My wife and I have a lot of things in common, including the fact we both fell in love with Colorado in our younger years. I made two trips there with my parents while growing up, the last one in 1970, and I briefly considered going to college there. My wife made one trip with her parents when she was a teenager, then made a solo driving trip to Boulder in her twenties. We visited Durango together back in 2011 to ride the narrow gauge train that goes from Durango to Silverton, a ride I made with my parents on the 1970 trip. That was an awesome experience, and we knew we needed to return to Colorado again soon.
Lynda at Balanced Rock in 1967
We made our return trip a couple of weeks ago, flying into Denver then renting a car and driving first to Estes Park, then down to the Colorado Springs area. Lynda and I had both visited the Garden of the Gods before, and she had taken a copy of the above photo along with her to see if we could recreate it. That’s her standing there with some unrelated and unidentified people. Below is the photo we took this time, again with a few unidentified people waiting in line to get their pic taken by the rock.
Lynda at Balanced Rock 2015
There were so many people climbing up on the rock that day that I decided to dash out in front of it for my photographic moment. I also wound up taking a photo for a young family so they could all be in the pic together. The boy was too young to remember the visit, but at least he’ll have the photo some day when he’s older.
me at Balanced Rock
My past visits weren’t so easy to recreate. When I toured Trail Ridge Road with my parents back in August, 1970, we found snow in several places. That’s me and them in the below photo, pretending to have a snowball fight. The snow was a bit dirty but very real.
snowball fight on Trail Ridge Road circa 1970
We couldn’t find any snow this time, except what was way up on the mountains. But the views were just as beautiful as I remembered them. I also remember the thin air, brilliant sun, and clear blue sky, which were all pretty much the same. My parents both loved the mountains, and it is safe to say it rubbed off on me.
me on Trail Ridge Road
I also remember going up on Pike’s Peak with my parents during that visit. My father drove for a living, and decided he was up for driving to the top. And when he got there, he swore he’d never do it again! Sadly I can’t find any of the photos we took up there. Based on my memories though, I knew it was someplace that Lynda and I needed to visit. We left the driving to someone else, and took the Cog Railroad up to the top. It’s a great way to get there and I highly recommend it.
Me at Pikes Peak
I also tried to find the cottages we stayed at in Estes Park back then, but found they had been completely rebuilt and were considerably more upscale now than they were back in 1970. Lynda and I stayed in a cottage too, one that had a full kitchen and a great view of Fall River that ran right in front of our porch. It also featured a herd of elk that made regular appearances. Nothing like getting up close and personal with an elk while you’re relaxing on your patio! The manager there also said we had a bear trying to raid the dumpster late one night. I’m glad I slept through that one.
close encounter with a bull elk
We both had a great time on the trip. It was nice to revisit a state that has a lot of good memories for us, but then we are also making new memories and love celebrating new traditions we have come up with ourselves. Like visiting farmer’s market for instance, something we did in both Estes Park and Colorado Springs. And taking self-portraits by setting the camera down on whatever available surface we can find. In this case the camera was on the patio table outside the cottage in Estes Park, with Fall River and a stand of Ponderosa pine trees behind us.
us outside the cottage in Estes Park
I hope you’ve enjoyed this little break from gardening and food while I took a trip down memory lane. I’ll be back soon with more happenings from HA, where it’s now officially fall and the weather is seasonable!
What a nice trip that was. I’m amazed you both had the old photos to refer to and try to recreate. Looks like it was lovely weather for your visit.
I have more photos from back then but I can’t seem to find them. They will turn up someday! And the weather was perfect while we were there.
I grew up in Colorado so all those photos are very familiar to me. But you are right. Some things have changed a lot.
Estes Park is so different. I don’t remember a lot about Colorado Springs or Manitou Springs (where we stayed), but they are sure nice now.
Hi Dave ~ I enjoy your gardening posts, but love when you share yours & Lynda’s trips with us. This looks like a place my husband & I should visit. Thanks for all of the photos too! ~ Laurie in California
Thanks Laurie! There is so much to see and do where we went, it is a great vacation spot.
LOL, I am reading this sitting on the porch of the Stanley Hotel inEstes Park. We were at balanced rock yesterday.
I guess great minds think alike Lou! We went by the Stanley but didn’t go in. Maybe next time. I always think of The Shining when I see the Stanley, since supposedly Stephen King got his inspiration for the book while staying there.
Hi Dave,
Very nice photographs! I agree with Laurie from California. I always enjoy seeing what’s happening at H.A., but it’s also fun to see you and Lynda enjoying your vacation!
Oh, how wonderful – looks like you couldn’t have asked for a better vacation! I LOVE how you took that shot of Lynda in exactly the same spot as the 1967 photo. I had a picture taken in front of Cinderella’s Palace when I was young and tried to recapture that with my kids, but I completely forgot to get the photo from my parents, so I’m sure that I am off by a mile. Gotta compare next time I’m at my parents house.
That’s so much fun to see Lynda in the same spot a few years later… I have vague memories but no photos of an epic family road trip back around 1970 that included a drive to the top of Pikes Peak. Maybe I’ll get back some day, but if my Dave has a say in the matter we’ll get there on our own two feet.
We saw hikers arriving at the top when we were there. Lynda and I both had trouble adjusting to the altitude, so even walking around was difficult for us. We weren’t there long enough to get acclimated.