June 11, 2010
We left Enid around 10:00am. Stopped for lunch just north of Great Bend, KS on the side of the road. Esther did real well pulling the 5th wheel. In the afternoon, it got real overcast. Driving into Colorado on I-70, we ran into a wall cloud. You could really see the rotation in the cloud. We saw a funnel come down and almost touch the ground and then go back up into the cloud. We kept driving toward it until we went under the rotating parts of the cloud. Wind was heavy and blew the trailer around a lot. Esther held on fine and got us to Limon. We checked into the KOA there just after they blew the all clear sirens. Heavy winds during the night and light rain. Ate in the camper for the evening meal. Had Bertoulli's steak and mushrooms. Very good. Went to bed at 9:00pm. We woke up around 3:30 because of the wind but went back to sleep and got up at 7am
Left Limon at 8:30am. Arrived in Estes Park after driving in light rain most of the day. Clouds were hanging very low. Never did really see mountains, but we could sure tell we were going up. We are staying at Elk Meadows RV on CO-66. A little expensive. $99+ for two nights. Propane was 2.88 per gallon. Arrived about 1:30pm and finished setting up around 2:30pm when we drove into Rocky Mountain National Park. Took the shuttle from Morraine Visitor Center to Park and Ride. Then took the Bear Lake Shuttle from there to Bear Lake. Walked up to Bear Lake. Could see the other side of the lake, but clouds were so low could not see the mountains. Light rain all afternoon. Caught shuttles back to Morraine Visitor Center and then drove back to camp. We then drove into Estes Park and walked around. Ate at Orlando's Steak house within the Wheel Bar based on a recommendation from one of the shuttle drivers. Her husband works as the chef there. Esther had a fillet and I had grilled tuna with Avocado butter. Esther said her steak was good though a little dry and my tuna was a little rare for me. We still enjoyed the meal. Romantic with a great view of Prospect mountain. Came home and caught our journals up to date. Esther totaled up expenses so far. A little over 400 but that covers our camping fees through tomorrow night.
Trail to Bear Lake
Esther at the bridge which leads to Bear Lake
The almost overflowing river that runs through Estes Park
June 13, 2010
Woke up early around 5:30. We got up around 6:30. Esther made pancakes. No syrup so we used peanut butter and black raspberry jelly. Decided to go to church at the Estes Park United Methodist Church. I offered Lutheran, but Esther chose Methodist. Hooray! Service led by Donna Patterson, their pastor. Church was beautiful, though it was two story and the sanctuary was on the 2nd level. Lots of stairs but they did have an elevator if you needed it. You looked out a huge glass window with a cross on it that looked out onto the mountains. However, we had rain this morning and low hanging clouds. It was still beautiful. Parking lot is across the highway next to the creek which is about to overflow due to the rain and snow melt.
We went to Smokin' Dave's BBQ for lunch. We both had the pulled pork sandwich with fries and coleslaw, though I had the sweet potato fries. Shopped for a shirt for Esther and then found a Safeway to re-supply our bread and sandwich meat. Came home and napped the rest of the afternoon. Rained all afternoon. Went to fill up with diesel around 7:30pm and the clouds were beginning to breakup. Saw a little sunshine and could see part of Long's Peak. Saw the first snow on the mountains since we have been here, except for a little around Bear Lake. .
First United Methodist Church of Estes Park, CO
No comments:
Post a Comment