We're currently down in Louisiana. If I had to describe the state in one word it would be HOT! I don't envy the folks who had to spend the summer down here. The daytime temps have been 100-103 since we got here with 45-75% humidity and they've been having this kind of weather for around 60+ days. It finally dropped to double digit weather over the weekend, double digit being 98-99 of course.
We left Kansas City on the 17th of August and drove all night to get to Estes Park, CO by sunrise. Once there we met up with Heinz's sister, brother-in-law, and aunt who also traveled up from Kansas. We spent some time trying to get the trailer into the drive of the cabin Suzi, Carl and Annelee were staying at to no avail. The roadbed was too soft (dirt and gravel) to get good traction to make the turn in reverse. So off we went to the Elk Meadows RV Park instead. As usual, we ended up with a "lousy" view from the trailer.
Sunset from the trailer
We spent the next few days hanging out with relatives, laughing, eating, swapping tall tales and family stories. Suzi, et al, stayed at a cabin that was built by another aunt's father back in the 50's that was a great little place.
Relaxing in the Rockies
Cabin fireplace
We went out at sunset to Rocky Mountain National Park in an attempt to see some wildlife, but seems like the animal union was on strike, so no luck. Actually, a park ranger told us that the late snowfall and wet summer was keeping too much grazing on the upper slopes, so the wildlife was not having to venture down to the lower meadows. Of course, as soon as we pulled back into Estes Park there were elk wandering the parking lots.
We also wandered into the park before sunrise the next morning (yawn, up at 0400!) to check out the wildlife possibilities. We saw a wonderful sunrise, a mirror smooth lake, some beautiful wildflower patches, a roaring stream, and, you guessed it...NO wildlife!
Sunrise in Rocky Mountain National Park
Bear Lake
Wildflower patch
Snowmelt makes for great running water
After dragging ourselves out of bed before sunrise, driving around for 2 hours, and doing a little sightseeing of the area we gave up and headed back home, with a brief stop for some doughnuts, arriving back at the RV park around 0800 only to find, you guessed it, a herd of 16 or so elk hanging out by the front parking lot. Wow, could've slept in, made a leisurely cup of coffee and wandered over in our slippers to watch the wildlife! Sigh...
Elk at the park
Since the family was gathered in Estes Park, we decided to have an early Thanksgiving feast on Sunday. The menu was planned, all family members had their assignments and all preparations were well in hand, except Heinz woke up not feeling well. By the end of the day he had decided to try immersing himself fully into the local culture and got himself admitted to the Estes Park Medical Center for pain management...passing a kidney stone. I have to admit, while encountering a strange hospital is NOT what we wanted to do, this is one nice little hospital. The staff was friendly and efficient, the room was large and comfortable (right down to radiant heating in the bathroom), the food very tasty and ordered via room service by the patient anytime between 0600 and 1900, and Heinz highly recommends the morphine IV drip. Needless to say, we missed the family meal.
Heinz is doing fine now, but our departure from Colorado was delayed by a day. But, leave we did and headed for Louisiana, arriving in time for my dad's 90th birthday. We took him out for dinner at Jan's River Restaurant and some of the best fried catfish in the south. That Saturday my brother, sister, and I threw him one big birthday bash...150 people for a catfish/shrimp/chicken buffet luncheon. He's still talking about how much fun he had.
Prepping for the festivities
We've spent most of our time here just chilling out and spending time with my relatives. Wednesday we head back out west on the next leg of our adventure.
Here's our friends of the day.
Marmot on the mountaintop
Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel
Clark's Nutcracker
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