Sept Sept 9/08 - Colorado Rocky Mountain High...

Tuesday, Sept 9th/08

After a rained-out day on Monday, today took us to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Pars. I rode up on the back with Rod as the scenery was so spectacular during our ride through the Estes area on Sunday I thought it would allow me to enjoy the grandeur of the area without having to concentrate on keeping my bike on the road. On Sunday, when we rode in via the zig-zag Big Thompson River Canyon Road, I remarked that I felt like Linda Blair of ‘The Exorcist’ my head was flopping back and forth – back and forth – back and forth trying to see all that amazing view I thought it would be an advantage to turn my head completely around. There were incredible sights from the front, both sides and even in my rear-view mirrors! I thought that from ‘the back seat’ I could take charge of the “motion pictures” only to find out it is not quite as easy as Rod makes it look. The camera is heavy around my neck and I find that trying to look through it and get the picture takes away from just ‘enjoying the view’ so after we stop for photos at the entrance to Estes I relinquish control of the camera and put it back in Rod’s capable hands. For the most part, I am going to let the pictures speak for themselves today – for sure they are worth more than a thousand words. The majority of the day we are well over 10,000 feet in elevation and I found it interesting that I developed quite a headache in my forehead and could feel a pressure behind my eyes that disappeared when we dropped back to 6000 feet. We crested the summit at Trail Ridge at over 12,000 feet in elevation and stopped in at the Alpine Ridge Visitor Centre. On through Milner Pass at just under 11,000 feet, (over 2 miles above sea level) through “Never Summer Wilderness Area”, past Grand Lake and Lake Granby which is a man made reservoir. From Granby along Rte 40 we are now following along the Fraser River which we found amusing since we are so far from the Fraser River we know at home.

Sadly, the harsh devastation from the Northern Pine Beetle is plainly evident in stand after stand of trees. It is somewhat heartening to know that is has occurred several times in the past 500 years and yet we still have the pines to savour and enjoy. These tiny insects have plotted a course of destruction from Mexico to northern Canada consuming forest after forest as they go. We can only hope this is part of nature’s plan in creating future healthy forests.

At Winter Park, we climb through the Berthoud Pass elevation 11,300 ft, then descend to I-70 and return to Denver to enjoy a wonderful home cooked meal that our hosts and new friends Don & Betty have so graciously provided.