We really had nothing planned for the day and were not
really excited about another rain day. There was a special Centennial video
that Black Widow wanted to see. We tried yet another new visitors center which
had an art area for kids. The littles colored a picture and drew on the windows
using special markers. The different ranger station was nice but did not have
the movie. The quickest way to the main ranger station was through Estes Park.
We stopped at the visitors center in Estes Park to see if
there was anything indoors to do in town. No luck as we were told this was an
outside community and we could go bowling or to a movie. We ate lunch on the picnic tables outside the
visitors center. The river flowing through town was high and fast and we could
tell a massive difference from last year. The river was up to the sidewalk and
bank in several places. It was a little unnerving with the kids because if
anyone got to close and slipped in – well, lets not go there.
We now headed toward the ranger station for the centennial
film. We arrived just in time for a Junior Ranger program on Mountain Lions.
This was a GREAT program. It was interesting to us since mountain lions were
all the rage at Big Bend National Park but never even brought up at RMNP. This
is because mountain lions are the animal to be careful of at Big Bend as black
bears are at RMNP. The ranger said mountain lion sighting are extremely rare in
RMNP. Mountain lions are now the only natural predator of the elk in the park.
The weight of a male lion is around 200lbs and a female 150lbs. They can jump
18ft up and 40 ft forward. If ever attacked fight with everything you have in
you.
After this, we finally watched the film! There were two
films so we stayed for each. The films told the general history of the park,
but we did learn there used to be a giant swimming pool in the middle of the
Morraine meadow. It was shocking that people put a pool in the middle of what
was to be protected.
The time was now pushing 5:00, so we decided to go back to
the campsite and attempt to cook dinner. Hawkeye was not feeling well, so he
rested. Black Widow prepped macaroni and cheese, hotdogs, and a vegetable. The
littles played with out camping neighbors while dinner was cooked. Dinner
tasted good and everyone gobbled it up except Hawkeye. The rain came back as we
began eating.
Eventually the rain became was too much to stay outside, but
we didn’t want seven wet bodies inside the Corp of Discovery. There was too much time to do nothing. We
drove into Estes for a hot chocolate and hot tea. Hawkeye again did not want
anything.
We came back to the campsite and got ready for bed. The
decision was made that if it is raining in the morning, we would leave a day
early and camp somewhere else for a night, possibly Sand Dunes National Park.
