July 25, 2006

July 25, 2006

This morning we get started earlier. After some email and investing work, we head towards downtown Cheyenne, WY to see the capital building and other local sites. We run into lots of barricades and roadblocks; it looks like they are preparing for a parade. We later find that this week is Cheyenne’s Frontier Day’s celebration, which is the reason for the crowded campgrounds. Since parking is non-existent we decide to head out of town. On the way out we fill up with gas; the “service engine soon” light finally goes off!! Must have been bad gas after all. Most problems will go away if you ignore them long enough.

We take I25 south and we are soon over the border into Colorado. Our first stop is Fort Collins and the Anheuser-Busch brewery tour. I think this is our third brewery tour in the last month. The tour is mediocre but Aimee and I and most of the other tourists decide the Amber Bock makes up for it. Aimee also enjoys the new 2-month old Clydesdale foal.

After visiting the local Colorado Visitor Center to stock up on maps and brochures, we take Rt. 34 west toward Rocky Mountain National Park. The route takes us up the mountains thru the Big Thompson Creek canyon. Very Pretty. We stop in the mountain town of Estes Park, gateway to RMNP, to get a fishing license and visit a rock shop. Our first stop in the park is the Moraine campground. Of course it is full, that is our life now. Aimee is able to get out on my Cingular cellphone and makes a reservation at an Estes Park private campground. Aimee’s T-mobile phone has been virtually useless in the west. Since we now have a campsite, I pull out the flyrod and try my hand in Big Thompson Creek. No luck. Darkness and rain cut the fishing short. We pull into the campground in pouring rain. This is the first time we have had significant rain since starting the trip. Instead of BBQing, we eat leftovers and watch the movie, Fargo.