We had so much fun in Estes Park last year that we decided on another adventure to Colorado this summer. We were able to get the same cabin on the river, Idlewilde. The cabin is located just off the Thompson River. Grandpa packed his fishing gear and was ready to go. Our road trip adventure includes the Lyon Three, Grandpa and Grandma, Aunt Terri and Uncle Andy.
Day One: Driving and Poppy’s
It takes about 3.5 hours to reach Estes Park. We arrived as scheduled at 12:30 for lunch at Poppy’s. Poppy’s is owned by one of my classmates and it is the best pizza in town. We were meeting Rob, (Poppy’s owner), Brenda (another classmate), Vern and Cathie (teachers from our high school) for lunch. I told the girls they didn’t need their entertainment – not sure what I was thinking. Uncle Andy did go back to the car to get Emmy her book. Eleri played games on Aunt Terri’s iphone. We were there for 3 hours!
After lunch, we went to check into our cabin. We didn’t have much time to rest as we were meeting the Litt family for dinner at Poppy’s. The Litts have about a 45 minute drive from Boulder. It will be good to see them as we left Shanghai before they finished their China adventure. We promised the girls we would not be there for 3 hours this time…we kept that promise because were there for 4 hours. They were troopers as we have spent over 7 hours in Poppy’s talking with friends on this day.
Day two: Fishing
Since the girls spent the day inside at a restaurant yesterday, today was sunshine and fishing. It was a nice, relaxing day enjoying the river.
Grandpa enjoys fishing with the girls. It was something we did as a family when I was growing up.
Emersyn was busy reading while waiting for the fish. She was reading the birthday present book from Aunt Nancy.
Emersyn caught the first and only fish of the day. She was thrilled as last summer it was Elle who was always catching the fish.
Day Three: Rocky Mountain National Park
The Rocky Mountains (or the Rockies) are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than 3, 000 miles (4, 830 km) from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States.
Colorado had record amounts of snow this year. The mountains are covered white with late snow fall in the Rocky Mountains. It was a winter wonderland in June.
The snow plowed drift along the side of the road was more than double the size of the girls.
The girls had funning craving their names in the snow.
The signs for the paths were buried deep in the snow.
Since the path was covered in snow, we had fun walking across the top of the snow…without sinking in too far.
We saw many Marmots climbing around the rocks at the look out point.
The yellow-bellied marmot (Marmota flaviventris), also known as the rock chuck, is a ground squirrel in the marmot genus. Those most often referred to as marmots tend to live in mountainous areas such the Rocky Mountains, Black Hills, Cascades, and Sierra Nevada in North America. Marmots typically live in burrows (often within rockpiles, particularly in the case of the Yellow-bellied marmot), and hibernate there through the winter. Marmots are highly social, and use loud whistles to communicate with one another, especially when alarmed.
At the top, we stopped at the gift shop to see what special item the girls could find to take home. Grandpa gave each girl $10 to spend. They both picked out a dream catcher, handmade by native American Indians. As Legend goes, the Dream Catcher is hung in the lodge near the sleeping area. Its purpose is to catch all dreams, good or bad. The bad dreams caught in the webbing would be burned off by the first morning light. The good dreams caught know their way to the hole in the center and filter down into the feathers. They are held there to be dreamed another night. The girls hung their dream catchers above their beds.
Eleri found this adorable bear hat. She is a cute bear cub. She will wear this hat all winter in Shanghai. Emersyn did not want one – she it too cool or too old or too something!!
We drove to the very top to the Continental Divide. The Continental Divide is located in the Rocky Mountains and designates the line at which waters flow either to the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans.
We drove down the other side of The Divide for about a mile to find a picnic place or some rocks. Amazing how driving five minutes down the mountain we were able to find less wind and the warm sun to enjoy our sandwiches.
Day Three: Poppy’s, Shop and Drive
Our last day in Estes Park, we enjoyed a lazy morning by the river, Poppy’s on the river and a shop in town before we drove home.
We sat outside on the deck to enjoy our last Poppy’s pizza for the summer.
We shopped longer than planned, as always. Grandpa has always been a patient shopper waiting for us on a nearby bench. Lately, he sits outside of Poppy’s and Rob brings him coffee! Emersyn did some birthday shopping. Aunt Terri spoiled her with an owl purse and matching phone case. Both are very practical with long straps for field trips and carry just the phone. Grandma treated Emersyn to two necklaces. Eleri found a photo holder that said “good dog” that she wanted Grandma to get her for her birthday. It was another fun trip to Estes Park.