more wonderful memories

Zion Sunrise

Zion's Glory

Bryce's Hoodoos

Grand Teton

Old Faithful

Glacier Stream

Glacier's Red Bus Tour

a few of our favorite memories

Mackinaw Island

Painted Rocks National Park - Lake Superior- Michigan

Fish Boil - Door County

Corn Palace - South Dakota

Triangle Ranch - South Dakota

Mount Rushmore

The Badlands National Park

First Peoples Buffalo Jump - Montana

Custer State Park Bison - South Dakota

Rocky Mountain National Park

The Aspens at peak color

Frost this morning

On a Walk in the Valley

Colorado River Headwaters

We began our visit to Rocky Mountain National Park at its Western side bordering Grand Lake.  The scenery was stunning from the moment we began our drive Trail Ridge Road.  It became even more spectacular as we climbed this longest and highest paved highway in the United States.  We were literally clinging to the edge of the road that had no guardrails aside from the ten-foot poles to guide the snowplow drivers so they can stay on the road.

The Continental Divide

The Rockies

Imagine Biking to the 12,000' Summit

The Rocky Rockies

Snow Fields and Alpine Lake

The Tundra above the Tree Line

Mountain Splendor

We stopped often for short walks and views.  One of the best was at the Alpine Visitors’ Center that is 11.796 feet above sea level.  There we saw a herd of elk cows that were resting while their bull protected his harem from the young bulls that were trying to move in his place. His bugling came up from the valley below the Center.

Elk herd  resting

Autumn's Splendor

With over 7,000 miles on our car, we now begin our journey eastward toward home and family.  It will take a few days for us to add on the next 2,000 miles and reach Cape Cod.  We will continue our blog as we complete our wonderful adventure.

Visiting Colorado Springs

United States Air Force Academy Chapel

Cadets on their way to lunch

Chapel  interior

Garden of the Gods

Among the rocks

Our friends Roberta and Roger

Roberta and Roger and their four children were my neighbors at North Truro Air Force Station in 1970.  My daughter Jennifer at a year and a half began playing with their youngest son Andrew who was two and a half.  They became best friends and we adopted all the Grandpres as family. When Heather was an infant, Jennifer became Roberta’s fifth child at the beach while Heather and her Mom bonded. 

When we left the Air Force and the Grandpre family moved to Colorado Springs almost forty years ago, we remained friends. We have visited them in their winter Arizona home, and they always visit us when they come East. Finally, I made it to Colorado Springs with Fern.  It was wonderful being together again.  Andrew and his wife Shannon and sons Austin and Noah came to visit and have dinner with all of us. We are hoping they will visit us on Cape Cod soon. 

We visited The Garden of the Gods and the Air Force Academy both highlights of Colorado Springs that I had visited on my first cross country trip while I was in college. 

Then we headed North for to Rocky Mountain National Park. 

Balance Rock

Noah Grandpre- 5 years old

Austin Grandpre - 10 years old

Durango to Silverton Railroad

Engineer preparing for our trip

The Rails curves so we could see both ends at the same time

We had a perfect day for our planned trip on the narrow gauge railroad from Durango to Silverton Colorado.  The steam engine was complete with soot and cinders that I remember from childhood trips to the Poughkeepsie Station.  The train climbed it s way through the canyon with the Animas River far below.  We were really on the edge.

The round trip was about seven hours of clickety clack.  Silverton is an old mining town that is picturesque and depends on the passengers from this train for its economic survival.  We helped out by having lunch and later ice cream. 

On the ride back, the train stopped to let off two young hikers who were loaded down with their equipment for surviving the wilderness.  We also met a couple from Colorado who were taking the ride for the first time.  We enjoyed meeting these locals and getting their take on their state.  We were reassured that Rocky Mountain National Park would be definitely worth the trip before we head our car toward the East.  

We were so close to the Canyon's walls!

and so close to the edge of the cliffs and the Animas River

Photographers were everywhere

Rainbow over the River 

Animas River Beauty

More River Beauty

The Beautiful Aspen in full color

Canyon Beauty