Rocky Mountain National Park – An Adventure!
Our visit to Rocky Mountain National Park was wonderful and awe inspiring as usual. But… This year we waited until September to pack up our fifth wheel and head to our favorite site in the park.
Upon entering the town of Estes Park, we discovered that it was the last days of Scotfest. Now ordinarily the goings on in Estes Park doesn’t affect RMNP. This year however there were several sites with kilted men and women dressed in full scottish regalia. I have to think camping in such attire especially around the campfire is burdensome, not to mention breezy.
Once set up, we started a campfire. The milky way spread across the night sky and the moon cast silvery shadows that swayed in the meadow below us. Mystic our dog, sniffed, then barked at something we couldn’t see. Shortly after her alert, an eight point elk ambled out into the clearing. Too dark to take a picture. Darn it.
The next day we were up early and headed to Bear Lake Trail. Signs along the way informed us that the parking lot was full. It had been a couple years since we’d hiked around the lake. We considered turning back and decided to take our chances, hoping someone would leave as we arrived. As luck would have it, that’s exactly what happened. The breath-taking view around the lake was enhanced by the aspen leaves turning in shades of green, gold, orange and yellow.
As we made our way back towards the campground, a herd of elk had traffic snarled for a good fifteen minutes as a 50-100 elks ranging in size from huge bucks with large racks to the cutest calves you’ve ever seen single file hoofing it across the street to the other side where they joined another 75 elk grazing in the meadow. The male’s bugle split the air 
morning and evening. It was rutting season.
For the first time since we’ve been camping in Rocky Mountain National Park (over 15 plus years) we heard coyote’s song late one night while enjoying s’mores around our cozy campfire.
On the last day, we packed a lunch, put the dog and parrot in the truck and drove up Trail Ridge Road. At the top we stopped snapped a few pictures, found a scenic spot to enjoy our lunch, and people watch. A favorite pass time of writers you know.
Too soon it was time to pack up and return home. We were thankful for the cool, dry and wonderful evenings allowing us to enjoy a campfire each night. In the wee hours of the morning a solitary thunderstorm rumbled through, lightning streaked across the sky, and rain poured on the parched land. That was okay too.
Rocky Mountain National Park is a place I highly recommend you visit! If you don’t camp, a day trip will introduce you to the magic of this spectacular national treasure. While you’re there, make sure and stop by the famous Stanley Hotel(The Shining). Thrills and chills.
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Posted in My Say What Blog and tagged Aspens, Autumn, Bear Lake, Elk, Fall colors, Rocky Mountain National Park, Scots, September by Tena Stetler with 6 comments.
Adventures of a Dog, a Bird & a Turtle
Our first indication an adventure was afoot was our fifth wheel trailer is parked in the driveway, rather than wherever it hides. Excitement mounts as our humans drag clothes from the upstairs closets to the trailer. Next the delicious aroma of food is carried out. I sure hope we get some of whatever it is. Oops gotta make a pit stop out back and grab a couple of favorite toys to take. Be right back.
There she goes, that silly dog. What if our humans sneak out the front door while no one is on guard. Guess it’s up to me. I’ll just move over to my other perch and keep an eye out. Thump, thump, thump a human with a basket of goodies comes bounding up the basement steps. “Hey guys don’t forget my freshly made breakfast s and frozen dinners.” Pop! The fridge opens, containers of my food are tossed in the basket, yep we’ve trained the humans well. Whew… we’re all set. “Hey wake up Sammy. It’s time to go.”
“What… who… where?” Sammy turtle peeks grumpily out of her shell. “I better get out and play this camping trip. Last time I was stuck in my travel home the whole time, just because it rained. Our humans need to carry a shell with them. Besides a little water ain’t going to make them rust or melt.”
“Oh hush,” says Taco the parrot. “They got our travel homes and Mystic’s leash. It’s time. Oh, yum, I’m getting dinner in my travel home, must be a longer trip. Yippee!”
Thwack. The dog door closes after and exuberant Chow dog rushes in. “Are we ready?” With a bang, our human drops the dog door panel in place and locks it. Then he bends down and hooks the leash to my harness, grabs Taco’s travel home. “Hey, where’s Sammy?”
“Already gone. She’s in the trailer.” Taco says around a beak full of food. “You know she gets car sick if she rides in the car.”
Loaded in the truck, my head out the window, Taco’s carrier hung in the other window, we’re off. Other vehicles wiz by, birds fly overhead and wow something smells good. “Hey why are
you rolling the window up. We’re not going that fast.” I plop down in the seat with a grumble and watch out the closed window. Miles and miles go by till we reach a mountainous area, with lots of trees. Pass through the ranger’s tiny house in the middle of the road. My window is back down, I hear a bugling sound, wait… WOW what is that beside the road looking at me?” Sniff, sniff, whine, whine, woof.
Human says “Leave it Mystic.”
Aww that’s no fun. “Taco, did you see that.”
“It’s an Elk, saw it on the Discovery Channel. Told you to stop chasing squirrels and watch my television.”
“Taco that’s boring. No smells and doesn’t run. How am I supposed to chase it? Whoa, chipmunk.”
“We’re here guys. Rocky Mountain National Park,” the humans chorus. “Out you go.” Humans carry the Taco’s Travel home into the fifth wheel and hook up my leash. “Hike in ten minutes.”
*** Yep, we just broke all the writing rules ever written. We can do that because we are a dog, a bird, and a turtle on an adventure. ‘Yes, I got out, see pictures above and right,” said Sammy.
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Posted in My Say What Blog and tagged box turtle, camping, Chow Chow, Eclectus Parrot, Elk, hiking, Rocky Mountain National Park, RV, RVIng by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
