Spent a wonderful weekend with the hubby at Rocky Mountain National Park!

I traded a work trip on sunday for more of friday to play! We were able to hit the road by 10, 10:30 am! We arrived in Estes in time for lunch! Enjoy a great meal, a great temp, and a great view! Right on the river!

We headed into the park in time to check in and set up our tent! I had plans that we would pop over the Bear Lake area and get in a hike. Alas the crazy thunderstorms prevented that – so relaxing and beer at the campsite it was!

We enjoyed the quiet and views, until….  Apparently national parks are now where large groups and families that cannot control themselves, their children or their talking volumes go…

We had a pretty great dinner – i recently discovered tater tots in foil on the fire! A-Mazing!

The next morning we headed for our hike – i had one in mind, but the ranger and the super crowded buses made me re-think my decision to a different on – Emerald Lake

There were definitely a lot of people on the trail, but the views and the hike was wonderful!

I am still taking care with my knee, so i chose one with only 600 foot elevation gain, but goodness did it seem like more!

Starting the hike!

First Lake – Nymph Lake

Then onto Dream Lake and the River that connects them!

Finally onto Emerald Lake – a pretty pretty place to spend a little time sitting and enjoying nature – and all the rest of the people that were there as well!

It took 1 hour up and less down! Took longer to take the bus from the camp ground, to the carpool lot, to the bus to Bear Lake. Definitely get up early and take a nap later!!

We enjoyed a great afternoon reading and relaxing, and snacking! So quiet when the annoying families are away for the day!

The other bummer on our campsite – i picked on that was uphill from the rest room. Like a kick your pants to return to the campsite after you pee!

But all in all our quiet time relaxing and not worrying about the monkeys was fabulous!