Day 51 : August 16th COLORADO
The morning was quite cool as everyone headed across to the Road Knights car show – 680 cars of every make and colour making a really wonderful display. The quick look the guys had yesterday did not do the show justice as not all the cars had arrived. As the day warmed up, so did the crowd increase until there was a real carnival atmosphere.
The organizers of the show had invited the tractors to park at the entrance to the show and then requested the crew members to make an appearance at their Official Opening at 1.00pm. The hall was absolutely packed with 680 teams represented and our group was given a rousing welcome when we all went up front and Neville gave a short talk about why we are in the USA and how much we are enjoying the experience.
For the ladies, there was also a Rubber Stamp and Scrapbook EXPO, selling every imaginable craft kit in either of these two hobbies. Even for those not smitten with such activities, there were lots of craft ideas to buy for the grand-children.
By about 3.00pm it was time to leave off watching the vintage cars as they drove away from the show and head to the Loveland RV Park. Allan and Carolyn met us there with Carolyn’s rellies Dave and Maxine and Jack and Joyce. They had spent a couple of days together and had obviously had a great time. The park has lovely shady trees which will certainly help to keep the vans cool while we are out sightseeing in the Rocky Mountains tomorrow.
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| Tractors lined up at the Road Knight show |
1955 Thunderbird - Dick's favourite |
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| Barbara wonders what it would look like turquoise |
1932 Ford - really pretty |
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| George, Anne and Peter enjoying lemonade |
Ron wants to take this one home |
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| Grandpa's Street-rod |
Allan, Maxine, Joyce, Jack, Carolyn and Dave |
Day 52 : August 17 COLORADO
The morning started out fine and cool – a wonderful day for our trip into the Rocky Mountains. Those who had been up to Pike’s Peak remembered how cold the mountains are, so we were all well prepared with warm winter jackets.
The 7.00am start gave us good time to drive to Estes Park and have a hot drink before starting up the mountains in an open air 14 seat Toyota 4WD vehicle.
Our first stop was at the historic Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, celebrating its 100’s birthday this year. Although we could only see it from the road, we were told that it is America’s third most haunted hotel and was the inspirational setting chosen for the novel ‘The Shining’ by author Stephen King.
The 4WD Toyota was able to take the unsealed road to the top – many hairpin bends and very steep sides – it did not pay to look down! As we climbed through the three life zones, the temperature dropped quite dramatically. At the Visitors Centre at Trail Ridge, we rejoined the paved road to the summit of Mount Evans which is the highest of its type in North America and at 14,264 feet we were well and truly in need of the rugs supplied.
The views on the uphill journey were truly incredible, with a new vista at each turn and we were indeed fortunate to have clear skies at the summit.
During the morning we saw waterfalls, fast running creeks, remnants of last year’s winter snow, regrowth after floods, valleys formed by long gone glaciers and three of the mountains animals – mountain sheep, squirrels and one small animal sunbaking on the rocks. We keep being told that there are numerous animals in the mountains, but they are all very shy of visitors it would seem.
A quick lunch in Estes Park upon our return was enjoyable and then it was time to head back to the RV Park for a quiet afternoon. Some members of the group took this opportunity to visit Denver, some 50 miles away.
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| Heading to the Rocky Mountains. |
A touch of Europe in Estes Park |
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| The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park |
Stand of Aspen trees |
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| Craggy hilltop |
Remnants of last year's snow |
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| Lake in the high country |
At the Visitors Centre high in the Rocky Mountains |
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| Rocky Mountain wildlife |
Peter, Neville and Ron all rugged up |
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