Day 7

This morning began hoping that we could pick up two of the things we've missed: a coffee shop, and the Donut Haus.  As it turns out, Coffee on the Rocks is the most picturesque coffee shop I've ever seen.  It sits nestled at the foot of a mountain surrounded by both a calm pond and a rushing river.  There is a stone patio

surrounding the shop, and there is a small indoor seating area with a beautiful chess set inside.  That place made me wish I lived here even more...Fate smiled upon us today, and the Donut Haus was actually open.  If this is any indication of how our day will go (the coffee and donuts are both divine) then we're in for a spectacular day.

According to Jacob, the world's worst insult is: "you're a hock, sir, and your mother goes to college."  These are the things and words we invent while we're riding in the van. Also, it's not every day that your little brother quotes Huey Lewis and the News.  I'm proud of him.  And it isn't every day that you see a "watch for ice" sign in June.

We took the highest paved road in the US towards Grand Lake, CO.  The view here is absolutely incredible.  There is at least 3-5 feet of snow nearly everywhere (Jacob had to make sure it was really that deep), and it actually started snowing on us around 12:30.  A marmot walked right up to us while we were on an overlook, and generally, on either side of the road, there was a minimum of 6 ft in snow drift, with some places getting upwards 12 ft.

We made it about to the halfway point, but decided to head back to the cabin.  Altitude sickness got the better of some of us.  It actually turned out really well for Jacob and me, as we got the chance to explore the area around the cabin, particularly one out-croppping of rock on the top of the mountain that is in plain sight of our living room.  So we packed some water, a camera, and my ENO hammock in Jacob's backpack, and set off.  We took TONS of pictures, and ended up hiking all the way up the mountain, and over to the other side to the park we visited yesterday.  We found a perfect spot for the ENO on the very top of the mountain, and both enjoyed it before heading down.  Once we got back down to the park, we waited on Dad to come pick us up.  A brief rain-storm went over while we were tossing rocks in the stream, but we would have been fine had Dad not been able to come - a nice man offered us a ride back into Estes Park.  ;)

As our vacation comes to a close, I'm extremely sad to leave Estes Park, CO.  I have found a home away from home, with the mountains towering all around me, keeping me safe.  If I don't ever get to live here, I at least hope I get plenty of chances to come back.  The majesty and splendor of God's creation has rarely been so evident to me as it has the past few days.  Praying for safe travels back to TN (and maybe a chance at the City Museum in St. Louis, MO).