Colorado--Day 3 (9/16/12)

The next day of our big trip out west in September led us first to Boulder, Colorado --where we visited BOULDER FALLS (pictured above)...   This waterfall looks small in this picture --but it is really  66 feet high.  Isn't it pretty surrounded by all of those 'boulders'?????

Be sure to click on the photos for enlargements.

In that same area,  we noticed more ROCK CLIMBERS...  See them????  Gee---those Colorado people really do enjoy climbing the rocks!!!!!! ha

After leaving Boulder,  we took a back, scenic road (Nederland-Richmond) heading north toward Rocky Mountain National Park.   WOW--what a beautiful drive.  And the ASPENS were glorious along this road...  AND---besides seeing all of the blooming Aspens,  you can also see snow on the Rockies in the background.... Pretty, huh?

Here's a close-up of some of the Aspens --surrounded by evergreens!

This was our view as we traveled that scenic road...  Aren't they fabulous?

I loved seeing all of the beautiful green evergreen trees surrounding the Aspens.

Here is just one more photo (out of the gazillion which I took)--also showing the beautiful dark blue sky that day!

Now we are in the Rocky Mountain National Park.  We had hoped to go to Bear Lake on this day--but the road was closed for construction.  SO---like we do frequently,  we had to go to Plan B...  Our drive took us up the mountain ---which looked so different this year when compared to June of 2011 when there was lots of snow around...  I do like the picture above --mainly because of the clouds.

We stopped at most of the overlooks along the way UP that mountain... Here is a good picture of George at one of the overlooks--in front of some Aspens.

Love this gorgeous STELLER'S JAY--which we saw several of while in Colorado. Aren't they beautiful???  They are much prettier than the Blue Jays we have here in TN.

George took this picture of me standing in the exact location where  I stood in June of 2011 when we were here --when there was LOTS and LOTS of show on the ground... It looked very different this year.   Think I liked it better when there was SNOW... ha

On our way back down the mountain,  we stopped for a long time to watch a huge gang (what they call a herd) of elk...  There was ONE male guarding his 'family' --and another male elk across the street --hoping to intrude!!!!!!  We didn't see a 'fight' that day--but we did get some great pictures...   The picture above shows just a few of that 'gang'.

Here is PAPA ELK ---showing his beauty --and keeping an eye on the male across the street....

Hope you enjoyed today's set of pictures...  It's going to take me a year to get through the photos --going day by day.  BUT--it's the best way to keep up with where I am!!!!! ha... The next set from this trip will be from the Old Falls River Road in the Rocky Mtn. National Park.

Have a wonderful day.
Hugs,
Betsy

Royal Gorge, Colorado, Visit 9/15/12

The Royal Gorge suspension bridge from the bottom of the gorge

After leaving Seven Falls and Helen Hunt Falls (see THIS post),   George and I drove to check out the ROYAL GORGE.    I encourage you to check out this site (click HERE) for some interesting information about Royal Gorge!!!!  This is one very NEAT place!!!  Be sure to click on the photos for enlargements.

Before getting to the gorge we stopped and took a  ride on a little TRAIN....  Isn't it cute????? (Just my style!!!)..

This little train (30 minute ride) took us to the west end of the canyon ---where we got our first glimpses of the Royal Gorge and Bridge.  Can you believe the people who built that bridge?  Don't think I'd want to be on that crew!!!  You?????  The suspension bridge was built in 1929 for only $350,000.   Wonder what it would cost today?????

The bridge is 956 feet high and a quarter of a mile long...

The little train stopped at an overlook for us to see the canyon and take pictures... Here is a picture of the canyon floor...  I took it with my long lens.  You can see the train tracks running through the canyon...  AND--for your information,  we were down on the canyon floor not long after taking this picture!!!!

Since we got to the park late in the afternoon,   we didn't have to pay that much to get in... AND--we saw the two things we went to see,  the Incline Railway and the Aerial Tramway... SO--everything turned out great for us that day!

First,  we took the little caged railway down into the canyon.  The Incline Railway was built in 1930/31 and is one of the world's STEEPEST railways.  It was amazing going down in that canyon almost 1000 feet.

Here is a view of the canyon as we descended to the bottom.

Once we got to the bottom,   we enjoyed seeing the Arkansas River, up close and personal.   We saw some kayakers in that river --when we were at the overlook while riding the little train. 

AND---we got lucky since a 'real' train (one MUCH larger than the one we rode--ha ha) came through the gorge while we were down at the bottom...  Can you imagine hearing the train whistle down in that gorge????   NOTE to BETSY:  Add this train to your list of things you want to do sometime!!!!   I'd love to take that train ride through the gorge.  Wouldn't you???

NOW---look at this!!!!!!  We rode across the gorge on that little TRAM (see it in the picture above???) after getting back up to the top of the canyon.  That is the AERIAL TRAM.   It was built in 1978 and is 2200 feet across and 1178 feet above the Arkansas River!

Now we are on the Aerial Tram ---and I took this picture of the Royal Gorge Bridge from the tram.  Amazing,  isn't it????

Finally,  here is one more photo from our experience at the Royal Gorge.   This picture was taken from the tram  and shows the bottom of the canyon from WAY up there... I am looking west --and you can get a good picture of the Arkansas River from up there...

Hope you enjoyed seeing our photos from the Royal Gorge.  Like most everywhere else we go,  we highly recommend this area if you are ever in Colorado.   SO---after a long and busy day (Air Force Academy Chapel,  Seven Falls,  Helen Hunt Falls, and the Royal Gorge),  we hobbled back to the motel for a good night's sleep!!!


Hugs,
Betsy