I had really wanted to head to Rocky Mtn. Nat'l Park up in Estes Park for our regular fall trip where we stay in a cabin - but the smoke and fire are so thick up there that I didn't think we would even enjoy it so postpone that trip for another time and let's head to Almont for a couple of nights and do Kebler Pass, one of the BEST places to see color!
We stopped in Johnson Village at the coffee place which really does make great coffee - it was nice and crisp outside but the sun was shining so we sat outside and enjoyed talking to a couple and their 2 kids who were traveling and had just came down Cottonwood Pass - they said the colors were amazing and they had seen a moose! I had wanted to go up Monarch Pass but changed my mind after hearing that!
The bottom part of the canyon for Cottonwood Pass was beautiful but as soon as you start to climb, there are no aspen trees!! But as we were rounding one of the sharp corners, Glenn spotted a bull moose right by the road!! I tried to grab the camera but didn't succeed in getting a photo of him - but it was cool to see!!
We drove through Taylor Park and out on one of the roads that took us up to Lake Irwin - a pretty lake where we walked up to the closed campground and had lunch!
Our neighbors were supposed to be staying at the "open" campground but we drove through it and couldn't find them - about 1/2 hour later we met them on the road!
We didn't see a lot of great color on our travels that first day but that was OK!! What we did see was beautiful!
I had made reservations at 3 Rivers Resort to stay in the lodge this time, instead of in a cabin! It was more like a hotel room but did have a kitchenette which was nice! Glenn wanted to take a quick nap before our friends picked us up - after I got all unpacked I realized that Glenn had left the key in the door - I tried and tried to get it out but couldn't - Glenn got up and tried and tried - so went down to get the manager and he tried and couldn't get it! Finally he called the maintenance man who came pretty quickly and he ended up getting it out and spraying the lock - it really didn't work great the 2 nights we stayed there but at least we could get in and out!
Jan and Jan picked us up at 3:30 and we headed towards Crested Butte - oh my gosh - that's where all the color is - WOW - it was amazing!!
They took us to Secret Stash in Crested Butte for pizza - awesome margaritas and the best pizza we've ever eaten! It was fun to catch up with them (they are the friends that stayed in our house while we were in Mexico and then moved to Gunnison)
Day one was a success - now on to day two!!
1 comment:
Just beautiful!
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