Colorado Day Ten

photo by Carolyn Hostetler

We arrived well after dark last night to our hotel in Dillon, CO.  The views that greeted us this morning were wonderful.  I was sad I didn’t have time to sip a cup of coffee on our balcony.

view from Buffalo Bill's grave

Our first stop (not counting the traffic jam on the freeway) was at Wild Buffalo Bill’s Old West Museum overlooking Denver.  Bill Cody was a remarkable man and over 25,000 people came to pay respects at his death.  His grave lies at the top of Lookout Mountain which, according to his widow, is where he said he wanted to be buried.  And no wonder!  It looks down on Denver and, according to Buffalo Bill, four states can be seen from there.  I tried to find out which four states but was unable to so I’m not sure was he referring to Nebraska to the northeast, Kansas directly east, Wyoming  to the north, and Utah to the west, or was he including Colorado in those four?  Whatever, it is an amazing view.

William Frederick Cody lived a life to inspire millions of people.  By the time he was twenty-five he had been part of the Pony Express, a scout for the army, a buffalo hunter, and a slew of other things.  Of course he started at age 8, running messages, after his father died, so he had already been a productive citizen for seventeen years.  He is probably best known for his Wild West shows that included real Indians, real vaqueros (Spanish cowboys), and of course Annie Oakley, the first, or at least the most famous, female sharp shooter in the west.

Next we drove to Rocky Mountain National Park to experience another bunch of sharp curves, switchbacks, and views that cannot be described to my satisfaction.  By the time we reached the tourist info center at the top the sunshine had given way to a stiff breeze, rain, and sleet. If there is one suggestion I would make to the Colorado bureau of tourism it would be to improve their restroom conditions and quadruple the quantity.  At some places there was only one toilet for both men and women to share.  Today we found eight but what a state they were in!  We joined the growing line of men, women, and children, shivering in the frigid conditions, resigned to the fact that some things can't be avoided.

While some of the braver among us left to hike up to the best lookout, I opted to stay snug on the bus.  Dave was sitting there visiting with our bus driver, Noah, when he suddenly bolted up and said he had left his phone in the bathroom.  He met a man coming out of the stall, carrying his phone.  Thankfully, he willingly handed it over to Dave; I assume he was planning to take it to the information center.  What a relief that it was found and so quickly!  I admit I felt reassured that I’m not the only one who forgets things.  I was further reassured when Anna Mae found her room key from last night’s hotel in her pocket! I think I checked at least twenty times today to make sure I had my phone.  I’ve heard people say their whole life is in their phone and I know what they mean.  Losing it would be like losing my computer.  It’s so handy to have all your information in a pocket-size device but it’s also traumatizing when you think you’ve lost it. 

As we wound our way down and through the last half of the park we left the bad weather behind along with the high altitude.  Everyone was hoping for some elk and bighorn sheep sightings.  In fact, they were praying for it.

photo by Pearl Barkman

Silence fell as we all intently searched out both sides of the bus and when it seemed like we might not be fortunate enough to see any there was a large elk bull right beside the road.  He stopped and posed for pictures before slowly ambling into the woods.  That was exciting but we were still hoping to see a whole family.  Several miles further and we got our wish.  Far off in the field in the Moraine section of the park were about six females and another large bull.  A few of us were even lucky enough to hear some them bugling.

We finally drove on when everyone was finished ogling through the binoculars and Helen had managed to get a surprisingly good shot with her zoom lens.  Not a half mile further up the road toward the Estes Park end we came across another group of females with a large bull attempting to be in charge of them. They were much closer to us and took their time moving through the woods, allowing us lots of camera shots with no need of binoculars.  The bull was obviously in the courting mood but he was dealing with uncooperative females.

As evening approached we headed out of the mountains for the final time, leaving through Thomson Canyon, the rock walls at times only mere feet away from the sides of the bus.  Now we were watching for the big horns and we were not disappointed.  Anna Mae was the first to see them, a group of about eight,  high along the cliff walls, but we had no place to stop or turn around so only a few of us saw them.  We kept looking and Irene was the next to spot one, right next to a convenient pull-off.  We exited the bus and were taking our pictures when up ahead we saw two more.  Before it was over more vehicles had pulled over and the sheep looked like they were posing for us intentionally.

It was a tired but well-satisfied group that pulled into our hotel in Loveland, Colorado where a dog waited for us on the bed and a monkey hung out in the closet.  

Anna Mae told us that every year people send their love letters and valentines to Loveland to be mailed from there to their sweethearts so the envelopes will bear that postmark.  The city includes a new poem every year created just for that purpose. Paul and I are lucky if we even remember the day let alone plan months ahead for it.  I admit, Paul is better at the sentimental stuff than I am, although, since our oldest grandson was born on February 14th, that day is special indeed!               

Paul says he can breathe better already since we are only slightly above 5,000 feet now.  Others are saying the same thing.  The altitude didn’t bother me much except when I was exerting myself by climbing steps or walking uphill. I’m not eager to leave the mountains behind but home lies to the east and back there is where my heart lies as well. That is where the most precious things in life are – and they call me Nana.