22 May 2008

Phew. We're on day two of our epic Colorado trip. Day one took us from Des Moines, Iowa to Greeley, Colorado. Soon after we left Weld County on day two, it was hit by massive storms and tornadoes. Sounds like we brought some Iowa weather with us, which is unfortunate for the man who died in his RV.

On day two (Thursday - today), we were planning on heading through Rocky Mountain National Park. Unfortunately the road going through the park doesn't open until Friday. Tomorrow. Doesn't that just figure?

We were planning on going through the park, coming out the other side, and staying in Winter Park. From there we were going to head to Glenwood Springs, see Doc Holiday's grave, and do a cave tour (on Friday).

Because of the mess-up with the roads (Colorado has had snow later than usual, so while a lot of their passes would be open by now, one in particular is still under twenty feet of snow. They are trying hard to get them open for Memorial Day Weekend.) Dad and I had to replan our trip. Instead of going through the park (since we couldn't) and then heading to Glenwood Springs the next day, we dropped south from Estes Park, outskirting Boulder and Denver, and then meeting up with 70 to head straight to Glenwood Springs (where we are now). Fortunately, I didn't know the entire area was under a tornado warning and that tornadoes were touching down. We did get a bit of hail and some serious winds, and that was scary enough when driving on the side of a mountain.

It went from 80 degrees rapidly to 30 degrees, hail, and snow, as we climbed up and up and up. Reminds me of Iowa weather, except we don't have mountains!

Well, we got here a little late to do any of the tours, and Dad was wiped from struggling against the wind for hours, so we soaked in the 15-person hot tub at our hotel and ate some great food. I think tomorrow morning we're going to wake up early, head to Doc Holiday's grave, the cave, and possibly the hot springs if the weather is still bad. If it's good enough to drive tomorrow, we'll just hit up the first two and then drive down to Durango.

Our tentative plan is to hit up the Durango-Silverton, Mesa Verde, and possibly something else, then head home. On the way back, weather permitting and time permitting, I want to try to hit up Garden of the Gods (thanks Tera). We'll see how it goes!

I'm completely rambling, so this may make absolutely no sense. In that case, just go look at a few of the nearly-one-hundred pictures I uploaded and tell me your favorite one. (Or don't. You know. Whatever makes you happy. ;)

Photos

Labels: traveling