Day 31:  Tues, 7/12:  Estes Park, Grand Lake and Rocky Mountain National Park, CO

Today was awesome!!!  We got out early and drove to Sprague Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP).  It is a gorgeous little lake that has nice reflections of the mountains when it’s not windy and there is a ½ mile trail around it.  We enjoyed our walk around the lake looking at trout, wild flowers and the beautiful scenery.  Our plan was to stand up paddleboard, kayak and fish the lake but it is so shallow and the water is so cold that we decided not to.  So we drove to scenic Bear Lake and did a 2.2 mile roundtrip hike to Alberta Falls.  It is a pretty waterfall but we really enjoyed the cutest little rabbit that was eating about 5 feet from us.  We also saw a bird called the American Dipper, which was jumping from one spot to another right along the water above the waterfall to eat.  After the hike, we drove into Estes Park and bought a tire to replace our flat spare on the motorhome and we went grocery shopping.  After resting in the RV for a while, we then drove back into RMNP and immediately saw three beautiful male deer with big antlers in front of us trying to cross the road.  We then drove up the one way, gravel Old Fall River Road.  This is extremely scenic and worth the drive.  The views of the glacier-carved peaks is spectacular, as is the dense green forest.  We stopped at Cascade Falls and saw another American Dipper bird dive under water and swim around looking for food in a cold pool of water.  As we got to 12,000 feet above sea level, we touched tundra, played in snow, and saw big fat marmots as we still admired the surrounding peaks with snow on them and the lush green valleys below.  After we got to the summit, we drove to the West side of RMNP to have dinner and then search for moose and elk again.  We ate dinner in Grand Lake.  It's a small cute town on    a pretty lake.  We most enjoyed baby swallows who are not quite ready to fly but are getting too big for the small nest.  The mom would fly out and get food and return.  The babies would squawk frantically when she would return trying to have her put the food in their mouth!  We then headed back to RMNP and right away we saw a herd of female elk with several young spotted babies who were so cute.  Then we drove on and saw a female moose and then we noticed a male moose close by, and we stood on the side of the road with several other people who were all watching the male moose with binoculars and taking pictures.  Each time the moose moved behind a tree, this group of about 15 people would all move to the right or the left in order to still see him.  It must have been comical to watch.  Once we had enough moose viewing, we kept driving east along the gorgeous Trail Ridge Road and took a turnout to watch a majestic sunset over the incredible Rocky Mountains.  As we turned the corner driving, we had to stop our car because there was a beautiful elk in the road.  It was hard to know whether to spend more time looking at the beautiful sunset or turn the opposite direction to watch the elk as he walked off the road to the east.  After enjoying the moment, we moved on and just as it was getting dark, we saw 3 beautiful bighorn sheep at the summit – one was a male with majestic curved horns and the other two were a mother and baby.  Incredible!  We saw more elk and deer as it was getting almost too dark to see.  We got back to our campground in Estes Park at 9:30.  What a great day!

Sprague Lake reflections, Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP), CO  

Kids at Sprague Lake, CO

Alberta Falls, RMNP, CO

Tundra and great vistas, RMNP, CO

Snow, tundra, RMNP, CO

Baby swallows waiting to be fed, Grand Lake, CO

Baby elk, RMNP, CO

Majestic bull moose, West side, RMNP, CO

Sunset, RMNP, CO

Elk eating, top of RMNP, CO

Majestic bighorn sheep at 12,000 feet above sea level, CO

Day 30:  Mon, 7/11:  Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park, CO

We were told by the lady at the office of our campground to avoid the terrible traffic in downtown Estes Park by driving along Riverside Drive, and she was so right.  So we drove on Riverside Drive down to Estes Lake, where we rode our bikes along a 3 mile paved loop around the lake, which was pretty and a nice ride. We looked down at the river that runs into the lake and we could see a bunch of fish. Ryan had said he wanted to see a pelican, and sure enough, we saw a white pelican in the lake.  We were told to look for owls sitting in the rocks behind the library, so we went there, and luckily there were 2 local women who were already looking at the owls (otherwise we might not have seen them), They even let us use their binoculars to see them better.  One owl was an adult and the other was a young one that was white and fluffy – they were both awesome to see. Then we had a great lunch at Claire’s Restaurant near the library.  We went back to our campground to rest and then drove into RMNP and saw bighorn sheep and deer.  The bighorn sheep were cute.

Biking around Lake Estes, Estes Park, CO

Biking Lake Estes, CO

Female Bighorn Sheep in Rocky Mountain National Park, CO

Day 29: Sun, 7/10: Sand boarding and sledding in Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado

Day 29:  Sun, 7/10:  Sand boarding and sledding in Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado

This morning we rented a sandboard (snowboard for sand) and a sand sled for $20 each.  Ouch! But worth it one time!  Sam chose not to horseback ride yesterday so that is what paid for the rentals today J.   We slathered on our sunblock and bug spray and headed back to the sand dunes for some adventure!  All four of us loved sledding.  For some reason, Andrea and Sam would fall off a lot (probably because we’re tall for the small sled???) but Ryan and Sarah were really good sledding down the long, steep sand hills.  But the real fun was the sandboard.  If you ever come here, you have to do it!!!  It’s great fun.  We all took turns with the sled or the sandboard and would fly down the hills.  Sarah was the most scared at first to sandboard but she turned out to be a natural.  She was the best at standing up and racing all the way down the steep slopes.  She hardly fell at all.  Ryan, Andrea and Sam all had their good moments and really had fun.  But the three of us fell a lot and were covered in sand!  Since we had sunblock and bug spray on, the sand stuck all over Sam and Ryan’s faces, necks, arms and legs due to their many face plants!  We didn’t care, even with the sand in our hair and ears, because it was so much fun.  The sand is very soft when you fall so it doesn’t hurt at all.  The kids also finished their Junior Ranger Program for this national park and then we drove back to the rental place to return the sled and sandboard.  Andrea thought it was funny because in the large gravel parking lot, Sam and Ryan put on their bathing suits and took a shower right there using our outdoor shower on the motorhome.  Andrea thought it was a bit tacky but not Sam or Ryan.  RVing BABY!!!!  

Then, as we drove north towards Estes Park, which is the eastern gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) and north of Denver, we got another flat tire!!!  What the heck is going on—3 flat tires in one trip and 5 flat tires in the last 12 months on the RV!   The tow truck guy, a police officer, and a helpful Colorado woman who stopped to help us all gave us the same directions of how to get to Estes Park by avoiding Denver traffic and taking a more scenic route.  So we went through Breckenridge and got dinner to go from Taco Bell.  Happy Birthday Andrea—Dairy Queen in Canada last year for your birthday dinner and this year Taco Bell!!!  We continued driving north past Grand Lake, which is the western gateway to RMNP.  Along that drive, we saw a beautiful coyote, 2 cute foxes and an elk.  Once we entered RMNP at 8 pm, we saw a female moose eating in the bushes by the side of the road.  But the highlight was a large bull moose about 25 yards from us.  Wow, they command your respect with their size and their antlers!  He was walking towards us and stopped and stared at us.  There were many other cars along the highway.  He then started galloping and then running parallel to us.  He was impressive and great to see.  We then drove further into the national park and saw a huge herd of elk—probably over 100.  We then drove up to over 12, 200 feet on the beautiful Trail Ridge Road.  The tundra was neat to see as it was getting dark.  We then saw about 8 huge male elk with massive antlers sitting by the side of the road.  Incredible.  We descended down the other side of the continental divide after dark along the windy road and finally got to Estes Park around 920 pm.  Except for her birthday dinner, I think Andrea had a wonderful day sand boarding and sledding, and seeing the incredible Rocky Mountains and much wildlife as well. 

Sarah and her sandboard, CO

Ryan shredding it, Bro!

Mom falling on her sled ride :)

Sam and Ryan's faces covered in sand from many face plants while sand boarding.

Panorama of Sand dunes--the tallest dune is 750 feet high!!!

Andrea ripping it up.  Hang ten with her toes.

Just before a faceplant!

Sarah "the natural" at sand boarding!

HUGE MALE MOOSE about 25 yards from our RV!!!  Rocky Mountain National Park--West side, CO

Day 28: Sat, 7/9: Horseback riding Red River, NM, hiking Great Sand Dunes in Colorado

Day 28:  Sat, 7/9:  Horseback riding Red River, NM, hiking Great Sand Dunes in Colorado

Sarah, Andrea, and Ryan left at 830 am to go for a short but beautiful horseback ride through the Enchanted Forest of New Mexico.  While riding with a guided group, we saw a deer and a bunny rabbit, and we were each able to get to know the personalities (good and bad) of our specific horses named Hollywood, Jewels, and Jasper.  It was a lot of fun.  While they were riding, Sam enjoyed a quiet morning sitting alongside the Red River at our campsite reading and relaxing.  It was a great morning for  all.  We then drove north about 2.5 hours to Walmart in Alamosa, CO and then checked into the Desert Oasis Lodge and RV Park overlooking beautiful Great Sand Dunes National Park, which is tucked up against the gorgeous Sangre de Cristo Mountains.  We got some snacks and waterbottles and headed straight to the dunes to explore.   We first had to run through a mosquito gauntlet and then cross Mendano Creek and then we were on the 30 square miles of sand dunes.  The tallest sand dune in all of North America (750 feet) towers overhead as we hiked up and down many ridgelines.  According to my fitbit, we climbed 56 stairs and we are at 8,000 feet above sea level!  We really enjoyed the vistas and the hard shadows on the dunes when the sun would peak out between the clouds.  We had fun running down the long steep slopes to get back to the car as well.

Ryan with Jasper

We were parked 5 feet from the Red River.  Sam enjoyed reading here rather than riding horses today.

Sarah riding Jewels on a fun horse back ride.

Great Sand dunes, Southeast Colorado

Great Sand Dunes National Park, Southeast Colorado

We  hiked up the ridge to that point with the people behind us.

The sand ripples and mountains behind were great.  This picture doesn't do it justice.

Sarah running and jumping down huge steep dunes.

Ryan--Pure Joy playing on sand dunes.  I love Andrea's look too.

Ryan leaping having fun.