17th October- The Rockies

17th October- The Rockies

We had an early start and then a full day up into the Rockies.  It turned out however to be a bit of a false start however as we immediately hit a traffic jam.  Our guide informed us that it was all the fault of a dead dog.  Apparently when the road had been a toll, the toll keeper had a dog that was much loved by the local populous.  When it died it was buried next to the highway and when the authorities wanted to widen the road, uproar resulted and it has never happened!  A whole new perspective on NIMBYISM.  

We passed through Boulder and then eventually arrived in Estes where we were lucky enough to see some elk, grazing on a golf course.  Apparently this is the time of the year when the males, testosterone fuelled, fight each other for the females and are intolerant of any intruders.  One assumes that this would qualify as a natural hazard but wouldn’t like to go looking for wayward balls!

After a coffee stop, where Carol brought a bright yellow hat, I managed to persuade her not to buy the one shaped like a bears head; we went up into the national park where the scenery was stunning.  We couldn’t go as high as usual as the authorities had closed the roads due to early snow falls.  Then back to Estes for lunch.  After lunch we drove a scenic route through the park and were particularly lucky to come across some long horned sheep.  These don’t often come down from the high mountains so to see two young males was really unusual and they really are magnificent creatures.

Our final stop of the day was at the Red Rock Amphitheatre, a collection of huge red rocks within which a natural auditorium has been created.  Although we had not heard of it all the greats have performed there, including the Beatles in 1964 on their first tour of the USA.  Overall we had a great day, if tiring, probably due to the altitude, but worth every minute.  Then cod and chips in the hotel bar, well it has to be done, and an early night ready for a 5am alarm call.