Salt Water Taffy
Today the Rocky Mountain national park beckoned. Just an hour away, this park hosts a tiny part of the vast range of the Rockies, but includes some of the biggies.
So, picnic all packed, Ma and Pa were driven by their lovely hosts to see the sights and the heights. Firstly the route took them through the Big Thomson River Canyon and it was exciting to be at the foot of a Canyon looking up, this time. Strange rock formations crowded in on either side of the road.
Then into the park and various stops along the way as we climbed higher and higher. Waterfalls, rushing rivers, forests, all in the shadow of the towering snow-capped peaks. And a lovely picnic was enjoyed in sunny sunshine.
Some peaks are over 14000 feet, and Ma and Pa got to 12000 feet (3660m) as the trail climbed. At that altitude lightheadedness is the first sign you need to drink a lot of water and take on salt! And as high as cars can reach is the limit of the trees, and beyond that is the tundra where there are only boulders and scrubby grasses. And snow.
At one point a big elk bull was spotted across the grassland. Pa has zoomed in to catch him here, but he’s a bit fuzzy!
Then on to Estes Park, a lovely holiday resort, where Ma and Pa couldn’t resist a big bag of salt water taffy. Remember that? Still as sweet and stick-to-your-teeth chewy as ever. Very nostalgic.
But after all that sunshine, the weather this evening had one more trick up its sleeve and unleashed the mother of all thunder and hailstorms. Luckily everyone was safely back home when the sky turned an odd yellow then black and lightning cracked around us for a good half hour without ceasing, and hailstones the size of large marbles crashed all around. We thought they might break the windows! Made yesterday’s storm look like a gentle breeze. No pictures of this one though as Ma and Pa were too awestruck to think of getting the camera out. Sorry, blog readers!
So, picnic all packed, Ma and Pa were driven by their lovely hosts to see the sights and the heights. Firstly the route took them through the Big Thomson River Canyon and it was exciting to be at the foot of a Canyon looking up, this time. Strange rock formations crowded in on either side of the road.
Then into the park and various stops along the way as we climbed higher and higher. Waterfalls, rushing rivers, forests, all in the shadow of the towering snow-capped peaks. And a lovely picnic was enjoyed in sunny sunshine.
Some peaks are over 14000 feet, and Ma and Pa got to 12000 feet (3660m) as the trail climbed. At that altitude lightheadedness is the first sign you need to drink a lot of water and take on salt! And as high as cars can reach is the limit of the trees, and beyond that is the tundra where there are only boulders and scrubby grasses. And snow.
At one point a big elk bull was spotted across the grassland. Pa has zoomed in to catch him here, but he’s a bit fuzzy!
Then on to Estes Park, a lovely holiday resort, where Ma and Pa couldn’t resist a big bag of salt water taffy. Remember that? Still as sweet and stick-to-your-teeth chewy as ever. Very nostalgic.
But after all that sunshine, the weather this evening had one more trick up its sleeve and unleashed the mother of all thunder and hailstorms. Luckily everyone was safely back home when the sky turned an odd yellow then black and lightning cracked around us for a good half hour without ceasing, and hailstones the size of large marbles crashed all around. We thought they might break the windows! Made yesterday’s storm look like a gentle breeze. No pictures of this one though as Ma and Pa were too awestruck to think of getting the camera out. Sorry, blog readers!
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