Red Rocks Park and Hometown Days

We had a 5:00 arrival in the Denver area, after backtracking 27 some miles due to my poor navigation. We were all ready to be done driving- so Joe, Kira and Koen all changed into swimwear and hit the pool. This particular KOA has a pizza delivery service on site- so we ordered pizza for dinner. It wasn't too bad, and had the added benefit of being able to stay in to eat! They also serve wings- and they were better than many we have had.

Remember my discussion about the mosquito population? Well, in Strasburg, Colorado, they have minimal mosquitoes (YAY!) but a plethora of flies. They are not all the biting ones, but they are everywhere, and some occasionally do bite. Luckily, when night falls, the flies seem to go night-night, too. :o)

I have not quite adjusted to the time change, so continue to wake early- 3:30 Mountain time- which made for a lovely pic of the sunrise over the field behind our camp site.

We decided, after a breakfast of pancakes, to head to Red Rocks Park, hoping to find some trails to ride bicycles on. We did stop at Bicycle Village, which is HUGE! to get ideas on how to keep the new computer on Joe's bike. I also picked up a water bottle that hangs over the handle bars- since I don't have a water holder. It is also insulated, so ice water actually stays cold! (I didn't get to try it out on Friday, but I did today- it is awesome!) Then we stopped for a roasted chicken and bread at the local King Soopers (which is Denver's Fred Meyer/Kroger store). Finally, we headed for Red Rocks.

We stopped in at the trading post, and visited with the visitor center ranger. She gave us a couple of hiking trails that we could take, so we did.

The first one, which wasn't really labeled a hike, was up a bridge that covered the stone face of the hill, into and through the ampitheater- totally awesome, by the way- and into the visitor's center.

The center has all the musical groups that have played the Red Rocks ampitheater, by year and group. (Joe found the two that he had been to- lucky him!)

We were all panting a bit as we walked- thank goodness the visitor's center is air conditioned. We were able to catch our breath as we wandered around. The John Butler Trio crew was setting up for a concert that evening- so we were able to experience some of the amazing acoustics, too.

When we had wandered around, caught our breaths, and cooled off, we headed out on the 1.6 mile hike around the area- including the trading post. It was HOT, but we did get so see a deer right below us, and some amazing landscape.

The drive back through rush hour Denver traffic was a bit crazy- lots of maniac drivers- I assume that Colorado is still a no fault state!
We stopped at a different King Sooper, so I could get food for our dinner for the next two days- and some breakfast food, as well. I was exhausted by the time we returned to the campsite. Getting the coals to start at this altitude is quite a challenge. It was dark by the time we finished cooking!

Strasburg is having their Hometown Days celebration this weekend- which we sure didn't know when we booked here. Friday, they had fireworks and music (which we missed because we were grilling dinner.) and Saturday, they had a parade, free hamburgers, inexpensive rootbeer floats, and a rodeo in the evening. It all reminded me of the parades and fair that we used to go to in Tillamook- candy at the parade, lots of locals coming out to say hey and have fun. It is kind of nice to know that people/communities still do that sort of thing. (We rode our bicycles around town after the festivities- everyone said hi or waved, like they knew us- such a nice small town thing to do!)

So, I was sitting out in the wind and sun, attempting to get another batch of charcoal lit, when I noticed a snake by the rear tire of the truck. I figured we had backed over it, and was feeling bad for the poor thing, when I noticed that it was moving. I wasn't sure what kind of snake it was- but it was about a quarter in diameter, so I wasn't going to mess with it, either.

I had Kira go get the camera, and by the time she was back, the snake had crossed under the truck and was climbing up the far rear tire!

I watched it, and it disappeared up onto the axle. Then it proceeded to climb into the rear structures of the truck, finally (we think) coming to rest on the gas tank!

Joe walked over to the office and apparently, they have a few bull snakes that keep the rattlers under control, and she was sure that this was one of them- her husband is usually the snake handler, and he was gone, so she came over with a catching stick. We beat on the truck, trying to get him to come out. Finally, Joe drove around, figuring he would be thrown by the motion and drop out- nothing. The owner came over, said that it was resting on the gas tank and when it cooled off, he would come out. We all sure hope so! (Some of the other campers said they saw one going into the bushes later that night.)

We will be heading for home tomorrow. I was going to fly out, but Joe figured out that we could be home in time for my meetings and finish the trip as a family, so we will be on the road early, aiming for Wyoming. That way, he still has my help on the drives, and I can get back for all my activities with school.