Bill Tries a New Look and More Family Comes to Colorado

As planned, much of the weekend is spent at home. With a fishing spot just out our front door, where else would we go?

Spruce Lake RV Park is by far the busiest place we've ever stayed. Even more so than state parks along the beach. All of the 100+ sites are full, the group picnic area is packed each night, all the cabins have families, dozens of children in the swimming pool and playground, and campers talk loudly to each other from everywhere in the park. It is more like summer camp than an RV park. 

Bill learns from the hosts that there is a family reunion here - 60 people! That makes sense. They're a big group who all know each other :-) Evenings and nights are still quiet so that's a plus.  

I venture through town for groceries on Saturday morning. With two events - The Westerniers and The Midsummer Scandinavian Festival - it is wall-to-wall people. Young traffic "enforcers" help keep cars and pedestrians moving at each signal. Given the huge numbers, the chaos is pretty organized!

Around mid-day Bill calls me to come outside. I see that he is now wearing a new shiny "head piece". He's done a masterful job of embedding two hooks of a treble-hook into his scalp. His idea that I'm going to pull it out with pliers is optimistic and unrealistic - we're going to urgent care. Not only do I not laugh (out loud), but I don't take a photo. I regret the latter greatly :-)

Everyone at urgent care has fun with their "patient" and of course have stories of much more "impressive" fish hook incidents that have walked in.

Evidence after the fact

Last week my "almost" daughter Megan contacted me about being in Fort Collins this weekend. While we are making plans to meet, their hosts tell her they want to take them to the Scandinavian Festival in Estes Park! So she and husband Chris, and their friends, come to us :-)

Street vendors and large crowds are not something that Bill enjoys so he drops me off and comes back for more fishing. The previous day's medical emergency has not scared him off!

The festival is very popular and all the pastry, clothing, art, textiles, and pottery vendors are doing a brisk business. There is a Saab club and I'm so sorry I forget to get a pic of the cute little cars. 

Lots of folks enjoy the festival

Interesting old structure on the hill overlooking the park

I've never seen a Maypole with the cross beam. Covered in flowers and vines, it is impressive.

We make our way to the center where all-day entertainment is scheduled. Megan refers to their friends Daven and Wendy as "The Vikings" - and at over 6' each, they wear their heritage well. Naturally we are seated in time to see the Viking battle event. A well trained group from Denver demonstrate hand-to-hand fighting with different weapons, including spears and axe. 

We stay to see the "peek-a-boo" dance (very fun), and then head across the street for lunch. We enjoy catching up at Casa Grande - another restaurant with a lovely view. They have to get to the airport so all too soon we say our good-byes. How fun to meet up in this beautiful place!

My Megan

Chris, Megan, Wendy, Daven and Alaric

Having fun with Mommy

Pam assures me that the best view of all Starbucks is here in Estes Park - a must see! Of course I must check this out and provide photographic proof.  She's right, this is definitely the nicest setting of any store I've been too. 

River front coffee

Here ya go Pam!

Bill picks me up (this is definitely the way to visit downtown in these crowds), and we're back to our lakefront home.

Monday we are heading back down to warmer temps, and out of Colorado for now. Estes Park is definitely one of the most beautiful places we've stayed. It is an expensive area, but it helps to know that a portion of the higher taxes go to the national park. We will be back - perhaps in May or September in an effort to avoid some of the crowds.