It has been quite awhile since I posted but that is because we were gone for two weeks on vacation and before that just getting ready to go. Getting ready to go is a lot of work! I think I will share with you vacation days. It may take me a few posts to do it all. And remember, I have LOTS more photos in my Webshots albums - five albums!
Day one we left here at about 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 11 to drive to Estes Park, CO. Made pretty good time actually but when we got to Estes found there was a rodeo/festival there that week. Know what that mean? No place to camp! Finally found a campground that had a couple of slots but boy was it packed. I am so glad we did not have to stay there all the time. We kind of like the state or national campgrounds because you cannot really hear your neighbor snort. So believe me, the one we stayed at packed you in.
We had elk in a little clearing right in town.
That night we made reservations for the dinner ride (horseback) for the next day. Got up Sunday and headed to Rocky Mountain National Park. If you have never been there, you really should go. The very top of the mountain is an Alpine tundra. It is really so beautiful. LOTS of little tiny flowers and lots of wildlife.
The views are really spectacular.
And yes, it was a bit chilly.
We saw more elk, a few moose and some mountain goats.
This baby was lost from mama and seemed to be just a bit terrified!
From the park we went back to Estes for our steak dinner ride. Last time I rode horses was here 4 years ago. I really miss riding. Sigh. Need more practice!
We went to the Sombrero stables, same place we used last time. They are so good with the little ones and so patient with us old folks. Zane was ready to ride. He and Zachary were so excited. Zachary took to horseback riding like most sports. He was getting really good at pulling his horse's head up and moving him along when Little Brother, the horse, wanted to munch on the vegetation.
First horse they put Ross on nearly pulled his hips out of joint so they had to find him a horse that was big but narrow. After that he was fine. And yes, we put helmets on the boys which they kind of liked. Just to be safe.
This picture of me is actually from Kathleen's camera and she was turned in the saddle shooting blind. Pretty good, huh?
The ride was great and so much fun. I really would have love to put my horse into a full out gallop but you know how these places are. Slow and steady.
From Estes Park we headed north and west towards the Tetons and Yellowstone. We stayed the night in a little town called Lander, Wyoming. Good place to stay, not expensive and nice. We stopped at the site of Sacajawea's grave. You know who she is don't you? She helped lead the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Interesting graves there. You could feel the Indian culture.
And while we had stopped Zane announced he had to poop. Mind you, we were in the middle of nowhere with no potty except in our popup. So we raised the top a bit and Mike and Ross pulled it out just enough so that we could put Zane on the potty. Too funny not to pass these photos on.
And so went the first part of our two week saga. More to follow. Next time we will visit Yellowstone. That was an adventure all it's own!
Darlin' you are a MUCH braver woman than I! Popup?? Eek! It looks like you saw some beautiful places though, the pics of the alpine flowers are lovely! Can't wait to see/hear more!
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