Bull Elk, Domino’s Pizza, Estes Park, Colorado. October 29, 2012.
As part of our favorite childhood places trip, my brother John and I made our way to Rocky Mountain National Park. The Park was in its “in between phase” between the splendid colors of fall and the beauty of winter. Once the aspen drop their leaves and the elk disappear back into the trees at the end of the fall rut, the park is not as visually splendid until snow blankets the park
We didn’t take as many pictures in “Rocky” as we did on other days of our trip. Mostly we drove around talked and shared special memories. .
My favorite photo of the day was taken in Estes Park as a bull elk walked by Domino’s Pizza on his way to Colorado Cottages. I posted this photo on Facebook with a comment about the bull wanting pizza for dinner. Domino’s is no longer there. This building is now the location of Scratch, a really excellent sandwich place that I highly recommend.
Elk in our parking space, Colorado Cottages, Estes Park, Colorado. October 29, 2012.
This particular elk was well known and he spent a lot of time on the grounds at Colorado Cottages, one of my two favorite places to stay in Estes Park. In fact, when we arrived at our cabin at night the elk was browsing in our cabin’s parking space, so we had to wait until he moved on before we could park. The owners at the time (new owners have since acquired the cottages) would joke about the elk and say “This is his place, he just lets us stay here.”
Horseshoe Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. October 29, 2012.
John and I did take some pictures in the Park. Mostly I did snapshots with my iPhone. My third favorite photo of the day is an iPhone photo of Horseshoe Park from an overlook up on Deer Mountain. We had a great day together, it just wasn’t much of a photography day.
Alpine Trail Ridge Inn. Estes Park, Colorado. September 29, 2015.
As you have already guessed, a lot has changed since our 2012 trip. Domino’s has become Scratch, a great change for the better. The ownership of Colorado Cottages has changed, and the ownership of The Alpine Trail Ridge Inn has changed, my other favorite place to stay in Estes Park. For years, Jay and Fran at the Inn and John and Carolyn at the Cottages took great care of me and my family and the friends. They are all doing other things now, but both places are still my favorite places to stay in Estes and I recommend both of them. They are on the west side of town and very close to the entrance to the Park. That means you don’t have to fight the tourist traffic in town to get to the Park.
Young girl at an Anniversary Celebration. Columbus, Ohio. October 29, 2011.
My second favorite photo for this date is a big change of pace. When I lived in Ohio there were 10 major ethnic groups living in our neighborhood. Going to the local grocery store was like visiting the Unites Nations. I loved it. The store had maps in several languages including Tibetan. There were a lot of people from India in Columbus and it was my happy privilege to the photographer for some of their special family events and religious ceremonies.
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