Colorado - Loveland and Colorado Springs

On September 14 we arrived in Riverview RV Park outside of Loveland.  I had stayed in this area frequently when visiting our State Farm Greeley office, but did not get around to see many sites.  I had lots of people I wanted to see and lots of sights, so I only spent one day having lunch with a couple of people I worked with in the Greeley area.

On Friday, our first full day we headed up through Estes Park to the Rocky Mountain National Park.  We drove the Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous paved highway in North America, throughout the park, going to the highest elevation of 12,183 feet and then onto Lake Granby.  We saw elk as we were driving along the road and into the various parking lots.

Glaciers

Taken at Irene Lake parking area

Aspen starting to turn color

Grand Lake

Elk on side of road. 

We went into Estes park to get a bite to eat, and this was our view from the outside restaurant seating.  

We then went back into the park around 5 pm, as we were visiting at the beginning of the elk mating season.  We only saw one bull elk and his herd and heard the bull elk bugling.  We visited two different evenings, but since we were at the beginning of the mating season, we did not see other bulls competing for herds.  

We went to the Benson Sculpture Garden on Saturday, which was one of the nicest city parks that I have ever been too.  The property began as a homestead for the Benson family and then a portion of the homestead was later donated to the city to use as a wetlands and refuge for birds.  In 1985 the sculpture garden was created.  Currently there are 154 sculptures on display throughout the park.

Driving around town we saw a field of prairie dogs.  Of course most of them went into their holes as soon as Craig got out of the car.  This was right next to a busy shopping area.  

On our way back to camp, we stopped at the Sweetheart City Winery, a newer winery that gets most of their grapes right now from California.  Our favorite wines were the Cab Franc, Cab Sauv and Tempranillo.  

Loveland is such a great little town and is known for being the Sweetheart City.  It has sculptures and hearts all over town.

On Tuesday we went to Boulder to Pearl Street Mall.  In 1917, Pearl Street between 11th and 17th street was the first part of town with paved streets.  It's been through many renovations throughout the years, but it's a great place to see some of the old building architecture and many shops, breweries and restaurants.

Court House on the Estes Park Mall 

We then went to Chautauqua Park, just outside of Boulder and hiked part way up the trail to get a better view of the Flatirons rock formations.  Elevation of Boulder is over 5,400 feet and I can quickly feel the elevation as we walked on trails.

Flatirons

Town of Boulder from Chautauqua Park

From Boulder, we drove back to Estes Park and walked around town and drove by the Stanley Hotel.  The Stanley Hotel is best known as the hotel that inspired Stephen King's book "The Shining".  He was staying in room 217 and it is now the most booked room of the hotel.  We then went back into the Rocky Mountain National Park to see if the elk were more active.  We saw the same herd from the other night and a couple of bull elks nearby just laying in the fields, so we headed back to the campground.

On Sept 21, we headed to Colorado Springs for the week.  We did encounter cooler weather than normal with lots of rain.  But, since there was so much to see, we just chose our activities based on weather forecasts and dug our raincoats out of the back of the closet.

Miramont Castle - constructed in 1894 by a French Roman Catholic priest out of Manitou greenstone.    The priest and his mother lived there until 1899, sold the property to The Sisters of Mercy who opened a sanitarium from 1904 - 1928.  In 1946 the castle was converted into apartments and then in 1976 the Manitou Springs Historical Society purchased the castle and it was placed on the National Register in 1977.

Pikes Peak COG railway which goes up the mountain at up to 25% grades in places.  In 1889, the Manitou and Pikes Peak Railway Company was founded and track construction began.  On the afternoon of June 30th, 1891, the first passenger train made it to the summit of Pikes Peak.

Train station - started at 6570'

Momument at top of Pikes Peak

Chile and Frijoles Festival in Pueblo with cousins Gaylen and DeeDee:

Pueblo River Walk

Thunderbirds were in town for an air show and they flew right over our campground:

Glen Eyrie Castle, homesteaded in 1871 and finished in 1904 by William Palmer, Civil War General and owner of the Denver Rio Grande Railroad and founder of Colorado Springs.  Located on 723 acres with 97 lodging rooms, now owned by the Navigators.  Beautiful castle to tour.

Carriage House

Broadmoor Hotel & Seven Falls

Hotel:  Originally started as a dairy farm, the land was bought and developed into The Broadmoor Casino, which opened in 1891 by a Prussian Count.  Eventually forced into receivership, the property was bought by Philadelphia entrepreneur, Spencer Penrose in 1916, and opened the hotel in 1918.

Spencer Penrose - bought Cog Railway and
 Broadmoor Hotel 

181' foot waterfalls

Garden of the Gods:

Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center - training center for Olympic and Paralympic athletes.  Training includes;  boxing, cycling, figure skating, volleyball, gymnastics, Paralympic judo, pentathlon, shooting, swimming and wresting.

                                            

Weight room and track

Boxing ring

Shooting Range 

Olympic swimming pool - location where Phelps beat
first world record, but not recorded

Ice Skating Facility - off of the main campus

Next time through Colorado Springs:  Cripple Creek, Cave of the Winds, Walk around Manitou Springs and Old Colorado City, Royal Gorge Bridge, and Canon City

Southwest part of Colorado, we would like to spend time around Durango;  Mesa Verde Natl Park, Chimney Rock Natl Monument and drive at least part of the San Juan Skyway (232 miles), one of the most scenic drives in America with elevations spanning from 6200 to 11075 feet.  Also spend time to visit the wineries in Grand Junction and Palisades and hot springs near Alamosa.

Next place to visit is Raton, New Mexico.

Traveling South to Phoenix - Prosser, WA to Rawlins, WY

Our first stop was in Prosser, WA on Sept. 6 and we stayed two nights at the Wine Country RV park.  They are set up very well to handle the motorhome and trailer and continually have events in the park.  On Thursday evening we attended a wine tasting event in the office area put on by Tucannon Cellars.  Their wines looked great on the website, but those that brought to taste, were OK, but not exceptional.

We arrived on Wednesday and once set up we walked over to the wine village and went to Apex/Willow Springs, Coyote Canyon and McKinley Springs.  Coyote and McKinley were exceptional.  On a future trip, we would love to come a little later in September and attend the Hot Air Balloon Rally.

On Thursday, we drove out to Columbia Crest, which their grounds were beautiful.  We also went to Desert Winds and 14 Hands, and then went into downtown to Bills.  We were very impressed with Bills wines and will definitely go back. The reserve wines at 14 Hands were fantastic and we've been buying Desert Winds wine for many years, so we always enjoy going there.  Definitely we are now stocked for our trip south, with wine overflowing from the cabinets!

Columbia Crest 

14 Hands

On Friday we drove to Huntington, OR and stayed at Catfish Junction RV park along the Snake River.  Beautiful view of the river from our campsite, would love to come back and do some kayaking.  Still pretty hazy.

We then west to Declo, Idaho for a couple of nights.  Nice park, but nothing significant around the area to do, but their is a picnic area and boat ramp on the Snake River, within walking distance of the RV Park.

Our next stop was in Evanston for one night.  We stayed one night at the Philips RV Park and they were able to accommodate us, but the park was by a busy street and was very noisy all night long.  Probably would look for another location next time through.  We then went onto Rawlins, WY and stayed two nights.  The Western Hills Campground was great and very quiet.

In Rawlins we went to the Carbon County Museum, which had lots of exhibits from the people and places around Rawlins.  For a free museum, it was small but very interesting.  

Horse snow shoes

Sheepherders wagon - possibly the first RV?

We then took a tour of the Wyoming Frontier Prison in Rawlins, opening in 1901.  The prison did go on to get multiple additions.  The prison did use different execution methods, with nine men being hanged by the gallows, either the traveling gallows and or the newer indoor version of the Julien Gallows.  In 1936 they installed the gas chamber and five men were executed using that method.  

The prison closed its doors after 80 years and from 1981 to 1987 sat abandoned until a low budget movie titled "Prison" was filmed on location.  The prison now has been listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and offers tours to about 15,000 visitors annually.  

Block  A - first portion of prison built

Cafeteria - One prisoner painted murals as his "job".

Watch Tower

Prison courtyard for most inmates

Death House:  consisting of inside hanging gallows, 6 cells on death row and the gas chamber.

Rawlins has 14 murals located around the town.  This one is known as Aspen Alley.  

Next time we may consider visiting the Flaming Gorge area, Encampment and Saratoga to include the Hobo Hot Pool (Hot Springs).

On September 14 we headed to Loveland, CO.

July and August in Chehalis

We had a surprise visit from our nephew Mat on July 4th and he dropped off our great nephew Jace for the day.  We had a great time with Jace around the campground.

Throughout the two months, we had various family and friends that were able to visit; Craig's family, good friends, Bob and Bobbie and my secretary from State Farm, Mike, Leanne and Olivia and her friend and a special couple from Graham.

The end of July we met our good friends from Estacada for four nights at Skamokawa Vista Point park.  It was very hazy and hot the entire week, but we were able to kayak and let their granddaughters try out the kayaks.

Kyrie in Kayak

Tali in Kayak

We then went to John and Lynn's campground and enjoyed a couple of days there visiting with their family and made our annual trip to Eola Hills Winery for brunch.

While in Salem, I visited with school friends, (picture below) as well as my first mentee and her new husband, did two family picnics one for my Mother's side of the family and one for the Larson side of the family and also was able to slip in a couple of wine tasting trips; Witness Tree and Bethel Winery.   We also did the monthly State Farm retiree lunch and spent the day with our dear friend Donna.  Craig and Donna did short motorcycle rides this year due to the heat and the haze.

Myself, Jackie, Gayle and Terri - Alice left before picture.

Jace, Mat and Cale 

We then went to Oregon Motorcoach in Eugene to get our annual maintenance work done.  While there we visited some wineries, enjoyed the Eugene river bike trail and watched the eclipse, 99.3 totality. We started our bike rides,  two different days at the Owen Rose Garden and that's where we also watched the eclipse.

Owen Rose garden

Cherry Tree in the Rose Garden

Wineries visited in Eugene:
First winery we went to was LaVelle Vineyards which was our favorite of the three.  Loved their Zinfandel and 2012 Red Blend.  The second winery we went to was Noble Estates Vineyard and Winery.  It was good and had a beautiful view, but a little more spendy for the value.

Abbelone Vineyard and Winery - not our favorite as they had mostly all white wines.  

We returned back to Chehalis on August 22 and as Craig was setting up the water, we had a little bird just waiting for the water to drip from the hose to drink and take a bath.

We were able to attend one preseason Seahawk game against the Kansas City Chiefs.  Beautiful evening and Seahawks won this game and all their preseason games.

Labor Day weekend was very busy and we were visiting friends and family from Friday through Tuesday, since we were leaving on Wednesday.  We especially enjoyed our day at Ike Kinswa State Park on Monday with nephew Mat and family, kayaking and visiting.

On Wednesday, we started heading on our "winter 9 month trip".