A Train Ride on the Georgetown Loop

We got sidetracked! We took the interstate exit ramp and stopped in the small town of Georgetown, Colorado at the visitors' information office. It was a good move. For it was here that we learned more about the train ride that originates in that town and were given a coupon worth $4 off each ticket for that day only. We were told we could go without reservations, so we decided to go --without reservations.

The ride is in old, open cars;  you can opt for a roof or not. We thought the view would be better in the open ones, even though it was overly sunny and warm. These cars used to run on the narrow gauge rail at Pike's Peak.

There were engines on both ends of the train.

The narrow gauge track was built to connect these two mining towns. The towns are only two miles apart but the altitude difference is something close to 500 feet, so the track was built four miles long to make the grade, so to speak.

It was a steam engine that burned oil. I said I wondered how many carbon credits we needed for that little fun run.

This is the engine house at Silver Plume.

There were a few other cars on the sidetracks there. We liked the snowplow on this one.

The club car below had beautiful leather seats inside.

The workers know their stuff. They are all historical buffs and gave every appearance of enjoying themselves. This guy punched our ticket.

The trip takes 90 minutes and was a blast. We went under the high bridge and then over it (that is the loop part of the name.)

What an adventure: riding a narrow gauge steam train through the Rockies!

Check that off my life list!

Mailbox Monday: The Wagon Wheel System

We came across this mailbox system on the road down from Mt. Evans in Colorado. It was perched on the side of a steep hill and the boxes were at car window level.

The wheel turns to allow access to each box. I think it is pure genius.

Snow Mountain Ranch YMCA

On our trip in Colorado, we spent two consecutive nights in the YMCA lodges, one on each side of the Rocky Mountain National Park. Snow Mountain Ranch is further from the park than the one at Estes Park. It is also very much more like its name: a ranch. The property has been  ranch land since the gold rush days and some of the old buildings still stand.

Many have been repaired with newer materials which rather stand out.

We found the old farm equipment charming.

As at the other YMCA, there were many activities for families, but we did not participate, except to eat.
This is the arts and crafts  building.

The buildings are very spread out in the valley and up a slope, where the cabins are. A large stable provides riding opportunities.

The picture below was made from the cabin road.

Along with cabins and lodges, there are camping areas, as well as a village of yerts.

As I mentioned, the place is spread out: there are three thousand acres. Buses were carrying campers to different activities. We were interested in the ski racks on the sides of the buses, which is convenient for the winter visitors. I  don't remember seeing that in Florida!

Adams Falls

Way over on the southwest side of the Rocky Mountain National Park, we hiked to Adams Falls. It was a short, but hot, hike and we opted not to go on to the lakes that lie beyond the falls. By the falls, the mist was cool and the noise of the rushing water  blocked out all other sounds. These are large trees and boulders in the pictures.

One of the interesting features of this waterfall is the turn. The water came cascading over what is, no doubt, rock bottom and hit a canyon wall on which we stood; then it squeezes through a very narrow turn and continues on its way toward the large lake (Grand Lake) below.

Snow in July

At the higher elevations, the snow stays year round. As our road climbed in the Rocky Mountain National Park, as Floridians, we marveled at the sights.

 The elk were in the snow on this mountainside. The young ones were playing, sliding all around on the slopes.

I am pretty sure this lake was still frozen.

The pictures below were taken from the Alpine Visitors' Center. I caught a quick glimpse of a golden black bear as his head popped up in the vegetation far below. Another visitor pointed it out to me but I never saw it again.   

The snow had melted in waves around the building.

There were more elk out there in the snow.

We were interested in the sticks that guide snowplows. 

Below was our view as we picnicked in the car; it was too windy outside to hold onto lunch.

Finally, we came to a protected area where the evergreens beside the road were still standing in snowdrifts.

The Alluvial Fan and the Abert's Squirrel

This long and high cascade was a little off the beaten track in the Rocky Mountain National Park but it was well worth the look. It was a very short hike from the parking area.  There were only a  few other people there enjoying the sight when we were there, but it was fairly early in the morning.

This lovely wildflower was blooming right beside this torrent of water.

It was here that we saw an Abert's squirrel and, conveniently enough, this sign to identify it for us. The one we saw was solid black, but those ear tufts are very noticeable.