There’s an interesting relationship in Estes Park between the sun and the Rocky Mountains.
We found out during my dear wife Karen’s Family Reunion in this little village at the foot of Rocky Mountain National Park.
So, in this parade of pictures and posts that will continue daily from the Little Bitty in the Syracuse city neighborhood of Syracuse now that we’re home safe and sound from that spectacular five-day event that brought all five Miner siblings back together for the first time since 1986, I’ll bring you some fun and some beauty of nighttime in Estes Park.
On our arrival Thursday, we all headed down to the major block where all the tourists hang out. After a dinner at a joint named Local’s that was heavy on talk and catch-up, we retreated to an outdoor bar with wood tables and hanging lights for a couple hours of reverie. Things were looking up.
They served local craft beers and wines. The waitress was incredibly slow, and upon return to the table and another look at the menu, I figured out the guy behind the bar short-changed me two bucks for Karen’s local pilsener and my red wine.
Yet it gave us a good place for the siblings to get reaquainted, everybody else to meet and warm up, and for me to get a shot of the moon between their overhead lighting.
Click on any gallery photo for a description. Click on the right photo for an enlarged slide show.
We also discovered that except for this courtyard, the old cliche that they pulled in the sidewalks at 10 p.m. seemed to hold true in Estes Park.
Saturday we booked a Wild Ride in a 14-seat jeep up into the park. That will get its own entry later, folks.
The sun as it played with the mountains on its way down up there was wonderful, indeed.
On our final night, we took a two-car caravan up as high as we’re allowed to drive in our National Park. Yes, more to come on that in this series.
The sun hung on forever as we waited for the stars to appear so close to the sky.
And the bright moon allowed my iPhone 6 to catch one shining star alongside it.
Tomorrow: The place for Redrum
Thursday: Up the mountain on foot and by jeep
Where is your favorite place to watch the sun set, and why? What’s the best sunset you’ve ever seen, and why? Which is your favorite photo, and why?
Ahh, I so enjoyed this tour, Chum. Glad you made the trip. Sounds like the reunion was a long time coming and I’m thrilled for Karen. Seeing family is the best!
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I know you do this every summer, Red. You are a smart woman. ❤
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WOW! That’s all, just WOW.
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Yes, it was, sis Angie. WOW.
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My sis lives in CO Springs, and has been all over the state photographing it, so the parts I haven’t actually visited, I’ve seen in her photos. That one is new to me though, but then Colorado is always changing.
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What a state. I’m glad I had my shot at it, sis Angie.
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So am I bro Mark. So am I.
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After being away so long, Mark, what a lovely post to come back to!
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Thank you, Babe. Welcome back. Are you OK?
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Thank you, Mark. I’m not yet “back”, but yes. Thank you for asking! It’s just too many smaller not-okays (medical and non-) that have overwhelmed me and left no time for WP. These shall pass.
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Please take care of yourself, Babe. I know you have a lot of things going on that you have written about, my friend.
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Thank you, Mark. I am just trying to take care of business, balance work, exercise, doctors, eating, sleep–same stuff everyone manages with grace, but I am baffled by, apparently.
😛
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love the moon and the star (and all things dreamy) 🙂
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I’m glad you do, Vonita. ❤
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this trip is just magnificent. and that picture of the moon is my fav by far. i’ve never been there, but it sure makes me want to visit.
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That spot at the top of the peak is a tough drive to get to, Beth, but worth the twists and turns! George Three took the wheel, and I sure was glad. I’m going to write a whole installment with a lot of photos later in the series. You would love it here. ❤
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Such a beautiful place. I love that sunset
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It’s pretty amazing, Lisa. To think I’d never seen this part of our country until last week. It makes me realize what’s out there!
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I like the photo of the touristy place at night 🙂 I think that looks like my kinda place!
I’m looking forward to the Redrum of it. It’s been a lonnnnng time since I was there!
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The bar place has a fun aura for sure, Joey. It would love you, too. 🙂
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It’s a toss-up between the first one and the one with “stores.” The soft glow of inside light with twilight in the background is hard to beat. But I love me some dangling outdoor Christmas lights, too!
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Thanks so much for your great eye, Kerbey, for catching these nuances. ❤
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I like the bar/outside courtyard. The sky looks beautiful. Too bad the service was so bad.
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Yes, I think because it’s so beautiful they don’t have to try so hard, Marissa?
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Yes, probably. It would be pretty hard for me to resist going back no matter how bad the service.
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Beautiful photos! My favorites are the last slip of light and merely marvelous!
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Thanks, PJ. I had a fantastic time taking these pictures. 🙂
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How gorgeous! I like the one with the sun between the mountain the best, but they’re all great, Mark!
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Thanks so much, Rachel. I had so much fun taking them all!
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It’s two dollars extra for moonlight.
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I missed that line on the sign above the bar, Scott!
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Used to live up at around 8,000 feet just north of Colorado Springs. The sun would set so fast once it slipped behind the mountains. I love all of the photos. Can’t wait to see the post about “The Stanley”. Agree with Cheryl – Key West sunsets are glorious.
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I know from your comments and posts that you’ve lived in — and loved — Colorado, S.D. I thought of that as we drove different routes between Denver and Estes Park to get a feel of that part of the state! And, yes, Key West sunsets are wonderful, and quite different than up in the mountains. 🙂
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One of loveliest most vibrant sunset is in Key West Florida at Mallory Point. (Sometimes referred to as Mallory Square). A must see for everyone! Spectacular sunsets. Every evening I walk our beach at sunset, the hues of colors vary each night and I have to say it is my favorite time of every day. The outdoor bar pic reminds me of so many beachside hangouts here (minus the Ocean a trade off for the Mountains). Did you get your $2 BUCKO’S back Terp?!?!? The Gatorette. Glad you are back home safe…
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Great call on Key West’s Mallory Square, Gatorette. Yes, I’ve been, and I’ve applauded the sunset with a thousand other folks and gotten goosies from the experience. Brilliant!
No, I didn’t bother going back up to haggle for my two bucks. I just griped to Karen and Elisabeth and George Three about it.
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Just looking at the photos makes me feel more relaxed. I can hardly wait for the next post (REDRUM, REDRUM).
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I hope you can relax during Redrum, Redrum, CM. Not! Wait, some of the photos are chill tomorrow. Maybe. 🙂
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I love that last slip of light. It has a lot of mood to it. I can think of a million stories to go with that picture. Isn’t is cool how difference locations/atmospheres have different light? I swear you could transport me in my sleep to a different location every night and I could tell you in the morning where I was by the type of light in the sky. Growing up in the NE we had those dark blue skies but it wasn’t until I moved out west that I learned what they meant when they said “big sky” country and it is true. Can’t wait for the future installments MB.
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Yes, there is a different feel to the sky every place I’ve lived for sure, and that’s helped me pick up the nuances more quickly during visits, DE. You sure got that right about “big sky country” in regard to Colorado’s Rocky Mountains.
I’m glad you’ve liked my Thin Air Series work so far. I’ve got a lot of photos piled up in the iPad, my friend. I hope they please your studied eye and tickle playful soul, both, my friend. Now I’m off to catch up with your always cool photos and thought-provoking haiku. ❤
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Thanks. Happy reading.
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That star might be Venus! I love the outdoor bar Mark. It must have been hard when the visit ended, but I bet it’s great to be home, Mark! ❤
Diana xo
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It was comforting to wake up in the Little Bitty because Ellie B needed to be let out in the backyard, Diana! But the time in the mountains did me much good, my dear friend. ❤ I wlll be over to visit your Calgary place momentarily. 🙂
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The word “charming” comes to mind. And your “Merely Marvelous” is exactly that. ☺
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Thanks so much, Van. The five days in Colorado was magnificent for me in many ways, my friend. 🙂
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You have lots of “meat” for your blog, Mark. Looking forward to it. ☺
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Some very cool photos there! 🙂
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Thanks, Austin! Now that I woke up back in Syracuse, I’m going to visit the House on the Hill in a minute. 🙂
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Welcome back! Hope you enjoy my spooky fog photos.
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I never get tired of sunrises and sunsets. Each one is lovely and unique.
I wonder if that is a planet under the moon there
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I’m not sure what the rest of the stellar gang are, Rose. George Three was consulting a sky map earlier in the day, but did not bring it up on the trek.
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http://earthsky.org/tonight/moon-near-saturn-heading-toward-star-antares-on-june-28
At first I thought it was Antares, but I think it is Saturn
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Fantastic! It was so bright, I think Saturn is correct, Rose. Thank you.
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a pleasure
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Beautiful Mark. I’m not sure why but in your night shy with moon – I can see at least forty (40) stars. They are dim but they are there.
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Good eye, Paul. The sky was subtly afire Monday night on top of that peak because the moon was stealing the show with its brightness. I feared that my iPhone 6 would not capture the more delicate stars surrounding the centerpiece. I’m glad it did enough of a job for you to see some of the show.
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That would be incredible on a moonless night in winter.
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But you wouldn’t be able to drive up that road in the winter in the cars we had this night, that’s for sure, Paul. The guide sticks on the side of the pavement were, in our estimation, 20-feet high! Anyway, they close the road at a certain point each year so they don’t have to plow and maintain it.
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Mark you gotta read this – especially the letters; http://kindnessblog.com/2015/07/29/bags-of-blessings-feeding-hungry-children/
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You’re not kidding, Paul. Wow. These kids need our help.
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