SPECTACULAR COLORS!!

The sun is setting earlier every day, and my five-month excursion to Rocky Mountain National Park is nearing its end.  Many of my international colleagues are leaving, or have already left:  Harry, Joe, Joey, Joyce, Jei, Barbora, Carlos, Mario, Sean, Vayla, Mitko, Valentin, Denica, Ashley and Catherine.  Memories have been made with all of them!

Trail Ridge Store is still going strong with the leaves putting on their color show for the tourists, the elk rut is in full force, and the locals are escaping the heat of the Front Range cities. But there's always opportunity for fun, so here's what's been happening:

• Sis, a former softball teammate stopped by for a visit @ the store,
  
• a pizza farewell with Jei,
  
• a spectacular blast of color in the Rockies one morning,
  
• a wonderful tour of the Denver Mint,
  
  
  
• an interesting tour to Hammond's Candies Factory (we sell Hammond's @ Trail Ridge Store),
  
  
  

  

  Starbucks, here we come!

  
• a delicious pizza in downtown Denver,
  
• a visit to the Coor's Brewery in Golden, with sampling,
  
  
  
  
• a colorful journey on the Peak to Peak Highway, enjoying the aspens and the elk,

  

  notice his antlers' position - back when he's bugling and herding his harem

  

  now his antlers are back in his "showy" position to attract the females

  

• relishing in sunrises and sunsets,
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• conversing with four-year old Jack, grandson of Cal and Mary, and his mom, Megan,
  
• celebrating the Packers victory over the Seahawks, 
• sighting fresh snow on Trail Ridge Road and the surrounding Rockies, 
  
  
  
  
• tripping to Breckenridge, going over Boreas Pass, Berthoud Pass and Hoosier Pass, being awe-struck by the aspen colors,
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• experiencing more moose sightings -three cows and three calves in two days,
  
• listening to portrayals of early lodge owners of the Estes Park area:  Long Peak's Inn, English Hotel (run by the scrupulous Lord Dunraven), Horseshoe Park Inn, Crag's Lodge and the Sprague Hotel, and
• witnessing the majestic mountains every day as I travel Trail Ridge Road.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

I'm getting anxious to return to Wisconsin to reunite with family and friends.  In the meantime, 

enjoy FALL!!  See you soon!

Amy

WATCH OUT FOR THE ELK!

It's September!!  It's been great in RMNP, but I'm getting tired and I'm ready to head back to Sconnie!  But it's also an exciting time here, with the aspens turning golden and orange, the temps are cooling, and the elk are putting on quite a show.

Thanks for family and friends who are sending me notes from home!  Taking a trip to your mailbox, and finding a postcard or note is very meaningful!!

Here's what's new in the last couple of weeks:

• strolled through Estes Park's Farmer's Market, sampling wine, chai tea, Palisades peaches, dips, etc.  I received a bag of chocolate chai tea from my American son, Sean - thanks!
  
• traveled with three Taiwanese friends over Trail Ridge Road to the Continental Divide, to Grand Lake.  We stopped at the historic Grand Lake Lodge, ate at a haberdashery called "Sagebrush," saw moose and bighorn rams, hiked to Adams Falls and an absolutely gorgeous meadow nestled between mountain peaks, and enjoyed time together.
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
• attended a seminar on debris flows in RMNP,
• went to the rededication of Rocky Mountain National Park, celebrating its centennial @ Glacier Basin Campground, listening to great messages shared by dignitaries,
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• sampled some craft brews @ Estes Park's newest breweries:  Lumpy Ridge & Rock Cut
  
• bid farewell to Jim, a Wisconsinite, who left early for a hip replacement,
  
• was the photographer who captured images of Sean attempting paddleboarding for the first time (he's always hamming it up),
  
• drove my colleagues to work in the CLOUDS, with a rainbow in the valley, and later returned them home with fabulous clouds as our backdrop,
  
• survived a super busy Labor Day weekend at the store,
• experienced by first inventory of a retail store with a twelve-hour day,
• began running/walking daily in preparation for a 5K when I return,
• hiked Deer Ridge Junction/Beaver Meadows Trail with friends,
  
  
  
• witnessed a bear up in a tree, and eventually found an escape route away from tourists,
  
• appreciated the bull elk gathering their harems, emitting their unique bugles,
  
• arose early, drove to Bear Lake to witness a spectacular sunrise, and better yet, captured the magnificent mountain reflections in the lake, 
  
  
• watched the aspens transforming from their green to golden and orange,
  
• experienced a Scottish-Irish Heritage parade, complete with clan representation, unique outfits, British Isles dogs, and groups of bagpipes and drums, 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• hiked the Lily Ridge and Lake Estes Trails,

  

  The Stanley Hotel, site of the movie, "The Shining," from Lake Estes

  
• toured Upper Beaver Meadows,
  
  
  
  
  
• learned tons about elk at a ranger talk, and
  
• said goodbye to several international students, and our store's assistant manager.

The National Park Service has shut off the water up on top of the mountain, and the calendar says that our store will be closing in a month.  It won't be long until I see you again.  Until then, enjoy the brisk autumn weather and the leaf changing colors of your area.

Amy