Friday, September 16th was Cindy’s birthday and I did my best to make it a day she would remember.
First, and this is big because I am NOT a morning person, I got up and made her a breakfast of fried eggs, sausage, (maybe) cinnamon rolls (I wasn’t quite awake), and hot tea. Afterward, we took a nice walk around the campground with Bella and spent the morning relaxing. Well, she relaxed. I spent the time doing dishes and the other things she usually does. After all, it was her birthday.
For her birthday late lunch/early dinner, she wanted to go to a place in Granby that we had seen called Debbie’s Drive-in. It’s wasn’t JUST a drive-in as it also had a small dining area, but it was just a hole-in-the-wall burgers/fries/shakes place. However, like a lot of hole-in-the-wall places, they had some of THE best food. The burgers were delicious, the fries were tasty and the shakes were yummy. Even better, their prices were reasonable for the amount and quality of food you received.
Then it was time for the highlight of the day. Shortly after 3pm we entered the Rocky Mountain National Park and took a scenic two-hour drive up to a 12,000 foot altitude peak. On the way we drove through multiple weather systems with sunshine, rain, fog and, when we reached the Visitor Center at the peak, even snow flurries. The views as we ascended were breathtaking and every switchback brought another beautiful mountain landscape or weather-filled sky. As we rose higher and higher we would note the altitude on the GPS and sing John Denver’s “Rocky Mountain High” (with the windows rolled up, of course).
We didn’t see much in the way of wildlife on the trip up. We got to the 12,000 foot high Alpine Visitor Center and walked out on the back viewing deck. At this altitude the temperature was 36 degrees. We were entranced by the view of the mountains surrounding the deck and while were were taking photos and videos, it suddenly started snowing! They were light flurries, to be sure, but it seemed (and the cashier in the gift shop later assured us this was true) that the snow came just for Cindy’s birthday. She was SO happy and while she was exclaiming how happy she was a gentleman on the deck asked, “Did you see the elk?”
“What elk?” Cindy cried.
“Why, right down there in the valley” as he pointed to the deep valley below the viewing deck. Sure enough, there was a herd of elk happily grazing, another birthday gift from Mother Nature to a girl who loves seeing those wild denizens of the mountains.
Cindy also took full advantage of her birthday-girl status by giving me the sad-eye look until I bought her a new cup for her morning tea and a new nice and warm lap blanket from the gift shop. Both with the Rocky Mountain National Park logo on them.
All in all, it was a nice day and Cindy seemed to be very happy with all the events of the day. For sure, it was the highest either of us has ever been…outside of an airplane.
Thanks for following the Wandering Wetheringtons.
