Colorado Part 4

After hiking Table Mountain, I headed back to Estes Park. It was mid-afternoon at that point, and while I would've loved to hunt down another trail to hike, I had to be up early the next morning to start my nineteen hour trek home. This trip was more about the journey than any one destination.

The ride back from Table Mountain took me on the same roads as my drive to/from Boulder the day before. I was beginning to feel a little more comfortable on them, and found myself wishing my daily commute could be similarly jaw-dropping. Colorado has made it to my short list of places I'd love to live some day. Some private land on the side of a mountain? Yes, please.

Once back at my hotel I relaxed for a couple hours, until the sun started to dip down in the sky. My goal was to take in as much of the sunset as I could while walking the loop around the lake that I'd explored the day before. I'd only walked a bit of it, so I figured this would be my chance to see the whole thing.

I turned a corner and saw a car driving slowly, coming towards me. Initially I hesitated and debated turning around-- I'm easily spooked. But then I noticed why the car was driving so slowly-- a herd of elk were hanging out on the other side of the street.









Fortunately I saw them before I came across the sign about dangerous elk.

The sun was at the perfect angle. These pictures don't do the view justice.











It got a little chilly as the sun set. I made it back to my hotel shortly before dark, and passed out.