Been There, Done That

Been There, Done That
Nebraska down, 4 more to go

Been there, done that, too

Been there, done that, too
4 more to go

Saturday, September 3, 2011

The Grand Tetons

We are in my favorite National Park for 6 nights.   This morning  a wolf  crossed the road in front of our car (camera in my lap, I still was not fast enough to get a photo).  He did not hang around very long.  So we continued to the marina for our early morning breakfast cruise.  Our Captain told us that there are only two seasons in the Tetons (Winter and July).  It is not July and the frost was definitely on the pumpkin.   We cruised Jackson Lake to Elk Island where a breakfast feast awaited us, then cruised around the island.

Sleepy Marina at 0:dark:30

Definitely Bear Country
Great breakfast view; however, the benches were covered with ice
The campfire was a necessity to thaw out our bottoms
The middle one is the Grand Teton
Mount Moran
Breaksfast consisted of scrambled eggs, trout, sausage, bacon,  potatoes, french toast, pancakes, fruit, muffins, yogurt, juice and coffee.  It was yummy.

grey jay

Canadian Geese in a free-for-all

Back from the cruise we headed for Jackson Hole - a car wash is a must after towing the Jeep through several miles of dirt road.  The mapping software said 20 miles of road construction on highway 287 - they weren't kidding - would you believe a dirt road mountain pass.

Jackson's main street
Town Square has an antler gate on each  corner

Stage coach ride goes one time around the square
Back to the park in a clean car to look for the Chapel of Transfiguration   We discovered this tiny chapel 4 years ago, and attended services.  It is awesome to see the Tetons in the picture window over the altar.  We made sure to be here on a Sunday so that we could repeat the experience.


found it
Chapel of the Transfiguration
Inside
This is view above the altar - makes a believer out of me









Thursday, September 1, 2011

Rocky Mountain NP

We camped at Boyd's Lake State Park in Loveland.  Sunsets were gorgeous.


Rocky Mountain NP

Not our first visit, but we drove up to the Park to take some photos and decided to do some hiking.  Unfortunately hunger overtook us so after a half mile we headed to Estes Park and lunch at the Brewery.






Bear Lake






Flora and Fauna






Sunday, August 28, 2011

Eating out in Colorado Springs

Since we visited most of the tourist spots on our last trip through Colorado Springs, this was a chance for some down time, time to see old friends, visit Camper's World, defrost the fridge, restock the larder.  We attended some rock shows, pumped the locals for info on local gems, and spent a couple of days rock hounding.  On our trip to Ruby Mountain we saw a wolf, but of course we forgot to bring the camera.

Sister Sharon and Bro in Law Don joined us for a couple of days.  We played cards, lazed at the pool and went to dinner in a unique restaurant - a WWII Air Force Plane located (appropriately) at the air port.  Food was good, ambiance was great.

The Restaurant/Plane
Check out the pilot
The Cockpit
The inside - the tall guy is Don
 

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Zapata Falls

Zapata Falls are located outside of Grand Sand Dunes NP on BLM land.  We drove approximately 3.5 miles of unpaved road - all up.  The hike is a half mile - straight up.  Then we walked through a  stream into a cave to see the 40 foot waterfall.  It was well worth the effort.

Charlie got there first so I had to wait for him to move so I could see the falls

upper falls

lower falls

Great Sand Dunes National Park

Great Sand Dunes NP is 8,175 feet above sea level.   The park contains 330 square miles of sand, and the highest dunes in North America (the highest of which is 750 feet high).   We set out early in the morning to attempt our ascent while the temperature was less than boiling.  I was uncomfortable in shorts for about 10 minutes.  Sand boarding is allowed, but most people just roll down.


Great Sand Dunes in front of Sangre De Cristo Mountains
Going where no man has gone before
It is like walking in mush
Lots of critters have gone before

Charlie on top of a ridge (that's as high as we went)






Snow boarding, oops sand boarding
Charlie walked down, I took the easy way
Flora and Fauna
The bears were hiding, but we saw lots of deer






Monday, August 15, 2011

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP is one of the smaller national parks.  Like the Grand Canyon the park consists of a North and South Rim.  The Rock has a mica layer that glitters.









Saturday, August 13, 2011

Telluride

Telluride is one of the prettiest spots I have seen.  It is an alpine village at 8,750 elevation.  Mountain Village at the top of the gondola is 9,545 elevation.  Both are breathtaking.




Mountain Village

Telluride's Main Street

Waterfall seen looking down the Main Street of Telluride

Mountain stream

Gondola headed for Mountain Village with bicycle hanging on door
Boat ride with Robin and Tom


Another great sunset

A mermaid named Morgan 
Morgan and Robin
Tom, trying out a new ski




Flora and Fauna