Rocky Ride

  I was told last night: we were waking up at five thirty. FIVE THIRTY! Fine, fine. Here's the real problem: I woke up at five fifteen today! From Mom's alarm! Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous! I was promised another fifteen minutes >:(   We got in the car and I slept almost immediately. I woke up to Mom and Dad discussing what I would prefer for breakfast. They were whispering, which always wakes me up. I told them what I wanted, and willed myself to stay up all the way into the park. We missed the sign on the way in, even though it wasn't hard to spot. We decided we didn't have to go back, and there'd be one on the way out. Rocky Mountain National Park was really pretty though, and it reminded me a lot of New England. Just super green and lush with the occasional hills.
  We saw a moose at one of our first stops, but we couldn't get very good pictures because he was pretty far away. Oh, well, it was still cool to see it! We saw a few deer, too. Then, we stopped at this little trail that led to a waterfall (would've thought we'd learned our lesson, huh?) and it was actually really pretty. We did, in fact, see the waterfall this time. One for two.
  From there, there were two pathway options. An eleven mile dirt road with many twists and turns way up in the mountains where you could call at any second; or a nice, wide and paved road with easy pull offs and no chance of a heart attack. So, obviously, we chose the paved one. SIKE! We went down the terrifying one. It was awful. Absolutely beautiful, but awful. So nerve wracking. At the end of the road, though, was something that made it all entirely worth it. Randomly sitting at the side of the road were two marmots attacking each other. They bit each other and did that thing where they stood up and their arms locked. Amazing. Check Mom's pictures for real time screen captures.
  At the top of the road, the visitor center marked the intersection of the two way options. We went to the restroom then went to the gift shop, where me and Gideon each got our signature item. Then, Dad and I left the crowded visitor center while Gideon and Mom checked out. Me and Dad watched them exit one store and walk across the way to another which we assumed was a cafe. Turns out, it wasn't it was another gift shop. And Mom came out with a giant bag. We had already spied another shopper's catch that Mom would love. She didn't get it, so we told her about it and went inside to get it for her. I got a stuffie too.
  On the way back down the mountain, we saw a whole ton of elk. Like a whole ton of elk. It was so cool. Sadly, on the way out we saw over sixty acres of burnt land. It was heartbreaking. We took our sign picture in front of them, too.
  After leaving the park, we found a local burger place for lunch. We gave it a shot and it was so good. SO. GOOD. I took my trademark post lunch nap after that.
  When we got back to the hotel, Mom and Dad tried to take a nap, but Gideon was fidgeting a lot and it distracted them. They worked on blogs the rest of the afternoon. After that, we found a dinner place that specialized in perogies. Oh my gosh it was really good. Maybe not as good as those burgers, but like--really good. On our way home, we stopped for frozen custard. While sitting in the drive through, we saw a few things.   1. A random dog tied outside the restaurant (later claimed, don't worry he's fine).   2. A woman carrying a naked child around the building and then putting him back in the car and walking back across the street to her home (she was covering all his especially private areas).   3. A truck pulling a trailer with one tire completely destroyed. Like--misshapen and entirely deflated . . . it was awful. The poor family was putting in a spare when we left.   Anyway, the custard was good, and I got to eat while watching the new episode of The Owl House. It was so good, even if it wasn't what I was hoping for. But guys--I'm dying. The last time we saw my favorite character she kissed her crush on the cheek and then they both got really nervous and she ran away from the scene and we HAVEN'T SEEN HER SINCE. I'm not bitter, you are. But I mean, come on, it's been TWO WEEKS. TWO LONG, PAINFUL WEEKS. I CAN'T DO IT.

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