Resuming Road TripContinuing our driving adventure from the Alpine Visitor Center. Here's the map again.
Alpine Visitor Center is above the tree line on the 'tundra' on a smooth grassy mountain. From here the Ridge Trail Road goes downhill to a series of switchbacks. (see the northwest corner of the map.
Below is a short video of the drive down the hill. Notice the mountain scenery, if you can take your eyes off the road!
We finallly got to see a couple of moose along the way.
Just outside the park at the lower end of the Ridge Trail Road is the quaint little town of Grants Lake. It must be a tourist destination as the waterfront of the lake is quite nice.
We had a hamburger at the little lakeside hut. Lots of people there so must be a good place..
After lunch we entered the park again and headed back up the Ridge Trail Road. It was uneventful, but not boring. An attraction along the way is the St. Malo's Chapel of the Rock. An active church having been visited by Pope John Paul II. The statue on the hill is a WWII war memorial.
We crossed the Continental Divide going both ways. Most know that this is the point where watersheds on one side go to the Atlantic Ocean and the other side drains to the Pacific.
As we passed the Visitor Center the road going up through the tundra was a smooth ribbon. The roads in the park were excellent, by the way.
Looking up the mountain the visible line of cars was like ants scurrying along their trail.
Here's a short video of the ride up.
It was a long, but very good, day. We arrived back at camp around 4 pm very tired. Too tired to go to the library in town to do what? Write this blog!
While it looks rather sterile, it was actually quite nice. The view was good, especially at sunrise.
There were even 3 elk that wandered into the campground, and also a couple of mule deer. (the bathhouse roof in the background).
By 8 am the next morning, we were at Beaver Meadows in the park for guided bird watching walk that ML was keen to go on. Here's the guide with ML and another early bird. (bird -get it?)
We saw some birds and there was talk of red-beaked this and yellow-bellied that, and there was excitement when a SPARROW was spotted in the bushes. The guide could identify the birds in flight but they were hard to even see when they landed in the trees. We did see some wild turkeys.
And some live ones. (just kidding). (Notice the blue sky - like that most days)
Looks like they are expecting an air raid!!
After about an hour and a half, we were totally bored and headed back, vowing to never go on a guided bird walk.
It was still early so the next plan was to go about 15 miles down the Peak to Peak Highway to Allenspark, where our guide map said were 'legendary' cinnamon rolls. We turn off the highway and followed the road through a few houses and maybe a business or so, and were out of 'town' when we came to the Meadow Mountain Cafe. There were several cars outside and the only sign of life around.
There was seating on the front deck, but the inside was only about 10 x 20 feet with 4 tables and seating for 2 at counter space. The pictures don't really capture the ambiance. (looked like 2 grisly mountain men at the counters and one cute chick over by the pot bellied stove)
Anyway we told the lady we had come all the way from Houston for a 'legendary' cinnamon roll. We were too late, none left. So we ordered (to split) an omelet which came with two buckwheat pancakes. 'Then she came out with a 'legendary' cinnamon roll she found in the freezer. (delicious, but not as good as fresh).
By the time we ate that an the big breakfast, we were stuffed, and headed back for a short rest. We had no other plans for this place (Estes Park) so we spent the rest of the afternoon at the library in town to guess what? Write this blog. Actually ML walked several blocks of the main drag which is filled with shops of course. Flowers along the street are beautiful and the ambiance with the mountains right there is really cool.
Tomorrow we will leave to head south. Don't know where, but here's a final Colorado sunset. Stay tuned.
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Who are We?Chuck and Mary Lou have been traveling Trip Reports
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