Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Rocky Mountain High

Rocky Mountain National Park
June 7, 2011

Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park, Colorado feel like coming home.  We spent three weeks here in 2009, so it feels familiar and comfortable.  We purposely placed the two week in Estes Park at the end of our time in Colorado because we knew that we'd be tired and would enjoy a few quiet days in a place that felt like home.  And it certainly does!!  We are here mainly for the purpose of hiking and so far, that is exactly what we've been doing.  I have posted a few new updates to the separate journal I am keeping for our friends and family, so if you are interested, here is the link to that journal:


I am happy to say that I am maintaining my weight even with some treats thrown in.  We are planning meals, grocery shopping and eating most meals in our cabin.  That helps a lot both with my eating properly and our staying within budget for this trip.  I'd forgotten about Hayley's Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Shop (they don't have a website, but these are Yelp reviews that tell the tale!!) and The DoNut Haus.  But I resisted both of those places last time we were here EXCEPT for a couple of special treats and I can do the same this time.  We've been here since Saturday and I've only had ice cream once and we've yet to visit The DoNut Haus! 

The journal tells all about the hiking we've been doing, so I'll just leave you with a few of my favorite RMNP pictures.  I love the alpine lakes one finds on the trails in RMNP.  We have lots of beautiful streams and waterfalls in "my" Smokies, but no alpine lakes at elevations of 9000 feet and above.  I am mesmerized by them - they are just stunningly beautiful against the backdrop of the snow covered Rockies.  So here are pictures of three we've hiked to so far.  Enjoy!

 Cub Lake - RMNP
June 7, 2011

 Sprague Lake - RMNP
June 5, 2011

Bierstadt Lake - RMNP
June 6, 2011

Hope all is well with you and you are enjoying your summer!

7 comments:

  1. So glad you're having a wonderful trip. I visited the Rocky Mountains for the first time last summer, and I was so fascinated by seeing snowcapped mountains in July. The Rockies truly warrant use of the word majestic.

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  2. Hey girl--I love reading about your trip! Good for you for being so good on your trip. That will make the going home so much easier. Let's plan our bike rendezvous for late July, okay? I'd love to do that. Hi to Mr B, too.

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  3. Beautiful. And glad to hear that you are enjoying your treats:)

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  4. Beautiful, beautiful pictures.

    I love the fact that you have not gained anything on your vacation. I came out even, too, on my trip to Holland and Paris. No gain. That is a huge WAHOO for both of us!!! Travel safe!

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  5. Ah, so beautiful! I'm imagining being there...ahhh!

    I love to hold something delectable like The DoNut Haus (added to my future travel itinerary, just because of the name) as a tantalizing last-day-of-stay treat. It helps keep me in line until the end of the stay and also keeps me from going back before I leave. LOL

    SAfe travels...

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  6. I'd love to be there hiking with you!!! It's gorgeous.

    Anytime you can go on vaction, especially one as long as yours, and maintain is doing fatastic in my book. Pat yourself on your back my friend. That's not an easy thing to do!

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  7. I don't think I've ever seen something so lovely, Sharon. If those kind of photos don't inspire, I don't know what does.
    You are doing amazing in maintaining, by the way. I greatly admire your focus. Glad you're having a wonderful time!

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