Rocky Mountain National Park Elk Rut

Corey and I drove by where we stayed on our June vacation 2015 ,as we turned the corner onto the street we came across our first encounter with an Elk for the evening. He looked a bit bedraggled with his drapery of grass entangled in the  malformation of his antler. It was without a doubt he was content to graze on his own since  no others were sighted with-in visible range.

Getting beyond all the shops of downtown ,following HWY 34 just outside of town, we came upon a mountain meadow filled with groups of Elk Bulls,Cows and calves from the past season. We pulled off the road to catch glimpses between parked or passing cars of the roaming Bull Elk pictured on the left-hand of the collage,hearing for the first time up close and personal a bugling .

We were privileged to once again capture a collared Cow lazily grazing among the rest of the herd. My understanding of the purpose of the collar is to keep track of travel patterns, age and where her collaring originated. 

As we approached the Rocky Mountain National Park the blinking signs notified tourists that the Park was only open to the 12 mile point due to poor visibility on the mountains. So, we didn't get to go on into the park since we would have still had to pay the entrance fee of $20 and daylight was fading fast. 

On our reverse trip to Estes Park we caught two young Bulls feeding alone. A little further back towards town, we came across a different large Bull Elk ,which is featured in the middle of the collage and found in the middle of the herd on the outer right top picture. What was awesome was the echoing of bugles from so many parts of the hills and meadows in our travel path. The group just above, to our right,didn't come to my attention until I tried focusing on a far bugle.

I know that I've talked about lodging before, as in renting a room but there are several camping areas available for either campers or mixed sites including tents; as well as vacation homes and Bed&Breakfast accommodations.

By the time daylight was done we were ready to retire back to the Twin Owl Motor Lodge since our day had begun so many hours and miles ago. 

We documented our stay...

Time to eat supper and prepare to head off to Goshen Hole,Wyoming. Another long day on the road.

I hope you enjoyed our pictures and blogpost for today.

Here's wishing you Have a Great Day!

Our Evening at Estes Park - Part Three

These are just a few shops and attractions that caught my eye as we passed into and out of downtown Estes Park on our way to the Rocky Mountain National Park.

I was particularly drawn to the name of the restaurant pictured in the upper left hand corner, The Hunters Chop House.  They have both a Lunch Menu and a Dinner Menu. We didn't stop but definitely with so many fine dining choices throughout the city this would be included in a list of suggestions.

As we wound our way back to our night's lodging , seeing the floral displays I wondered what building we were about to pass...I truly appreciate flower plantings because they always seem to brighten up with color and soften straight lines. It came to our attention we were looking at the Estes Park Visitor Center Parking Ramp designed by Architect Michael Koch.

There wasn't enough time to see everything due to our late afternoon arrival. However, the most important part of our journey to this city was yet to be experienced and will be apart of the next blogpost, that being the Elk Rut taking place beyond the City Limits. I will share some pictures of the Elk bulls and cows that became quite the attraction to many others seeking the same thrill as Corey and myself.

Until the next blogpost...Have a Great Day!

Our Evening at Estes Park - Part Two

On our outing for the evening we scouted for future lodging around Lake Estes...Now,we are familiar with names and locations so we know what to look for when we plan another vacation,or can offer a suggestion. It certainly helps to know how the establishment appears from the street to determine whether or not it is a possibility to seek renting a room. 

This little cabin was our accomodation during our stay in 2015 with our family. It's required stay of two days was longer than the overnight we had allotted for our visit last September.

To find out more about renting cottages at Triple R Cottages <---please Triple R Cottages.

On our last stay in June 2015 I saw Mule Deer bucks across the road,a coyote running along the little creek to the back of the cabin and we were told by one of our kids another guest had informed them a bear had gone through the compound.

Please forgive my huntress side, but apart of me was on alert to the fact a bear could have been through, because of being awakened in the night ,due to sounds of bumping along our cabin and later the discovery of animal scat pictured here.


I was searching the yard for evidence of wildlife when I came across more than one sample. It was found to the left of the trees between the tree line and the cabin.

So, if you are in need of getting a close look at mother nature you'll not be disappointed with adding Estes Park,CO. as a vacation destination...

Have a Great Day!

Our Evening at Estes Park,CO - Part One

Entering Estes Park from Big Thompson Canyon we soon found our road that would take us to our hotel accommodations for the evening.

Fish Creek Road intersected with N St Vrain Ave. which runs along the southern shore of Lake Estes.

Via N St Vrain Ave. ,the street to our lodging, we were welcomed with a blinking road sign announcing the most prominent event now taking place in the community. 

I know the sign doesn't spell things out completely but there is enough to give some clues if you are aware of the season.

Let's just say the two most important words I catch a glimpse of are "Elk" and "Rutting".

Arriving at our  destination it was time to take a quick survey of our surroundings before heading into town to see if the Elk were moving about the town proper.

Panning to our right across the street from the Twin Owls Motor Lodge at the west end of Lake Estes we enjoyed the scenery.

The fog was still setting low on the mountains surrounding us and we hurried to make choices as to what direction would be best to go to find the next photo subject(s).

We did get on our way to checkout both the wildlife and tourist populations now inhabiting this well known city.

Because I've got so many pictures I would like to share with you I plan on splitting them into several posts.

Please do keep checking back to see if something new has been added.

Have a Great Day!

Our Trip from Loveland CO to Estes Park

Leaving Loveland, CO in late September last year we went West on route 34 through the Big Thompson Canyon.

We saw so many things  that I found interesting it could take me awhile to get them all categorized and ready to write about.

One of the first things I would like to bring to your attention is the Sylvan Dale Guest ranch sign. Of course I saw it the last time we went by in 2015 but this time I decided it worth snapping. I just read they are offering  a February Romantic Getaway Package. Being only 7 miles west of Loveland, they aren't impacted by the highway construction in the Thompson Canyon region and if you're game for a  cozy cabin with some snow for Valentine's Day an Airport Shuttle could be the way to go to get some R&R.  Looks like a  great place to visit so I'll post their contact information to get you going -

                                                        Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch
                                                        2939 N County Rd 31D
                                                        Loveland CO 80538

                                                        970.667.3915 

                                                       ranch@sylvandale.com

Wooden sculptures and large lawn ornaments by Adobe Designs kept the scenery interesting,interspersed with rock formations galore. Adobe Designs not only meets the outside garden design needs but I've found they also are a Clothing Boutique with an eye for Home Decor as well. 

Have you ever heard of a store called The Dam Store? Well, I hadn't heard of it either until we passed it. You'll see a picture of it in my collage, on the top row clear to the right-side. It's had a few purposes in the history of Loveland. At the present it's a lookout location to see where it was once a hydroelectric plant for the city before a flood and growing population made it obsolete. A retail operation is now housed within the building, offering tourists momentos of their visit to the site and state, along with regional refreshments and jewlery.

Getting on the other side of the Dam Store we started seeing fog not far into the canyon up on the mountain tops with varying visibility. It was a disappointment when it became apparent that some of the peaks wouldn't be apart of the picture album this time around. Ah... Another reason to make a trip to Colorado.

With our incline passage on windy roads higher into the mountains we were finally going to make it to Estes Park for our overnight stay.

Come back soon and see the highlights of our short daylight hours in and around Estes Park.  I'll end here and wish you Have a Great Day!

Next Stop Loveland CO

As we entered the Loveland,CO suburb of Johnstown my head turned to the left to follow as far as I could the huge new Scheel's  Sporting Goods store.

Looks like a great place to visit for one and all. I've found that they've included a 65 car Ferris Wheel,a mini-bowling alley,  an arcade etc...etc...etc...

To find out more at the company website, please click the links  at Scheel's Sporting Goods store.

Today had been full of countryside landscapes so I was ready for a change of  clusters of buildings that we saw closest to our traveled path within the Loveland City Limits.

Oh, LOOK! Mountains in the distance!!! 

This wind driven sculpture was the first one apparent  as we passed the Scheel's Sporting Goods store.

The skies were gray along our way and we did see the rain fall within visible driving distance around us but we weren't in any deluges coming into the city.

I appreciate greatly the new, updated colors and directional signs.

What an impressive sculpture! I know you would enjoy it much better in person. You'll find it located on Highway 34 on the Eastside of town .

Entering our airspace from the right, this jet flew over the hotel below as I kept snapping away to keep my mind alert.

Sitting at one of the traffic lights before we entered the Downtown Area...

This gentleman kept his puppy wrapped up so it couldn't wander away into traffic. I watched and wondered how the little tyke was being cared for???

Heading out of town on our way to Thompson Canyon we passed Lake Loveland.  After passing this body of water several times my curosity was piqued at the beginnings of the Lake construction. I've discovered it to have been reconstructed from a muddy marsh into a source of agricultural irrigation and over time has evolved into a municipal water source.  Please click Lake Loveland above to be enlightened if your curiosity has reached a level of need to know....

Getting to this point in Loveland made our next destination become more real. Getting through Thompson Canyon and then onto Estes Park!

Have a Great Day1

Another Welcome to 2018

Hi folks! I wear more than one hat in this day to day existence...I've been given the chance to exercise my artistic skills in design and conversation by becoming a Co-Team member for the EAA 675 Facebook page staff this past September.

My husband Corey and fellow EAA 675 member Lorin Miller need a little help once in awhile to get the news delivered for the club.

Here's to Happy Flying in our New Year 2018!!!

Happy New Year 2018 from the Timber Life Family

I want to share one of my favorite Youtube music video productions showcasing the musical talents of saxophonist Kenny G. in the classic song of the ages Auld Lang Syne.

 Here's wishing each of you a Happy New Year from our Timber Life Family.

 May the days ahead be filled with learning and expectations. God Bless and Have a Great Day!