Road Trip: Day Sixteen…”Tour Director”

Rocky Mountain National Park

I get the biggest kick out of showing people places they’ve never seen…especially when it’s a place I love so much. Colorado was my home for forty years and it’s truly spectacular. Mr. FixIt has never been here so I’m having a blast watching him explore. Yesterday we went up to Rocky Mountain National Park. We no sooner got there till the skies opened up and a major thunderstorm blew in. I pulled into the parking area at Sheep Lake and turned off the engine. Mr. FixIt asked what we were looking at. I pointed up high in the mountains and said, “See that lightning? That’s where we’re going. I’m going to wait till it breaks up a bit.” He looked up at the high peaks and I could read a lot on his face. “Cool!” “Man, that’s high!” “I’ve got the coolest girlfriend on the planet!” Well, ok…I could be projecting that last part. lol

Once the storm let up a little, we proceeded on through the park and turned right to go up Old Fall River Road. To me, that’s the only way to approach Trail Ridge Road from the east. We drove past the site where the flash flood several years ago brought down an alluvial fan for the record books. Shortly after the falls at the fan, you jog to the right and start up the mountain on a narrow, single lane dirt road with no guard rails. Majesty comes into view at every turn, be it waterfalls or sheer drop offs, abundant wildlife or above-treeline vistas. Mr. FixIt said his neck hurt from flipping his head back and forth trying to take it all in. The road is seven-and-a-half miles long and with all the stops and pulling over to let the faster cars by, it took five hours. But, that included a stop for coffee at the restaurant at the top of Trail Ridge Road. It was 49 degrees and really windy at the top. You seriously feel like you’re on top of the world up there. Mr. FixIt was beside himself!

We are staying with my kids, grandkids, and son-in-law’s parents in a historic hotel and have the whole place to ourselves. We got back in time last night to grill burgers and have salad and corn on the cob. Summer is such a wonderful time of year. Mr. FixIt kept thanking me all day for showing him such a good time. It is so incredibly sweet when you’re on the happy side of life, isn’t it? To be appreciated…and told so??? What a gift that we get to give away to each other! Life is so good! ❤️

“In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭95:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

14 thoughts on “Road Trip: Day Sixteen…”Tour Director”

  1. I lived near Estes Park for 20 plus years. That drive through RMNP is one of my favorite places on earth. How fun to get to show it to Mr. Fixity for the first time. Thank you for the trip down memory lane.

  2. We’re going to Colorado in a few weeks to dogs sit. That would be a great day trip. So happy to hear your happiness.

  3. Know all the places but never done FR road…don’t think I ever will either! Lol sounds like fun.

  4. If my family wasn’t in Ohio, I could happily live in Colorado. We still talk about it ‘in a few years when the kids are older’ but I don’t think we could move away from my grandchildren. Gorgeous picks and fabbo story, I can feel it all through your excellent writing!

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