2000 Nov 22-26 Thanksgiving Colorado

A Rocky Thanksgiving weekend as we travelled out of El Paso, Texas on 22 Nov through Santa Fe, New Mexico, through Seven Falls and Denver into Estes Park at Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

We stayed overnight at Santa Fe on 22 Nov night as it turned dark, and woke up on Thanksgiving morning to fresh white snow everywhere ... all white! Heading out of Santa Fe, that was where we had a tiny scare as our van spun on the black ice!

After that, we pressed on Colorado, arriving first stop at Seven Falls (but it was all frozen!) ...

... then arriving at Denver Capitol Building at the state capital of Colorado ....

And after a long drive, we finally had our Thanksgiving Dinner in Colorado on 23 Nov 2000...

... and checked in to our lodge at Estes Park at Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

We are going to be here out in the nature for the weekend.

24 Nov 2000 - It was very refreshing to wake up to the sound of swift currents of Big Thompson River, just next to the bank of our lodge at Swiftcurrent Lodge (maybe that's where the lodge gets its name).

... see any deers or bears? ...

... the air is so fresh and cold ...

... Estes Park Vacationland ...

I was hoping to see a bear or an elk or a deer, or something ... 

... Don't worry, I won't fall into the water ... it's frozen! ...

... any salmon?

... wanna come up here? ... I prefer to be by the stream ...

... Wow frozen stream! Okay, I am going up the balcony ...

... A drink to warm up before we head out ... we have pass to Rocky Mountain National Park for the weekend ...

Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park on 24 Nov 2000. We are at the Bear Lake ... any bears?

Bear Lak ...  its frozen! ...

Beautiful ... so close to nature ...

In the late afternoon, we headed back to Estes Park to soak in some Thanksgiving and Christmas spirit!

... it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas ...

... Estes Park Christmas Parade ...

We were just in time for the Christmas Parade! So Christmasy!

25 Nov 2000 - Another fresh and cold morning at the majestic Rocky Mountain. Beautiful weather today. Just outside out lodge at our van as we were heading out of Estes Park to Aspen. We will be back again one day ...

... nice reflection ...

... on our way to Aspen, Colorado ...

We arrived in Aspen! Wow ... cold and quaint cozy little town!

... wanna ski? ...

... I have a snow-sabre ...

... Boogies Diners ...

... cozy fireplace ... warm and snug ...

... cold outside ... but warm inside the hot spring ...

Aspen is a a beautiful place. Unfortunately, we only spend a short time here when we arrived at mid-day (and daylight is short) and we had to go back the next day. We will have to come again one day.

26 Nov 2000 - Early Sunday morning, we departed Aspen, Colorado and embarked on our long road drive back to El Paso, Texas

... cutting through New Mexico

This is the Historic Route 66 from Los Angeles, California to Chicago, Illinois I will ride this route one day!

What a wonderful Thanksgiving! Our first in the USA!