 

The Never Summer Wilderness 

Rene at Farview Curve Overlook

Never Summer Mountains from Farview Curve Overlook

Heading down the mountain from the Visitor Center was similar to yesterday, except that it was much colder and much more windy. There were some fantastic views of  adjacent mountains with fresh snow reminding me of the motto of House Stark in G.O.T. that "Winter is Coming." We stopped again at the Iceberg Pass overlook, where John walked out along the highway to take some shots. It was almost freezing (car said 34-deg) and the wind was blowing so hard, he just about had to screw his hat down on his head to keep it from blowing off.   

"Winter is Coming"

Ditto that

Today, however, instead of taking Mary's Lake Road, we headed back to Estes park via West Horseshoe Park and out the Fall River Gate by Aspenglen. We passed thru downtown Estes Park, down the Big Thompson River Canyon and into Lyons. Since it was only a little after 5 and the Lyons Quilt Shop was open until 6:30pm, John "insisted" that we stop (actually, he had to take a pee). By 5:30pm, Rene' had properly reconnoitred the shop, made her purchases and we were on our way back to St. Vrain for dinner.     

Aspens along Horseshoe Park (wish the sun had been shining)

Rene at Lyons Quilt Shop

Friday, 10.05.2018 - Friday was "moving day" in that we had to move to the adjacent camp site, about 50-ft behind us. As long as we had to move, we made a run to the dump station and re-filled the water tank. Nothing otherwise was on the schedule today, except for an afternoon nap and meeting Scott and Jake at 5pm for dinner in Longmont. 

Dinner with Scott and Jake at Breakers Grill in Longmont

Saturday, 10.06.07 - No set plans for today except to meet Scott outside Ft. Collins where he was getting his new roll-off truck ready for registering it. After a successful rendezvous at the storage yard, Scott treated us to lunch at the Coopersmith's Pub in Ft. Collins where we all had a hot chicken pot pie to go with a cold, wintry day - hit the spot!

Scott's new toy, gassed up and ready to register

After lunch, we headed out for some shopping, including "A Sense of Place", one of Rene's favorite in town. She picked up a few holiday decorations and John bought a "rooster" to go with her "egg ranch hen" at home in the kitchen. Scott, by the way, had the "honor" of walking back to the car with his "rooster-in-a bag" luggage - lucky Scott!

Scott gets the "rooster-in-a-bag" luggage

Since the day was getting along, we took a quick drive up the Cache La Poudre River Canyon. We made it most of the way up, but had to turn back in time to make it down to Thorton by 5:30pm for dinner with Bruce and Linda Blincow. Scott left his car at a Park-n-Ride in Longmont and we made it to dinner right on time. After a nice lasagna dinner, we took Scott back to his car and called it a night. 

Sunday, 10.07.2018 - Sunday was cold and rainy with nothing planned. Scott had been suffering with a cold for the past few days, so we offered to let him stay at home and sleep in. We had a leisurely morning and headed to Walmart to re-stock for the trip home. Since nothing was planned except to meet the Fiamengo's for dessert later that night, Sunday afternoon was a welcome break for all of us to work in a good nap.

Scott suggested we meet for dinner at the Gondolier Italian Eatery, which turned out to be an excellent recommendation. The Fiamengo's had run into mechanical and weather delays in their flight home from Texas, so we wouldn't be able to meet them until after 9pm. We said our goodbyes to Scott, then met Andy, Grace and Andrew around 9:30pm for dessert. 

Tomorrow, it's time to head south to start making our way home.