This morning we attended a service on the grounds of the Fountain KOA. A local Baptist church sponsors the services held each. There were several volunteers from the church in attendance as well as a few from the campground including a family of six from Spearman, Texas.
If you recall, last week Byron mentioned wondering why there were no contemporary service formats that utilized Country & Western or Jazz. Well, today he got his wish. The hymns were all done using C&W settings in Karaoke style. What an experience! “What a Friend” was done in a slow, Western Swing. The other were much more like a fast Texas Two-Step. The leader was an gentleman who looked to be about 77 years of age. There was a sincere and well thought out testimony presented by a woman originally from Korea. She talked about how Jesus was her guide, map, and GPS through life. The message was presented by a man who had seen combat in Iraq. It was obvious that it was all done with great sincerity and we appreciated being present.
Around 11:30 we took off toward Estes Park, Colorado where neither of us had been before. We followed the GPS to the Flying J in Aurora so we could fuel up and use our discount credit card provided to us by Pilot and Good Sam. After leaving Aurora we continued to follow the guidance of the GPS to some extent. Once Byron took a good look at the route on the iPad’s Maps application, he decided to take a road less traveled. Instead of going through Boulder from Denver on the toll road we headed up US 287 through Longmont and then on Ute Highway to Lyons and on to Estes Park on US 36.
Wow, what a gorgeous drive! It has to be the most scenic trip we have yet to make in the motorhome. the curving road took us along the path of North Saint Vrain Creek past Steamboat Mountain and Indian Lookout Mountain and on into the Roosevelt National Forest. We passed Button Rock Mountain and Keeny Mountain before beginning the descent into Estes Park below Mount Olympus. To my surprise, Estes Lake would lie ahead where we’d turn to go to the KOA.
The “welcome rock” is near the base of Mt. Olympus. Just
around the curve the town of Estes Park can be seen
along with Lake Estes in wide valley. Estes Lake
is supplied by the Fall River that drops from within
Rocky Mountain National Park.
Mount Olympus – Is there any wonder how it got it’s name?
The peak is all granite with jutting edges and trees growing
where they can set their roots in the rocky soil.
Estes Park sits at an elevation of roughly 7,525 feet above sea level. We have yet to spend the night on this trip at that elevation. After checking in and parking at the KOA, we had an early dinner then drove around the area.
Once again, photos fail to show all that can be seen. Snow-capped mountains
meet the sky just within easy view of our Airstream Land Yacht XC. If it weren’t
for the trouble of moving and other things about Louisville, we’d consider
making Colorado our new state of residence. There are no
mountains like the Rocky Mountains as far as we’re concerned.
On our drive around town we stopped at the Visitor Center. It is next
to the public golf course where we found elk enjoying the late
evening hours. By the way, some of the elk moved a few
feet to allow the golfer to play through.
A well-kept, century-old hotel, The Stanley, sits higher in the foothills
overlooking Estes Park. The Needles formation is in the distance.
On Monday we plan to get early and rive into Rocky Mountain National Park. We may take the Trail Ridge Road which reaches an elevation of 12,000 feet. This will be before Martha has to begin working.
Did we say it was beautiful out here? If Katharine Bates had visited here instead of Pikes Peak she would have had difficulty not making the poem longer.
We feel blessed. Good night.
Estes Park, Colorado at night with snow-capped
Deer Mountain overlooking.
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