Flatiron Reservoir Campground (and Pikes Peak)

En route to Loveland, CO, we had two very beautiful detours. The first was Pike's Peak. We didn't want to drive the RV to the top of Pike's Peak, so we looked for a parking lot that was big enough for it. We found one right at the base of the mountain at a tourist trap called North Pole Santa's Workshop. We stopped there, but there were signs threatening towing all over the parking lot. They also had someone walking around the lot monitoring all parkers. We went inside and let all the kids pick out something. We went back to the RV and we unhooked the Jeep. The prominent towing signs made us nervous. I drove around for plan B; I found a big overflow parking lot for Pike's Peak right away just a little bit further up the road! Perfect!

Everyone got into the Jeep. Up and up we went. Michael drove up the 19 miles to the top and I am very glad it wasn't me doing the driving! I got irritable, dizzy and had a headache. Everyone else seemed just fine. The elevation at the top is 14,115 feet. This is the highest altitude I have ever been; I am not a fan. Outside it is freezing and really windy. We took refuge inside the Visitors Center.

We brought in our picnic lunch and it made me start to feel better. The kids and I enjoyed looking at the video footage taken from the V. C. of the last year. It was easy to scroll through time. I saw school buses at the top! During the winter there were many days where the snow had melted and it was clear to get to the top easily. The view is spectacular. We saw Colorado Springs from the top. It was hazy when we were there. On a clear day, you can see five states!

On the way down, we stopped by a partly frozen pond and had so much fun! We ice skated and slid on the side with the ice; this was my favorite part of the day. I got off when it started to crack. We took some of the broken pieces of ice and threw them. They broke with such a satisfying sound, skidded across the ice and fell into the water. We stopped many times on the way down to take in the views. This is the mountain that inspired "America the Beautiful."

It is freezing and very windy!

This is Pike's Peak Visitor's Center a.k.a. a refuge from the wind and cold.

Colorado Springs!

  

When we got back to the RV, I dropped off the family and went to an RV mechanic called Pro Tech RV to pick up a part to hopefully fix our furnace that stopped working this week. I met up with the rest of the family at Garden of the Gods. We had such a nice walk together! There are big and beautiful red rocks are all over the park. We also saw some climbers and some deer.

We saw Pike's Peak from the Garden of the Gods.

                                 

A deer!

More deer!

Climbers!

More climbers!

Each of the major rock formations have names.

Wow! God continues to amaze me with such cool creatures like this Honey Ant.

We got to our campground at night. I knew that we had site #12. Boy, we were inches away from our neighbor.

Our gorgeous campground

In the morning, we could see that it was a very pretty campground. We had a stunning yellow Aspen tree right across from our RV that I loved. We packed up the car and drove to Rocky Mountain National Park. We drove through Theodore Roosevelt National Forest on the way there. We were driving in a gorgeous canyon. We looked up and saw a climber! When we went through Estes Park we saw 2 male elk with large antlers by the side of the road by a parking lot. It was wild to see this, but Estes Park is known for their elk and some boasted of hearing the males rutting. 

Driving through a canyon in Theodore Roosevelt National Forest. 

2 male Elk hanging out at the McDonald's parking lot in Estes Park.

We drove the very high Alpine Trail road; my headache came back. This would be the last day of the season that this road would be open due to a forecast of snow the next day. I am thankful that we were able to drive this very scenic road. There were so many beautiful views. It was so cold and windy at the top of the road and especially at the top of the Alpine Ridge Trail by the Alpine Visitors Center. It has an elevation of 11,796 feet. Asher's snow pants and coat puffed up and was quite the sight.

By the time we made it to Beaver Lake, it was dark. We took a small walk just to the lake with our flash lights. Once we drove away, we saw some elk on the side of the road. They closed the Alpine road early at 7, but we were already off they road by then. I am glad we were able to go just in time!

This is one of my favorite parks; it is so beautiful!

Asher's pants and coat billowing in the wind.

Elk! Unfortunately we didn't hear them bugle.

The kids' Junior Ranger books Highlights

Bright and early, Jordan and I took a walk around the campground with bunnies in our arms. There in the middle of the road we met Dondi who was taking pictures of the four dear and turkeys together in the campsite. She is a spectacular woman! I found out that she is a sign language interpreter! We met her husband. They have 7 Compassion Children. I got her phone number. We prayed together before we went and packed the RV. When we had finally filled up the RV from the community spigot, we left at the same time as Dondi and her husband. I enjoyed following them for a little while and we waved to one another when we parted ways. Thanks, Lord, for friendships! 

Fawns!