Come With Me On A Walk

Beginning point of the Lake Estes Walking/Bike Path

Estes Park, Colorado - June 9, 2011

We needed something simple to do on Thursday.   We have been hiking every other day and choosing something less strenuous to do on the off days.  For some reason, we had never found time to walk the 4 mile paved walking/biking/jogging path that circles Lake Estes in downtown Estes Park so that was where we headed.  Come along with me on our walk - you won't be sorry!!

This is looking toward the east and it was a bit cloudy as we began, but the clouds gave way to sunny skies.  The path soon moves into an area that is known as an elk calving area and this is that time of year, so we were warned to be careful.  Normally, elk are very docile creatures, but much as I'm used to regarding bear safety in my Smokies, you are emphatically warned to NEVER find yourself between a mama elk and her baby!!   We did see some mama's and babies, but never very close.

This is the Big Thompson River which also flows within nine feet of our cabin.  If you've read my other journal, you know that due to excessive snow in the high country, flooding has been a concern since we've been here.  You can't really tell from this picture, but the river had gone over it's banks by several feet on the left side.  

 We have reached the far eastern point of the lake and are getting ready to walk down below where it is damned and then back up to face westward and begin the walk back to the starting point.

This damn controls the release of water from the lake into the Big Thompson Canyon that runs out of Estes Park down to Loveland and beyond.  Lots of homes, cabins and other dwellings depend on this damn to keep their properties safe.  As you can see, the water was gushing over the spillway.

We've finally made the turn back to the west and are about 3/4 of the way to the end.   This was a beautiful walk and I hope to do it again before we leave.  How lucky the folks who live here to have 350 miles of Rocky Mountain National Park trails on their doorstep and THIS beautiful path to walk on the "easy" days!!

I've posted a few new journal updates on the journal I'm keeping for family and friends.  If you are interested, here's the link:

Bill & Sharon's Summer Trip 2011

I can't believe this, but I have lost six pounds since we left home on May 9.  I am thrilled about that to say the least.  It's most certainly a combination of plenty of exercise and sensible decisions about eating.  I haven't deprived myself by any stretch of the imagination, but neither have I used "vacation" as a reason to indulge.  Remember, for us, this is "travel" and we see that as different than a "vacation," so my philosophy is that eating patterns should not change.   And for the most part, they haven't!  We have one more week in Estes Park, then on next Sunday morning, we will head eastward toward the "other" big mountains!!  

What's going on in your life this week?