Chautauqua and Mountains........

Well, we certainly didn't mean to be away this long......we've moved back and forth between State Parks a couple of times (trying to find a spot for the busy weekends) and  have had little connection with the electronic world.    So, now that I have you here, let me hold your attention with a   "few" pictures.    Actually, I pared down the amount I was going to post and will share them over a day or two.....I have tons.  

  We're spending our days in the Denver area.   The grown-up grands let us share time with them !   This delightful young lady needs a JOB !    So, if you have a position in the marketing, business field, she will be a college graduate in December and even willing to relocate.   And just a reminder, that if you need a fully trained Fairy Godmother, she has all the credentials. !

And then, one fine day, we traveled out to DIA to meet up with the youngest Grands who were passing thru.   We had time for breakfast and a visit to the toy store near the gate.   After getting home, they were too close for comfort when a lightening strike hit a tree near their Scout campsite!!

If you've never been to Boulder, Colorado, home of the University, Pearl Street Mall, the Boulder Book Store, Chautauqua, the Flatirons and T shirts that say "Keep Boulder Weird", you must go there.   One of the most beautiful places is Chautauqua, nestled up agains the Flatirons.   In the late 1890's, Boulder was chosen as a retreat site for Texas educators.   One of only a few Chautaqua's remaining in the country, the original buildings are intact.    The Dining Hall has wide porches for al fresco meals, there are small cottages, each unique, for renting and an original concert hall with massive wooden open beams and beautiful accoustics.   The hiking trails up into the Flatirons are very popular.   The Colorado Music Festival is held there and we were fortunate to be able to sit in on a rehearsal for the sold out concert featuring a beautiful classical pianist, Olga Kern, doing Rachmaninoff's Concertos 1 &4 with the Symphony(she does it all from memory !).  It was a highlight of our summer.    Brunch on the porch was perfect.    ( I had planned to link you to many of the sites I mentioned but the connection is VERY slow and so I leave it to you to explore these attractions on your own.)  

One of our first outings into the mountains was up to Rocky Mountain National Park.    We've hiked and rode horses up there in the past but I don't remember it being so crowded.    We passed quickly by the hotel featured in the movie The Shining.

We opted to take the Old Fall River Road up to the top....it follows a beautiful stream and altho a gravel road, it is ok for regular cars.  

Views of the valley below.

Trail Ridge Visitor Center near the top.

The road in the early 1900's when it was the first road built.    Can you see how high the snow was.   The road usually doesn't open until well into June.

After finding the coffee among the serious crowds at the top, we started down and noticed this mother elk on her way to the Visitors Center.....

Maybe for shopping or just a break from Jr and Sr sunning themselves along the road.   I stuck my head out the roof to grab these pictures!

The rest of the herd was a bit farther down.    The antlers were just massive.

Here's the high point of the ride at over 12,000 ft.   And it was chilly and windy.  Fleece felt good.

Along the roadside, these cute little faces will pop out....not sure if they are curious or hungry.   But hikers beware.  Marmots have been known to eat the wires and hoses on your cars while you stroll the high country.  

To be continued............