Monday, June 23, 2008

6/23/08 Rocky Mountain National Park

We tried our luck at seeing Rocky Mountain National Park today. We were hoping it wasn't as crowded today and our luck was with us.

We pulled out of the campground a little after ten and drove the less than a mile distance to the entrance of the park.

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One of the first things I noticed was the limbs of trees laying on the ground like so many Pixie Stix spilled from the cardboard tube.

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We didn't have pretty blue skies today but clouds and gray skies. Still the overlooks provided a spectacular view.

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As we drove up the mountain we passed thousands and thousands of pine trees.

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As we got closer to the top of the mountain we saw more and more snow.

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We could see where the snow was melting and what was contributing to the rushing water in the streams down below.

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We saw this elk taking advantage of the running water.

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We pulled into another larger overlook and found the place crawling with chipmunks! Being use to humans they darted in and out between our feet looking for a handout.

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We looked down over the small ponds and lakes and the zig-zag of the stream carrying the melted snow down the mountain.

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Here's my dead tree for the day. The one in the center of the picture.

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These teens couldn't resist climbing on the rocks.

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These vehicles look like toys on the road below us.

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I thought these rocks made for an interesting picture.

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I wasn't too comfortable driving up this mountain with no guard rail and such a drop off the side of the road. I kept telling Bob to make sure he hugged that center line.

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We kept seeing sticks like this stuck in the ground every twenty feet or so. We soon figured out that they were there so the snow plows would know where the road was.

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THIS is why the poles are needed! And yes, I was cold!

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Scenery.

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I really like this picture.

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On the way back down the mountain we passed these grazing elk.

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We stopped at this lake area to get some pictures. When we pulled into the parking lot I noticed a car with Delaware plates. I put one of our cards on the windshield with a note that we are Delawareans.

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LaVon, in case you feel slighted with that stick of a dead tree here's another one.

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One dead tree....and then there's new growth.

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After our trip up and down the mountain roads in the park we headed back home. We had to start packing up for our move tomorrow.

Oh yeah, the car I saw with the Delaware plates....well they called tonight. Woody and his family are out here for a vacation and are staying in a park close by. Since we are leaving early tomorrow morning we won't have a chance to meet them but it was nice to talk to someone from home. Actually, they don't live in Delaware anymore but reside in Tennessee. I know this because I asked when did Delaware require a license plate on the front of the vehicle where I saw the Delaware plate. He laughed and said that Tennessee doesn't care what plate you put on the front so he keeps his hometown plate there. So Woody, maybe our paths will cross again and we'll get to meet you and your family.

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