Estes Park, with Beth

Wednesday, Sept 27… 

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Gray and drizzly as we set out for Estes Park (6362’), the iconic summer resort along Big Thompson River that’s home to Rocky Mountain National Park headquarters and the Stanley Hotel. It’s a non-scenic, 90-minute drive from Beth’s house, but the park itself is near and dear to her heart. (And you just can’t go to Denver w/o seeing Estes Park – that’s the first question everyone asks when you mention Denver.)

Hoping we may be able to reach a certain pass, Beth drives directly to Rocky Mt Nat'l Park where we ascend through a tunnel of snowy evergreens. We stop at the first overlook, take a few photos, and realize there's no point in going any higher. 

Peekaboo View...

Climbing...

...about as good as it gets.

Headin' down again.

Stanley Steamer

Back in Estes Park proper, we stop to check out the (purportedly haunted) Stanley Hotel, built by F.O Stanley, creator of the Stanley Steamer motor carriage that set the world record (28.2 seconds) in 1906 for the fastest mile in an automobile. Stanley came to Denver for a “tuberculosis cure,” built a hotel so others could enjoy the beauty and stayed here another 40 years. (I guess the cure worked.) 

Cool staircase.

Stanley Hotel (most of it)

I absentmindedly took this shot as we 
wandered through the hotel garden.
(I believe that's Prospect Mt.)

Later, I stole this one, which actually
looks like a statue. (Stanley began
making violins when he was 11.)

From the hotel, we enjoyed an excellent lunch a The Other Side (great French onion soup). Then Beth drove us through the section of the park where her best friend Deanna has a cabin (and Beth is a frequent guest). On the way we passed a beautiful buck (who wasn't the least bit bothered by traffic 20' away). Earlier we had seen a small group of elk. 

Wow.

The Three Amigos.
Beth and Deanna joined us for dinner at the MH.
Deanna was kind enough to take a picture.