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tshelfer
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- Joined
- Sep 4, 2009
- Messages
- 13,485
- Reaction score
- 2,854
- Location
- Centennial, CO
- First Name
- Tim
- Last Name
- Shelfer
Our (wifey & me) vacation came late this year, due to multiple family issues. Finally, on October 1, we left on a trip originally planned for late June. Just so you know, the Rocky Mountains get a tad cold in October.
On Day 1, we drove to Raton & stayed overnight at the Super 8. I ran into these two fellows, Randy Wallingford & I didn’t get his buddy’s name, on FJRs. They were headed for Mexican Hat. Not sure if they made that or not, but I did see on FB that they covered a bunch of western miles. Randy, if you've joined TWT, sound off.
By the next afternoon, we were camped in Rocky Mountain National Park; it was more crowded than I’ve ever seen it. Would you believe a 30-minute line just to flash my Old-Guy card and drive in!
A highlight of RMNP is always a drive over Trail Ridge Road, elevation 12K feet & some change. It was clear that there’d been some weather up there, but we chose to go.
Surprise. There was lots of ice above 10,000 feet. At the summit, it was 21* with blowing snow. I was grateful for my 4WD and heated seats.
I ran into a couple of guys up there on GS1200s. They shrugged off the weather. Then I noticed their South Dakota plates. I was so cold, I didn’t have the presence of mind to snap their pictures. But I did take this shot at Milner Pass.
We made the Grand Loop – down through the west side of the park, through Grandby, and eventually back up through Nederland. I took this picture somewhere close to Grand Lake.
We had lunch in Granby at this café, which doubles as local hipster hangout and municipal library. I had an “elk bratwurst” sausage. Good, but it could have been Eckridge sausage for all I could tell.
One morning, I made the hike up to Cub Lake. The aspens were kind enough to provide me this golden path.
Cub Lake is never the most photogenic spot in the park. A recent fire made it even less so.
Back in camp, the elk were grazing in Moraine Park at dusk. You can see the lead bull in the foreground at the left.
The next morning, surprise, it snowed overnight. Not heavily in the campground at 7,800 ft, just a nice confectioner’s sugarcoating.
We decided to head up to Bear Lake, some 1500 feet higher. It was snowing heavily up there, meaning (1) it was beautiful and (2) most of the tourists stayed away. We mostly had the lake to ourselves.
I think there’s a Robert Frost poem that goes with this:
I was standing up on a bench, framing this picture, when somebody spoke behind me. He was a professional photographer, and he said “I like your composition.” As a rank amateur, I’ll take any compliment I can get.
I like the contrast of the fall color & the snowy muted tones.
We also stopped at Sprague Lake.
I want this Christmas tree!
I lived in the Bavarian Alps when I was a high school kid. Days & places like this really hit my nostalgia button.
Somebody who walked the lake earlier left this little joke…
October snow doesn’t stay long, and the next day was clear and warmish. I found this big fellow sunning himself.
And there were lots of mulies.
One day, we drove down to Estes Park (just outside RMNP). My kids and grandkids, recent transplants to the Denver area, drove up & met us. This is Witten (6 y/o) and Reese (4 y/o). Yes, I know – my grandkids are cuter than your grandkids, but I’ll try to remain humble.
Here’s the family. My daughter, Rebecca, on left, wife Jan on right, grandies in foreground.
I walked into one shop and saw this rack of tie-dies. Now I know where Rod buys his wardrobe.
The next day, we broke camp & headed to the city for a warm bed, shower, and to borrow our kids’ laundry room. This is the skyline of Centennial, CO, where our kids live. And it’ll be our home one day when we’re no longer caregivers.
And why (besides the mountains & the curvy roads) do I want to move to Colorado? Need I say more?
Eventually, we wore out our welcome, and started our homeward swing. Next stop, Cimarron Canyon State Park, NM.
The canyon was in fall color. Very few aspen there, but lots of oak trees in brilliant yellows and oranges.
This rock formation is called “the Palisades.”
Beauty aside, Cimarron Canyon is also a great motorcycling road. Drew (Kickstand-Prophet) and I passed through last June on the way back from Coyote Creek.
My one & only vanity shot for the trip.
This young buck was a regular in the campground.
Bobcat Pass, near Red River. Not really that much fun on a bike because the pavement is pretty rough.
I found these museum pieces just outside Eagle Nest.
I thought about doing a B/W artsie shot. But naw, I’m a color guy all the way.
On our last day, I took a hike up Clear Creek. Lots of mini-falls like this one.
The path was rough & rocky, & I was wearing cheapo Walmart walking shoes. So I walked in about 2 ½ miles, called it a day, and headed back down.
Found this old log that nature had turned into a flume.
A nice glamour shot of the river.
One last shot of the Palisades,
And of the canyon road,
And the fun was over. Sunday morning, we got up with the chickens, broke camp, and headed home. 604 miles in 9 hrs 37 minutes, and we were back home to face a daunting pile of laundry, a dirty house, a driveway full of leaves and branches, and having to explain to Mom why my sister-in-law can't make the coffee just right. So this morning I put my headset on, started the household chores, and daydreamed about next year.
On Day 1, we drove to Raton & stayed overnight at the Super 8. I ran into these two fellows, Randy Wallingford & I didn’t get his buddy’s name, on FJRs. They were headed for Mexican Hat. Not sure if they made that or not, but I did see on FB that they covered a bunch of western miles. Randy, if you've joined TWT, sound off.
By the next afternoon, we were camped in Rocky Mountain National Park; it was more crowded than I’ve ever seen it. Would you believe a 30-minute line just to flash my Old-Guy card and drive in!
A highlight of RMNP is always a drive over Trail Ridge Road, elevation 12K feet & some change. It was clear that there’d been some weather up there, but we chose to go.
Surprise. There was lots of ice above 10,000 feet. At the summit, it was 21* with blowing snow. I was grateful for my 4WD and heated seats.
I ran into a couple of guys up there on GS1200s. They shrugged off the weather. Then I noticed their South Dakota plates. I was so cold, I didn’t have the presence of mind to snap their pictures. But I did take this shot at Milner Pass.
We made the Grand Loop – down through the west side of the park, through Grandby, and eventually back up through Nederland. I took this picture somewhere close to Grand Lake.
We had lunch in Granby at this café, which doubles as local hipster hangout and municipal library. I had an “elk bratwurst” sausage. Good, but it could have been Eckridge sausage for all I could tell.
One morning, I made the hike up to Cub Lake. The aspens were kind enough to provide me this golden path.
Cub Lake is never the most photogenic spot in the park. A recent fire made it even less so.
Back in camp, the elk were grazing in Moraine Park at dusk. You can see the lead bull in the foreground at the left.
The next morning, surprise, it snowed overnight. Not heavily in the campground at 7,800 ft, just a nice confectioner’s sugarcoating.
We decided to head up to Bear Lake, some 1500 feet higher. It was snowing heavily up there, meaning (1) it was beautiful and (2) most of the tourists stayed away. We mostly had the lake to ourselves.
I think there’s a Robert Frost poem that goes with this:
I was standing up on a bench, framing this picture, when somebody spoke behind me. He was a professional photographer, and he said “I like your composition.” As a rank amateur, I’ll take any compliment I can get.
I like the contrast of the fall color & the snowy muted tones.
We also stopped at Sprague Lake.
I want this Christmas tree!
I lived in the Bavarian Alps when I was a high school kid. Days & places like this really hit my nostalgia button.
Somebody who walked the lake earlier left this little joke…
October snow doesn’t stay long, and the next day was clear and warmish. I found this big fellow sunning himself.
And there were lots of mulies.
One day, we drove down to Estes Park (just outside RMNP). My kids and grandkids, recent transplants to the Denver area, drove up & met us. This is Witten (6 y/o) and Reese (4 y/o). Yes, I know – my grandkids are cuter than your grandkids, but I’ll try to remain humble.
Here’s the family. My daughter, Rebecca, on left, wife Jan on right, grandies in foreground.
I walked into one shop and saw this rack of tie-dies. Now I know where Rod buys his wardrobe.
The next day, we broke camp & headed to the city for a warm bed, shower, and to borrow our kids’ laundry room. This is the skyline of Centennial, CO, where our kids live. And it’ll be our home one day when we’re no longer caregivers.
And why (besides the mountains & the curvy roads) do I want to move to Colorado? Need I say more?
Eventually, we wore out our welcome, and started our homeward swing. Next stop, Cimarron Canyon State Park, NM.
The canyon was in fall color. Very few aspen there, but lots of oak trees in brilliant yellows and oranges.
This rock formation is called “the Palisades.”
Beauty aside, Cimarron Canyon is also a great motorcycling road. Drew (Kickstand-Prophet) and I passed through last June on the way back from Coyote Creek.
My one & only vanity shot for the trip.
This young buck was a regular in the campground.
Bobcat Pass, near Red River. Not really that much fun on a bike because the pavement is pretty rough.
I found these museum pieces just outside Eagle Nest.
I thought about doing a B/W artsie shot. But naw, I’m a color guy all the way.
On our last day, I took a hike up Clear Creek. Lots of mini-falls like this one.
The path was rough & rocky, & I was wearing cheapo Walmart walking shoes. So I walked in about 2 ½ miles, called it a day, and headed back down.
Found this old log that nature had turned into a flume.
A nice glamour shot of the river.
One last shot of the Palisades,
And of the canyon road,
And the fun was over. Sunday morning, we got up with the chickens, broke camp, and headed home. 604 miles in 9 hrs 37 minutes, and we were back home to face a daunting pile of laundry, a dirty house, a driveway full of leaves and branches, and having to explain to Mom why my sister-in-law can't make the coffee just right. So this morning I put my headset on, started the household chores, and daydreamed about next year.
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). We didn't have any problems, but I did feel some slippage on certain corners even with 4WD, and I was tip-toeing the last mile or so.
