Gateway Arch National Park, St. Louis, Missouri

 

 My recent trip to Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, was followed by a lot of driving through Kansas and then into Missouri. It was late afternoon when I reached St. Louis and made my way down to Gateway Arch National Park. It made me nervous as I really didn't know where I was and found my Google Maps taking me through a ghetto. Graffiti covered the walls and broken down buildings. I said to myself, I've been through worse and kept going.  Once I arrived at the river, everything was fine and I found a covered parking lot with an attendant where I left my Subee. First thing I encountered was this gorgeous bridge spanning the Mississippi River!

 To my surprise, on February 22, 2018, President Trump signed the papers making Gateway Arch National Park our 60th National Park!  Visit the link Gateway Arch National Park for more information about the park. Of course I had to visit Gateway, and planned my whole 3-week trip around this particular park. In my quest to see all of the National Parks, this is Park #59 for me!!!!! Only one left to go, American Samoa.

 The whole place was overwhelming to say the least. I felt so vulnerable and unsure of my self during my visit there. New things always intimidate me, but I had set my mind to go to Gateway Arch, so sure enough I was going! This was my first glimpse of the famous arch.

A beautiful walkway along the river is very lively with boats chugging down the river and people of all ages walking, running and driving those crazy motorized scooters down the walkway.

As I walked along the river, I found this giant staircase leading up to the arch. 

It is difficult to imagine how large Gateway Arch really is until you try to take a picture of it! I tried every angle, even looking straight up at it, but eventually had to move a great distance up the hill to get the whole image.

Gateway Arch was originally known as the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial,  and was built as  a memorial to Thomas Jefferson's role in opening the west as well as a tribute to the pioneers who shaped its history. A beautiful new museum below the arch tells the story in great detail. The arch itself is 630 feet tall and is the world's tallest arch. It was built on the original founding site of the city of St. Louis, Missouri and was completed in 1965.

Clouds always comfort me, even rain clouds. These gorgeous clouds helped accentuate the beauty in the tall buildings.

 The city surrounding the arch is a blend of the very old and the ultra modern, the well groomed park and the broken down, graffiti covered ghetto. The building with the dome was built in 1864 and served as the St. Louis County Courthouse, the very place where Dred Scott sued for his personal freedom. The building now belongs to the National Park Service and is open for touring. If you look carefully in the lower left hand side of the picture, I captured a bride to be, getting her professional wedding pictures photographed!

I always love reflections, and I found this reflection of the city on one of the buildings in the city. It was all very beautiful!

Eero Saarinen was the Finish-American architect who designed the arch. There is a tram system built into the arch that goes to the top of the arch where there are viewing windows to look out over the city. I actually had tickets for the tram and the river cruise, but I woke up the next morning with a migraine and knew I would never make it to the top. I think it was all too claustrophobic, too new, and way too scary. I needed someone with me, but there was no one. Sometimes I just need to say I can't do it, and back down.  Even if I don't accomplish all of my goal, I always learn something.

 The Mississippi River flows right by the Arch and is as pretty as it is long.

The newly renovated, bronze, 9000 pound  statue known as "The Captain Returns" commemorates the 200th anniversary of the return of Lewis and Clark. It is breathtaking.

 After leaving Gateway Arch National Park, I drove through the city, over to my campsite in Eureka, Missouri.

 A final good night from my campsite. As the sun set, the trees were covered in shadow, and my heart  was finally at rest. God bless you, one and all.

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

The majestic Colorado River is a sight to behold. On my way to Rocky Mountain National Park, I drove along the Colorado River for quite some time. In this picture it looks very still, but there are places in the river with rapids and rushing water that entices rafters of all ages to ride the river. I stopped several different times along the way, and at one point a whole group of excited kids and several adults were putting in their raft. I was glad I was not with them! Been there, done that.

 It took me several days to get to Idaho Springs in Colorado where I encountered a street fair, with music, food, booths and fun! From there I drover up the State Road 72 past Nederland and stayed at a free Forest Service Campground. In order to get to it, me and the Subee had to off-road down some terribly, bumpy dirt roads until I found a  campsite. It was late in the afternoon when I heard some branches breaking and looked up to see a moose in the distance. 

It was quite shocking to see the moose, as my campground wasn't  even in the National Park. By the time I found my camera the moose was gone. I went about my business and was flossing my teeth when in walked the moose, just like he owned the place. Even though he was young, he was as big as a horse. With my camera in hand, I snapped a couple pictures of my afternoon visitor.

After one night of peaceful quiet, I continued driving up State Road 72 to CO-7 and took that all the way into Estes Park. On the way in, I spotted this house-castle-church building, and jumped out to take some pictures. The place was quiet, not a soul in sight. Feeling like Nancy Drew, I scouted around and walked back towards the mountains to see what it was like. All very strange.

Finally I made my way into Rocky Mountain National Park! Of course there was a festival of some sort down in Estes Park, so before I went to my campsite, I walked around town and ate steamed Edamame topped with soy sauce and sesame seeds, and looked at all the booths. Very fun. 

At the Moraine Park Campground, I had a great campsite that overlooked the Moraine Valley.  This park is very popular, so if you plan on going, get a reservation or you won't get in! Click this link: Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado to go directly to the National Park Service page for Rocky Mountain National Park and you will find all the camping information you need. 

The National Parks are so busy now, that it is always wise to go to the National Park Service sites on the web before you go to any park, and get all the info. The fall is especially beautiful at Rocky Mountain National Park, and is also the time of year the elk gather to mate. Another reason to go!

 Fall color ranged from dark and light green, yellow, gold, orange, red and brown! I felt like I was feasting on color every day I was there.

 At times the skies were filled with great big cumulus clouds that only made the blue sky look bluer. That would be me sitting on a rock, while on my hike up to Emerald Lake. I always meet the nicest people while hiking and feel so accepted by our warm conversations.

 One of my favorite places in Rocky Mountain National Park is anywhere along the Big Thompson River. It is one of the most beautiful places that I have encountered. very peaceful, yet full of life.

 My friend, the Magpie, a very social bird, very inquisitive. Magies are close relatives of both jays and crows, and have very similar characteristics. This one kept an eye out for any speck of food that was dropped near my table.

 On one of my hikes I spotted this group of golden aspen shining against the dark gray cliffs. 

 A male elk with his harem of females strolled through or near my campsite every day. He was very vocal and was always bossing the girls around, calling and huffing and bugling to get their attention. 

 A male elk on his way to the valley, where the real battles for the females took place. The males would call out to the females, it is called bugling, and try to get them to join his group. Other males would either challenge the big elk with the girls, or just strut around looking good. Several times a new male would come in and the girls would flock to him and leave their old love behind. Mostly it was just a lot of huffing and puffing and demonstrating their bravado that won the females.

 Right below my campsite, was the meadow and the Big Thompson River. So pretty in both the morning and the evening.

 It rained nearly every day I was there, which also resulted in rainbows! This one turned into a double rainbow as I was taking pictures. So pretty!

This bull elk looks like he's giving me the business for taking his picture. Actually he is bugling, If you have never heard an elk bugle you can click on this link Elk Bugle to hear them belch, bugle,. huff and puff.  There are different reasons for different sounds. Whatever noise they make, stay away from them! They can be dangerous,  especially during the rut. All these pictures were taken with my long lens, from very far away.

 At times it seems like the males feel safe in the campground, which may be why they bring their females up there to graze. It was breathtaking.

 A beautiful pink sky after a light snowfall. So incredible.

 On another hike up to Alberta Falls, I could see the storm clouds coming in. I encountered rain and then a hard hail that felt like sand blowing into my face.

 At Alberta Falls, I met a nice young lady who took my picture, while sitting on the rocks. 

 Alberta Falls, a scenic 30ft waterfall that thunders down a small gorge on Glacier Creek. One of the places I recommend visiting if you ever get to Rocky Mountain National Park! 

 Snow on the mountains, snow in the forecast, a 29 degree nighttime low predicted for my last day in the park. I decided to leave a day early and miss the crowds trying to escape the inevitable snowstorm. 

 On my last day in the park, I drove the Trail Ridge Road up to an elevation over 12,000 feet. The fog rolled in making it difficult to drive. I stopped at Rock Cut and hiked out on the Tundra Communities Trail, reminiscing about my time there in 2005, when I cried my guts out over my divorce. It was and still is a good place to be cleansed.  The harsh elements seem to scour one clean. However on my last day in the park I had no need to cry, but only rejoice over all the healing and restoration in my life.

Along the Tundra Communities Trail, this section is called Mushroom Rocks. The fog lifted just enough for me to get a picture, but just at that point it started hailing. If it had been clear, I could have looked over to the other side and seen Longs Peak. I was freezing and being pelted by hail, so I turned around and headed back to my car.

Good night to one and all! May God be with you and yours. Susan Little