Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP)

Campground visitor

View from Many Parks Curve

We arrived safely at Estes Park, CO on Wednesday after a night's stopover at Glendo, WY.  For the first time since May, we traveled in rain, and we've experienced our first real rain since we were in Medora, ND in July.  As dirty as it made the truck & trailer, it also put a fresh coat of snow on the mountain ranges of RMNP for everyone to enjoy.  Unfortunately, that fresh pack of snow is keeping the Trail Ridge Road across the park closed just west of Rainbow Curve parking area, so we haven't been able to drive across the park, yet.

Since arriving we've tried to acclimate to our new height above sea level.  We're currently parked at about 7,750 ft and even though there's no trail or pathway, we're about a quarter of a mile from the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center.  (We're also about a mile and a half from Smokin' Dave's BBQ!)  As you can tell from the photos, the color change is in full swing.  And this seems to be the last big weekend for Estes Park.  It's the Elk Festival this weekend.  And while the campground's not full, it's close to full.

Another view (Longs Peak) from Many Parks Curve

We've also took the (almost) four mile walk around Estes Lake and visited the downtown river walk.  The Estes Park Visitor Center is convenient & packed with useful information.  So we usually go there, park, and walk wherever we want to go. 

So we're still trying to plan the next few days.  Trying to find hikes in the park that we can survive is somewhat of a trial.

I also wanted to drive the Old Fall River Road (the original park road), but it's closed at the Endovalley Picnic Area, too (and probably for the season.)  Anyway, that's where we're at for the moment.  We plan to be here until Thursday, then move to Colorado Springs for that weekend to visit friends.  Later, David

Alluvial Fan

Lake Estes and Estes Park, CO

Spearfish Canyon/Sylvan Lake/Buffalo Roundup

At the roundup

Spearfish Canyon

We're on our way to Rocky Mountain National Park, and I thought we'd give ya an update on how the weekend and the buffalo roundup went. 

Donna's pretty much recovered. So we had a great Saturday with Bryan & Lee Ann traveling over to Deadwood & Spearfish.  We took a neat little walk around Sylvan Lake (Custer State Park) on Sunday, had a great meal at State Game Lodge, and took a stroll through the arts festival there.  Then we got up at an insane hour (for retirees) on Monday and participated as part of the "crowd" at this year's Custer State Park's Buffalo Roundup.  Found more hikes for us to do when we're back in the area.  Here's some pictures to give you a feel for what we saw. 

If all goes well, we'll get to Rocky Mountain Natl Park tomorrow.  Later, David

Roughlock Falls, Spearfish Canyon

Sylvan Lake, Custer State Park

Awaiting the Buffalo Roundup

We're just outside Hermosa, SD and Custer State Park awaiting this year's buffalo roundup (September 24th).  We've met up with many friends and acquaintances from the Nuwa Owners' forum here in Hermosa and enjoying a good time.  Weather is cool in the mornings (40s & 50s) to highs in the mid to high 70s.  Dry here though the lakes in Custer State Park don't seem too low.

We had a bit of excitement Monday when Donna woke up with a severe case of vertigo.  Some of her symptoms matched a cardiovascular issue, so off to the ER we went.  Seems those little crystals in her inner-ear got out of place.  A day or so on Valium and a nausea suppressant let her rest for awhile, and she's now starting some exercises to help "realign" those crystals.  She made a couple of trips to Custer yesterday for lunch and a haircut and walked the campground today.  Still a little weak, but gettin' there. 

Anyway, we think we'll be able to travel next week.  So it's off to Rocky Mountain National Park on Tuesday if all goes well. 

Later, David

Le Done!

Our three week NOMADS project at the Storm Mountain Center is complete!  The team spent the day helping the staff make final adjustments to the garage door, plug squirrel holes in the chapel eves, stain signs & benches, and cleanup/return all the tools.  We had a great time, learned a lot of stuff, and made new friends.

Tomorrow, we take the truck to the local truck wash and try to remove as much dust as we can.  Then we make a short trip to Hermosa, SD where we'll stay for the next week or so and watch the buffalo roundup at Custer State Park. We're meeting up with friends from our first trip out to Yellowstone in June 2009 and our two winters at Gulf Shores, AL.

From Hermosa it's down to Rocky Mountain Natl Park, hopefully a visit with friends at Colorado Springs, stops at Petrified Forest Natl Park, Meteor Crater, Williams, AZ & Grand Canyon Natl Park, and then down to Lake Havasu City, AZ.  Thanksgiving is up for grabs, but Christmas at San Diego, CA & New Years at the Rose Parade in Pasadena is pretty much on track.  At least that's the plan!

Later, David

Storm Mountain Center Week 2

Our little NOMADS' team is moving right along on the little building.  We got the golf cart-sized garage door today, but it's missing the hardware to hang the door.  So this could be interesting.  Meanwhile, the windows were relocated and we've begun hanging the cedar siding.  It helps to have people around that know what they're doing.  We started on the back side that no one really notices.  We're making all our learning mistakes there before moving to the sides that everyone will see.

Weather here has cooled off to mid-70s. Some chance of rain tonight, but we probably won't get much.  Just to our southwest, a wildfire popped up at New Castle, SD.  Only reason it caught our attention was that the aircraft approach to the fire zone was directly over Storm Mountain Center, yesterday.  Today there's no aircraft flying over head and no news on the Rapid City Journal app, so I guess it's contained.

.

Anyway, the team's back to hanging siding tomorrow while we try to figure out what to do with the garage door hole while we're awaiting the needed hardware.  Later, David