Travels with haRVy

Glad I took this shot during our first morning at Rocky Mountain National Park because we didn’t see another blue sky like that during the remainder of our four-day visit. This is the view from Glacier Basin Campground where we spent our first three nights. While there we managed to work in a few good hikes without getting caught in any of the numerous hail and thunderstorms that occurred.

Our first hike was to beautiful Alberta Falls

The next morning we hiked around Bear Lake

And up to Nymph Lake

Our third day was a total washout with rain falling all day long and low clouds blocking views. We had scheduled an all day tour of Trail Ridge Road with the Rocky Mountain Conservancy, but it was postponed until the next day when better weather was forecast. Luckily the rain chased away some of the tent campers so we were able to get a site at the Aspenglen campground. We took this opportunity to grocery shop, get laundry done, and take showers in nearby Estes Park.

The next morning dawned drizzly, but soon the clouds parted (somewhat) and we were off on our tour, during which we got a better feel for the vast wilderness areas of the park.

Sheep Lakes

Poudre Lake

View from lunch table at Alpine Visitor Center

Can you see the alpine lake in this photo?

Trail Ridge Road

I also enjoyed photographing the flora and fauna…

Yellow bellied marmot soaking up some sun.

Are you looking at me?

Why would anyone want to do this?

After a relaxing week with gracious hosts Wendi and Rod (thank you so much!) in Highlands Ranch, Colorado (photo above), we drove up the road about 30 minutes to Lakewood for dinner with an old roommate friend of mine, Dawnetta, whom I hadn’t seen in at least 35 years. We had such a good time that Dawn invited us to share her campsite the following weekend. (More on that later)

Next we headed into “The Highlands” neighborhood of Denver where we camped out in Cheryl and Keith’s comfy backyard. We met them two years ago in New Brunswick, Canada while they were on a one-year road trip. At the time that seemed so exciting to us, while now we have nearly reached that milestone ourselves.

This time our hosts were not even home for the first few days of our visit, but they were very generous in letting us camp in their driveway and avail ourselves of the shower and laundry facilities. They even have an electrical connection next to the shaded picnic table on the patio, so I set up my office there.

On a bike ride around their charming neighborhood I came upon a vintage amusement park with a wooden roller coaster built in 1940.

Didn’t get to see this tower lit up at night, but I was told that many of the lights don’t work anymore.

Can you believe they still charge just $3 admission?

One beautiful warm summer evening during our visit, Cheryl and Keith took us on a tour of downtown Denver where the newly renovated Union Station was preparing for a grand re-opening.

Thank you both for your warm hospitality. It was great to see you again and get to know you a little better. I sincerely hope our paths cross again some day.

On Friday it was time to drive to West Chicago Creek Campground near Mt. Evans to meet up again with Dawnetta who generously shared the campsite she reserved for the weekend back in January. The weather was not ideal during our stay, but we did manage to get a couple of hours hiking in before the thunderstorms began.

Saturday evening Dawnetta, who is a seasoned tent camper, baked a delicious peach cobbler over hot coals in her dutch oven for my birthday cake.

That’s my birthday cobbler cooking in the pot next to the fire as Dawnetta uses haRVy’s umbrella to stay dry.

Al cleaning up a bit for me. He’s so much more kissable after he shaves.

Three happy campers

We had a wonderful time camping with you, Dawnetta. Thank you so much for thinking to include us in your plans.

Life is so much more fulfilling when it can be shared with good friends. Visiting with friends and family as we traverse the country has certainly enriched our experience. Anyone else out there want us to stop by? 😉

Beautiful drive up Taylor River Canyon

View of peaks from Taylor Park Reservoir Campground

It’s wildflower season in the mountains!

Historic Crested Butte with its namesake in background

Newer area at base of ski resort with another view of the butte

The beautiful countryside just outside of town

It was time to leave the mountains for the city of Denver where we are currently enjoying a relaxing visit with friends Wendi and Rod. They took us to see a fabulous exhibit of Dale Chihula glassworks at the Denver Botanic Garden.

Wendi and I among the glass reeds

The place was crazy with bees because so much was in bloom!

And other pollinators too

I want some of these in my garden

Which way should we go? That’s Rod in the middle with me and Al.

We reluctantly left Telluride behind and took a beautiful drive through the Rocky Mountains to Ouray, Colorado and on to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. This lesser known national park features some of the steepest cliffs, oldest rock, and craggiest spires in North America.

We took several short hikes from the scenic drive along the south rim plus a ranger guided boat ride at the bottom of the canyon.

To reach the boat we drove down a dirt road, climbed down 232 steps, and hiked a mile along what was left of the bed that once bore the tracks for the Denver and Rio Grande Western narrow gauge railway. Completed with much difficulty in 1882 and billed as the “Scenic Line of the World,” it ran through some of the most rugged country in the West for 67 years.

 Sure glad we didn’t witness this rock slide!

I realize that most of my readers probably think my entire life is a vacation, but living on the road does not always feel that way. Besides the usual drudgery and time-consuming logistics one has to deal with in a permanent home, many additional travel and vehicle related chores must be tended to daily. I’m not looking for any sympathy as we are (mostly) having a great time out here. I just wanted to mention this to help explain how much we enjoyed staying in one incredible location (Telluride, Colorado) for ten whole days and nights! It really felt like a vacation to savor all that this historic mountain village has to offer.

In my opinion, Telluride provides the perfect blend of natural beauty and civilized comforts with a bit of funkiness thrown in to make it interesting.

The natural beauty can be taken advantage of by hiking or biking a variety of trails, paddling or tubing the San Miguel River, reading a book under the shade of Cottonwood trees, or pointing your camera lens in practically any direction.

The civilized comforts include an AT&T 4G connection all over town, great restaurants of every sort, good grocery stores, yoga studios, a weekly farmers market, a variety of interesting stores with merchandise to fit every budget (there’s even a block-long free box to which we contributed a few items), plus historic saloons, hotels, Victorian homes and more!

 Bikes are the preferred mode of transportation for locals as car parking space is scarce and expensive.

Then, of course, there are the people. From the hippies who “discovered” the place in the 60’s, well after the mining boom went bust, to the wealthy skiers and celebrities who began buying up condos in the 80’s, we found everyone to be unusually friendly and accommodating.

It truly is a fascinating place. If you care to learn more, the Wikipedia link at the top of this post connects to a thorough overview of the geography, demographics, and history.

Tibetan prayer flags fly everywhere!

Beautifully tended gardens practically flow out into the streets.

Creativity is on display throughout town, even in the alleys where I found this back fence.

License plate siding on an updated miner’s cabin.

Elk’s club where we attended a riotous Buccaneer’s Ball.

The water was cold and the rocks hard, but we just had to try tubing (once!).

Invited artists from across America took part in the Plein Air Festival.

Their work was displayed and sold both outdoors in the park and inside the historic Opera House.

Even the market’s produce person is creative.

For days, it literally snowed seed pods from the abundant Cottonwood trees.

Let us not forget that Colorado is the first state to legalize the sale of marijuana. However, a few rules do apply.