View Larger Map
Distance: 120 miles Time: 3 hrs
I had decided that I won't wake up early today; but some vehicle's security alarm messed it up. I had breakfast and browsed for a while. Checked out at 10; I was headed towards a Yamaha dealership to buy chain lube. I just had 95 miles to cover to reach Rocky Mountain National Park. I had lunch on the way and reached the park at about 1 am using the Estes Park Entrance. Route 34 which leads to the Park entrance is amazing for riding.
As soon as I entered the park it started to rain with some hail to add to the trouble. I quickly went to the visitor center and utilized this time to buy post cards etc. It stopped raining in 30 min and I headed towards the campground. Was excited to camp for the 1st time in the trip. To my surprise, I got the best spot in the campground.
I didn't know until regular visitors stopped by and started telling me about it that they always try for this spot :) I was just done setting up the tent and it started to rain again. I took this time to take pics of the views from my tent. It was amazing. The valley and then the mountains. Stayed in for a while, relaxed (which I haven't done at all during this trip). Again, it stopped raining in about 30 min or so. I started towards the Elk View trail.
I learnt from the Park Ranger that this is one of the best time to visit Rocky Mountain NP since it's the elk mating season.
So many of them. You see them in herds. The bulls do some crazy things to attract females such as make various types of sounds, urinate often so that the female (cow) smells them etc. I can hear them making those noises even now as I type this.
I took a lot of pics. At 6 pm, a park ranger presented a talk on Elks. It was very informative. Due to a lack of predators, population of elks at Rocky Mountain is very high. The park is now trying birth control measures. Females with a yellow/blue tape around their neck are the ones involved in this research.
I took a ride on the bear lake road. Again, what a place this is for riding. I practiced my turning techniques. Stopped at Sprague Lake for some pics.
Rocky Mountain is a beautiful place. The Fall season is very short-lived. I could see some colors changing. As per the ranger, the season is so short that rangers too take pics when they explain things to ppl not to miss out on the opportunity.
There's no place in the park which serves food. I had a last Bhel packet left which I used up for dinner when oldies in RVs were happily cooking their burgers with ketchup and mustard. I spoke to a lot of people from Ohio, Colorado, Kansas. It was a lot of fun. People found my trip very cool. They are a bit stunned to read "New Jersey" on my license plate. The trip is going better than I thought it would. There's no time to get bored in case you are wondering how can someone do this alone. I am living my dream of seeing the world ground-up. That's all for today. It's not even 9 pm but it's so dark already that I need to go to bed even when I don't want to :)
No comments:
Post a Comment