Day 5 & 6
July 4th & 5th , 2013:
Good evening from Grand Island Nebraska…that’s right we are going
backwards! Well that’s after a quick
trip to Colorado and a LONG day through Rock Mountain National Park (RMNP).
To step back a day…July 4th we headed out of Sidney, to
go to RMNP. It was a short 200 mile
drive, and the plan was to layover in Arora Colorado to go watch a firework
show, then head into RMNP on the 5th. Somehow the plans changed and after we
arrived at a VERY crazy town, we decided to head into the park and layover on
the opposite side and then come back into the park the opposite direction on
the 5th. However, that
changed again and now we are back in Nebraska some 500miles later…so for those
that are counting that’s about 2,500 miles in 6 days, with lots of stops and sightseeing...
So now back to the trip…As many know that have been following us we
have been to dozens of NP’s, and have climbed thousands of feet into some
serious mountains, and the early signs of RMNP this would be no different. We were not disappointed! This park is absolutely one if not my
favorite park we have been to. It is
really a combination of Yosemite, and Glacier.
The biggest difference is you are at 12k feet, which is about as high as
we have ever been, and man do you feel it!
The roads at this park were not white knuckle at all, and in all earnest
were great and easy to drive which allowed me to focus on the scenery and not
keeping the family alive like in some other parks. The combination of plains, mountains, lakes,
forests, is absolutely breathtaking! The
photos cannot do this park justice. The
weather when we entered the park was 85 deg and overcast…throughout the 60 mile
journey the temperature went to 55 deg, and in some of the higher elevations
the rain was teeming. However the rain
and clouds gave the mountain climb an awesome feel and look. To digress a moment I need to get personal…As usual,
Michael and I were like little school boys oohing and aahing at every turn and
climb. Patty was nervous of the heights,
and Nicholas was this looks like all other NP’s what’s the big deal…What was
clear yesterday after the 5 day sprint across the USA, is NONE of us are in
sync…Michael wants to do 40 days’ worth of hikes, and sightseeing 10 days drive
away, and do it all in 5 days…Nicholas is done with our trips 100 feet away
from our house so anything longer than that is too long, and Patty thinks we
are going too fast….so for me trying to balance this is the best part of the
trips, especially this year which is the most compressed…how do we all have
fun!? Not sure the real answer except, somehow,
we just do and this year is no different.
The family stays together and jokes most of the day, and being together
in close courters is really the best part for me. Sorry for the rambling, but a lot of great
stuff has happened the past 48 hours, and looking back at these blogs is
priceless for me. These blogs started as
a means to inform family of where we are, but has turned into a living diary
for me to reflect…and share with all that care to follow. So if these blogs seem corny, and personal, they
are…because they are the ramblings of middle aged dad!
Ok back to the park. The altimeter
I got several years ago caps at 12,000 feet, and it was weird to see it stop at
the 12 mark. To see lakes at this height,
glaciers still with snow, clouds that you are in the middle of is just
breathtaking, and I hope one day everyone I know gets the opportunity and are
blessed like we have been to see and witness these sites and sounds!
Now if you were doing any math by now you would have calculated we
are about 280miles into the day, and going through the park is a 4hr ordeal…so
when we were exiting the park at 6,000 feet elevation it was 7:30 pm. Now this is where the day went South REALLY
fast! Patty found a Walmart for us to
layover about 40 miles away, so on the map, Rt. 40, and Rt. 70 on the back end
of the park looked on the map straight…Oh how wrong was the map and our
assumptions. Rt. 40, turned out to be
another 12,000 foot climb on narrower roads and faster grades, oh yes and in
addition NO LIGHTS…absolutely treacherous and after the 10 hr. drive I was
beyond tired and I was shocked I found us on a white knuckle road. Going up the 12,000 feet was bad, but coming
down was by far the craziest road we have been on in a LONG time. Just speechless how crazy it was in the pitch
black in 43’ bus and being tired…When we saw Rt. 70 we were very relieved,
until we started driving on it and realized it was just as bad…all under
construction, winding through a valley, and by passing tunnels. Truthfully it is a blessing we got to Walmart
safe, which thank God we did all in one piece.
As I reflected on the night, albeit we have had our share of issues with
this MH, in the end this machine is a God send and a beast when it comes to
what I through at it…an engineering marvel as far as I am concerned!
After a nice night in the parking lot of Walmart Patty and I
strolled over to McDonalds for some coffee and breakfast. While we there, a bus of Army Soldiers came
in. There were about 70 of them in
fatigues / fully in uniform. Two things
became apparent, I am PROUD to be an American, and when I am near Military men
and women, I am thoroughly HUMBLED…their presence, manners, and just being is
really amazing. The utter stark contrast
between them and civilians is really awesome.
After breakfast we headed north to Ft. Collins for a tour of Anheuser
Bush. We really wanted to see the Clydesdales
but found out they were on tour. However,
it was a really informative tour and the beer tasting at the end was fun! What I found the most interesting is just all
the company does for the community and environment. I did not realize this, but they are the
biggest supplier of canned water to disaster hit areas. They are still supply Sandy relief victim’s
supplies. Very cool. After the tour and a short drive we stopped
at a Chili’s for dinner then settled in for the remainder of the trip for today…and
after over 500 miles of driving, we are settled at a KOA. Not sure what the next few days will look
like, but I am assuming we will be back home by Tuesday / Wednesday (CC…J), all is dependent on getting the re-repair fixed in Moscow Iowa
on Monday.
Really not sure what the next few days will bring, but I know we
will make big things out of little events, and do a lot of laughing along the
way. So until the next blog, please have
a Blessed Day!
DAY 6 PHOTOS:
As close as I came to a Clydesdale on this trip
Didnt realize they had this many beers
In a totally PRO Obama state, this guy cannot be loved by his neighbors....
Big expansive storms in Nebraska....
DAY 5 PHOTOS:
Wicked valley we drove through
No one told us about the 3 mile DIRT road!!!!!!
Really?
The winding road to 12,000 feet
Contrasting skyline was fantastic
This view was from 11,700 feet
The medows and mountains are beautiful...truthfully Gods country!
If you look close or open this image you will see a lake in the lower left corner
Mini Glaciers and lakes everywhere.
Biggest Rainbow we have ever seen
Truly a Blessed day beyond words!
