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We've added another state to our map . . .
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As soon as we crossed into the state, we started seeing mountains
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At the top of Raton Pass, we overnighted at 7900 ft . . .
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Lots of pronghorn antelope were sighted along the highway - a sure sign of "The West"
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Like we always say, snow up there is beautiful, long as we're down here
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Unfortunately, what looks good up there sometimes comes down here
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Judy took this from inside the toasty RV
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Al had to slog outside to take this one
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Once the roads were clear, we headed north again . . . but there was still snow to be seen
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Wes welcomes us to "The Heritage" - aka "Camp Lockard"
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The main house, where the views are spectacular and where the piano lives
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There seemed to be plenty of room, so we stayed in the house
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Never get tired of those views
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We wonder if the locals ever get used to the view
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Multiple Lockard bird feeders attract many birds. That's either a woodpecker or a flicker
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It was a couple of weeks before calving time, so there were lots of expectant female elk lounging about
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One of the operating Stanley Steamers on display at the Stanley Museum
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In addition to cars, F.O. Stanley (and his brother Carlton) were accomplished violin makers
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This steamer was built in 1912. The guy explaining it to Wes came along a few years later
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The famous Stanley Hotel. The pad in front equaled the turning radius of the Stanley Steamer guest shuttles
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This 1906 Steamer lives inside the hotel lobby - F. O. Stanley himself poses with one of his violins
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Photo taken by somebody we'd taken a picture for a few minutes earlier
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The view from the front veranda of the Stanley Hotel.
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In downtown Estes Park, the Big Thompson River rushes by
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Very good pizza - leftovers from lunch made at least one more meal
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Yeah, we know - but wow!
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The Rocky Mountain Elk is a little smaller than the Roosevelt Elk we see on the Oregon Coast
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Wes kept apologizing for the roads to the top still being closed by snow. We didn't mind
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A field of elk. Almost all these are females, and most are carrying calves
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We like this shot of a lone tree against the mountains
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Wes was determined to get us into the snow.
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So here we are at a frozen lake - the only people around without snowshoes
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And Wes is happy. We were too, especially as we didn't fall down at all
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You could tell the snow was going away, but in the shade it was still pretty deep
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Time for another view fix
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The alluvial fan of debris left after the Lawn Lake Dam burst in 1982, flooding much of Estes Park.
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Bull elk were starting to grow velvety new antlers
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The local magpies were quite colorful, and occasionally vocal
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Music being made. Katie's on the tin whistle, Wes plays a Strumstick, and Judy harps
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Two retired guys relax. Ranger, on the floor, diligently guards the home against chipmunks, squirrels and UPS trucks
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Judy spent many hours at the keyboard
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Katie and Ranger often seem to speak the same language
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Katie seemed to be a natural on Judy's harp, plucking out tunes after just a few minutes
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The ladies were unable to get a good picture of the Rubber Duckie boxers worn by the dishwasher installer on the left
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Ok, another view fix - this time some sunset color on the peaks
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Elk always have the rightaway. This guy is growing new antlers and molting
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We like interesting cloud formations
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Not everything was snow-covered and frozen
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The Chapel on the Rock dates to 1936, and adjoins the Catholic retreat center at Camp St Malo
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Many of the interior appointments came from Italy
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The stained glass window at the rear of the chapel is spectacular
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At the top of a nearby hill, the statue overlooks the chapel
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Wes must have taken this one . . .
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Wes knows the names of all those tall pointy things
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Much prettyness
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Wes contemplates an elk skull and antlers he's been drying for a couple of years
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The Lockards have about 5 acres, most of it uphill from the house
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Judy found lots of these flowers. Internet says they are the Pasque Flower, or Prairie Crocus
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Katie keeps an eye on Ranger, who's been known to chase anything that moves
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Elk tend to eat the bark off the birch trees, leaving some interesting patterns
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Sometimes, there were large elk gatherings in the front yard
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Yep - another marvelous view
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The annual Estes Park Duck Race is a major community fundraiser
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These are some commercial ducks that didn't actually race
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Neither did this one
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There were about 6,000 ducks sponsored by local residents
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There were several hundred people on hand for the start of the race
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And they're off!
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The river was lined with volunteers trying to keep the ducks in the channel
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Just a half-mile down stream, the field had thinned out
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Down stream, the duck wranglers wait for business to pick up
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Rubber duckies are remarkably hard to herd
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Sometimes ducks had to be nudged off their resting perches
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That's the lead duck . . . .
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The yellow spot in the brush is the former lead duck, now out of the running - uh - floating
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Approaching the finish, some ducks became spectators
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Fuzzy duck must have gotten a ride downstream
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You can tell you're in a small town when you get this kind of turnout for a Rubber Duck Race
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She got her a may-un!
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Rotary Club members record the number of each duck as it crosses the line
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We couldn't tell if the Jug Band players were serious or not . . . but we suspect not
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Not sure what the instrument was, but he played it . . .
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The VIP ducks just sat there, grinning
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The old Park Theatre building is about the tallest building in town
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We all liked this statue
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Guess who really liked their milkshakes!
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Wes & Vendy's Estes Park church. Nice service . . .
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The elk is straight, the house is crooked !
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They call that formation in the center the Twin Owls. It's up the mountain behind the Lockard place
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Doesn't look as much like owls from closer . . .
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We were all quite excited to spot coyotes in the front yard one morning
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No-one was more excited than Ranger the guard dog
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A Stellar Jay enjoys the Lockard Bird Buffet
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We'd almost given up seeing the impressive Abert's Squirrel that everybody said was a regular
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Those big tufted ears are very impressive, as is that big tail
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Lots of birds at the buffet
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Ranger was a rescue dog, adopted 7 years ago. He's obviously adjusted to being a pampered family member
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Katie, Thelma, Vendy and Judy all donned popcorn shirts for an Italian dinner out with us guys
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Everybody but Vendy at dinner. She's behind the camera
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Katie, Wes, Gary and Al. About then it started to rain.
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Vendy gets comfy before we start the DVD viewing
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Katie says there are 5 species of squirrels in the yard. This is one of them
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We'll end with this picture of the practical woodpecker, choosing not to bang his head against the tree