We said farewell to the monotone grey plains of Wyoming this morning and headed due south into Colorado and the Rockies. While state borders are just lines on a map, sometimes the differences in real life are startling. It seemed as soon as we crossed into Colorado, the hills became lush with green growth. The flat plains and low rolling hills of Wyoming fractured almost instantly, opening crags and valleys in the land. The landscape took on an entirely different feel.
And in the distance, the snow-capped peaks of the Rockies.
There were two main routes we could have chosen for this short trip. One followed the main highways of Routes 80 and 25. The other was a 2-lane road which wound its way through more scenic lands. And that’s the course we chose.
We made the right decision. The drive was beyond spectacular. Off to the right of the road the land dropped, giving us an unobstructed view of the broken landscape. It was framed in the background by the Rocky Mountains thrusting sharply skyward. The contrast was amazing, and we could really sense the vastness of the area.
Now, you might ask what could make all of this wonder even better? In-and-Out, that’s what! I happened to find one along our route, just in time for lunch. With hearts and bellies full, we proceeded due south to meet some friends.
We visited Katie and Brandon at their home in Longmont, a town about a half hour north of Denver. To call it a town is a misnomer. The population sits at about 100,000 people, and it is lovely. Katie and Brandon have a very nice home with a cute backyard. We enjoyed catching up with them and hearing all about their kids Greg and Scarlett (who were at preschool). Karen has known Katie since Katie was born, so it was extra special for her to see the life Katie has carved out for herself. We were so glad we stopped by. (Karen note for pool night friends… yes, this is Kim’s daughter Katie!)
Leaving Katie and Brandon, we turned northwest into the Rockies, a steady 30-ish mile climb into the Estes Valley. This is the third time we’d made this drive. We are still in awe of the scenery along the drive. The road climbs steadily to about 8,000 feet above sea level before dropping down a bit into Estes.
I cannot adequately describe the vista after reaching the summit. The cover picture on this post is what we SAW, but it just cannot capture how we FELT. Let’s face it, no picture, no matter how good, can truly encapsulate a vast landscape. And it just cannot give you “the feels”.
Being back in Estes is for us, in many ways, like coming home. Karen and I came here over her birthday in 2019, not all that long after we met in March. Then, in 2023, we came back to Estes with my children, Michael and Julia, and Julia’s boyfriend Andrew. With the exception of Acadia (which REALLY feels like home to us), this area is a close second. There’s a familiarity and a comfort that comes from descending into the valley. Home away from home.
Estes will be our “home” for the next six nights. In that time, we plan on loading up on fresh mountain air, amazing views, great coffee, and the wonder that is Rocky Mountain National Park. My lungs are feeling much better so hiking will be in our future. Stay tuned!
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