Rocky Mountain high

What day is it? I think it's Tuesday. I'm writing this to you from a campsite in Rocky Mountain National Park outside Estes Park, Colorado. I'm not able to gain internet access here (obviously) so I'm writing this now and posting it later.

Yesterday we departed from Omaha relatively early. We spent the bulk of the day driving across Nebraska. It was so BORING. I drove maybe a quarter of the way through it before I noticed that I was beginning to nod off to sleep. We pulled off in some rest area and Mom took over driving. I just couldn't do it. Nebraska is so flat and so incredibly dull that it makes me want to doze. Maybe if you're lucky you'll see a grain elevator and a cow wandering about every 30 miles but that's about it. Does anybody even live in that state? It seems like all I saw on the road were truckers and other people in moving trucks.

Finally we got to Northeastern Colorado. There seemed to be a bit more variety in the scenery but not much. Just the smallest incline of hills woke me back up and I was able to drive again. Again, I was awestruck by the vastness of this country. Mom remarked to me that she finally felt like we had reached "the West." I concur. Endless stretches of nothing.

We drove and drove, and drove some more until we reached a city at the edge of the mountain called Loveland. Finally, some beauty in sight! It was strange to be driving back in a city and it was hard for me to adjust. Mom said I was being bitey. (Me?) We stopped at a drive through liquor store for some Miller High Life in cans. What a great concept! Why don't we have these in Wisconsin?

Driving through the mountains was fun. So loopy and full of turns. We reached the entrance to the national park and had a little trouble with the kid at the gate. He didn't seem to be sure if we were allowed to take our moving truck in. Eventually we managed to get in and drove several loops around the park, trying to figure out where we could camp. We had to go through another gate and again, a ranger gave Mike and Monica trouble for driving a moving truck. At least the scenery was beautiful and we saw a few elk herds.

We decided to camp in Moraine Park...and here we are! Setting up our tents and cooking dinner in the dark wasn't easy. The sky was jampacked with stars last night. We all slept rather fitfully last night since it was really windy and our tents kept blowing around. At least the bears didn't eat us.

-Haven (who is looking forward to seeing some interesting wildlife guys today)